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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 

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