Working Mom's Reality Check

50 Ways I Save Money

2009-09-07T18:17:00Z

50 Ways I Save Money

“How on earth do you do it?”

I get this question a lot. As a full-time working mom with six children, I suppose it begs the question. “How can you afford to feed, clothe, educate, and keep a roof over that many heads?”

I’ve put together “50 Ways I Save Money” to answer this question. These are some of my tried and true methods to cut corners and save - without eroding or impinging on a sense of freedom and joy within our family. As a word to the wise, being frugal is not the same as being a miser. If your motivation to save is based on fear or greed, I suggest you do some soul-searching. When trusting God to take care of your needs doesn’t come easily to you, consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. God takes care of them, and you are even more valuable to Him than they are, so you’ll be taken care of too!

With that in mind, if you want to be better prepared to weather economic storms, (or simply want to stop living paycheck to paycheck) then I hope and pray that my family’s best practices will be a blessing to you and yours.

Every other day is a “buy nothing” day – it automatically cuts impulse purchases in half
Never buy anything from a vending machine. Ever.
Use Ziploc’s filled with snacks (bought in bulk) instead
Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (they last longer & cut the electric bill)
Better yet, use natural sunlight instead of turning on a light
Get organized – seriously organized. Being disorganized wastes hard-earned money on late fees, overdraft charges & over the limit fees. Set up a system to pay bills on time. In 2009, U.S. banks will collect $38 BILLION in overdraft penalties.
Shop Online and use the Free Shipping options. (Saves gas, $ and time)
Google “store name + coupon” before buying anything – for online shopping or before leaving home to shop at a regular store
Turn off & unplug unused appliances
Make lunches at home
Pay bills online (saves time, stamps, ink & paper)
Drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle whenever possible
When a grocery item is a “loss leader” stock up and get a rain check for more
Use free printable grocery coupons at the grocery store – take advantage of double or triple coupon policies
Buy generic if it’s cheaper than name brand
Open a high interest savings account at an online virtual bank
Set up an automatic withdrawal that goes straight to the savings account
Use the local library for books and DVD’s
Use a water filter instead of bottled water
No cable or satellite
Use Paypal Debit (but sign for purchases) to get 1% cash back
Never order soft drinks at restaurants. Order water with lemon & use the sugar packets or Splenda at the table to make lemonade. (It’s free & healthier)
Periodically evaluate the cell phone plan and switch to the most cost-effective one
Started using Charlie’s Soap Powder for laundry – 13 cents per load for a hypoallergenic, non-toxic, completely biodegradable detergent/fabric softener
Lowered our phone/internet bill $30/month by bundling them with the same company
Buy items like toilet paper, napkins and tissues in bulk online
Make my own (organic) bread with a bread machine. Total cost is $.50 per loaf.
Turn off unnecessary lights. (Including the kitchen light at night)
Get motion sensor “dawn to dusk” outdoor lights (cuts the electric bill & increases home security)
Avoid using air fresheners or night lights that must remain plugged in (burns electricity & they’re expensive)
We don’t turn the heat on at the first hint of cool weather – we put on sweatshirts
We don’t turn on the air conditioner as soon as it starts getting warm either; we use the ceiling fans first
Get a programmable thermostat that automatically turns down the heat or air conditioner at night & during the workday when no one is at home.
When we’re out of town, we turn the air conditioning units completely off.
If at all possible, I go grocery shopping ALONE. Studies show that moms spend more money at the store with children (or husbands) in tow.
We shred our own cheese, chop our own lettuce and freeze our own dinners. Prepackaged convenience foods are a “no-no” unless the sale price is lower.
Drive gently. Watch the RPM’s and try and keep them low. Stepping on the gas to unnecessarily accelerate makes the engine rev high – and wastes up to ten times the gas than when the car is idling.
When pumping gas, before I swipe my card, I squeeze the nozzle into my vehicle. About a cup of gas usually comes out, left in the handle from the last person fueling. Then I fuel as normal. When I’m done, I get my receipt, and then squeeze the nozzle again, and get another free cup of gas.
We stock up on whole organic chicken when it’s on sale. I oven-bake them then cut them into portions suitable for dinner and sandwiches for lunches.
Then I save the bones to make chicken noodle soup or chicken & rice.
Use the crock pot to make soups out of leftovers from the fridge
Wash our clothes in cold water (saves the oil or gas cost to heat the hot water)
Hang dry as much as possible
Run the dryer during off-peak electric hours. (Rates per kwh are lower on weekends and from 10pm through 6am M-F in many areas.)
We gratefully accept hand-me-down clothes from friends & family
Annually donate the clothes we don’t need, get a receipt and take the tax write off
We buy low-mileage used vehicles instead of new ones. We haven’t had car payments in over fifteen years
Joined Samaritan Ministries as a low-cost alternative to regular health insurance
Print out a copy of the $4 Prescription list from Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, etc. and ask our Dr.’s to prescribe those medications when possible.
Get as much fresh produce as you can from a home garden or local farms. It’s cheaper, (sometimes even free) and it’s fresher.

