This Little Parent Stayed Home

Let’s talk about money! (Wait, where are you going?)

I am not going to deny that this subject may seem a little daunting but it doesn’t have to be, and we can’t avoid it forever. Now that so much of our hard earned money seems to have to vanished into thin air, families across the country are being forced to make new decisions regarding mere survival.

We CANNOT let this fear control us and prevent us from moving forward. We are in this together.  We must choose to fight past this uncertain time and use our power in numbers to work towards a new solution. Are you with me?

It’s time we had this discussion.
A career in Corporate America no longer represents financial stability the way that becoming one’s own boss does. We must stop expecting for things to go back to the way they were and embrace this as a necessary change in our society.
This is the time I like to call “the storm before the rainbow.” Storms aren’t all bad if you know how to wait it out. Getting there is half the fun. When the rain finally stops, the air will be clear, the earth clean, and the sky filled with color.
Count on it.
It’s time we set ourselves free from the fear that is causing our limitations. We must open up our hearts and our minds to see all the potential of a clean slate.
Let’s get creative!
As parents, we are more resourceful than ever, and with enough commitment, we are capable of making gold out of garbage.   This show is dedicated to help you re-examine your financial situation, realize the value you still have in yourself, your assets, and your future. Together we will release the power that money has on us, and capitalize on our ability to live a quality life on a shoestring budget. Let’s put things in perspective and simplify our over extended lifestyles. Often we can provide for our families in even MORE substantial ways simply by getting creative. If you truly want to become a stay-at-home parent,  this show is crucial for your survival: mentally and literally.

This week, I was proud to welcome two incredible guests to aid us in this discussion.  Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs are co-hosts of the radio show Mommy on a Shoestring also part of the Her Insight Network. These two ladies are incredibly inspiring and successful work-at-home moms who have made careers out of “living rich” by staying creative and thrifty.

They recommended some amazing sites to visit that well help you stay on a budget creatively!

www.kidseatfree.com – find out which local restaurants have a kids eat free night!

www.freecycle.org – get rid of your stuff and give it to someone who needs it – free!  People in your community will come pick it up if its something they want. Find all sorts of stuff for yourself as well.

www.swaporamarama.org- This is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops in which a community explores creative reuse through the recycling.

Friends, moms and business partners Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs tap into their backgrounds in education, book publishing, and graphic design to share chic and creative tips, projects and ideas for budget conscious moms.

Beth Engelman‘s achievements and experiences include eight years as a Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher, being nominated for the Kohl-McCormick Foundation’s Excellence in Education Award, and participating in numerous national conferences on fostering number sense and literacy development. Beth has developed books and games for several companies including: LeapFrog Toys, Chronicle Books, Piggy Toes Press and Disney. Beth Engelman currently writes a column for the Pioneer Press Called “Mommy on a Shoestring”. The column is filled with activities, games and craft ideas moms can do with their kids on a shoestring budget. She has written multiple articles on the subject of having fun while being frugal for a several high-profile websites including sheknows.com, cafemom.com, and thefatherlife.com.

Jenna Rigg‘s design and illustration work has been in almost every category of visual materials-from children’s books to marketing pieces, identities to advertising, websites to annual reports, and children’s themed home products. Visit Jenna’s design and illustration website at jennariggs.com and her children’s illustration site at childrensillustrators.com/illustrator.cgi/JennaRiggs.