Great. Not only could we not polish off our debt…

We were going to accrue more.

Before I crumpled into a heap of tears, I decided to power through our deductions and let the cards fall where they may. I grabbed our mortgage interest statement and said, ‘Oh thank God! We paid a fortune!’

Just goes to show the level of my desperation when I’m thankful for Bank of America.

Forty-five minutes and a strong cup of tea later, the amount read…

More than $5,000…

In green.

Plus, I’m still waiting for my student loan interest statement so that number will only get better.

I ran down the hallway, slid across the living room floor in my socks Tom Cruise style, all while screaming ‘WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!’ and throwing my arms in the air.

It’s over folks. We did it.

Nothing.

I was promised my salary would be adjusted by the end of the year but here we are three weeks into January and I haven’t seen anything.

Sure, it’d be no big deal if I hadn’t already started the work, but I have. I thought I knew better to agree to higher work responsibility without compensation, but I fell for the line, ‘We promise a new salary later.’

‘Later’ never came.

I’ve addressed the issue with the powers that be, and all I keep hearing is ‘soon’.

Somehow I went from having all the cards to having none.

I don’t know. I’ve been told they will try to push through putting together an offer package before the end of the year. Hmm. Today is the 20th. It seems to be taking a long time.

I’ll be crossing my fingers for the next 11 days.

By Wednesday afternoon, I began to wonder if anyone would notice me sleeping under my desk.

Before meetings, I’d stand outside the room, flip my head back and forth to poof my hair, tell myself “You OWN this”, and throw the door open with fake energy while praying, “Please don’t let anyone notice how exhausted I am.”

Friday mid-morning, I was called into my manager’s office. I thought I was being fired. I had failed yet again. I was about to launch into, “I’m sorry about this week. I’ll work harder to be better rested next week” when I was interrupted with…

“We’d like to offer you a promotion.”

And I choked on my caffeine-free tea.

Plus, work is a bit of a mess right now. They had to hire an additional person to cover my pre-promotion position. It’s frustrating to see them paying more than twice as much for the work I did easily on my own. You can bet that is coming up in the conversation with my boss’ boss.

And, some of the people I love working with most are interviewing for positions outside the company. They are irritated with the way things are going and are moving on.

It’d be easier if things weren’t such a mess but now I have a stressful work environment to add to missing my son.

Sigh.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Or I’ll just keep saying it until I can.

Today, my boss’ boss brought me into his office to chat. He wanted my opinion on some departmental issues then opened the door by saying, “Anything else you’d like to discuss?”

Here was my opportunity! Here was my chance to make things right!

…

“No Sir. All is well on the home front” and I saluted him.

Salute? What the heck? Am I in the military?

Whoa! And what were my feet doing? Leaving?!?!?

I screamed at my legs, “STOP YOU IDIOT!! TELL HIM!!”

I stared at my hands as they turned the heavy door handle, “Don’t go!!”

But they went.

There was no blaze of glory.

As I rode silently down the empty elevator, I stared numbly as the floor numbers lit in dissention.

*DING*

The doors opened for my floor.

As I trudged back to my office, I couldn’t help but feel as though I will never ascend to greatness if I can’t stand on my own feet.

I scheduled a meeting with him in a few weeks. Maybe I can muster some courage by then.

Months later and still no raise.

Turns out, the company hit a rough patch and there will be no raises this year. I’d be fine with that but…
layoffs started Friday.

It’d be nice to have one year, just ONE, where one of us wasn’t up for a layoff. We could survive his layoff fairly easily. I’d go back full-time and he has enough odd jobs to carry us for months, but it sure would be nice to have 12 whole months of no layoff fears.

Eh. Maybe next year.

This week, my counterpart was diagnosed with cancer and has resigned.

The department head pulled me into a meeting and asked for my advice on how to deal with the situation. There are only two folks who know how to do our jobs – me and her. Even if they hired someone today, I don’t have time to train them. We have a 1/2 person doing a two man job.

The problem? They totally screwed me on my earnings a few months ago and I’m still mad. I felt like saying, “Drop 20K onto my annual salary and we’ll talk” but I have the world’s tiniest backbone and found myself saying, “If you need me, I’ll be there.”

