Progress Report: week ended 11/25/07

What can I say, thanksgiving 'break' is not so much of a break when you spend the whole time catering to family, friends and soon-to-be family. I haven't accomplished a whole bunch but, maybe this coming weekend will be my true break - one can only hope. :

1. Finish chapter editing on novel - I am still at the Chapter 14 range. Chapters 1-14 are now edited. I did begin editing chapter 15 a tad but then family, friend and fiance obligations took over.
2. Make $100 in alternative income - the old part-time job in market research is not hiring I really don't want to do retail in retail's busiest season either.
3. Raise net worth above $8000 (third try is a charm) - I did take some money out of savings in order to pay the credit card debt down a bit. At the same time, I have to save some money for a family member's surprise party that I'll partially be paying for.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing long lost friends and family for the Holidays but my wallet on the other-hand, has a tendency to get abused in the process. To be honest, I'm not sure how much I spent this weekend but I know it was beyond my means - which bothers me.

Article/Newsbit of the week: 10 ways to pay cash for X-mas

So I am veering away from the reliable CNNMoney.com and seeking other sources of Finance news. Mainly because they didn't exactly advertise the fact that the Canadian Loonie surpassed the American dollar.

Anyway, the article:

10 ways to pay cash for Christmas

By Liz Pulliam Weston Talks about just that. A tip that is becoming more and more of a likely necessity is Tip # 5 -

"5. Get a(nother) job
Plenty of businesses add bodies during the holidays: retail stores, package delivery services, craft stores, ski resorts and temp agencies (to fill in for all those vacationing workers). These temporary part-time jobs can boost your pay, and you may qualify for employee discounts. MSN Careers is one place to start looking.

If you need a more flexible gig, consider a home-based business that doesn't require a big upfront investment. Some possibilities: baby-sitting, tutoring, house-sitting, dog walking, errand running, housecleaning, home organization (garage clean-outs and closet tuneups might be particularly appreciated this time of year)."

I may have to work myself to death again to get rid of the debt and pay for X-mas gifts simultaneously. Only time will tell.