And that’s my list. Tell us how you save money by leaving a comment on my blog: http://www.sabrinaomalone.com. We will randomly choose one of the comments to receive a $50 Visa Gift card!*
*Void where prohibited.

Surviving a Recession

2008-12-18T02:37:00Z

“Mommy…are we poor?”

One of my kids asked me that recently. So I blurted out a flip: “Yup. We sure are!” Fortunately, Big Dan was within earshot, and sensed there was more to this question than a casual inquiry. After a brief chuckle, he explained that I was kidding. He continued “We have a home, more than enough food to eat, and we have each other.” Then he concluded with, “No, sweetheart, we’re not poor. We’re rich.” (Sure wish I had said that…) The fact that we even had this conversation proves that anxiety about the economy has gotten to the point where six-year-olds are starting to be concerned.

This led me to wonder how the recession is affecting our working moms. I’d really like to hear from you. In fact, we’ll randomly select one of the comments about this subject to receive a $50 Visa gift card!*

I’m sure a lot of you are scared - so am I. It’s distressing when even the experts are reluctant to venture a guess as to how this will end. However, there is someone who knows what’s coming. Better still, you have rock-solid assurance that you’ll be taken care of:

ASSURANCE

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” –Jesus of Nazareth recorded in the book of Matthew Chapter 6 verses 26-34.

PEACE

So rest assured, God is not going to abandon you.
Take heart.
Don't fear.
By God’s grace, you will get through this.

Worrying, stressing and panicking won’t improve your current situation. Obsessing over what they say on the nightly news will only erode your peace and joy. Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." –Recorded in the book of John Chapter 16 verse 33.

Why don’t you just take him at his word this time?
If you’re concerned about your future, then this is the time to pray -and pray hard.
Seek God.
Worship well.
Be grateful for what you already have.
Count your blessings.
Get your spending under control.
Do not incur new debt.
Don't borrow.
Write out a plan or budget to pay your bills.

A “How to Get out of Debt Class” was recently offered at our church. I'm wondering if I ought to share the fundamentals of it for the January Newsletter. It may be good timing in light of the temptation to overspend during the holidays. All five of my children have ideas about things they want this Christmas, and all totaled, they could easily put us back several thousand dollars.

THE QUANDARY

While I don’t want to disappoint them by failing to deliver gifts they’re hoping for and dreaming of, I also don’t want to jeopardize our financial stability. (Especially not for toys and trinkets that they’ll be bored with by New Years.) So is it possible (or even realistic) to somehow give good gifts while preparing to survive a recession? Yes, it is. But the key is to stretch every dollar.

According to Pastor Richard Pfeil, in an economic downturn one of the best things you can do is "skinny up." Reduce spending. Focus on the essentials. Work together with your family on this. Don’t buy what you don’t need right now. Don’t borrow. And don't pay someone else by outsourcing things you could do yourself. Consider trading skills and bartering if you can.

While I realize that this is not a macroeconomic solution for the world’s economy…it sure sounds like a family-specific solution to make it through the hard times of a recession or impending depression.

EXAMPLES
So we’ll be giving homemade (organic) Christmas cookies this year. These will be for friends, relatives and business associates. I do make an effort to package them beautifully (and if I must say so myself) they’re delicious. Moreover, it’s something we can afford. However it will cost me time, some effort and planning. But in just one day, I can shop for the ingredients, bake them, package them, and mail them out. I’ll have gifts for everybody but my immediate family for less than fifty dollars.

We will also be planting our first vegetable garden this spring. (Pray for us, I’m no farmer.)

So would you let me know how you are doing? Would you let me know if you’ve already made adjustments (or plan to) so you can survive the recession or impending depression? Remember, we will randomly select one of the comments to receive a $50 Visa gift card.* Your comments and experiences will help WorkingMom.com to monitor the situation accurately, to respond appropriately and to develop new tools to better meet your needs.

Working Moms in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand have told me that they’d like printable online grocery coupons too. So for 2009, we are actively looking to establish partnerships with the leading coupon distributors in your countries. Please let us know the names of the companies that put the traditional, paper coupons in your area’s leading newspapers. Then we can take it from there.

And just because I’ve always rather enjoyed going against the grain, WorkingMom is going to do something totally different from most of the other companies sending you emails this time of year. As you may have gathered, I’m basically telling you NOT to spend if you don’t have to. Plus I’m going to make it easier for you to save.

