After “side hustling” for the last couple years I now find it difficult to remember a time when I wasn’t mowing lawns, building websites, or writing articles. Though we got by on my my salary, we knew it would take forever to pay down debts and meet our savings goals without adding to our income. I had also recently gone through the process of surviving a layoff at my previous employer, but the experience left me feeling less secure by any form of employment.

Break The Living Paycheck To Paycheck Cycle

Less than a year ago I shared a statistic that nearly half of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck. After the labor market’s free fall since January of this year, I suspect that number is even higher today. Relying on a single source of income has simply become too risky for many families, forcing non-working spouses into the workforce, or forcing a working spouse to take on a part time job.

A side hustle is a sort of part time job, but it typically involves you building something around your current trade. Perhaps you write software for a living and can build websites on the side. If you work in construction, perhaps you could build privacy fences or decks for homeowners in the evenings and on the weekends. The idea is to find something you are already good at and cultivate a little side business around that hustle.

Chances are you can make much more money working a side hustle than working at a part time job for someone else, particularly in a retail environment. The real beauty of a side hustle is that over time it will start to generate a second source of cash flow for your family. No longer will you be absolutely dependent on your full-time job for paying the mortgage, keeping the lights on, and putting food on the table.

But How Much Can I Really Make Working Nights and Weekends?

The answer depends on the hustle you decide to take up, how passionate you are about your idea, and how hard you work to promote it. I’ve seen some people work really hard for six months and then flame out because they were only making  a “few hundred dollars a month.”  They made the mistake of comparing a side hustle to their full-time job.

Think about how many expenses you could cover with just a “few hundred dollars” of extra income each month from a side hustle if you should lose your full time job. It might make the difference in keeping your car to help you find another job, or the difference in keeping power on at your house, or food on the table for your family. It might help you cover the costs of COBRA insurance, other utilities, and maybe even supplement your severance pay to make it last longer.

The point is that by earning income in addition to your regular earnings you are, over time, making a potential layoff less and less of a major financial event. Coupled with a solid emergency fund, you would have little reason to fear losing your job, except that this is a particularly hard time to find another one.

Dedicate Side Hustle Earnings To A Specific Cause

To stay motivated, try dedicating your side hustle earnings, or at least a major portion of it, to a particular cause in your family financial plan. Perhaps you could use all of the earnings to help speed up your debt snowball (this is how we use side hustle earnings). Once you are debt free use the extra income to build savings, and then save for a major purchase such as a down payment on a home, or a new(er) car.

Over the last couple years of working two jobs I have found this strategy helps keep me motivated when I want to throw in the towel. If I simply lumped all the earnings in with my regular income it might get lost in the shuffle, and I might simply be tempted to raise our style of living to match my total income. However, we have made a point to continue to live on my current earnings from my full time job while whittling away debt with side hustle money.

Do you currently have a side hustle, or an idea for starting one?

I first heard the expression “man up” from my high school football coach. When we got tired, and started complaining about the heat, or hurting, or needing a break, he simply replied, “You better man up!” As a teenage boy I got the message, and played through exhaustion and injuries, even the one that ultimately derailed my plans to attempt to play football at the next level.

Today I’m a 31 year-old husband and father of two. Fourteen years removed from those experiences on the football practice field, I still find reasons to tell myself to “man up.” I see lots of examples of dads not acting like men when it comes to providing for their children, financially and emotionally.

For those who need an example of what it means to “man up” and take care of your family, I’ll share the following trailer from one of my favorite movies, Cinderella Man. Jim Braddock knew a thing or two about taking care of his family – playing through pain, swallowing his pride, sacrificing everything for this family, and fighting for what he believed in. We don’t have enough modern day Jim Braddocks walking around, but fortunately, we have great films like this to remind us what they used to look like.

Cinderella Man Trailer

I have a lot of respect for men who provide financial support for their children even when things don’t work out between them and their spouse. I have zero respect for fathers who don’t. To me, there is no higher calling than being a parent, and that means that after you have children you put their needs above your own. You sacrifice the spoils of single life and “man up” to take care of your family.

Unfortunately, I see plenty of examples of males (they aren’t men), who put their needs ahead of those of their family. They might be there for their family physically, but emotionally they are bankrupt. These are the types of guys so busy boosting their egos in the corporate world that they forget to boost their kid’s confidence by showering them with attention at home.

