More than stretching your dollar

There is a lot to be said for living within your means, using what you have and being a great bargain hunter, and there are a lot of people who say a lot about it. However, it seems that there are fewer people giving suggestions on how to increase your means. I know that for many the ideal is that dad works and mom stays home with the kids, but often that just doesn't cut it. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to increase your income, here are a few suggestions to help you out.

1. Be persistent and be present- Last summer when my husband got a job here in St George as a school teacher, I thought I could easily find a job. I'm an RN. I have a bachelor's degree. I have experience. I have additional certifications. I knew that my boss will say good things about me. I was currently working for the company that owned the only hospital in the area. Yeah, well none of that matters if there are not jobs to apply for. After getting no where online, I drove the four hours one way to visit the human resources office, twice, only to have them tell me that I needed to look online and they couldn't help me. Then I did a little research. I started with Pediatrics, which is the department I was previously working in and was where I wanted to continue. I found out who the manager was and where she had worked before, so I had an idea of her experience. Then I drove down to St George again, bypassed HR and went straight to her office. She told me that that morning she had just gotten approval to hire someone one day a week and I could have the position if I liked. Victory!
2. Network- Let people know that you are looking. Ask your friends and family to be on the lookout for you. At a neighborhood party a few days ago a friend asked me if I knew of any positions for nurses' aids at the hospital. A friend of her relative had been looking, but there weren't any jobs to apply for. I told her to tell her friend to move it fast, because I knew of a couple of positions that had just opened up and weren't posted yet and if she acted she had a descent chance.
3. Be creative- Look at the talents you have and try to think of a way for them to help you out. I have a friend with four kids who wanted to increase her income. Going to work and paying for daycare didn't make it worth her time. So she went to nail school. Now she has a small business in her home that she enjoys and she can still be there for her kids. (PS If you live in Southern Utah and want her number I'll give it to you. She give a fantastic pedicure at the best price I've ever seen.) Another friend of mine give piano lessons, another voice lessons, another a small daycare out of her home. I have one friend who used to teach kindergarten, but now runs a small preschool out of her home.