RESOURCES
If you are already feeling the pinch from the recession, you might want to consider Angel Food Ministries if you live in the US. They provide name brand, restaurant quality food at approximately half the price it costs in the grocery store. This is a unique outreach that is already available in 35 states. There are no fees to join, no income restrictions, no applications or anything. We ordered two boxes of food last month. We saved a bundle, and this month we’re ordering again. (For those of you who don’t know, I’m expecting our sixth child in May…this’ll make us a family of 8 - please pray for us!) So as you can imagine I’m pretty motivated to be frugal. If you’re just as eager to save where you can, take a look at the Angel Food Ministries website for more details.

Another hot tip to surviving the recession is to start using online printable grocery coupons every time you go to the grocery store. You can really save a lot when there’s an in-store sale + your shopper’s card discount + double coupons. And get in the habit of shopping with a grocery list, it’ll help you stay focused amidst the temptations and distractions in the store. A list will remind you what you really came for.

Lastly, if you are having serious trouble paying your bills and keeping things afloat, we recommend you contact Crown Financial Ministries and make use of the resources and counseling available on their website. And don’t be too proud to talk with the pastor at your local church. Aside from the spiritual and emotional help, there may also be tangible help available to those who need it.

Blessings,

Sabrina O’Malone

*Void where prohibited.

Sabrina O'Malone

http://www.sabrinaomalone.com/

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Turning 40 - Hitting the Big "Four-Oh"

2008-07-29T11:31:00Z

TriLASTIN SR - Getting Rid of Stretch Marks

Turning 40

I just finished writing a comprehensive review about TriLASTIN for the July Newsletter. It's definitely a lighter topic than my usual, "what is the meaning of life" kinds of fare. But the way in which this came onto my radar is what brings it within the scope of the WorkingMom motto. I'll explain:

You see, I graduated high school in 1986. And 2008 is the year we all turn forty. I'm from a small town, the kind where everybody knew everybody else -and their older brother. You could literally walk from one end of town to the other and on every block there was at least one home where you could knock on the door, stop in and call home if it was getting dark, too cold or too hot.

I'm still close to many of the people I grew up. And I noticed that as we're all hitting the big "Four-Oh" some of us are taking it harder than others. But the thing we all have in common is that we're taking inventory of what we've done so far, and what we'd like to do with the rest of our lives.

Which leads me to the stretch mark cream, Trilastin. You see, one of these friends decided that for her fortieth birthday she was going to be fit, healthy, stronger than ever, and would concentrate on maximizing her physical and external appearance. (To be candid with you, at first I thought her goals were kind of shallow.) Fortunately, God gave me the good sense not to criticize her. And as it turns out, she had set attainable goals that inspired her -even if they weren't particularly inspiring (or even attainable) for me.

So as part of her physical health and external appearance Odyssey she began to regularly go to the gym, started to eat organic (mostly vegetarian), and came across TriLASTIN SR.

Frankly, I may not be able to resist a good steak, and I may not have the discipline to go to the gym as often as I should, but I can certainly could put on lotion to get rid of my stretch marks! So I tried it and wrote the following review about the experience.

What do you think? Feel free to leave your comments on my blog:

Sabrina O'Malone
Sabrina's Blog

Girlfriend's Guide to Overcoming Adversity

2007-11-21T12:53:00Z

I have three friends in the midst of some seriously tough situations. I pray for these women regularly, and a few days ago, I decided to do some research on the subject of successfully overcoming adversity –simply as a labor of love for them. I ended up compiling what I hoped was an encouraging, inspiring message. When it was done, I realized that there are lots more people facing adversity than my friends. So here it is - Sabrina’s lovingly created “Girlfriend’s Guide to Overcoming Adversity” (With a little help from Pastor Richard!)

KITCHEN TABLE WISDOM

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how hard things were. She didn't know how she was going to make it and felt like giving up. As soon she solved one problem, it seemed a new one took its place. She was tired of fighting and struggling. Her mother took her to the kitchen.

She filled three pots with water.

In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the last one, she placed ground coffee beans.

She let them boil without saying a word. After a little while, she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled some coffee into in a cup.

Turning to her daughter, she said "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee." she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She noted that they were very soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the egg was hard-boiled. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter finally asked, "Mom, what’s your point?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity -boiling water- but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it became weak and nearly disintegrated.
The egg had been delicate. A thin outer shell was the only protection for its liquid interior. The egg hardened on the inside after being subjected to boiling water.
However, the coffee was unique. The coffee changed the water.

Which are you? When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you like a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Like the carrot, did you start out strong only to become weak and nearly fall apart because of pain and adversity?

Like the egg, did you start out delicate, but toughened up and grew hardened after facing the heat of a trial? Did you once have a fluid, resilient spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, do you now have a hardened heart? Does your “shell” look the same, but the inside is totally different?

