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New Orleans Planning and $3,526 in Extra Income

Last Updated: BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 83 Comments

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My dog

My dog is crazy…

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.

 

New Orleans Planning and $3,526 in Extra Income

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:

  1. $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.
  2. July Goals and Life Update – Life is GOOD!
  3. 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.
  4. Cheap ways to stay healthy – There are many ways to stay healthy but not hurt your budget.
  5. How to manage a side business while traveling – Have you ever wanted to travel and work?

 

Link love:

  1. Ditching the Day Job – 6 Months To Go Single Moms Income – WOOHOO! Another person who is going for their passion.
  2. The Power of Partying, I Mean Networking Broke Millennial – Networking is always important.
  3. How to get a Part-time Job at REI Teens Got Cents – I love REI, and I’ve always heard that it’s a great part-time job to have.

 

 

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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About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Katharine Paljug says

    Congrats on having such a fun trip coming up! (New reader, hi!) If the Mardi Gras museum is open when you’re there, I would definitely recommend stopping in. It’s really fascinating and tells you more about the whole Mardi Gras culture and traditions, which has a lot more to it that just beads and parades. (And if you want a good laugh, go to the Voodoo and Wax Museum, it’s utterly bizarre.)

    Reply

  2. GamingYourFinances says

    Hope you have a great time in New Orleans Michelle! The French Quarter is beautiful. Make sure to try all the delicious food!

    Reply

  3. kelly @stayingonbudget says

    Great job the first part of August with side hustle income! Very inspiring! I hear you with running…why I started the training program again (hopefully restarting for the last time!)

    Reply

  5. Alexa says

    Congrats on the two year mark. It’s crazy to me you have only been doing this for two years I feel like I have been reading your blog forever. You have a lot to be proud of!

    Thank you for the mention. Keep up all the good work. You are one of the people who motivate me and let me know that this can be done!! If you need help with anything just let me know.

    Reply

  6. Tara @ Streets Ahead Living says

    good job on the hotel deal! It’ll be hot so prepare for high humidity with light clothing. It should be fun!

    Reply

  10. DC @ Young Adult Money says

    Congrats on doing so well with the side income! Definitely looks like you should be just fine in your transition to full-time income. I have been doing “okay” on side income but I’m having trouble keeping up with the site, working on the house (and this week specifically the rental studio), and of course my full-time job. I thankfully have today off so hoping to get really caught up on the blog.

    Reply

  11. C. the Romanian says

    Congrats on your first 10 days! It looks like you will have another amazing month in terms of extra income.

    Also, have fun in New Orleans! That hotel deal you found sounds really nice, it’s good you still looked for options even though you had your reservations.

    Reply

  12. Connie @ Savvy With Saving says

    That sounds like a really good deal. Enjoy New Orleans! (and congrats on the 2 year mark, that’s a huge accomplishment!)

    Reply

  16. Kostas @ Finance Blog Zone says

    Congratulations for keeping things on track and even better than expected by the looks of things! At least some good news today 🙂

    Reply

  18. Jason B says

    New Orleans is one of my top 5 cities to visit. I hope you have a GREAT time. Make sure you try a drink called the “Hand Grenade”. It’s pretty good.

    Reply

  19. Stefanie says

    Have an amazing vacation. Congrats on the deal! Last minute bookings are such a crapshoot. I lucked out when traveling last week with a 4 star hotel for $85/night- we booked the night of at around 7pm. It’s either a totally rockstar deal or ridiculously expensive. Happy travels!

    Reply

  23. E.M. says

    I hope you have fun in New Orleans! Good luck staying sane for the 10 hour drive – I hate long trips when the areas you have to go through are kind of boring with no one around. I also hope you finish your side hustles up before leaving as you deserve a clean break from all the working you’ve been doing!

    I’ve been doing pretty well with my goal of walking this month. My legs were pretty tired yesterday which was kind of sad, haha.

    Reply

  25. MonicaOnMoney says

    Great job with your income in August so far! I love your articles about how much you make in your side incomes because they’re so inspring. I’ve been putting my extra money towards the mortgage, its a long term goal but I’m making progress slowly but surely.

    Reply

  26. Brad @ RichmondSavers.com says

    I’ve been to New Orleans a few times and it’s easily a top-5 US city for me — you’re going to have a blast!

    If I could recommend one thing, you absolutely need to go to Commander’s Palace for lunch. It’s one of the best restaurants in the US, and you’ll seriously get a 5-star meal for under $20.

    And the real reason to go for lunch is that they have a full selection of 25 cent martinis!! You can go and get 3 martinis each for the four of you and it will seriously cost $3 total. So you’ll get one of the best meals of your life and a bunch of great drinks and it’ll be really inexpensive.

    Go early in the trip because you’ll want to go back! (Just check to make sure if it is only on weekdays, as my recollection is they have something else on weekends)

    Reply

  27. CeCe @Pink Sunshine says

    Eating wise I did horribly over the weekend. Which is definitely a departure for how I have been doing so I am definitely getting back on track TODAY!! Have fun in New Orleans! I haven’t made it there yet.

    Reply

  28. Whitney says

    I absolutely love New Orleans! You must go to Cafe du Monde for the Beignets and coffee. Also, make sure you go to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. It’s a little bit out of the way from Bourbon Street, but the piano bar atmosphere is amazing. Check out some of the places on Frenchman Street while you are there, as well, 13 is an amazing restaurant owned by a former New Orleans Saint, and The Spotted Cat has had great music in the past. The bar across the street from The Spotted Cat (I can’t remember its name) has a great taco bar.

    If you get the chance, of course, drive down to the Lower 9th Ward, where you can see the devastation and rebuilding efforts, just don’t go when it is dark, because there aren’t street lights down there.

    Personally, I love New Orleans. It is a great place to visit. I love Frenchman Street more than Bourbon Street, because the places there are less sleazy. However, to each their own. Anyway, I hope you guys have a great time!

    Reply

  31. Blair@LifeDollarsandSense says

    You are visiting my new home! Well you will have a great time I am sure! The quarter is amazing but if the heat or noise and smells Bourbon get to be too much this time of year, hop on the St. Charles street car down St. Charles into Uptown. Huge oak trees, pretty homes, Audubon park, Commanders Palace. If you want to see where a lot of locals shop and eat take a stroll down Magazine street. Enjoy your trip!!!!

    Reply

  32. Meghan says

    I just discovered that I have a major allergy to wheat (and one to soy, corn, and dairy), so I felt sorry for myself the first day but now I am making the best of it and am excited that this forces me to cut back on eating out. I mean, how many restaurants don’t use soy-based vegetable oil or things with corn? I actually spent nothing today! For at least 3 years, I have been telling myself I’d cut back and never stuck with it. The next plan is to go check out a yoga studio close to my house and figure out the working out situation. Yes, I could kind of work out at home when my roommates aren’t home but that’s infrequent in the evenings and we have no space. Like the kitchen is just a wall in the small living room. 🙂

    Enjoy NOLA! I don’t have any specific restaurant recommendations. They’re all so good!

    Reply

  35. Roger H says

    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.

    Reply

  36. Thomas says

    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.

    Reply

  38. Christopher @ This that and the MBA says

    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 🙂

    Reply

  39. LibrarianLizy says

    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.

    Reply

  40. Kim@Eyesonthedollar says

    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.

    Reply

  41. Todd @ Fearless Men says

    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!

    Reply

  42. Keren says

    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!

    Reply

  45. jas says

    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.

    Reply

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