by Hope
I need to make $6,000 in the next 5 weeks to be able to cover February and March bills. While I’ve got the work under contract, they are slow to get started and up and running. So I’ve only brought in a couple of hundred dollars each week this month thus far. (I received $195 last week from contract work.)
Thankfully, again, it’s just me. So I just need to keep my head down and work all the hours and projects I can. That’s the plan.
I still have plenty of food. All bills are current as of today. Filled up my gas tank today. And have no plans for any significant driving until I leave for Texas. Although I do have to drive two hours round trip in a couple of weeks to get my car serviced.
Now I sit tight and pray that the house sells. And I get even more work.
Work Plan
I am continuing to grow my contract business again. Without launching my new website (remember that debacle from earlier this month,) word of mouth is starting up again and I’m getting referral projects along with continued contracts from site like Upwork.
The corporate role that I had two interviews for seems to have petered out. No official word, but the silence has been deafening.
If the House doesn’t Sell
I am definitely leaving for another weeks long Texas trip in a few weeks. And a realtor will take over the house. I am negotiating that rate and terms later next week. Any guidance? I’m thinking 4% to be split between buyer/seller agent and a term of 3 months. I don’t think I want to live in limbo longer than that.
I realize that standard is 6% to split, but when I asked what they actually do for that amount of money, it seemed crazy to pay upwards of $9,000 from the proceeds of the sale for that. Especially if it sells really quickly. Which everyone believes that it will. I figured with the lower %, I would feel more comfortable “gifting” a monetary gratitude for a job well done versus feeling obligated and uncomfortable with the amount it was costing me. Does that make sense? Am I completely off?
And yes, I now the agent has to agree to my terms…so there’s that.
Clearing the House
The only furniture left in the house is my recliner, my bed, a plastic table that I’m using as a desk, and a dining room chair. (I’ll put the plastic table and chair in storage before I leave.) When the house sells and I know I will no longer be coming back, my recliner will go to storage and my bed will be disposed of.
My 10’x10′ storage unit is packed to the brim with furniture, items of sentimental value, and household goods.
My plan is to return from Texas in a few weeks, and live in the house until it sells. If it doesn’t sell by the term set, which I highly doubt, but it’s certainly a possibility, I will take that as a sign that I am not to sell it. And figure out what staying stuck here looks like.
I’m sure you can tell that I have my heart now set on being free of the responsibility. But this truly is a step out in faith. So if it doesn’t sell, I will take that as a very clear message that I am to sit down and stay still, here, and figure something else out.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