Or are you like the coffee bean? Coffee subjected to hot water becomes something wonderful. Only then does coffee fully release its fragrance and flavor. If adversity affects you like hot water affects coffee, then when things are at their worst, you are at your best. You change the very situations that cause you pain.

Ironically, each of my friends had a response similar to one of the food illustrations. One didn’t respond to it at all. The other sent me a sweet email message thanking me for being strong for her when she was weak. The last one also thanked me for the message, and then forwarded it to almost everyone in her address book!

So when the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest exactly how can you elevate to the level of a coffee bean? Pastor Richard Pfeil has wisdom on this subject that far exceeds my own. The rest of this message on overcoming adversity comes from him.

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Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. -James 1:2-5

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James says "when tests and challenges come at you from all sides...." Because the fact is that you are going to face times of trials. James was an intensely strong believer. His faith was not shaken by the reality of trials. Trials did not cause him to deny God at all. James knows it's not God's fault. Yet so often God is the first person we all blame when adversity comes.

It is common for us to blame God. But think of Jesus on the cross. If God was really to blame for adversity, then God had cause to be mad at himself! What we hear from Jesus on the cross is a cry of anguish, a feeling of being alone, but he still had faith because he said, "Into your hands I commit my spirit."

A father took his daughter to the doctor to get an injection - knowing the experience would be painful. The daughter knew her father loved her, yet he was the one who brought her to her tormentors. Nevertheless, with love in the father's heart, holding his daughter, she clung to him, receiving the painful shot. She cried, "Daddy, Daddy, no." But she clung to him nonetheless. This is a good posture for us to remember in adversity. We should always cling to the Father because he loves us and knows what's best for us.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

One thing that trips us up when we experience hard times is that deep down, we don't expect them to happen. The first statement we make is, "I can't believe this is happening to me." We are so often caught off guard by financial down-turns and yet common sense tells us that in the history of our economy, there is a seven-year cycle of ups and downs. Throughout humanity, industries have come and gone, times change, and people need to prepare for this.

People are crushed by the loss of loved ones. It is okay to experience grief - which is an expression of love, but it is not okay to be destroyed. History tells us that everyone dies. Billions of people have lived on this earth and died, and it is something that we need to prepare for.

Some people are confused by illness and the process of aging and the frailty that accompanies it. Yet, we all age. None of us ever grows younger.

What we need is a realistic expectation of life. We need to understand and accept the Biblical view that the world is fallen and we will experience adversity. May God give us the grace to accept it and to prepare ourselves to see adversity simply as hurdles in life to jump over.

ASSIGNING BLAME

Another thing that trips people up about adversity is that we draw this parallel between life and God. We think that everything that happens in life is because of God. We ask, "Why, God, did you let this happen to me? God, where are you? Don't you care? Aren't you in control?"

Don’t misunderstand God's sovereignty as him being a puppet king. He is not that at all. He has divine oversight and sees all, but he does not control all. He knows everything. Life is real and dynamic. It is not determined. God's purposes are determined, but not every moment.

If you are going to get angry and point fingers; then point at the right object - life. Get angry at life, shake it up! This isn't God's best, this isn't his intention. Pray as the church prayed historically, "Come, Lord Jesus." Ask God, "Lord, what can I learn from these experiences? Give me your strength to endure. Help me to pray your will." It is important to pray God's will-pray for healing, pray for restoration, pray for redemption, but also pray for strength.

CHOOSE JOY

James says, "Consider it pure joy...." Now, that's an odd phrase. Literally, this means "Fix it in your mind that when you face adversity, you will respond with joy." Loosely translated, this means “Be happy, laugh, sing, dance.” The image is of a person determined to stay positive, determined that adversity will not defeat them, determined to believe the best.

Decide in your heart that you will not be defeated, disillusioned, crushed or perplexed.
Decide in your heart that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
You do not need to fear the future because you know who holds the future in his hands.
You need to know that God's purpose is to make you the head -and not the tail.
You know that He holds the keys to hell, death and the grave.
Know that He is with you and that He loves you.
And as a result, consider it pure joy.

Because in the wisdom of God, beyond the fact that we have a God to call upon who is watching over us, joy is the only emotion that will help us get through adversity. Think of all the emotions that you could experience: anger, anxiety, denial, depression, doubt, stressing-out, or just trying to bear all of life's burdens on your shoulders. None of them help you. They only deplete your energy and pull you farther down than you were before! Only joy will help you walk through adversity and make you successful in spite of it.

