I'm 27. I have 4 kids, 1,2,4,and 5 years old. I work 2 jobs and I don't ever have a FULL day off. My oldest daughter is starting Kindergarden this year and I was supposed to work to just have extra money until my kids start school, so that I can be there for them you know? Well, I started with the 1st job and then my sister asked me for help at her job in an office, so now I'm stuck with 2 jobs for almost a year now. I want to quit one, but we just bought a house because of it and I don't really want to go back to just paying the bills.
I can go more into detail with someone if they email me at juliebrowndowntown@yahoo.com. I don't have any friends really. Probably because I don't have time!!!!!!
2006-08-25 04:52:54 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
Take heart - 90% of us are in the same boat that you are. We all need to work to survive and are torn between work and family. My family makes lots of sacrafices in lifestyle so that my wife can stay home with the kids and I don't regret it at all.
My advice would be to quit one job and cut expenses wherever you can to give yourself more time at home. Here are some ideas:
1. Review all the services you receive. Do you really need them all? (cable TV, newspaper, cell phones, pest control, car washes, lawn/yard service, etc) If you can do something yourself, then don't pay someone else.
2. Eating out really ads up. Now that you have the time, prepare meals and home - and use all the leftovers.
3. Packaged foods and drinks are expensive. Prepare foods/meals from scratch where possible.
4. Do more free activities instead of paying for movies, amusement parks, or whatever. Take walks, play in the park, organize a soccer or t-ball game w/kids, picnic in the park, ride bikes if you have them, read books, listen to books on tape.
5. Make use of your local library for books on tape, free videos, etc.
6. If you are driving overly nice cars, consider downsizing to eliminate or reduce a payment. Gas is a huge expense these days - organize and reduce trips.
7. Joing a homeschool/preschool Mom's group. This will provide free activities and help you make some friends!
8. Sounds crazy with 4 kids, but if you can take in 1 child as a daycare provider you can probably charge $350-$700/month depending on where you live. This would allow you to "work" while still spending time with your kids.
Good luck!
2006-08-25 06:06:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you need to reassess everything. If you are working so much that you don't have time for yourself or your kids then you are working too much. If you don't choose something to give up, then something will give in at some point. You have to be able to say no to some things.
Having two jobs is crazy. Don't worry about your sister's needs. If you're just trying to take care of her then stop, you have enough to worry about with your own family. So quit that job.
It may be great to have the house, but do you have the time to enjoy it? Are your kids able to enjoy spending time with you in it? Sounds like the answer is 'no' to both. So why have the house? Doesn't make sense. Get a smaller house or an apartment and just enjoy what you have.
Do you have extended family that you can lean on? Since you have done a major favor for your sister, maybe she can look after the kids sometimes and give you a break so you can recharge.
Don't know about what your expenses are, but maybe you can look at what can be reduced or cut out. It's better to live a simpler life than one of trying to live beyond one's means.
Good luck to you.
2006-08-25 05:08:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I guess if I were you I would pick my priorities... I worked 2 jobs for a while but realized I never saw my children... I ended up quitting the part time job and giving myself time for the kids... I do understand having a financial hardship with out the extra money... however money is the root of all evil... Maybe the side job could be done only on the weekend?
2006-08-25 04:59:11 · answer #3 · answered by Tricia P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you can cut back on some work time and sacrifice some of the financial burden. Why work so much when you don't have any time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. If your working so hard for your kids then why don't you find a way to spend some time with them. Now is the time when they are young and you can spend time with them before they become teen agers and are way to busy. Besides there is more to life then just working your butt off and being to tired to enjoy life. You know everyday spent is one that you can never get back
2006-08-25 05:08:05 · answer #4 · answered by dmxdragon2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am 34, 4 kids, but only 1 job. People do not realize how hard it can be. I totally see how you are feeling. I work full time as a nurse, so I take care of people both day and night. 24 hrs a day!! Send me a message via e-mail if you would like.
2006-08-25 04:56:44 · answer #5 · answered by melinda_rn2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know its tuff working all of the time but you have to weigh out your options choose one job which one makes you happy which one pays more maybe quit those jobs and just find a new one that you really enjoy and pays well I am 25 yrs old and I work construction its hard but I like it and it pays well At one point in my life I had three jobs at one time boy that sucked have you ever thought About having your own daycare? ya know you already have enough kids to start it who watched yours kids while you work two jobs is all of your money going to child care?
2006-08-25 05:03:39 · answer #6 · answered by meow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're husband is working right? If you want to keep both jobs, cut one down to part time, keep the better paying job for full time.
Look around for a job that you can do from home, than you can leave one of the jobs and still be earning the xtra cash you want.
2006-08-25 04:56:17 · answer #7 · answered by Val 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could consider some type of home-based business like selling on e-bay.That way you could be at home with the kids and save on babysitting fees also. many people have freed up their time/money problems this way. Think unconventionally.I recommend making friends to create a support system . We all need help from others in this world to survive. Best of luck to you and your family
2006-08-25 05:16:55 · answer #8 · answered by white chocolate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the first place you should not have so many kids. 2 or 1 will suffice. If you really want good advice and will act on it, here it is............sell this house and buy a smaller one or a smaller apartment. No shopping for stuffs for a year or two. No eating out, no ordering pizzas etc etc. No spending. Then maybe you can quit one job and keep one.
2006-08-25 04:58:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are doing nothing that any SINGLE PARENT (and I have now adult children) have done in life -- work hard, no time to themselves, constantly paying the bills, etc etc etc -- AND Raising their children.
YES, it is DIFFICULT to be an ADULT with Adult RESPONSIBILITIES and children needing to be cared for -- and they DO need to be housed, clothed, fed and cared for.
Now a half-century of life is behind me, I am at the empty-nest time, and YES, it is time for me to finish paying the bills off from raising them as a SINGLE parent with an EX who did NOT want to pay child Support (and avoided it by moving around all the time), and I AM a homeowner, and GLAD to have stuck it out to BE a homeowher. I WILL Age in place, and am renovating my residence myself. In these retirement years, I AM going back to college and taking Courses NOW for fun -- and I MEAN FUN!
2006-08-25 05:08:27 · answer #10 · answered by sglmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