Hey everyone! Happy Monday. This was a crazy busy weekend for me, and I feel like I got nothing done.
We leave for New Orleans next week and I definitely need to step it up and finish some side hustle work so that I am not thinking about all of it while we are on vacation.
Also, the other day marked 2 years of blogging and Making Sense of Cents for me. I have a post and a giveaway (iPad and $250 is CASH!) dedicated to that on Wednesday 🙂
Spending
We didn’t do too much spending in the past week. I had to buy a pair of wedges for a wedding that I am in but they weren’t expensive and are actually something that I would wear again.
Spending will be higher next week though because we are going to New Orleans. However, we found a really AWESOME deal on a 4 star hotel, and it will only be $500 for 4 nights plus parking and including taxes. The hotel is right on Bourbon, so it seems like the perfect location.
At first we were going to stay at a not-so-nice hotel and we booked that one with the other couple, but I found a deal for something much cheaper and hopped right on it last week.
We canceled our other reservations and I booked 2 rooms for 4 days each and it was the same rate as the 2 star hotel that we originally booked. I honestly cannot believe how cheap it is! I guess that’s what happens when you book something at the very last second.
Gas wil probably be a couple hundred bucks for there and back (for each couple), as it is around a 10 hour drive and we are taking a Jeep, so it’s not the most gas efficient. Food and drinking will probably be the most expensive part of the trip, however, I definitely do not think we will spend over $1,500 on this trip on everything (including hotel, gas, food, etc.), and that is really overestimating everything.
If there is anything that you would absolutely recommend for us to do while we are there, please let us know! The four of us have never been and cannot wait.
Extra Income (does not include income from our main jobs)
Extra income was very good for the first 10 day of August. I have been working on expanding my side hustle income and I do have a few good potential leads that will hopefully go somewhere. I do have some other plans for things that I would like to do, I just need more time! I can’t wait until I have an extra 50 hours a week for expanding on everything that I want to do.
I still don’t know when my 100% self-employment switch date will be. I’m still a little afraid to give up such a stable income from my day job, and whenever a couple of days in a row are slow I definitely get nervous.
Posts from my blogs:
- $11,117 in July Extra Income – This is my monthly extra income post. I surpassed my goal and it felt great! However, I’m not sure how August will turn out.
- July Goals and Life Update – Life is GOOD!
- Things people say when I tell them I am making the self-employment switch – People have definitely not been afraid to voice their opinions on my self-employment decision. Some of the things that people have said are just absolutely ridiculous.
- Cheap ways to stay healthy – There are many ways to stay healthy but not hurt your budget.
Being healthy
Ha, this has been a huge fail so far in August. I have been eating slightly better, but not the greatest. I haven’t really ran in forever, and working out altogether has been nearly non-existent. I’m not sure why this is, I guess I’ve just been a little more lazy when it comes to being healthy.
We haven’t touched our bikes so far in August, and that is something that I definitely want to change also. It has been kind of rainy lately, so I will blame it on that.
Have you been doing well with your extra income, spending and being healthy?
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My extra income goes towards paying down my debt… one day it will be paid off and I will feel rich!
WOOHOO! I hope that day is soon 🙂
Nola is truly AWESOME! I highly recommend The candy apple quail at commander’s palace. Go @ lunch for a discount and 25 cent martini’s. If you want to get some history, go on a “free tours by foot”
I also recommend a food tour – cost a little but great fun.
Will do 🙂
Another great week for that extra income Michelle! Doing a great job and I know you must be working your ass off with those side hustles. Have a great time in N.O.
Thanks Thomas!
Have a great trip! Great job on ur financial goals!
Thanks Jules!
Here is some randomness, what software or online package do you use to manage your online income and give that nice print out? Right now I have strictly been just using paypal and nothing else.
Sorry random at times 🙂
It’s called Outright. So many people have asked that question, so you are not alone 🙂
You’re going to love NOLA! My best friend is from New Orleans so I’ve been multiple times. Three things I highly suggest…
1. Visit the aquarium. They have a lot of really cool local animals including an albino alligator!
2. Eat at Bourbon House. Get the crab fingers and the chocolate bread pudding. Make a reservation. Trust me; you won’t regret it.
3. Eat a shrimp po’boy and buy and drink from a walk up/drive through liquor store.
Great ideas. Thanks!
New Orleans is really fun, but maybe forget about being healthy until you get back. The food is too good there to think much about calories or fat! Very nice people in NO as well. I love Cajuns. One of my best friends from optometry school is from that area. He’s pretty mainstreamed, but you could almost never understand his grandparents who were straight off the bayou. They were some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever met. Have a good trip.
Haha well we don’t leave until next Wednesday 🙂 so I still want to be healthy until then!
Thank you Monica! I’m glad you find them inspiring 🙂
Good luck narrowing down when to go full-time! I think it’s really wise! Imagine how much more you’ll do with 50 hours!
Your posts on the crazy stuff people are saying and how to manage your business while traveling were very helpful. Good stuff!
Thanks Todd!
Thank you Blair!
I definitely will 🙂
Congrats on 2 years! Woo hoo! I was supposed to go to New Orleans in May but I took a new job in March so I wasn’t able to go. I’m much better off in my new job, but I am still sad I wasn’t able to see Bourbon Street! Enjoy and I can’t wait to see pictures!
Make sure to dish on what you did. We will be going to NOLA in September and need recommendations 🙂 Have fun!
Have fun in New Orleans, Michelle. Don’t forget to post pictures.
Have a great time in New Orleans. Skip the Hand Grenade, just sugar crap. Go to Erin Rose and grab a Guiness, on the corner of Bourbon and Conti by the Royal Sonesta. They have the best Guiness pour I have ever had and it’s just a great little bar. They serve poboys in the back that are non traditional but some of the best I’ve ever had. Check out GW Fins for seafood, 808 Bienville right off Bourbon. This place really cares about their fish and it’s always good. For expensive meal try Revolution.