Earn or Burn Money Challenge

Well, things aren't going as planned. I didn't get the spare room rented after all, but that's OK because I've managed alone since this competition started. I'll just have to keep on going without this additional income.

Ever since I can remember, I've learned not to depend on anyone else for my needs. So whether I do, or don't, rent the bedroom, I'll continue to do what I've been doing... meeting/exceeding my goals each month. I know I can do it with the same drive and new-found energy I been given (thanks to my kids and people who are cheering me on)!!!

- Serena

Working hard has really been paying off... literally! I managed to pay off another bill in May and feel relieved at the fact that my finances are finally starting to look pretty good. You can't imagine (although, many of you probably can) how frustrating I've felt all these years, struggling to raise two kids alone and to make ends meet, while also trying to provide for my kids needs as well.

I'm finally reaching a point where I will, very soon, be able to relax. My kids are grown and have their own lives to live. They haven't needed my support for a very long time, and I look forward to the day when I won't have to worry about how I'm going to make it from one paycheck to the next. My bills are getting paid, one bill at a time. It feels really good!!! By the time this competition is over, I'll have learned soo much, that I shouldn't ever get in over my head again! I'm soo proud of me! It pays to work hard for what you want, and I want to keep working hard to get the financial freedom I think I deserve...finally!

- Serena

Check out the video below and find out how Serena tracks her expenses, balances her checkbook and gets her finances organized!

How do you organize your finances? Tell us about it and leave a comment!

The month isn't over yet and I've exceeded my goal! But that doesn't mean I'm through earning money this month.

My tamale sale we really well. I sold almost 50 dozen! Of course, I'm still baking my 'mini empanadas' and selling them as fast as I can bake them. I'm soo proud of the fact that everybody seems to really love them. It does a lot to boost my energy in order to keep on going strong with this competition.

Other income: I'm still babysitting, but only for one baby now. It doesn't matter how many children I take care of, it's still money I'm earning! Recently, I was asked if I would consider renting a portion of my driveway for a temporary parking space (for a boat and a Jeep). I said yes (I could use the money). This is only temporary, but it still adds up. I haven't had much time to have another garage sale, but I am working on it. The good thing is that I'm doing pretty good so far without having one (for now). Also, I'm still thinking about renting my spare bedroom for extra income... if it's meant to be, it will happen. In the meantime, I'll continue to do what's working for me in order to make money and reach my goals each month.

Oh yeah! I paid off another bill this month!!! It feels really good to bring in this extra income to help get myself out of debt. All this time I was baking for the family, it never occurred that I could make money with my baked goods, until this competition came along. I always managed my money alone (and struggled while doing it because I had no extra income). Now that I know I can do something I enjoy, and pay off my bills too... I'll just keep going at it really strongly! It's all fun for me, and I think that's the real reason I'm able to work as hard as I have been, without even realizing that it is work.

I'm very proud of that fact that I have become an inspiration for some people. Hopefully one day these same people, who have been cheering me on, will start reaping the fruits of their labor. Now that I've managed to start paying off my bills, the reality of the fact that I will some day (very soon) be able to enjoy my hard-earned money is finally starting to sink in. The end of the year is something I look forward to. By then I will have learned how to be virtually, almost completely, debt free!!! My stomach is in knots and jumping for joy just thinking about it!

AMOCO has been working wonders for me (teaching me how to better manage my bill-paying techniques) and I'll always be thankful for that!

- Serena

Things are going well for Serena as she has met her goals for the first two months, but she's not slowing down any for May. Check out the new Earn or Burn Podcast below as she talks about paying off bills and the demand for empanadas.

I was ready for my new roommate to move in on the 1st of May! Now she's telling me that she'll move in on the 1st of June. I can't get excited or slow down now. I'm just not sure anymore that this is going to happen. I'll still keep my hopes up and keep working hard to make the money I need for this competition. I just can't let a little thing like this get me down... well, I'm trying not to. I was just looking soo forward to slowing down a little, just because I'm (somewhat) wearing myself out. My family and friends are going to have to give me a big boost! I could really use it.

The tamales are going out this weekend-Monday. If anyone wants to order, I'll still have 'Chicken' tamales. Just give me your email address and I'll contact you.

- Serena

I rented my spare bedroom!!! My roommate moves in tonight. Which means that I won't have to work 'as hard' at trying to meet my monthly goal. This (by no means) means that I'm going to get lazy about my goals, it just means that I can slow down a little. I don't want to get too used to the extra income (because she's only going to stay while her home is being repaired because of Ike), so I'll still be doing the same things I've been doing to make money. I just won't be working 'til I drop, anymore. I am soooo looking forward to being able to slow down!

