Making $$

So, I'm expecting my first (hopefully not last) trip to the Olympics to cost me a pretty penny. As a result, I've wanted to start making some extra money to help fund this little adventure. Luckily, a couple of things just happened to come up to help me with this.

I've got a temporary Saturday night babysitting job. I started last weekend and will be doing 3 more Saturdays this month. I'm just taking over for my friend, Mindy, who is currently in a play for the next month. Hopefully, once her play is over, I'll be able to continue to do it sometimes when she can't. It is the easiest job ever and good money! The kids are a boy who is almost 3 (just one week younger than Beau!) and a girl who is 6. They are extremely sweet and good kids and they go to bed between 7:30/8:00. I pretty much get there, put them to bed and then get comfy on their couch and read for a couple of hours until the parents get home. This past week, the parents even gave me extra cab money, but I opted to pocket it and take public transportation instead! And they feed me dinner and it's a night where I am not out spending the money. So, I'm earning and saving all at the same time. Nice!

I also made my first Etsy sale! I put my Game Day Beads on there a while back, but didn't advertise to anyone as I was trying to make some decisions about how/if I wanted to proceed. But, someone randomly found them and bought 3! Yea! I had to buy some more beads in different colors. I'd already bought a bunch of different colors of ribbon on sale after Christmas, so I was set for that. Anyway, I don't expect to ever get a ton of business, but it's a fun hobby and they're quick and easy to make, so if I can sell some more, that'd be great! I'm also going to start making bracelets as an alternative to the necklaces.

Taxes! I filed my tax returns and am expecting a big refund. Now, I know that getting a refund is not ideal...it's better to just get the money up front when you earn it, but I have to admit, I kind of like getting that extra cash deposited into my bank account each spring. On that note, if you don't tithe, I highly recommend it....it is the #1 reason I get a big refund every year. Obviously, I don't REALLY think that getting a tax refund is a good reason to tithe. But, I do think tithing is important to be obedient to God's commands and believe God blesses obedience. As my pastor always says, "would you rather have 90% of your income with God's blessing or 100% without His blessing"? I just consider that tax refund a little blessing in my pocket every year :)