Financial Possibilities

My husband has a degree in IT, specializing in networking and security. His income should be significant and allow us to live comfortably even without me working. But his job search was unproductive for the two years before COVID-19 swept the world. He is currently working at a nutritional supplements factory making barely above minimum wage. A job in his field would give us two or three times that income. But it has not happened, and right now isn't a good time to be looking for a job. The economy is trashed, and with so many people out of work, job hunting with no experience will be useless.

His income has left us with an extremely tight budget. The costs of my mental health care and our medications has left us broke most of the time. The stress of our financial situation is affecting both of us, pushing my husband deeper into depression when he already has trouble with it and eliciting more mood swings and anxiety from me. We're both close to a breaking point.

As Jane's father says in Becoming Jane, nothing destroys spirit like poverty.

I have been coming up with ideas for how I could contribute to the household income because my job editing business school entrance essays doesn't bring much income and only for a month or so twice a year.

A few people I've critiqued for have suggested I make it a business. Most of the people who have partnered with me have read my work so I will critique theirs, not necessarily because they loved my work. I've decided to pursue that route and see what becomes of it. I've registered on a freelance website as a critiquer and beta reader. I just did it on Wednesday, so I haven't had any nibbles yet. I need people to take a chance on me.

I decided to take the angle of advertizing as being open to erotica and LGBTQ+ characters. There are a lot of people who are comfortable with LGBTQ characters but not necessarily sex scenes. I am, and I stated that. Hopefully, it will help give me some more business.

I am also still in the process of opening an Etsy store. I've been making things to sell, none of which I've shared here. Before I can set up my store, I need to get a post office box for an address to ship from. My husband and I don't want our home address on items shipped to strangers. For friends and family, sure. But not strangers. The cost of the PO box has inhibited our ability to set up this source of income.

Between these two "jobs," I could significantly increase our income by working from home. That would be fantastic. It would give us more leeway in our budget and hopefully ease the tight finances we're experiencing at the moment.

I'm glad my skills as a writer and crafter have the possibility of making us more comfortable financially. Despite my inability to hold down a job, I still have the potential to bring in income through self-employment. Cross my fingers it works.

Meanwhile, I will relax with the sounds of nature.

Photo Credit: "Open Notebook Blurred Background" by tiramisustudio, "Wool" by Gregory Szarkiewicz