I earn less during the summer and so does my husband. Therefore, I redo my budget for July through mid-September. I considered putting the emergency fund savings on hold. However, having it still under $1000 makes me nervous and I hate to lose momentum. I figure I need to find another $400 or so dollars per month to meet my needs so I came up with a plan.

1. Find another “side hustle”. I will look on Odesk, write more for Bubblews, and take on some extra mystery shopping. I should be able to make $200-$300 for my efforts.

2. I will pay off my credit card. I am down to $395 since my last update. My daughter (authorized user) owes me a $100 and she will pay that by the end of the month. I have a $55 payment scheduled next week. I also have $25 in accumulated change I will turn in next trip to the credit union and apply that to the credit card payment. This means I have $215 to come up with. I will see what I have left in the regular budget and just might hit up savings to pay it off. [Read more...]

Starting a business is an exciting adventure. However, it can be difficult to dissect all of the intricacies and legal matters. I have family members starting a business in the Durham, NC area. I suggested it would be worth their time to meet with a Durham business lawyer.

By meeting with a professional, it will save them potential headaches and possible legal issues in the future. Knowing the laws when it comes to running a business is half the battle.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Gro Project is an educational project sponsored my Miracle-Gro that exhibits garden projects that are simple, even for those of us without a green thumb! I wouldn't mind learning how to garden, but have not tried in recent years. Writing about The Gro Project inspired me to see what, if anything, I could do living in apartment with no outdoor space to call my own. I found a few ideas, including how to grow herbs indoors on the Miracle-Gro website. From the site I got some great info on how to proceed and it is quite easy!

1. Herbs need sun so make sure they are near a south facing window that allows at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. They also need a grow lamp for a minimum of 12 hours per day.

2. Use Miracle-Gro's Moisture Control Potting Mix because it will release the moisture to the plant(s) as necessary.

3. For watering, let the mix in the plant's container dry out and then water it until you see the water pooling near the holes of the container.

Herbs can be grown indoors by transplanting from an outdoor garden, starting with seeds, or by purchasing seedlings a store or gardening center. We are awaiting new windows in our apartment next week. As soon as they are in, I plan on starting my indoor herb garden. 

Looking for some fun garden projects? Miracle-Gro has plenty to inspire you on their Pinterest page. For more gardening tips  and ideas check out the Gro Project video: