The Adventure Begins

 Well, the adventure begins. If you know me, you know I love numbers. Naturally, that means I love money. I am always looking for ways to make some extra money on the side for fun. Why?  I make decent money, my husband makes decent money, but I always find that we have enough for what I have made a budget for. I want that extra money for extra trips, a fun activity, or to pay for soccer and dance. When I look at the big picture, I feel like I make decent money, but I am a teacher. Need I say more? I know that if I broke down my yearly salary with what work I do, I am probably making pennies. So, I find myself looking for extra money all of the time. 

Let's start from the beginning. I started teaching 18 years ago....18! I love my job, I really do. However, I have found over the last 18 years, that teaching has become more and more difficult, especially since 2021. So about 7 years ago, I started teaching online teaching English to kids over in China. After all, teaching is what I know. I have always wanted to be a teacher. I put my heart into teaching. I put so much of my life into my teaching. But, I love it. In the middle of this teaching side job, we decided to move and build a home. Teaching in the early mornings became more difficult. I am not a morning person at all, but I was doing it. Long story short, after we moved into our new home in 2019, China decided they didn't want out of country teachers teaching their children. There are many other reasons for China's decision as well, but that is a whole other story. Well, there went that side money. 

Since Covid, we are all aware the money doesn't grow on trees! Prices have gone up and let's face it....I am getting old. Our kids are growing up and that means a little (lot) more money being put towards their soccer and dance. When they get older, we might feel like we hit the jackpot. I am tired of wishing for extra money to do a few of the extreme things we want to enjoy. So, here I am again, trying to find extra money. 

Let's talk about what I have done so far. I have researched! Since I am a teacher, that basically means I am in counseling to talk about many things my job comes with. I am finding that my one main hobby is TEACHING. And teaching, is taking a toll on me. During Covid, I could sleep and I was so easy going, but since I returned, I saw that teaching was really affecting my life.  I needed to find something away from teaching and to enjoy for me. 

I decided through my research and the love I have for making digital products, why not start an Etsy shop? This is where I am right now. Researching and trying my hand at an Etsy Shop. Am I going to become rich? Well, I joke I will. I will be happy with an extra $500 a month really, that's all I want. Through my research I have found that I wanted something I can do on my own, on my own time- enter Etsy Shop here. I have found many different opportunities during my research to bring in some extra money, that I have so many different ideas. Besides my Etsy Shop, I decided I am going to blog about some of the jobs I have found and what happens with them, when I try them. I have come across some really amazing routes to earn some extra income. But, I do know that doing this on my own, it is going to be some time before money comes in and it is going to take some work.  

So, the adventure begins. I wanted to share what products have helped me! This blog will guide you into some opportunities that you might be interested in trying. It may not be the Etsy Shop, but it could be little things like transcribing, reading books, writing books, etc. Through the blog, I will share how my Etsy Shop is doing and how it is going (it will make me be more patient and stick with it). I hope you enjoy what I bring to you and ask questions or give me extra things to think about during this adventure. Who knows, this might actually lead me to do more with my teaching sites and other ideas!