LESSONS FROM THE GYM

The Bible verse above alludes to learning patience from adversity. Another way to translate this would be endurance or staying power. Patience is what the trucker needed when he decided to drive around the barrier to save a few minutes. Because he lacked patience, he lost his life. The Apostle Paul writes that adversity brings character, and James concludes by saying adversity, if you allow it, will complete you and make you mature, strong, -as strong as iron. How? Because adversity is the gym of our interior selves. It is the only way we develop as a person.

We know how to develop physically. We know that when training, the only way to get strong and fit is through some kind of resistance. Just as resistance is health to our body, adversity is the gym that develops character. It is not popular to say this -because in our culture we have learned that adversity is something to avoid. Even Christians try to pray away adversity in life.

PASTOR – PATIENT - PATIENCE

"I remember driving into Pittsburgh early one morning to go to surgery. I got up a little later than I intended so I was buzzing down the highway. (Why is it that when you are most in need of some speed, there is always someone slow in front of you?)

There was no way to get around the person in front of me. The longer I drove, the more I wanted to shout at the person in front of me to go faster –but it didn't happen.

A few miles down the road, I began to say, 'God, you know I have to get to the hospital. You know I have to be there for surgery. Do something! Don't you care?'

A few more miles down the road, I fell into despair and thought, "I'm not going to get there in time. I might as well pack my bags. I'm in trouble now."

Then after a few more miles, I finally became humble and said things like, 'God, please. I'm begging you to remove them. Make them turn at the next exit.' But God never did - because he wanted me in that situation. At that moment, he wanted to teach me to be patient. Somewhere later in my life, I will need to have patience."

When we pray ourselves out of adversity, we are praying ourselves out of God's gym. God wants to develop some things in our life because he knows that down the road we are going to need these things to survive. Don't be so quick to pray yourself out of adversity. It may be God's workshop to build into you something that you will need later on.

MONOPOLIZING JOY

Don't short-cut God when you experience adversity. Ask him, "Lord, what do you want to teach me?" Use it as an opportunity to grow. Do as Charles and Esther Darrow did -they accepted adversity as part of life and refused to allow it to steal their joy. They worked through it, and God helped them. They learned through the situation, and they kept laughing.

Back in 1932 Charles Darrow was out of a job, broke, and his wife Esther was expecting a baby. Although he was a heating engineer, there were no jobs available and Charles and Esther were just barely subsisting on the few odd jobs he could get as a handyman. Things were bleak. Fate didn't reckon with the courage of this man and his wife, however. They laughed at it, literally.

In the evenings, to take their minds off their troubles, they played a little game in which they could pretend they were millionaires, recalling pleasant vacations in nearby Atlantic City. They reconstructed the area adjoining the boardwalk. Darrow carved hotels and houses out of small pieces of wood, and they called the game “Monopoly.” He patented it and copyrighted it, and three years later, the game was marketed by Parker Brothers, and the Darrows became millionaires! They allowed adversity to make them instead of break them.

When you face adversity, are you going to allow it to break you or make you? It's your choice. I’ll be praying for you.

Love,

Sabrina O’Malone

Work at Home -The Inside Scoop

2007-08-04T10:41:00Z

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
      Because the LORD has anointed Me
      To preach good tidings to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim liberty to the captives,
      And the opening of the prison to those who are bound” Isaiah 61:1

I only scratched the surface in the original Work at Home Exposé. There’s a root issue or main point I need to address.

THE ISSUE:

Don’t be surprised if emotional upheaval, anxiety and fears suddenly emerge when you contemplate a major life change.

§ Could you really use some good news?

§ Are you brokenhearted?

§ Do you know what it’s like to be poor?

§ Would you like to be set free?

If so, then please re-read the verse above and take it to heart. And if this doesn’t particularly apply to you; then consider how it might benefit someone you know.

I started thinking about this because my friends and family have been asking questions since we released the Work at Home Exposé. Happy (and not-so-happy) working moms, working dads and stay-at-home moms all wanted the inside scoop. Evidently, the Work at Home article raised as many questions as it answered.

THE QUESTIONS:

So…how much do you and Big Dan make online?
How many hours a week do you work?
Can you teach me how or just tell me what to do?

I’m sure other people were wondering the same thing -but didn’t feel they knew me well enough to ask.

THE ANSWERS:

How much do we make? -By God's grace, the internet brings in more than we need to comfortably support our family of seven.
How many hours per week do we work online? -Anywhere from 15 to 35.
Will I teach you how or just tell you what to do? –I’ll do even better; I tell you what I did:

Spiritually:

1. I prayed –a lot. Silently, out loud, in song, and in my heart. Prayer became my standard response to solving problems.

2. I listened to uplifting music –exclusively. The positive lyrics in Contemporary Christian music kept me full of hope and joy.

3. I worshipped –regularly. Not out of obligation, but of necessity. It was a healing balm to be encouraged and taught every week.

