So What Now When You Can't Make it as a Freelance Writer Alone

Many financial advisers will tell you that you can find a way to cut costs and make it on one budget. Well what happens if you cut all costs that you can, and have minimized everything you can, and you're still struggling? That's currently our situation at the moment. We have no extra splurges, no spending money on cigarettes, no funds on entertainment or dining out and only a $50.00 a week grocery bill. So, what now?? There is nothing more to cut costs on. No allowances for anything. Our entertainment is free stuff around here. We have utilities we pay, a mortgage payment that's fixed, and spend $25 per week in gas. So again, I ask what now?

People automatically assume that you can still cut costs and I'd like to know where. We don't qualify for government assistance and it would cost more in daycare for me to take another job outside of the home. I'm thinking I really need to look into more writing jobs so we can make it in this crappy economy.

And to tell you the truth it does irk me when people say they're barely getting by and can't afford regular expenses, yet they manage to pay big bucks for entertainment and dine out a fancy restaurants on a weekly/monthly basis.


Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter.

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A Free PDF Writer Tool?

I wonder, does anyone know of a free PDF writer tool out there? I know Adobe is good, but I can't afford the cost at the moment, and I've been thinking about creating an E-book for one of my other blogs.

Actually, I've been wanting to do a lot of things lately, if I can ever get myself back on track. I'd like to do some research on resume writing tips, so I can update my resume for my writing career.

There's really a lot I'd like to do as an entrepreneur online, but I know it's going to be a step-by-step thing. Any suggestions or ideas from my readers? Have any of you used Guru.com or Elance.com?


Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter.


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Doing Some Serious Thinking

I've been doing some serious thinking and now wondering if my job away from home is really worth it after an incident I had yesterday at the end of my shift. And this is not the first incident.

It really takes a lot to get to me and after being told I needed to change my appearance and doing so, and still not being up to standards with the company, I'm thinking the job may just be too much, especially when I was on the verge of tears yesterday at the end of my shift.

Some are telling me I should consider legal action over the matter, but I just don't know. I guess for now it will be more of my stubbornness and a wait and see kind of thing.
Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter.


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And Then One Thing Leads To Another

Ever had one of those bad days where one thing leads to another? And even though you might try to keep reminding yourself, this day will be great after the negative event, it just doesn't work?

My day started with being extremely tired, but I managed to get a small nap in after I took the kids to school. Then it was off to work or so I thought. My van's battery was dead due to a quick and hasty exit from one of the kids and my lack of knowledge and knowing better. 2 minutes before work and I was catching a ride from my husband thanks to that darn dead battery.

So once I got to work I suddenly realized I wasn't working with the scheduled manager, but one of the top dogs. Surprise! What an impression I must have made! Then our system went down to accept checks. Another Surprise! Next, I forgot to take a few security sensors off of the merchandise for one of our customers. Surprise again! And on the way home, I realize my kidney pain is back or maybe I should say, never really went away. And finally, I discovered we have a lot less money than what was originally thought. Hmmm. Don't we all!

So now that this day has ended I'm left with the kidney pain and extra hours at work, which out of it all can be a positive event. I just hope my day goes better, tomorrow.
Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter.


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Doing What You Have To Do

I'm going to be very honest when I say that there are times when I have no motivation whatsoever, and yesterday just happened to be one of those days. Today I'm hoping it won't happen again because I'm headed out into the real world in the sales jobs industry, a path I'm really surprise I chose due to my shyness. Yet, here I am, sharing with the world, or at least Independence, KS, my favorite store, and their merchandise, all while trying to meet the company's daily goal! And what's even more amazing is, I've been doing it for a couple of weeks now with outstanding results! Hey, it's an insane world out there and someone's got to join it!

No Other Option

I haven't worked on my novel, "The Generation" in about two weeks now and I know if I don't do something with it soon, it may be a very long time before I will be able to do something with it again. I'm hoping to at least get a paragraph or two written of it, tonight. But for now, I've been trying to increase ways to bring more income into the household again since my job away from home isn't bringing in much money for now.

Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing by not working nights and just dealing with the major health issues that I was experiencing from my last job. I certainly hope not. But, I believe things will work out in the end. After all, they have to. There is no other option.



Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter.



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Rescheduling Work

I had to take the day off from work as you can see from the photo. There was no way I was going to be able to make it to work and I'm really surprised those who did go to work actually made it.

