December 2 – Let’s Talk Numbers (Brace Yourself)

Today I’m laying it all out — my real numbers, my real situation, and my real December game plan.
Warning: It isn’t pretty… but it’s honest.

Yesterday I sat down and went through every single expense for the month, and here’s where I landed:

• House bills (rent, utilities, car insurance, car payment, phone, internet): $3,425

• Debt payments: $1,435

  • (I owe $107,000, mostly divorce-related. This will be a major focus starting in January, but for now I’m covering the minimums.)

• Gas & incidentals: $220

• Christmas gifts: $300

• Groceries: $600

• Christmas dinner: $100

• Baking supplies: $50

Grand total for December: $6,330

Now for the fun part (not really):

• Savings on hand: $1,476

• Expected income this month: $4,275

Which puts me at a deficit of $579 — and that’s before any random little things pop up (because they always do).

So… how am I going to cover the gap? I’ve been brainstorming like crazy.

My December Hustle Plan

DoorDash
I applied this morning and I’m just waiting on my background check. This is honestly my best bet to cover the majority quickly — if I can start ASAP.

Instacart
I was delivering groceries in 2020 when my work was shutdown. I am trying to get everything active again. As soon as I’m approved, I’m jumping in. Between DoorDash + Instacart, I feel confident I can knock out most, if not all, of the deficit.

Blog + Affiliate Links
I started a new blog last week and so far… I’ve made $3.
Not life-changing, and it won’t hit my account for 60 days, but it’s a start. I’m counting this as long-term growth, not December income.

Other small-but-helpful options

MTurk
I’ve had an account for years. Microtasks pay pennies, so it won’t close a $579 gap, but I might be able to squeeze out $20–$50 if I grind.

Field Agent
Another account I’ve had forever. These are small store audits and secret shops. They pay quickly, and realistically I could grab another $50–$100 this month if the tasks are available.

Swagbucks
Surveys, games, and gift card rewards. They do have a PayPal option. It’s slow, but maybe I can snag another $20–$50 if the payout times cooperate.

Credit Card (Last-Resort Backup)

This would be a terrible financial decision, especially with the massive amount of debt that I am in. This is very last resort, in case of emergency only.

This is where I’m at today — raw, real, and not sugar-coated. I am going to sit tonight and meal plan for the remainder of the month and see if I can reduce that food budget. That is realistically the only wiggle room that I have.
If you’re working through your own December numbers too, you’re not alone.
We’re doing this together. Let’s problem-solve, stay honest, and finish the year stronger than we started.

Tomorrow, I will update with my meal plan and how I am doing sticking to the calories and workout goals (heads up....not good).