4. I read the Bible –for myself. The concordance guided me to find what God has to say about every situation.

Professionally:

1. I joined Scam Free Zone Private Member's site

2. I read the Blueprint for Success on my computer.

3. I did the Writing Cash tutorial

4. And I started paying closer attention to Eric’s Tips.

These things quickly took me from “wishing I had a clue online” to “making a living online.” In hindsight, I can see how valuable it was that I started with prayer, but I really should have started learning about internet marketing shortly thereafter. (For the record, Big Dan and I spent three years burning through our life savings before we even started learning about affiliate or internet marketing.)

BLACK BOX WARNING

If you tend to be gullible, greedy, lazy, or are in desperate financial straits, do NOT buy ANYTHING related to any work at home opportunity. Don’t purchase anything, don’t invest in anything; don’t join; order or reserve anything that costs you money. “Get rich quick opportunities” will only break your heart. First, remediate the above mentioned traits; then tackle working at home.

So here’s the bottom line of the lessons I learned about working at home on the internet:

Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing -But don’t let fear keep you out of the pasture!
Educate yourself over a period of time about websites and the internet. Your own education should never be delegated to someone else. You must understand "how, why and where" you make a living online. Do not “outsource” your own wisdom.

THE GOOD NEWS

§ You don’t need special equipment. (Your PC or laptop will do.)

§ You don’t need to become a programmer,

§ You don’t need to become webmaster

§ You don’t need to become Search Engine specialist.

With just a rudimentary understanding of internet marketing, HTML and SEO even a tech-challenged person like me learned enough to turn a profit. (If you don’t know what HTML and SEO means; don’t despair –neither did I in the beginning!)

ENCOURAGEMENT

Working mom, if you’ve been longing to find a way to earn a living while working from home, be brave! Don’t sell yourself short, and don’t give up on your dreams. You’re raising a child, keeping up a home and holding down a job. That’s proof you’ve got potential!

§ Know what your goals are. –See the Vision Article

§ Begin working towards achieving them. –See the Work at Home Exposé

§ Become knowledgeable & wise. –Pray hard and start learning.

Remember, Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

Helpful Resources: The Scam Free Zone Private Members; Blueprint for Success; Writing Cash; Eric’s Tips; Go Daddy Coupons

A SERIOUSLY GREAT Mother's Day Gift

2007-05-03T15:27:00Z

Our Newest Checklist can Radically Change Your Life.

The WorkingMom.com Kid's Chore Chart was born out of an epiphany that occurred while I was straightening my house. Even though I was in the process of cleaning, I realized my house was getting messier by the minute. You see, my children were in other parts of the house taking out toys and playing dress-up at a rate that far eclipsed my cleaning speed.

That's when I realized that Mommy can't do "it all" (And to be straight with you, this particular Mommy can't even do "most of it".) -Not without live-in help -which we cannot afford.

So what were my options?

Go on the "Mommy Warpath" throwing an all-out hissy-fit commandeering my family into a mad cleaning frenzy. (Tempting.but it would've been as futile as putting a band-aid on a serious injury.)
Give up...throw in the towel...live with the mess and accept it as my lot in life. (Not a chance...that doesn't even SOUND like me.)
Give Big Dan a "piece of my mind" about how he could help out more. (Also tempting...but utterly naïve -and after you've been married long enough you'll know why.)
Pray for wisdom and a practical solution. (Now we're getting somewhere.)

I settled on option 4, and this was the result.

Do I, or do I not have the ability to create interactive checklists? Personal Time Management Tools? Motivational and Inspirational Writing? What would happen if I asked the WorkingMom team to come up with an absolutely stellar, totally phenomenal Kid's Chore Chart? A high-tech, free printable chore chart that would have children begging to do chores?

Yes, you read correctly, I requested something that would have kids "begging to do chores."

After all, kids "live-in" and they can "help."

The Kid's Chore Chart is:

Very Fast and very easy to use
Personalized for each child
Has default settings & suggestions -in case you can't think of everything
Includes fun "chores"
Remembers free play
Has four different kid-themed backgrounds to choose from
Prints out on one page
Can also be emailed
Is completely free
Doesn't require registrations

Do yourself a favor, give yourself a great gift for Mother's Day and create a quick To Do List for your child and comment on the results in my blog.

CHORE CHART

If you post your comment, you'll automatically become eligible to win one of our nice prizes. We're randomly selecting a comment on the new Kid's Chore Chart to win a brand new Sunbeam Bread machine! (This is just like the one I use in my own kitchen, and it's been a real blessing to me and my family.) Health benefits aside, just imagine waking up in the morning to the aroma of fresh-baked bread! Or imagine making brownies, banana bread, or chocolate chip cake, etcetera from scratch -with little to no effort. I tell you, this little machine has made me into a legend at my kid's schools!