This, my dear friends, is why I’ll never be a millionaire. Millionaires push harder.

I should know by next week what they decide. My debt will be happy, but I won’t be.

The first day was easier than I thought. I was so focused on getting ready, getting him fed, and packing supplies, I didn’t really have the time to get depressed about leaving. At work, I was overwhelmed with meetings and projects, and didn’t even have time to eat lunch.

The second day was when everything hit. The nerves had settled and I couldn’t make it out the door without crying.

I’ve regretted the decisions I’ve made about money in the past, but nothing makes you more miserable than the realization that your money decisions are keeping you from the things you love most.

BUT, I am so grateful to my husband who works lots of overtime so I have a few months of working part-time. I’m not quite sure how I got so lucky to be married to him, but you can bet both he and baby get lots of hugs these days.

I negotiated with the HR department to only work 2 days per week until the end of the year and return to full-time status in January. I asked that my benefits remain the same and I accrue vacation time at the normal rate.

Turns out, I can be quite bossy.

HR approved my request.

I start this week but it’s easier knowing it’s only part-time. Let’s just hope our checkbook can survive!

No, she didn’t ask about a project.

No, she didn’t ask for help.

She said she needed me and can’t wait for me to return.

My salary increase is due less than a month after I return. Hmmm. Maybe I can max it out again this year.

It’s awful nice to feel needed.

Obviously, if I can get a higher salary, it will offset my loss, but I’m curious…

if you pay for your family’s healthcare through work, how much are you paying?

I’m NOT looking to start a political debate on healthcare so please don’t talk about government or politics.

BUT, today, I’m cutting a check for…

*COUGH* *ACK!*

$680

At my milestone, it will drop to $80 each month for both of us.

It’s all about hanging on until I get to the milestone marker.

That didn’t last long.

On Wednesday, the calls, e-mails, and texting started again.

Maternity leave is great, but keeping my job is important – especially since I use my paycheck to pay my mortgage and pay down debt.

Sure, I understand that they can’t legally fire me for turning off my phone while on disability, but I’m a bit concerned about what will happen AFTER I return to work. You can bet my employer will remember I ignored calls.

All day Wednesday, as the calls came one after the other and I pressed the ‘ignore’ button on my phone, I told myself I deserved just one more day of quiet. I’d get to them on Thursday.

Thursday morning, I woke up to more voicemails and decided…

I’m not going to return any more calls while out on leave.

Bad decision financially? Maybe.

But I only get to spend a few precious moments with my newborn son – and I’m going to enjoy every single one.

Numerous phone calls, a dozen or so text messages, and several e-mails…

all in the first three days.

If you’ve ever been a new parent, you’d know it’s difficult enough to remember your name in the first three days. Helping out at work via satellite (unpaid of course) is more than annoying.

I didn’t answer at first, assuming they’d get the hint I was busy with the whole ‘newborn child’ thing, but the number of calls simply escalated.

I’m torn between my obligations as a good employee and my responsibility at home. In my sleep deprived thinking, I felt the need to keep my steady paycheck and was willing to lose on more sleep until…

I went to my first pediatric appointment and couldn’t remember my zip code (of the home I’ve lived in for 4 years) and didn’t feel strong enough to carry my newborn from the overwhelming fatigue.

I e-mailed my employer and told him not to contact me again unless the building was on fire.

It was perhaps the WORST thing to write in my tired state but, I haven’t heard a peep other than ‘We appreciate your help. Give our love to the baby.’

I think they got the hint.

Hopefully, I still have a job in a few months.

(Please forgive any spelling/grammatical errors over the next few weeks. I’m running on zero sleep!)

Some wonderful ladies at work have approached me about throwing a baby shower at the office. Need I bring up my other issue? The one where I struggle accepting gifts?

Limelight and gift acceptance? Sounds about as awesome as my latest root canal.

BUT, hubby and I have nothing for the baby, we really need the help, and we could save money if we accepted their offer.

I’ve turned my co-workers down twice, gently and sweetly of course, but they asked yet again on Friday.

