Today was my third day at the hotel and I am having one of those grateful moments...the kind that won't let go of you. I'm so grateful to have a job. I'm so grateful for purpose in my day. I feel like time has stopped, meaning time has become a day instead of a five-year plan. When you're in school, you constantly think about your future. And then suddenly you're out, employed, and living your future. I don't feel badly that it didn't turn out for me like it used to turn out for math majors before the economy turned. I'm so fortunate to have the experience of pulling myself from the ground up.
We are so fortunate in this country, yet we love to whine. The other night I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep when I heard my refrigerator kick in...you know that periodic noise that fridges make...and I realized how amazing it is to have a refrigerator! I have a beautiful apartment that is not missing a single modern convenience (except a dishwasher, but it would be worse to be missing something else like a fridge or a toilet.) I might be making the same amount of money as a high school grad, but the point is, who cares? I am proud of my accomplishments, of the work I do, and the guests who I make happy. There is nothing better then laying your head on the pillow knowing you have done an honest day's work.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
New Old Budget
Ok people...here's the skinny. I just got a new job. Well, a new old job. You see the baby-boomer super rats that make (are still making) horrible decisions about my life have created an environment where a college graduate of mathematics with a service-industry resume gets sucked back into the service industry to avoid starvation. I don't have the bank account to wait for companies to tell me they are liquidating the job I applied for before I get an interview. Yeah, that has happened more than once.
Sob story aside, I am really stoked on my new job. However, it pays the same as the job I had pre-college degree only now I have post-college debt. Bummer.
I have a plan though! One that I can't fully test until October (due to the most amazing event of my life happening Sept 15) but I am excited to see how it goes. The BIG PLAN is this: we have allowed for a $500 grocery budget each month in the past. Food's expensive! Plus, with keeping the budget big, I got to make whatever I wanted and we ate out less. In theory...we still max out our eating out budget every month. So I am going to try out a $200 monthly grocery budget. It would mean some serious planning, knowing what's on sale and in season, and possibly turning into vegetarians at home. I want to keep the eating out budget the same and it will seem like even more of a treat to go out.
Reality has hit and I am not the bigshot I thought I was...yet. And I definitely don't have the bigshot budget I thought I would have. But we're so happy and that's all that counts. An extra $300 a month would go SO far. I'll keep you posted on how we do and if I find any tips and tricks I'll pass them along!
Sob story aside, I am really stoked on my new job. However, it pays the same as the job I had pre-college degree only now I have post-college debt. Bummer.
I have a plan though! One that I can't fully test until October (due to the most amazing event of my life happening Sept 15) but I am excited to see how it goes. The BIG PLAN is this: we have allowed for a $500 grocery budget each month in the past. Food's expensive! Plus, with keeping the budget big, I got to make whatever I wanted and we ate out less. In theory...we still max out our eating out budget every month. So I am going to try out a $200 monthly grocery budget. It would mean some serious planning, knowing what's on sale and in season, and possibly turning into vegetarians at home. I want to keep the eating out budget the same and it will seem like even more of a treat to go out.
Reality has hit and I am not the bigshot I thought I was...yet. And I definitely don't have the bigshot budget I thought I would have. But we're so happy and that's all that counts. An extra $300 a month would go SO far. I'll keep you posted on how we do and if I find any tips and tricks I'll pass them along!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Thoughts
So we're sticking around in Portland for a little while. We still have our eye out on job listings for Daniel but there's no way of predicting what will come available and when. It was very eye opening how long the process can take. So I am looking for a job this week. It's actually a big relief because I am getting a little sick of the waiting game.
I am so excited about my etsy shop though! It will be a great source of additional income and I love doing it. A few days ago, I was in my sparkling clean house (I tidy when I get bored these days) trying to come up with my next art project for my store. I had five products ready to frame, but I couldn't bring myself to get out the saw. Plus a few of them I envisioned having decorative frames but I didn't have any decorative moulding. I really didn't want to put anymore money into this project. 3 of the projects I wanted to frame were size 16x20 and I remembered why I started making frames in the first place...I didn't want people to have to deal with finding size 6x6 frames. But 16x20 is a standard size. So I listed them unframed. I can't get as much money for each unframed item, but I make them much faster. By breaking with the saw once in awhile, I'm working smart instead of working hard.
I started with pianos and now I have made dogs, hot air balloons. Sometimes I can't think of something to do, but a walk in ptown always gets my imagination going. It's such a great outlet for me and I love how this project has evolved. I'm sure I will get back to making frames, but I would like to se some sales first!
I am so excited about my etsy shop though! It will be a great source of additional income and I love doing it. A few days ago, I was in my sparkling clean house (I tidy when I get bored these days) trying to come up with my next art project for my store. I had five products ready to frame, but I couldn't bring myself to get out the saw. Plus a few of them I envisioned having decorative frames but I didn't have any decorative moulding. I really didn't want to put anymore money into this project. 3 of the projects I wanted to frame were size 16x20 and I remembered why I started making frames in the first place...I didn't want people to have to deal with finding size 6x6 frames. But 16x20 is a standard size. So I listed them unframed. I can't get as much money for each unframed item, but I make them much faster. By breaking with the saw once in awhile, I'm working smart instead of working hard.
I started with pianos and now I have made dogs, hot air balloons. Sometimes I can't think of something to do, but a walk in ptown always gets my imagination going. It's such a great outlet for me and I love how this project has evolved. I'm sure I will get back to making frames, but I would like to se some sales first!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)