Let me know what you think of the Kid's To Do List and you just might win this yourself. www.sabrinaomalone.com With, that said, as important as a good "Chore Chart" or "To Do List" can be; I'll refer you to the Special Report from Dez Molloy. Her article serves as the perfect reminder not to let your own to-do list become an "idol" or your master.

SPECIAL REPORT

Work at Home

2007-02-28T18:26:00Z

We have a new most frequently asked question at WorkingMom.com:

“Are there ANY legitimate work at home jobs?”

Rather than individually answering this question over and over again (as I have in the past) we are releasing an Exposé about Work at Home Jobs -the results are shocking. You can read the actual report on our website:

Work at Home Jobs

The primary deals, freebies and coupons mentioned in the article are:

Let me know what you think. Pre-publication, the Work at Home Article has already generated one seriously scathing review, cost us a potential advertiser while simultaneously garnering rave reviews from other people…I’m curious to find out whether you love it, hate it or condemn me for it.

Feel free to leave your comments about it on my blog:

Sabrinaomalone.com

Be forewarned, I wear a size 9 shoe -so I’m bound to step on a few toes. The Work at Home Exposé is a no-holds-barred report of what proved to be legit and what was a scam….I’m not running for office, I don’t have to cater to any corporation, and I refuse to ignore an elephant in the room. My goal with the Work at Home Article was to plainly speak the truth in a loving manner. Anything you’ve wanted to know about Work at Home Opportunities but haven’t had the time or inclination to investigate, we’ve endeavored to uncover in this report.

Next, I’m continuing my policy of opening up my schedule for speaking engagements. However we only have inventory on hand (and space in my schedule) for three speaking engagements this year. I’ll open them up on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to have the Seven Secrets to Success at Home and Work presented live and in person at your workplace, to your women’s group or at your church, contact us as soon as possible. And remember:

I don’t charge an honorarium.
I don’t charge a fee,
I don’t accept donations
I won’t accept love offerings.

Point blank, I don’t speak for money. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The WorkingMom speaking package is designed to generate funds for the organizations that book me. See the details online:

Sabrina’s Speaking Policy

As you can imagine, this puts me in high demand, so if this having me address your group is something of interest to you, contact me right away, before the first three slots are booked.
http://www.workingmom.com/contactus2.html

Lastly, we selected a winner to the Vision Post from January. And I’d like to extend my heartfelt thank you to everyone who posted their vision on my blog. I was inspired, touched and moved by the depth of thought and emotion people put into them.

Congratulations Deborah! You’ll be receiving your I-Robot Scooba floor washing vacuum in a few days.

In His Service,

Sabrina O’Malone

You Cannot Succeed without THIS...

2007-01-09T19:57:00Z

A Good friend of mine asked me to write out my vision. It turned out to be a watershed experience. It had been quite a while since I took a moment to think about where I even wanted to go...much less where I was headed.

So to give you an idea of where these thoughts took me, I'm posting them. I encourage you to post yours as well, and keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer here. Take a moment to think about and write out YOUR vision. It will do wonders for you.

Sabrina's Vision

My vision and goals are an amalgam of faith, family, ministry and running a business. It's my goal to negotiate without compromise. This is the inherent challenge of combining so many aspects of life at the same time. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, a wife, mother, daughter, friend, businesswoman, author, mentor, housekeeper, chaueffer, book-keeper and cheerleader -all at the same time. It all comes down to what I envision...what my BIG dreams are, or the ones that make my heart sing...here they are:

I envision attending the college graduations of each one of our children, and enthusiastically applauding when their names are called followed by the phrase "Summa Cum Laude"

I envision holding a grandchild in my arms someday.

I envision being in heaven and seeing the people led to the Lord through me and the work God chose to do through me.

Professionally, I envision having the influence to TELL companies exactly what kind of coupon WorkingMom.com wants to distribute, -and having them CREATE it.

But above all, my vision pertains to running this race called life well. Staying true to my calling. Even if I have to walk alone at times, but always walking forward, with Big Dan at my side -the both of us a team and helping one another through the difficult times. Celebrating and sharing our successes together, always giving honor and praise to the One who makes them possible.

Fiscally, money hasn't served as a strong motivator for me. Perhaps this is because I haven't experienced hunger, poverty, extreme fear or been in want for basic necessities. Working to generate more income hasn't been much of a factor in my own vision, probably because (by the grace of God), we've always been able to have enough to cover our basic needs with some left over. I thank God for that.

Steven Covey and Eric Holmlund said "Begin with the end in mind..."