I guess this is the part where I work on getting over my pride and start appreciating that the folks in my life are genuinely interested in offering a great set of helping hands.

The only problem? I’m a bit miffed as to whether it is ‘proper workplace etiquette’ to accept their offer. This wouldn’t be the first baby shower thrown at work but I was a bit flustered when a co-worker said, ‘I heard the some ladies are trying to throw you a baby shower at the office and you turned them down. Good idea. Baby showers at work are so tacky!’

Well shoot! Now I don’t know what to do! Advice?

this employee was hired to be your assistant.

You approach your manager to confirm the salary and inquire as to the reason why you are underpaid or the assistant is overpaid. He shares your mistake was not negotiating your salary when accepting your job initially and you should never have accepted their first offer. He then tells you with a laugh, ‘We were kinda shocked you took it.’ Had you negotiated, you’d be making more. He then shares that thanks to company mandated increase limits, you will never reach the same salary potential as the new person, even when promoted, regardless of experience.

Rather than be paid based on hard work, experience, or accomplishments, you will now be forever limited because of mistakes you made as an inexperienced job hunter.

All this is a ‘hypothetical’ scenario of course – said with a wink and a nod.

Here’s the question:

Would you stay?

Yes, he’s the financial Bob Marley in our relationship. He never gets worried.

I clicked through our spreadsheets trying to make 1 + 1 = 47 but even with today’s modern math, it wasn’t happening. As I was about to lose my sanity, my husband strolled home from work. ‘Guess who’s up for a raise?’ he asked with a grin.

I stared at him.

He paused then said, ‘ME!’

I continued to stare in silence.

‘Hon?’ he asked.

More silence and a confused stare.

He snapped in front of my face. ‘Anyone home?’ he laughed.

‘Didn’t you JUST get one?!?’ I asked.

‘Well, yeah. But it’s time for another according to my boss’ he said proudly.

Have I worked for the government so long that I forgot what it’s like to get a raise? Man, I miss my private sector job.

Raises are supposed to be handed out in the next 30 – 60 days at his office.

Did you hear that? That, my friends, was a sigh of relief.

When booking out of town travel for work, I get to choose where I stay. We have a generous maximum allowance that most employees use fully – even upgrading room choices for nicer suites.

In my crazy mind, I figure the finance department actually monitors the spending and takes note as to who spends the limit, and who saves the company money. I didn’t want to book a budget busting hotel and chose one a little further away in a less expensive area.

I didn’t say it was a bright idea.

I arrived at the hotel and was pleased to discover it wasn’t too bad. The area was nice and the buildings had been renovated sometime in the last 4 decades – a big plus for me. Remember folks, I stayed in hostels in Europe with mold growing up the walls and dirty sheets. My standards are what some would call… shockingly low. Anyway, I liked the place. I wouldn’t say I felt ‘safe’ but I felt I could adequately survive the night.

At around 7pm, a high pitched scream echoed down the hallway. It was followed by more screaming.

A lot of screaming.

Turns out, the occupants in the next room where the proud parents of a 5 year old who took to screaming whenever she didn’t get her way. That particular screaming fit was because mom and dad wouldn’t let her put the key in the door.

Great. Now, in the event someone decided to murder me, my screaming would be overpowered by a 5 year old.

The screamer eventually gave it a rest and I fell asleep around 11. At 2, the hotel alarms were set off by some kids playing pranks. The alarms blared for more than an hour. The hotel staff was quick to apologize, but their apologies didn’t help me focus in the 8 hour training session the following day.

The rest of the week went pretty much the same way. Alarms, screaming children, car horns blaring. You get it.

Lesson learned.

When traveling for work, save money – but spend enough to keep your sanity.

I make one exception to my pack my own lunch rule, co-worker birthdays. Traditionally, our department celebrates birthdays by taking the birthday boy or girl out to lunch at the venue of their choice. On average, we have 1 to 2 birthday lunch celebrations per month.

Typically, the lunches cost $15-$20 a plate and everyone orders a $3-$5 drink with their meal. I don’t order a drink and order the least expensive item on the menu, generally a small house salad with an ice water. When the bill arrives, it is split equally between the group and my portion is $25-$30 even though my actual share is about $6.