I’m not talking about the guy who works 60 hours a week because he has to, or the guy deployed around the world to serve his country, I’m talking about the guy that works long hours because he wants to. You know the type – he finds reasons to work late and volunteer for travel to avoid the “noise” at home. To him I say, it’s time to “man up.”

Finally, there is the guy who still lives the single life, partying with friends and buying all kinds of big-boy toys for himself while the basic needs of his family are not met.  I’ve seen guys like this drooling over cars, or boats, or computers, or paintball supplies while there kids are standing in the background with holes in their shoes and clothes that don’t fit. I just can’t understand that thinking, because I would give everything for my wife and kids. That is the essence of being a real man. That is what it means to be a “frugal dad.”

On this, the longest day of the year, there is no excuse not to reconnect with your kids. Go enjoy a few quiet moments with them outside, teaching them to appreciate the nature that surrounds us. Take the kids for a walk around the block, or at the park.  Give them a call if you are separated. Whatever your circumstances, “man up” and be a great dad!

As my family finished off meatloaf sandwiches last night for dinner I told them I was proud of us for not eating out. Besides, is there anything better than leftover meatloaf between two pieces of good bread and a cold glass of tea? I digress.

Sulphur Mountain Restaurant courtesy of ahisgett

A couple years ago we ate out every Friday night, and then again on Saturday nights. We also grabbed something out a couple times during the week. We still enjoy the occasional meal out as a break from coming, but now we attempt to make it more of a treat than a routine. For instance, if the kids have a school function and we know we’ll be out anyway, we’ll plan a dinner out to celebrate something (we recently did this to celebrate paying off our family vehicle).

Of course, just because you eat out it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to do it. When we do eat out, or pick something up to bring home, we like to split meals, skip drinks (order water only), pass on dessert, order a lunch portion for dinner, etc. There are plenty of strategies for surviving a meal out at a restaurant.

These days we’ve scaled back to an average of one meal out per week as a family. Recently, we splurged for a nice steak dinner at a local steakhouse. After dinner I used the opportunity for a teachable lesson for the kids. I told them that our small steak, baked potato and salad cost over $10.00 per adult. That same meal could have easily cost less than $5.00 at home, with Dad grilling steaks on the grill, Mom making her famous loaded baked potatoes, and my kids helping with salads.

Sometimes Mom, Dad, and even the kids, just need a break. So enjoy the occasional meal out. Set aside some of your budget to pay cash for the meal – using plastic guarantees heartburn later on.  Remember to budget enough for a good tip for excellent service (we’re frugal, but we aren’t cheapskates!).

How often does your family eat out? Have you scaled back because of the economy, or simply because you are trying to spend less money?

Since I was a teenager, I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from sports. For me, the life-lessons learned through sports are so relevant to many of the same struggles we face in real life. Little did I know that something I picked up from following college football would help me stay motivated on my plan to become debt free.

In 2006 the Rutgers football team made a big splash in the world of college football. They even knocked off Lousville that year, who at the time was ranked as the #3 football team in the country. It was a huge win for the Rutgers program, and their new coach, who began to draw national media attention.

I noticed during the game that players were making a “chopping” motion after big plays, and a number of coaches joined in. I didn’t understand the celebration, because it looked to me like they were simulating the referee’s call for a personal foul. After searching around the web, I discovered they were “chopping wood,” which was the visual representation of a mantra the coach had brought to Rutgers.

An AP story from that year describes the motivation behind the phrase “keep chopping wood.” Apparently, the idea was developed by a sport psychologist, and adopted by a number of coaches as a battle cry for teams trying to rally from behind. I like how Rutgers coach Greg Schiano summed it up:

“Right now we’re in a bad spot, we’re in the middle of the forest, it’s all dark, we can’t see. Get an ax and just start chopping away.”

That’s the approach we have taken to debt repayment. Some trees (debts) were taller than others; some bigger around. It didn’t matter, we just kept chopping, and eventually those trees began to fall. To most people, it might seem like it would be easier to borrow a chainsaw-it’s more efficient than an old ax. But swinging that ax hurts, and that pain is an important part of the process because it is a constant reminder of why you’ll never venture out into the forest again.

Some months you’ll chop more wood than others. Illnesses, emergencies, and other unforeseen events will inevitably slow you down. Just keep chopping! One word of caution. After a few months of swinging your ax you’ll start to create a little space. Don’t get comfortable. Complacency is the enemy of progress. If you decide to put down the ax and take a little nap, you might wake up to find things overgrown again. Now you’re tired, sore, and once again surrounded by debt.

How do you psyche yourself up to face similar challenges?