My biggest worry with taking the day off was I was going to get pointed for it. As it turns out, no one was pointed for taking yesterday off. I also worried that since my conversion date was yesterday, I would lose the opportunity at working as a full-time employee for amazon. As it turned out on that too, they canceled all of the conversions from yesterday. Now when they'll set up the next conversion meeting, I don't know, but at least I still have the option of working for amazon when the next conversion date is rescheduled!



Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter.



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I Just Haven't Had the Time

Since I've started my job away from home, I really haven't had the time to do much of anything. Well, now that the job is coming to an end, I'm hoping to be able to get back into my freelance writing full force and work on my novel more.

It will be good to not experience so much pain from work and be able to concentrate on some important legal matters and life in general. I was hoping to finish my novel by the end of this year, but there's no chance of that one happening.lol

Well, at least I can say I have been working on it little by little over the past several months and that is certainly better than nothing at all!



Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.



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Team Work

If you think you're alone when it comes to rudeness in the workplace, you'd be wrong. It never ceases to amaze me that some people at work believe they have more power than everyone else, and I'm not just talking about the big bosses either. I'm talking about the workers who have the same privileges as other workers. Confused yet? I'll give you a huge example.

A few days ago I witnessed a scene that was uncalled for by one employee to another. Both were there to do their job. One employee was putting a product on the shelf, while the other was taking product off of the shelf for a customer. The employee removing the product suddenly turned to the other employee and told her that she needed to get out of her way and move to another isle. When the employee kindly did so, that same rude employee told her, you can't move to that isle because I'll be in that one next.

Umm both employees have every right to be down any isle whether they are putting away a product or picking it from the shelf, but to me it seems more and more employees who have to pick the product believe they are more important than their counterpart. UHH! UHH!

Without someone to put that product on the shelf, there would be no job for that rude employee. So the next time you think your job is more important than someone else's, think again because we all need one another in order to keep that company running at full speed.


Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.



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More New Rules

So I thought I was kidding when I said I wonder what's next when it came to new and crazy rules at work. I was dead wrong. Apparently, there's another new rule in the work house. Instead of doing a scan once for a bin label, we now have to scan twice. The reason is to keep quality issues down just in case you scan the wrong bin. Okay I can understand that I guess, but there's still a chance that you can scan the wrong bin, so how will it really keep quality issues down? Hmm guess we'll just have to wait and see.





Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Royal Secret II Perfume

New Rules, Crazy Rules

Work has been putting together new rules, that seem a little extreme and I have to wonder how long their latest rule will last.

Yesterday morning it was actually announced that we can no longer take a break to go to the bathroom until our scheduled break. I also have to wonder if it's a lawsuit waiting to happen on this one.

There are a lot of pregnant women and elderly people who work there and would have difficulty holding it for 3 hours just to go to the bathroom. I'm very prone to kidney infections and lately I've had some pretty serious ones that would cause damage to my kidney if I waited very long just to go to the bathroom.

I suspect we'll have a lot of dehydrated people or people fired, all thanks to this new rule. I wonder what's next.



Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Royal Secret II Perfume

Has it been that long?

I was looking over emails that I had saved to answer and my to do list and some date back as far as last year! whoa wow that is just crazy. Where did the time go? This job that I'm working has really been insane and as someone said, it sucks the life right out of you.

Normally I only work 40 hours per week with a three day weekend, but tomorrow I have to go to work, which is originally one of my three days off and it's been happening like that for a while now with no end insight.

Of course I really can't complain too much because it's extra money that I didn't have before that will be going to the kids, my van and to pay off bills. Still, I'd rather be back to working online and making my own hours. So when I can, I've been doing the job search thing and hoping life will be a little easier. My husband is so lucky not to be working right now and he seems to be loving life. Of course I'm betting that will end very soon.
Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Royal Secret II Perfume

I'll Be Honest

I'm very grateful for my father-in-law having supplied us with nearly 2 weeks worth of dinners. It has helped our finances since I had to fix the van and pay several large unexpected bills. I'm just glad I had money saved back for everything.

Unfortunately, there's still a lot of craziness going on around here and jobs are still far and few and in between, so it's a tight budget with hopes of saving enough money for emergencies to keep everything afloat. And of course I really want to be able to do more for my kids. Here's hoping!