I would decline the birthday lunch invitations but this is very, very frowned upon and I do enjoy the meal out every once in a while – I simply hate to pay so much for it. They do pay for my meal on my birthday but I always pick a cheap kabob shop and the most expensive item is $6.95.

I know this is a common problem but I haven’t heard a good solution other than ‘suck it up and pay for it’. Anyone know of ways to combat this problem?

I’m excited about the training. It’s new, it’s interesting, and it allows me to see states I’ve never been able to visit. But… with this excitement comes a pretty high level of perfectly legitimate terror.

These training modules are conducted by high ranking federal officials. Officials who could oh, say, re-evaluate your taxes, make your job disappear, or… make YOU disappear.

I had ONE goal (OK two goals if you count ‘learn something’ as a goal), don’t let them learn my name. I figured in a sea of 40 trainees, it wouldn’t be hard. Blend. Easy right?

‘Alright guys, I’m going to bring an unlucky staffer up here and we’re going to dissect federal regulations together. I want to see how much you know your stuff’ the trainer said as he wandered the front. He glanced around the group while I silently prayed, ‘Please God, not me.’

‘Rebekah! You are the unlucky victim!’ he said with a smile after reading my ID badge.

Of course.

Thankfully, his questions were fairly easy and I think I was vaguely able to cover my terrified knocking knees.

Naturally, I thought I would be in the clear for the week.

Naturally, he continued to call on me every day – and some days, I was the ONLY person he called on.

‘Rebekah, since you’re so great at federal regulations, let’s check your algebraic skills!’
‘Rebekah, would you like to share your feelings on state regulations?’

By the end of the training module, I was ready to move my chair to the front to save time. On the last day, he asked if I was attending the next scheduled course. When I told him I was, he smiled, ‘Good.’ He paused then said, ‘Look, I hope you don’t think I’m picking on you. On the first day, I gave you a question that throws everyone off, but you got it right. I wanted to see if there was something you’d miss but you didn’t miss a step the entire week. It’s refreshing for trainers to see that. See you next time.’

My feet didn’t touch the ground for a couple hours.

When coming off the low of job loss, it’s hard to feel like you matter anymore. You apply for jobs and spend hours trying to sell the fact that you have value. And even when you get a job, especially a job several levels lower than you were before, you wonder if your work life will ever return to ‘normal’.

It will.

And, I guess in this case, I don’t mind if the feds remember my name.

On my first night out, at a restaurant chosen by my coworkers, I could have ordered the filet mignon.

Totally covered in my per diem rate? Yes.

Something I love and haven’t had much of… OK, OK, haven’t had any of for as long as I can remember? Yup.

Something I didn’t order because I couldn’t wrap my silly little brain around the concept of spending nearly $40 on instead of the$12 veggie plate?

Yes.

The veggie plate was fabulous by the way.

In the whole scheme of things, our company is HUGE and very few employees are paid to travel. Will my week of penny pinching someone else’s dollar make a difference? Not in the very least.

Admittedly, I should have loosened up and ordered something I REALLY, REALLY wanted at least one of those days but I guess my frugality isn’t as easy to ditch as I thought.

We tried our best to defend ourselves from her coughing, sneezing, and wheezing through plenty of hand washing and Lysol spraying, but one by one, we watched as the entire department came down with the flu… followed by the surrounding two departments within two weeks.

Despite my best efforts to protect myself like Rene Russo in ‘Outbreak’, I was sidelined by the bug and lay on the couch for three days begging my husband to take me to the ER because death was imminent.

I can be a little dramatic when I’m sick.

One of my coworkers has a husband who is undergoing cancer treatment and his immune system is weak. When she ultimately came down with the virus, she had to wear a mask in her home, sleep in a separate bedroom, and use a different bathroom to protect her husband.

California is working to pass legislation forcing companies to give between 5 and 9 sick days a year to employees. Studies indicate that employees are unable to afford time off and come in to work, spreading the flu.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think my company is to blame for the fact that I’m laying on my couch praying I don’t get pneumonia…again, but I wonder if this law would make a difference.