I'm taking orders for tamales now. They're $8/dozen and I will have 2 choices to offer: 'Chicken or Rajas (jalapeno & cheese: really good but not too hot)'. But, I do need to know something by Thursday evening.

I just want take this time to say 'Thank you' to everyone who is giving their support, by buying my baked goods. There's a lot of work involved in making them but well worth it, because so far, everyone has had such good things to say about my empanadas. Thanks, again!!! I love you all!

- Serena

Just want to let everyone know that I'm feeling much better today!!! The bronchitis kicked my butt for awhile, but now that it's almost over, I feel like a semi-new person again. I feel so good that I'm baking empanadas this weekend, again.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I'm going to be adding tamales to my menu. I'm think of alternating between empanadas and tamales (one this weekend & the other next weekend). I'm still thinking about it. Not sure if I will wear myself out by trying to do both at the same time and since I'm just getting over my illness, I don't want to do too much too soon. I'll let you know regardless. For now, the empanadas are definitely on!

- Serena

Sorry I haven't been sending any blogs lately. I've been sick with Bronchitis, but I'm feeling better today.

Good news! On Saturday I received a visit from a plumber who installed my new water heater!!! Oh yeah! I am now taking nice, warm, long showers!!!!!!!!

I also want to report that the sale on the AMOCO lot went very well for me. I exceeded my monthly goal on that morning. That doesn't mean that I'm stopping for this month, even though my illness has slowed me down. As soon as I'm fully recovered, I will continue to make money. Of course, I will still bake and sell 'empanadas' (both sweet potato and apple) and will soon be adding 'tamales' to my sale menu. I'll keep you advised as to when this will start. I have decided to offer a variety of fillings in the tamales. I'll let you know what they'll be later.

Feels good to feel good again, since being sick for a week (about my health and my goals...and my drive to go on with this competition!).

- Serena

The numbers are in. The data is compiled. Check out the image below to see Serena Ovalle's progress in the AMOCO Federal Credit Union Earn or Burn Money Challenge.

Tonight I start baking again. I'll also bake all day tomorrow in order to have some empanadas to sell at the lot sale in League City on Saturday. Hope to see a lot of my friends there who will buy not only my empanadas, but my sale items. I'm also planning to sell the remaining 'Baptism outfits' (from my former business). Tomorrow night, we'll load a trailer full of the things I'm taking to sell. Hope everyone else is ready, too. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and pray that it doesn't rain while we are out there. Think positive and believe... it's not going to rain until we have all packed up and left League City!!!

So don't forget people... empanadas, junk and Baptism outfits. Hope you can make it.

Serena

P.S. Right now I'm waiting for a phone call regarding the delivery and installation of my hot water heater!!! I'm truly happy about that, because it won't be long now. This time it's for real and for sure! I'll let you know when I have hot water again.

I had another yard sale on Sunday. It didn't bring in as much money as the first one, but it was still enough to put in the bank to cover the cost of my auto insurance and I even had a little left over. I'm truly happy with that!

I'm also going to bake again this week. So, I will be selling my mini empanadas again on Monday afternoon. I even have some orders to fill! This week I'll be very busy baking.

Just to keep everyone informed... I still don't have hot water... still waiting to be contacted in order that this will get done. Can you tell I'm a very patient person? I keep telling myself that another day won't hurt. It will eventually get done.

On another lighter note: I attended a dinner at Mainland Medical, along with my competitors, and had a really good time. The other families are so nice and willing to lend a helping hand to each other and to me. I feel like they are an extension of my own family. We may be competing against each other but we get along very well and don't let this 'money challenge' interfere with our new-found friendships. Their company is very enjoyable!

I'm, pretty much, ready for the lot sale we're having on April 11 and hope to see my friends and family there to offer their support. I can feel that it's going to be a great day for all of us! Hope to see a lot of you there as well!

- Serena

To earn some extra cash and cut back on debt, Serena's been baking empanadas from scratch. Check out the video below as she talks about the cooking process and other ways she's been earning extra dough through March.

Interested in ordering a bag of empanadas? Just leave a comment below!

Today is a really good day!!! Well, except for the fact that I still don't have hot water. I baked all weekend and it paid off! I sold all 28 dozen mini-empanadas and have exceeded my monthly goal!!! Do I feel good??? Heck yeah!!!

I'm still planning to have another yard sale this weekend (Sunday March 29th). Hope to see some of you there! Let me know if you want to check it out. Just leave a comment, and I’ll email you my address.

There will be anything from baby clothes, toys, some furniture and much more (including mini-empanadas and maybe even tamales, I HOPE). I'm wearing myself out (a little bit), but it's all worth it.

I'm also excited about the lot sale in April. There are a lot of things I can sell there. I've been keeping myself very busy in preparation for the money I'm going to make.

