Skip to main content

Pay Day during a Pandemic

Had to add a picture of the boys!
Lots of bike rides during Quarantine.
Today is paid day for Brian and every Thursday before paid day Brian texts me a picture/screenshot of his paystub. As I paid bills yesterday and looked at our budget/monthly spending I thought to myself there are going to be millions of Americans in the next few weeks that will not be getting that pay stub in their email because of this Pandemic. It is heartbreaking. Financial hardship is stressful and can be all consuming because you have to have money to live.

Once Brian and I were pregnant with our second child we made the decision then that I would take my maternity leave, go back to teaching and finish that current school year, then become a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom). Well circumstances changed with Oscar’s needs and if he would have lived I would have been done teaching in November, but he didn’t. I distinctly remember the day he died thinking I have to go back to work: we need the money, we have to pay off the new HVAC system, we need to have money in our savings, etc… I tell you that memory to show even in the most heart wrenching, painful time of my life money was a concern.

Right now fortunately my family is blessed because Brian is still able to work even with the “Stay At Home Order” his work looks different now with remote meetings, preparing food for students, overseeing teachers, but he still gets to work and gets paid. His income covers all our bills and then some. I contribute by watching our kids and before Coronavirus I also watched my nephews a few days a week during the school year. The money I made typically covered groceries and extras (JoAnn shopping sprees, gifts, impulse buys, toys, clothes, etc..) Without my income coming in we have had to rework some finances in just the past two weeks and I have been more conscious already of my impulse buying (I love buying things off GMA Deals & Steals and getting stuff from JoAnn Fabrics to make gifts for people).

So what are we doing/going to do during this Pandemic to keep our finances in order and also help others in need.
  1. We are continuing to tithe. We signed a commitment back in December with our church for the Unfinished Initiative. I would start being tempted I am sure in the next months to not give all of what we committed, but we prayerfully made that commitment and know our church will be meeting individuals needs during this time through our tithe.
  2. We get take out/fast food twice a week if not more. We go through a fast food restaurant at least for one meal and then get a nicer “To Go” meal for dinner one night during the week too. 
  3. We are giving tangible by buying something to give/make for others - I am making mask for local health care workers
  1. We will make monetary donations to local food banks.
    - Sylvania Area Family Services
    - Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank : Feeding America
  2. We also are going to stick with Dave Ramsey’s principles and keep doing a budget and working those “7 Baby Steps”.
  
   
I also know there are a lot of things that can be done that do not require any money at all. Here are some things we have done/are going to do.
  1. Call and offer to go to the grocery for a neighbor/family member
  2. Leave an Easter Egg Hunt for a friend/cousin
  3. FaceTime with family more than you normally would
  4. Leave encouraging notes on the sidewalk/driveway
  5. Thank individuals when you see them that are working at this time to help keep us safe and this country going (grocery clerks, gas station attendants, truck drivers, healthcare workers, government employees, police, firefighters, the cable guy).
                
Well I think that is all I have on this topic for today. I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. Please comment and share some ideas with me on ways you are helping others at this time. #WeAreAllinThisTogether #QuarantineLife 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

6 years

I have attempted to write this post multiple times in the last 2 years and just never have been able to quite finish it. My thoughts would come out, but they were never quite complete. So here is my attempt today. It will be 6 years on Saturday you have been gone and I can honestly say not a day goes by that you are not thought of. I constantly wonder what our life would look like if you were here. I know it would look different, but I can't help but think it would still be so very much the same just filled with even more love and joy because of you. I also am not so naive to know it would not have more hardships too. Your life, your odyssey, Oscar, gave so much hope and joy to others. You were so very loved by individuals that never even met you. I think that is what your Dad and I are still trying to do for you six years later to continue your odyssey. To honor your life and memory, by spreading love and hope, and remembering the sweet promise that we will be reunited with you a
Post a Comment
Read more

Merry Christmas from The Kasers 2023

As the calendar inches closer to the end of the year we always enjoy seeing and hearing updates from our family and friends. No matter if we are fortunate enough to have our paths crossed or this greeting is our only interaction, know you are in our prayers and we hope you will enjoy this most blessed time of year. Our 4th child, Finneas McClish, graced us with his arrival on June 1st. It is hard to believe he is 6 months old already and lights up any room with his big smile. Brooks, now 4, started afternoon preschool at the elementary school across the street from our house. He has quickly blossomed into a social butterfly and is always looking forward to a playdate with new found classmates. Theodore, now a reading loving 3rd grader, thinks it is pretty cool having his little brother at school with him. Teddy also has really enjoyed being a part of Boy Scouts and is always looking for adventure. As you can imagine Julie has her hands full keeping everyone organized, but she tackles
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 29 - With Broken Hearts

It is with broken hearts we wanted to let you know Oscar went home to be with Jesus at 11:35am today, Saturday, December 16, 2017. Oscar as you know was taken off the endotracheal tube on Tuesday, December 12, and placed on a nasal endotracheal tube to see if he could maintain his airway with less support. We also were providing him with Versed to help him relax and rest during this transition. Oscar had a large drop in his blood sugars on Thursday, December 14, in the evening. Due to this they placed Oscar on continuous feeds and upped his calories to 28 calorie Elecare. It seemed this helped, but it was not a complete fix. After his low sugar of a 26 on Thursday night he had a hard time getting settled even with doses of the Versed every 6 hours. Then on Friday, December 15, we tried Oscar off the ventilator with no support this was around 12:30pm. He seemed to be retracting lots and having a hard time breathing. We then placed him on nose ram cannula with oxygen support. The
Post a Comment
Read more