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When you have two jobs and money is still tight

October 1st, 2013 at 07:55 pm

Today I was once again going over what needs to come out of my next paycheck. About 39% of it is bills, then the plan is to do 40% to credit cards payments, then to keep on track put 18% for savings which leaves me with a whopping 3% of my paycheck for myself. It's been like this for a month now ever since the medical bills. Although those percentages of where the money went was different (x amount toward medical bills, x amount toward savings etc) things have been really tight.

It just seems like there's been one big money event after another, the wedding, funding my savings fully, draining my savings in order to cover medical bills, trying to build back savings while aggressively paying off my credit cards before my assignment ends. And now the credit card pay off plan may need to be put on hold depending on what they say is wrong with my car.

I am very happy that this all happened while I was gainfully and not so gainfully employed all at once since my not so gainful employment made it easy to build an emergency fund while my gainful employment covered the wedding and paying credit card bills but it feels like such a struggle and I'm getting sick of it.

I have been struggling my whole life and while things are certainly getting better. There's still no steady income on the horizon. Just strategies to hold on to the money I make while I make it and hope it carries me through to the next assignment. I'm hoping that this one will stick or at least get me a call back.

I don't mean to be depressing and whiny but I just feel like something has got to give!

5 Responses to “When you have two jobs and money is still tight”

  1. Bob B. Says:
    1380661053

    That's what this blog is for - to unload and sound depressing and whiny. I can't say that I haven't sounded depressing and whiny from time to time myself.

    The key is to not get stuck being depressed and whiny, and keep things moving in a positive direction.

  2. Karla Twomey Says:
    1380666499

    I can relate also having to have recently added large medical bills. Not only am I having to defer my savings toward these bills, but my leftover income has dwindled. My new goal as of late is adding income rather than slashing my budget further, since my pennies are already pinched. I haven't started yet so wish me luck!

    Karla Twomey

  3. ThriftoRama Says:
    1380669886

    We have all had hard times. All we can do is keep at it and hope if we work hard enough and are savvy, things will be better in the future. Don't give up!

  4. baselle Says:
    1380672092

    Things are getting better and we are pulling for you! Consider though that 3% on you this month is not sustainable - its one thing to "feel the frugal burn" for a month or two but the depression and whiny is telling you something. Better to be a hair less aggressive but strongly sustained saver than a whipsaw up and down. Remember that its a marathon, not a sprint.

  5. Permanent Temp Says:
    1380749837

    @baselle I think your right. I try to be really conservative because of my temp status but I'm going to have to let go of a savings payment to myself this paycheck I think. I just went ahead and got groceries cut my hair etc etc so its true I need to just take care of these household dire things. Besides if I have the groceries that will save me tons of money since I won't be eating out. Smile

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