I want to take this time to thank my family and friends for being there for me. They have been very supportive and generously giving, and I love all of them for that. If it weren't for then, I don't think I would have been driven enough to go through with even entering this competition. Because of them, I now have the energy to work harder than I've ever worked before. They are my strength and without them none of this would have been possible. Thank you again... my loving family and friends.

- Serena

Sunday morning I woke up at 4:30 am. I was too hyped about everything I had to do in order to be ready for the yard sale to start at 9am. I had my sale, and boy, did I do good!!! It was a lot of hard work, but very much worth it. Even though it rained most of the day, off and on, I did see quite a lot of people and sold quite a lot of items. I also got a little sick because of the rain, but I'm ok.

Today I'm extremely tired and very sore, but happy with how well everything went. So... I’m planning to have another one, hopefully, next weekend!

I'll let you know how that one goes too!

- Serena

Today was an exciting day for me! I finally saw a few extra dollars in my paycheck (because I canceled a couple of deductions), and I found a water heater on 'Craig's List' for $40.00. I immediately called my son, who went all the way to Tomball to pick it up. When he got there, he explained that it was for his mother (who is in the "Earn or Burn" money challenge), and the man lowered the price to $20.00. God and my children are watching out for me! I did, however, give my son the whole $40 for driving the long distance for me. Did I do good or what??? Now I'm just waiting for someone to install it and praying that it's a good working water heater.

I'm still looking forward to the yard sale I'm having this Sunday the 15th. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

- Serena

Today I feel really good! I found some ways to keep some of my hard-earned money. Little did I realize that money was being deducted from my paycheck, and I never saw it. Needless to say, I had that canceled (unfortunately, a year later). I guess I deserve it, though, for not ever really looking at my pay stubs. So people, pay attention and read carefully, every detail of your stubs (so this doesn’t happen to you). I also canceled my dental plan, since I’ve never been able to afford to go to a dentist in the first place.

While examining my bills, I found that I don’t use my home phone or internet. So guess what? You guessed it… I had them turned off! I really only use the internet at work anyway. So I’m starting to save money this way as well. These are the reasons I feel good today!

Of course I still don’t have hot water, (a temporary, minor???, set-back), but I’m patiently waiting for someone to look at my water heater. I did, however, find out that my children are going to split the cost. Thank God for children!

As I said before, my paycheck slips right through my fingers (“Exchange-day” on pay-day), and my checking account balance is almost down to nothing. I did, however, baby-sit on Monday and was able to make half the money I needed to buy my license tag (because I had the other $ 35 in my account, along with the $35 I made baby-sitting, it was purchased just in time). Another accomplishment on my part!

By next month, I should see the fruits of my labor (or at least a fraction of it). I will no longer have the extra deductions coming out of my paycheck (which will give me back $60 monthly), and I won’t get billed $47 monthly for the home phone & internet either.

Now you see why I feel really good???

- Serena

Get to know Serena Ovalle better! Watch the video below as she discusses her goals for the Earn or Burn competition, some advice regarding credit cards, and how she feels about her bills.

Where should I start? Today is what my mom used to call "Exchange Day." This is the day that my paycheck is ‘exchanged’ for my bills. Money goes through my hands and into the creditors’ hands. To top it all off, I took two days off for the KHOU filming on Saturday the 21st and mistakenly didn’t notice that I didn’t have enough hours left (vacation hours), so my paycheck was short by almost $90. That hurt! All my pay went to bills.

Remember when I withdrew $40 to have for the weekend because my sister was here from Arizona? Well, since I did babysit that week, I was able to put that money back in the bank! Then, I did some work online for a friend and made some money. Total money I was able to deposit, besides my paycheck, was $170. Out of this money, I also had to put gas in my car ($17.22), and I had to take a pair of shoes to have new heels put on them ($11.90).

I am in the process of doing some baking and make dinners to sell for extra income. This is still in the works. After speaking with my daughter, we are planning to hold a yard sale together. I am going to try to have this in two weeks. As for my plan to have a tenant, I’m not too sure that this is going to happen after all. I’ll know for sure in about 2-3 weeks.

I’m not panicking, yet, because I truly believe that everything will work out for the best.

- Serena

I guess that old saying is true: "When it rains it pours," because now my water heater seems to be broken. I don’t have the money to fix this problem. Luckily, I have two grown children who try their very best to help Mom out. First, someone will come to look at the water heater to see if the problem is something minor that can be repaired, and then it will either get repaired or replaced by my wonderful children. I thank God everyday to have children who are financially able to do very well for themselves and who are willing to do things for me when I really need it.

This could not have happened at a worse time for me, since I also just withdrew $40 from my checking account (on gas and eating out) in order to be able to spend time with my sister who is here from Arizona. I’m babysitting this weekend, so I’ll be able to put that money back. I just won’t actually be making any money this time.

- Serena