Mommy Has to Work

Increase Your Earning Potential While Juggling Other Commitments

August 1, 2022 By Anne

Setting a goal to increase your earning potential (and your actual earnings) is a pretty common thing to do. If you have a family, it’s part of striving to do the best that you can for them. If you can raise your earnings, you could create a better quality of life for all of you. But having a family can also make it difficult to invest in your career and your earning potential. Juggling other commitments with your work is hard and you might feel like it’s too much of a strain. However, there are ways you can approach this dilemma to manage family and other commitments while also growing your career.

Contemplate a Job or Career Change

The first thing that you might want to consider if you want to increase your earnings is looking for a new job, or potentially even a new career. By switching to a new employer or a new role, you could find somewhere that values your skills more than your current place of employment. Of course, changing careers can be more difficult than just looking for a new job. One way to make it easier is to consider your transferable skills so that you don’t have to spend a long time retraining if you don’t want to.

Try Learning Online

If you do want to learn some new skills or keep your knowledge up to date, online learning could be one way you can achieve your goals. Whether you’re looking for exam prep classes to get you ready for securing a professional license or you want to find some continuing education courses, there are plenty of options available online. Online education is perfect for anyone who is trying to fit their career progression around their family and other commitments. You can get it done whenever you have time, whether it’s in the evenings, at the weekends, or while your kids are at school.

Know Your Worth

Are you being paid enough? What are others in the same industry or in similar roles being paid? If you’re not sure, you should find out. It can make a big difference to understand whether you’re being paid a competitive wage. If you think that you should be paid more, you can make your case to your employer and try to secure a raise. If it doesn’t work, you might consider looking for a new job elsewhere.

Go Part-Time with Work and Study

Increasing your earning potential can sometimes mean going back to school. That can be hard to do if you’re working full-time and trying to juggle family commitments too. But one thing to consider might be whether you can work part-time so that you can also study part-time. It can make your financial situation a little tight for a while, but it’s also often worth it if it eventually increases the amount that you can earn when you finish studying.

It’s tough to manage multiple commitments but if you want to increase your earning potential, you can still do it while handling other things in your life.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

What you Need for a Camping Holiday

July 23, 2022 By Anne

Image Credit

Wild camping is the best way to blow the cobwebs away and experience the local landscape in a new way. But when the light starts to fade, and you start to feel hungry, you want to know you have equipment with you to keep you warm and comfortable through the night. Here is what you need.

Quality Sleeping Bag

Summer is an excellent time to explore the wilderness with a backpack and a tent, and unless you’re in the extreme north, chances are you can enjoy some fine weather. With that in mind, there’s no need for an extra warm sleeping bag; instead, choose one that offers additional comfort.

When it comes to choosing a suitable sleeping bag, there are two things to keep in mind, the first is the shape of it, and the second is the materials it’s made from. In terms of shape, rectangular bags offer more comfort in summer, and you don’t need one with down feathers – cotton is fine.

Quality Pillow

Whether you are a good sleeper or not, it makes sense to create the most comfortable sleeping situation possible when you’re camping on the hills. A good quality sleep can’t be underestimated, especially when you have to wake up at dawn and start hiking through the day.

Camping pillows come in various types; you can buy them as inflatable objects that are easy to transport but are much firmer when it comes to putting your head down. Alternatively, you could opt for a compressed ultra-light camping pillow that is more comfortable but requires more space.

Quality Tent

The tent you buy for your summer camping trip usually depends on the type of excursion you’re on; a small base camp tent is good enough for a single person or a couple hiking in the local hills, while a larger tent is better for campsites and longer stays down at the lake or the river.

When you are buying a tent, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Naturally, the more you pay for the tent, the better the quality is, but it’s still possible to get value for money by identifying your requirements. Double doors are good for access, and windows create ventilation.

Tactical Flashlight

Let’s face it, there’s not much light around when you’re on a hill on a summer evening, nor is there much light on campsites when you’re finding your way back from the facilities to a random tent location. That’s why you need a tactical flashlight from EcoGearFX that won’t let you down.

Traditionally, a tactical flashlight is used as part of a weapon in the military – it helps soldiers to aim professionally in the dark. But like much of the best military equipment, it makes its way into general usage after a time. Tactical flashlights are now commonly used by campers and hikers.

Portable Stove

You’ve be happy you brought your portable stove when you wake up in the morning and have the tools to boil up some tea and cook some breakfast on the mountainside. These days, the best camping stoves are matchless and fuel-efficient, so you can light them up easily anywhere.

Anne

Sick Of Your Basic Meals? How To Approach Advanced Cooking Techniques

July 23, 2022 By Anne

Want to become a pro chef from the comfort of your own home? Start experimenting! Even for people who don’t cook all that often, this is a great way to kickstart your passion for the culinary world. Indeed, one of the best ways to fall in love with cooking again is to try something new and exciting.

The kitchen is a place of endless wonder when it comes to making meals, and there are plenty of advanced techniques you can put to good use here. Check out some of the most important to pick up below for a quick starter course.