In the end, I'd like my children to eulogize me and say they received a depth of love, compassion, discipline and faith because they were in my family. I'd like my friends and even people who only know me through writing to say that their lives were made better because of what the Lord did through me.

I envision seeing the face of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and hearing Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I'm guessing that's vision enough for this blog entry. I don't know if I would've actually thought about it so much if Eric hadn't suggested it. Many thanks to Eric for jumpstarting the New Year with thoughts of Vision.

Oh, and don't forget, we'll be randomly selecting a one of the replies to the Vision post to receive a Scooba Floor Washing Robot! Valued at $399.00! So take a moment to write out your vision...you might just win something that will save you many moments of housework!

In His Service,
Sabrina O

The Lost Boy

2006-12-20T02:53:00Z

Let me start this blog by saying everyone is fine...we are all safe and sound. It's been a few days since this happened and I think I can finally write about it with a measure of objectivity...

It was basically a typical work/school day. Big Dan was running late, so the kids and I ate dinner at the kitchen table. It was an informal, fun kind of meal with very little push back about eating vegetables -since I had chosen baby carrots and cucumbers as side dishes. (Favorites with the kids)

I fed the baby, helped the kids with homework, started dishes and went through book bags. I took the baby upstairs to get him changed into his pajamas. Then I realized I hadn't seen Daniel, (our oldest) child in a little while, so I had one of his sisters go check on him.

She came back after a few minutes and said she couldn't find him. I was pretty sure he was curled up somewhere in the house with a good book or magazine, but I immediately decided to look for him myself.

"Daniel!" I called out as I walked throughout the house. Upstairs, downstairs, throughout the basement, playroom...everywhere.

"DANIEL!" I called louder. Then I put the baby into the bouncy seat. -Mild panic was beginning to set in.

"This isn't funny, Daniel!" I called out as I went through closets, looking under beds.

Then I looked outside, and noticed the garage door still open from when we had gotten home...Worry and panic officially kicked in. I checked in the minivan, everywhere I could think of.

Then I saw one of our neighbors and asked if he had seen Daniel. I had to tell him that my son was lost.

I didn't know where he was.
And it was pitch black outside.
And getting cold.
His coat and shoes were still in the house.

All I could think was the worst.

With gut wrenching agony, I called his name over and over again, desperately listening for some kind of response. After yet another moment of silence my panic bubbled over as I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Dear GOD, help us! Why is this happening? I can't take this!"

The neighbors formed immediate search parties to canvas the neighborhood.

"Daniel, if you don't answer me right now, I'm calling 911!" I screamed with my hand on the receiver of the telephone.

I made the call I had hoped never to make. I called 911 to report one of my kids missing. It felt like a stone in the pit of my stomach and cotton in my throat. The operator assured me he gets calls like this all the time and he could just about guarantee that my son was fine...a small consolation my when I hadn't the foggiest notion where my first born son was. Only nine years old, so trusting, and so unlike him to wander off in the dark. I saw his skateboard lying carelessly behind my minivan.

Truthfully, my spirits sagged beneath the weight of the big, giant, worst-case scenario. And it was like a dagger in my heart to hear the baby call out his big brother's name -for the first time, apparently mimicking his sisters and me.

I texted Big Dan in all caps. "COME HOME NOW, I CAN'T FIND DANIEL AND I'M ON THE PHONE WITH 911!"

One of my next door neighbors suggested, "Let my kids thoroughly search through your house for him."
"Okay." I replied weakly. I was fast losing my grip and couldn't really think straight anymore.

It was like music to my ears to hear the voice of a preteen girl ring out "He's here! I found him! He's okay!"

I nearly flew up the stairs to see for myself. Daniel had fallen asleep in his sister's half-opened trundle bed! He had somehow slept through the entire ordeal...and he had been safe, secure and warm the entire time. I hadn't seen him when I looked through the room because he was wrapped up with a comforter twisted around him and just looked like an umade bed.

I can't remember much of what happened next. I know my knees gave out. I hit the floor wailing, sobbing -like there was no tomorrow.
Relief.
Praise.
Gratitude.
Love.

Losing and finding him within the span of forty-five minutes was the sourest, bitterest, most frightening, and most exhilarating experience of my life.

Somehow it made me think of the lost lamb story in the Bible, or the lost coin parable. I still can't claim to have any profound lesson learned with this experience. I can say that my panic only made the situation worse. It made my thinking foggy, frightened the other children, compromised my ability to search and think rationally. And I would've thought of myself as level-headed, calm, cool and collected under pressure...but I really did lose it when Daniel was lost. To tell you the truth, even remembering it now gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Several people I know have had similar stories of temporarily misplacing a child. Do you think you might have been able to react a little better than I did (and for the sake of your kids I certainly hope you would) Let me know your story.

In His Service,
Sabrina
WorkingMom.com