Our kids are in the process of learning to swim. It is something we probably put off too long, but that we’ve become more dedicated to both as a survival skill and a form of summertime entertainment. Teaching kids to swim takes a lot of patience, a virtue I was not born with, but one I’ve tried to cultivate over time.

Things like having kids young, coaching youth soccer, and settling down to write all help develop patience, and it’s a good thing because patience is a key factor in financial success. The most serious screw-ups I’ve committed with money were made when I moved too fast.  When not teaching the doggy-paddle, or how to float on your back, to the kids in my spare time, I managed to run across a few excellent posts this past week.

The Fab Five

Can You Survive As a One Income Family? Yes, we’ve been doing it for over ten years now. But living on one income is not easy, and it requires a tremendous sacrifice. (@ The Wisdom Journal)

Retired at 31: An Early Retirement Story. I read these stories and wish I could go back to 20 years-old and have a mulligan. If I only knew then what I know now. Still, I find these posts to be extremely inspiring for those in their early twenties because it is a decade of so much opportunity!(@ Million Dollar Journey)

Junky Car Club. Cool idea here. Register your “junky” car here and agree to use at least some of what you used to pay for a car payment for charity. (@Stiletto Money Online)

15 Ways To Get Started On Snowflaking. The idea of “snowflaking” is one of the best ways to get out of debt. I’ve used it to pay off thousands of dollars of debt in small increments of micro-payments from various side hustles. Believe me; they add up over time! (@The Simple Dollar)

Poor Man Wins Lottery – Will it Help or Hurt Him? After any sizable lottery winnings the media instantly reports all those who have been cursed by the winnings. I still believe the idea that it is the love of money that is the root of all evil.  Money alone is simply a tool. (@Money Help For Christians)

Best of the Rest

• SEP IRA: Self-Employed Retirement Plans
• Four Simple Ways To Make The Most Of Your Day
• Keep Your Kids Busy Without Breaking the Bank This Summer
• How To Win a Race in Last Place
• Three Quick Tips For Getting Ahead In Life
• How To Be A Millionaire: Start Thinking Like One
• Is the 401(k) Broken? I’m Not So Sure
• The Four(ty) Hour Workweek
• Where Is Gold Heading To?
  
• Shopping List For A Newborn Baby

From the time we were small we’ve had ingrained in us the idea that climbing the corporate ladder was the result of hard work, ethical behavior, and networking with the right people. For the most part that is still true. However, corporate life is not quite as revered as it once was.

I was no different growing up. I dreamed of becoming a football player, or a doctor, or a successful businessman. Those were big dreams, but dreams that kept me on track, academically, throughout high school. After a back injury my senior year of high school derailed any hopes of playing football, I turned my attention to my studies and finished on a high note, intending to enter college the next year and declare pre-medicine as a major.

Photo courtesy of TimWilson

Somewhere along the way I burned out on the whole process. I grew tired of college, the idea of being a doctor, and I was really floundering. After a death in the family, I returned home and lived with my grandfather while working a string of part time jobs, because I couldn’t find a full-time one.

Not long after marrying my college sweetheart I found a full time job as a customer service representative at a bankcard call center. The starting salary was $18,000, but I could earn 10% more by taking the graveyard shift, so I did. Looking back, we felt rich! My wife and I worked opposite schedules for a few months, until the stress at her job, and being seven months pregnant, brought her home.

I bounced around the bank from the call center to back office operations, credit, fraud investigations, disputes, etc, eventually landing in software development, which was the focus of my studies after returning to school after the birth of my daughter. Again, I thought I was on the fast track up the corporate ladder. I ultimately landed a better job after finishing my online business degree, but again, somewhere along the way I had a change of heart.

Reflecting back, I don’t remember a specific event that changed my perspective, rather a combination of events that changed my priorities. I had spent a decade living above my means, acquiring things, and racking up debt to finish school. The events of September 11th drew me closer to my then 1 year-old baby. The thought of traveling away from her, and my wife, terrified me, and the first time I flew after 9/11 (only a few months after) I remember feeling a panic that I had never felt before. I was lucky my new job would not require travel, because it was something I endured prior to 9/11, and downright dreaded after (not necessarily out of fear, but because of the new restrictions and the increased hassle that came with traveling).