Pexels Image – CC0 Licence

Buy ‘Good’ Ingredients

No matter where you shop, some ingredients are going to be better than others. It’s up to you to be able to identify them and pick them out, and it’s not all about price either! It’s about color, shape, and size, and how something feels and smells in your hand. Take your time shopping for fresh ingredients to make sure you get the best of the bunch; they’ll add so much more to your meals.

Take Your Time Practicing

Practice makes perfect, and that’s certainly true in the kitchen! The more you do something, the more you’ll figure out about what can go wrong, what warning signs to look out for, and what substitutes you can use in place of ingredients you don’t have much of. And this is especially essential when it comes to cooking methods like learning how to toss a pan without losing anything – put a small amount of an ingredient in, and then slowly build up until you’re confident in your tossing ability.

Cheat Where You Can

All the pros do this, truly! They make ahead of time, cut corners using equipment, and sometimes buy already prepared ingredients straight from the market. If the main bulk of work is done in 5 to 10 minutes, you’ll have an easy time getting through the 20 to 40 minutes actual cooking time. If you’re making kombucha, for example, you can buy a yeast starter from a store instead of trying to cultivate one yourself. That’ll save you a lot of time and effort, and make sure you and the kids have something delicious to drink sooner rather than later!

Learn How to Plate

Presentation is everything. When a plate looks good, people will want to dig in no matter what’s on there. And not only that, but when you know how to make a plate look good, you know what garnishes and side dishes to include as well. That makes more of a complete meal that features all the right nutrients, and it won’t be hard to get the kids to try something new and tasty every time you cook. Plate up right for more inviting meals, no matter what you’ve cooked.

If you’re getting sick of the basic meals you make everyday, all you need to do is practice until you’ve grasped the advanced techniques all the pros use!

Anne

The Top 4 Stress Triggers for Single Moms and How to Overcome Them

July 19, 2022 By Anne

No one ever said being a single mom was easy, but it’s definitely manageable with the right tools. As a single mom, you have to juggle a lot of balls in the air – work, childcare, household responsibilities, and more. It can be tough to keep your head above water, especially when stress starts to pile up. In this blog post, we will discuss four common stress triggers for single moms and how to overcome them.

Photo by Benjamin Manley on Unsplash

Financial Stress

Single moms often bear the brunt of financial responsibility. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, it can be very stressful. There are a few things you can do to ease financial stress. First, make a budget and stick to it. Second, try to save money where you can. Third, don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by financial stress, there are plenty of resources available to help you get back on track. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is a great place to start. They offer free or low-cost counseling services nationwide. Another option is to contact your local United Way office. They can connect you with programs in your area that can help with food, housing, childcare, and more.

Time Management Stress

Trying to balance work, childcare, and household responsibilities can be tough. It’s important to try to find a good balance between work and home life. If you’re feeling stressed out by your never-ending to-do list, there are a few things you can do to manage your time better. First, make a list of your priorities and stick to it. Second, delegate tasks whenever possible. Ask family and friends for help with childcare or housework. Third, take some time for yourself every day – even if it’s just 15 minutes. Dedicate this time to doing something you enjoy, like reading or taking a walk.

Relationship Stress

If you’re a single mom, relationship stress can be a big trigger. Whether you’re co-parenting with an ex or trying to date as a single parent, relationships can be complicated. It’s important to communicate openly and honestly with your partner or potential partner. Set boundaries and stick to them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – whether it’s from a therapist or a friend. If you’re feeling stressed about your love life, there are plenty of resources available to help you out. The website SingleParentMatch offers advice on dating as a single parent. They also have a forum where you can connect with other single parents and share tips and advice.

Child Custody Stress

If you’re going through a child custody battle, it can be very stressful. The best thing you can do is to stay calm and focused. Don’t let emotions take over. Hire a good lawyer and listen to their advice. If possible, try to reach an agreement with your ex outside of court. This will save you time, money, and stress in the long run. The website CustodyXChange offers resources and information for parents who are going through a custody battle. They have a forum where you can connect with other parents and share tips and advice.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA from Pexels

Stress is a normal part of being a single mom. But it doesn’t have to take over your life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try to identify the source of your stress and take steps to address it. There are plenty of resources available to help you out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Anne

Happy Birthday to Me!

July 17, 2022 By Anne

In January I turned 50. It feels weird to say as I do not feel what I thought 50 would feel like. LOL For my big day my friend, Nikki and I went up to Charlston for a girl’s weekend. We had such a great time. Here are some fun pictures from our trip…

When picking out a card for a special occasion there are so many basic cards. Have you heard of Lovepop cards? No basic cards here. Lovepop is on a mission to create one billion magical moments. Check out their Birthday Card collection page for a creative, meaningful, and fun way for you to share love with the people around you.

Lovepop has a card for every occasion. What’s even better is that you can get 5 beautiful magical cards for only $50. Just look for the 5 for $50 in the top left corner. I was able to pick out 5 cards and I cannot wait to give them to my friends!