work...finally

Tomorrow I start as an adjunct professor at a local community college, teaching one class twice a week. That's four hours of work each week, at a decent pay, but it's still only four hours per week. SOOO, I also have registered to be a substitute teacher in my district. This was originally supposed to be a last, last, last resort, and here I am starting that on Thursday. Even with both of those things, it's still not enough money. I also have gotten a job making minimum wage at a local nonprofit organization that I love. I have been wanting to work there for a long time. Maybe this is God's way of making room in my life to be able to do something that rewarding. But I didn't even know what minimum wage was when I got the job. That's how far removed I was from the whole scene.

Even with all this, I will be making (hopefully!!!) around $1750 per month. That's a little less than half of what I was making before. SOOO, with all this said, I have another job interview on Wednesday. This would be a full time job, making $2300 per month. Pretty crappy pay, but the requirements for the positions are only an associate's degree, so it's to be expected. IF (Big IF), I get that job, I don't have to substitute, and I would be making about $3400 per month. THAT's and income I can wrap my mind around to survive on.

I know lots of people who do just fine on $24000 per year, but after you have been making twice that for so long, you build up that type of lifestyle. I can't just sell my house in this market. I currently owe about $20,000 more than it is valued at. My student loans are not going to go away, and they run me about $500 per month. I have a car note, but that is almost gone. There are reasons I need a certain level of income, and I know I walked into this situation myself by quitting my secure job (that I was surely going to be released from in the next few months), and not having a savings. But I have learned my lessons. I know that it seems like it is all about the money right now, and it really is, and I apologize for that.

I have always been a big believer in giving back to your community and being a productive member of society. But when it comes down to it, I have bills to pay. Thus far, I have not even considered the idea of borrowing from my retirement, even though I found out yesterday that my sister has done exactly that. She is 10 years older than me and has wiped out her TRS. WOW! I have way more in that than she does, and I haven't even considered touching that. I have learned the lesson though. As soon as I am back on my feet, 10% of my earnings will go into savings. For any future event. Like this. Because this sucks. Big time.