Turning Down Paid Opinions and Going Back to Working Online

Okay so some of you may be looking at the title of my post and wondering, if she's going back to work online, why on earth would she turn down paid opinions?

One of the biggest reasons I sometimes turn down paid opinions is because it's a product I don't believe in that the company wants a positive review for, or it's just not enough money to be a part of my precious time.

At one point and time, I actually would have been happy to write a 200 word opinion for a whopping few bucks, but it takes at least 20 minutes to research the site and then write my thoughts and finalize the post. That's $4 an hour, not even minimum wage, and let's not forget that taxes haven't even been taken out of that whopping $4 an hour. It really just isn't worth it in my opinion.

However, if I can find enough work online that won't take up my entire day and will pay decently enough on a regular full-time basis, I'm going to start working online once again.

I really miss making my own hours and having the freedom to take off of work when I need to. My job away from home simply does not offer that, even in life and death situations. I actually got pointed for almost dying and not showing up to work even on doctors orders!!!

So, yeah, I would really love to start working online again.

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

Wow. I just realized it's been nearly a month since I've been online and posted to my blog. Work has seriously been crazy and it never seems like I have a moment to myself. I get home from work, I cook, clean, get ready for work the next day and go to bed. That's my day and lately we've been on overtime, so my weekends off are spent cooking, cleaning and getting bills paid. So ya, it's been really crazy.




Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Royal Secret II Perfume

Let's Get Real

When it comes to diets that work, they require extremely hard work. I mean seriously, why lie about it. You will never find a diet in a magic pill, or cream or lotion. You must be willing to exercise and eat healthy.

And most importantly you've got to be willing to get rid of the processed foods from your life if you want to feel your absolute best. No more junk foods. Of course in reality, most of us are on a budget and always rushing through life. We have no time to slow down and enjoy fresh foods or even life sometimes.

We rely on the convenience of processed foods to get us through our day. But, if you take the time to drop by your local farmers market like the one in my hometown of Independence, Kansas, you'll be amazed at all of the wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables that are very reasonably priced.

Plus, when you shop local, you're not only eating healthier, you're also helping your local farmers. How insanely cool is that?

That's Life!

Life has been busy lately and it’s going to get even busier it seems. I am back to looking for more work since one of my biggest clients is no longer able to afford to keep me. I wish him well in the future with his business and hope he makes it to the top!

In the mean time, I’ll be checking with local businesses in our small town and trying to increase my writing experience online with more clients since my income is almost the sole source behind our living expenses. And unfortunately as far as living expenses goes, there is no cutting corners because there are no corners to cut. We’re already doing bare minimums and aside from the internet which I use mostly for work, have no entertainment. There are no cell phone or phone bills to cut, no cable bills to drop and no little extras we can skip. So it will be very stressful until I can find something to bring in income once again. Wish me luck!


Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Royal Secret II Perfume

Always Behind

lately it seems I am always behind on the things I need to do and I don't know why. Maybe it's again due to being tired all of the time or there's just something else amiss. This Monday my plan is to concentrate on getting a contest posted, 2 book reviews done and write 2 articles for one of my bosses.

I just need to make sure that's what I'm doing and not get interrupted by people, the hubby and phone calls, we'll be doing good!



Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.WomenFreebies.com - Enter to Win Royal Secret II Perfume

Life Never Seems to Just Slow Down

Lately it seems no matter how much time I take off or try to enjoy myself with family or try to find time for friends on and offline, my life is just busy, busy, busy with one thing after another. And it's not that I've even taken on too many projects. In fact, currently the only projects I have are from work and that's it.

Yet as I sit here and write this, I'm already dreading the work day. I'm thinking maybe I just need a change of pace to get myself back to a better place. I certainly hope so because I'm very much wearing thin and find myself to the point of burning out.

One of the things I have been doing lately is making time for exercise and let me tell you, yesterday was crazy just from walking! But, I'll save that for another post.





Joy Smith also known as The Insane Writer, is the author of the Sci-Fi novel, The Generation. You can email her at silent_beautie@yahoo.com She can also be found on Twitter @theinsanewriter and you visit her official website at www.theinsanewriter.com.





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Way Behind

This week has been a bit much for me. I went from working 4 days a week to working 5 and sometimes 6. I am hoping it slows down soon. One thing I do know and that is I need a lot of organization to get everything done.lol Thinking I might work on that this week.



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