It's been almost five months now since I opened my child-care business. As time goes by, I've found some ways to save money, cut costs and make my supplies last longer.  I've always been good about budgeting my money. But during this economic downturn, I've been extra careful about spending. One of the ways I save is by using coupons when I go grocery shopping and buying things that are on sale. Sometimes when I'm at the store, I ask myself, "Do I really need this?" If the answer is no, I don't buy it. Now that I'm home all day I've... Continue Reading »

I think staying connected to others in the same business that you are in is very important. In my case, that means staying connected to other child-care providers. Recently I got together with a friend who also has a child-care facility in her home. She's been in this business for more than five years. Being the rookie that I am (I opened my business in July), I knew I could use some pointers and advice on how to make my business a success. We discussed things like menu planning, what receipts to save, and basically how to keep all paperwork... Continue Reading »

I've always wanted to be my own boss, and now I'm doing it. It's great to wake up in the morning and have my child-care business in my own home. Every morning it's the same routine: Wake up at 6 a.m., prepare breakfast and snack for my students at 6:30, prepare materials and activities at 7, drop off my daughter at school at 7:15 and open my doors for my students at 7:30. Having my business in my home saves me money on gas because I don't have to commute. However, I did see a slight rise in my electric... Continue Reading »

I'm still in business with my child care service, Miss Lorna's Learning Place. I have a full-timer and a part-timer. I will have another full-timer starting next month. It's been tough financially with just two children enrolled. But I'm keeping my hopes up and always looking at the bright side of things. I know things will start to change once I am fully enrolled. I do have days when I start to wonder what the heck I have gotten myself into. Was I better off unemployed and working only part-time? But I know I cannot turn back the clock... Continue Reading »

I WANT to enroll more children. I BELIEVE I will enroll more children. I WILL enroll more children. That is what I tell myself every single day. I am a believer, and if I want something and believe in it, I know it will happen! Having said that, starting next month, I will have another child enrolled in Miss Lorna's Learning Place.  Yes . . . that is a total of two children. He will be a part-timer, coming three days a week. He is excited to start, and I can't wait to have him. His grandmother is also excited to be... Continue Reading »

Nothing much has happened in the past few weeks. I still have only one child enrolled in my day-care facility and still am patiently waiting for more enrollments. My goal is to be fully enrolled by the end of August. What will it take? Well, more fliers out in the community, business cards and just spreading the word. My one student is only 20 months old, but she's showing so many signs of progress (and she's been attending my facility for less than a month). She has learned the daily routine, and her speech has picked up a lot. She... Continue Reading »

A lot has happened in the week since I opened Miss Lorna's Learning Place. First, I received a call from a parent of a former student of mine who was supposed to start at my facility next month. He informed me that the subsidy he received from the state of Hawaii is only for licensed preschools, not family child-care providers. So the student will be returning to the preschool where I used to work. Earlier this week, a couple visited my facility and seemed excited about sending their daughter here. We planned for the child to start next month.... Continue Reading »

I just returned from the trip I won on Wheel of Fortune. My 10-year-old daughter Nicole and I visited the New England states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. What a trip it was! We had a great time, and it was also educational for Nicole. I'm glad we had the opportunity to spend time together and learn new things. It was a trip we will always remember. Visiting the New England states has always been a dream of mine. While growing up, I always wanted to travel to the East Coast. I want to thank... Continue Reading »

Being a sole proprietor, I have to do everything on my own. I don't mind doing it since I have time on my hands. Working only two days a week gives me that privilege. I like to take advantage of my free time now, before I open my business in less than a month. One of the major things I've been working on this week is creating a website for my business. I found creating a business website to be very rewarding because it has a meaningful purpose. I created it for parents who are looking to send their children... Continue Reading »

Now that I've passed my home inspection with the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services and received my temporary license, the next step is to get the word out about my business. I will open my business, Miss Lorna's Learning Place, in mid-July. I am very excited about getting started. So far I have one child enrolled. The maximum number of children I can accept is six at one time. Besides using word-of-mouth, I've been posting fliers about my business around the community, at places such as grocery stores, the public library, baby stores, the public laundry facility,... Continue Reading »