Then my family was dealt a double-whammy as the economy started to turn late last summer. My mom was diagnosed with a giant cerebral aneurysm in early August at 53 years young. My mom raised me as a single parent, and had done well climbing the corporate ladder herself, despite lacking a college degree, and being the lone female manager in a male-dominated industry. She remains an inspiration to me. But the aneurysm, seven surgeries, a stroke, and a 102-day hospital stay from September to December wiped her out, financially, emotionally, and physically. She and my stepdad survived without an income as he cared for her for 6 months until long-term disability insurance kicked in.

A second scare came in February of this year when we almost lost my mom because of a new bleed in the aneurysm. She endured an 11-hour brain surgery, and despite even the doctor’s dire predictions, she survived. This time her hospital stay was 45 days. Today she is wheelchair-bound, unable to walk and use her right arm. Her vision and speech were affected, but she still has her wit, and we still love spending time with her.

Photo courtesy of ellievanhoutte

I share all this because it sort of explains how I got to here. It’s funny the things that shape our beliefs, and our dreams. Twelve months ago I viewed a 6-month emergency fund as a luxury; now I think it is a necessity. Same for disability insurance. Being debt free went from a nice-to-have goal to our number one priority.  Next we’ll work to pay off our house early.

I’ve become content with my current career, and my “side hustle” here at Frugal Dad. No longer do I long for a corner office and a six-figure salary. I long for a mortgage-free, modest home in the country with a garden, some room to roam, and the abiliy to spend some extra time with my kids, and one day, my grandkids.  I’d gladly trade in that office chair for a comfy rocking chair on our front porch overlooking our land. Flashy cars, big houses, expensive clothes and gadgets are all just obstacles in my way of achieving this goal.

On the surface, it may not seem like organizing and frugality have very much in common, but I strongly believe they are intimately related. I think they can – and often do – feed off of and encourage one another.

Today, I want to share with you four ways that being organized helps you live frugally as well:

1. Prevent Double Purchases

Let’s face it, when things are unorganized and cluttered, it’s easy to either forget you have something or simply not be able to find it when you need it, resulting in double – or triple or quadruple – purchases of the same item.

I’ve talked before about how an organized pantry prevents this from happening, but the truth is that it’s applicable to virtually every area of our lives, from home improvement projects and school supplies to seasonal gear and toiletries. A lot of people live frugally by stockpiling necessities such as children’s clothing, household products and gifts when there’s a great deal to be had, but if you can’t find things in your stockpile, then you’re actually wasting money and time in the process.

2. Organized Spaces Are Addictive

Although organizing is an ongoing task that you have to approach regularly rather than as a one-time event, having an organized space can actually motivate you to be frugal. Once you organize an area of your home, you’re more likely to think twice before making a purchase as you consider whether you have space for that item and how it will fit into your current system.

Of course, there will be times when you need or want to make a purchase that simply won’t fit with your system, and in those cases you’ll need to reorganize to make space for it. Hopefully the thought of redoing your hard work will make you consider whether it’s truly worth it. Thinking about purchases this way clearly quantifies the money and time that we invest in every purchase we make.

3. See the Results of Impulse Purchases

The first step to getting organized is to declutter and get rid of those items that are simply taking up space without enhancing your life. You will be able to clearly see the result of many of your impulse purchases as you realize that the kitchen gadget or tool or organizing item that you just had to have has been rarely used and often forgotten. This process helps inoculate you against future impulse purchases as you calculate the amount of money you’ve wasted on such purchases.

4. Break the Ties to Stuff

Finally, decluttering is also a valuable exercise in letting go of stuff (and yes, I emphasize the word stuff because I think I think it’s important to realize that a lot of the things in our home are simply that – stuff that wastes time, space and energy because we place more value on it than we should).

Obviously there is value in keeping sentimental items that take you back in time to a memory or a connection with a loved one. However, it’s important to differentiate between the items that truly accomplish this – such as a worn photo of your great grandparents, a toy that your mother played with as a child or the outfit your brought your firstborn child home from the hospital in – and items that you’re simply holding onto in an effort to create those memories – such as a cheap trinket from vacation or all 25 onesies that your firstborn wore as a baby.

I’m not trying to imply that organizing or decluttering are easy tasks or that they’ll automatically lead to a more frugal lifestyle. However, I do believe that purposeful organizing and decluttering will help you accomplish your goals of living more frugally while also helping you to live more simply. I’ve seen it happen in my own life!

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Organizing Your Way: A Personalized Approach to Decluttering Your Life and Simple Nest: Where Beauty Meets Simplicity. She believes that living simply makes for a rich and fulfilling life and that time invested in organizing and decluttering pays back exponentially!