Then again, I’m not a fan of government involvement in anything so I have mixed feelings.

What do you think? Should the states mandate sick time so folks like me stop getting sick from infectious co-workers?

This morning? I will be seeing…

The back of my eyelids.

To those of you who have the day off, enjoy it. To those who don’t… um… I’m sorry.

Seriously awesome name for a bad experience. Totally worthy of a blog title.

A few people brought up the dog sitting/roommate mess and to be honest, yes, that is a big part of the reason my husband is done with roommates. Even now, we both grumble a bit when mopping our warped floors and we were disappointed we couldn’t sell our old couches because of the pee stink.

I forgot to mention that our raises will cover the amount we usually receive in rent (when you don’t charge much in the first place, you don’t miss it) and will actually enable us to pay a little more than we usually do on debt. Our emergency account is fully funded again.

We came out ahead!! Yes!

And for the inquiring minds… the person who house-sat for us and caused ‘the great pee debacle of 2010’ is moving in with my brother when they close escrow.

My husband, who is normally the sweetest man on the planet, let an evil grin slip out when he heard the news. I think I even heard him sing a song about Karma while mopping the warped floor.

A few weeks went by and I inquired when I could drop the ‘Interim’ from my title. No one knew.

A few more weeks went by and well… I started to get a bit grumpy. Was I going to forever be the ‘interim’ person and never officially be given the title?

More weeks passed and I think management was starting to pick up on my foul mood – never a good thing. They took me aside and explained that they were waiting for my scheduled merit increase to become effective before processing paperwork for the new position. Why? Because they didn’t want me to have to negotiate a promotion salary AND a merit increase.

Oops.

I flashed a bright smile, thanked them for considering both increases, prayed they’d forget my foul mood, and walked out with my tail between my legs. They were being beyond kind and I thought they were just dragging their feet.

As promised, my merit increase was added last week and I was immediately called to sign paperwork for the promotion. When they announced they wouldn’t negotiate my new salary, I was a bit disappointed. They told me I would be getting a 10% increase and smiled at me as though they had just announced I would get a new Mercedes. Bratty me was a bit saddened. I kinda hoped for 15%. At that rate, I’d finally be back to where I was before the recession.

I thanked them and went back to my desk, my mood deflated. HR stopped by about 15 minutes later to drop off the copies of my paperwork and whispered, ‘Just so you know, the president has never signed a 10% increase before – even for a double step promotion. You’ve obviously got management heavyweights who fought for you. Congrats!!’

I felt about 2 inches tall.

My managers did so much and how did I respond? Like a spoiled child. I have to remind myself that this isn’t 2005.

I spent the rest of the afternoon like my old self – smiling, laughing, working hard.

I’ve got a lot of making up to do.

SERVERS.

*gasp!*

I guess someone is tired of the fact that only food places we visit (and even then, we rarely go out) ask if we would like our order supersized.

Off we went to participate in ‘motivating’ the economy. I was ecstatic.

Thirty dollars later, I sat with fully content at the table after thoroughly enjoying warm bread, caesar salad, filet mignon, and crème brulee with fresh strawberries.

I crawled into bed thinking… ‘Best Christmas gift ever!!’ Three and a half hours later… I was thinking, ‘WORST Christmas gift ever!!’ as I suffered the nastiest bout of food poisoning I have ever had.

I don’t believe in karma but at 1 AM, when brain function is a little on the fuzzy side, I start to think that karma has taken vengeance on me for my frivolous spending. By 3 AM, I demand karma stop being mean because I’d really like to part ways with the porcelain god.

I finally struggled back into bed around 3:30 and angrily pounded at my alarm when it started beeping loudly just over an hour later. I skipped a shower, threw on clothes that didn’t match, and dragged my sick body into work, the whole time feeling guilty about my spending.

My boss walks in and does a double take. I start to explain about my shambled appearance when he interrupts, ‘Didn’t you get food poisoning?’

‘Huh?’ I ask.

‘Everyone we sent offsite for training got food poisoning from the free chicken burritos. They all called in sick.’

HAH! Take that karma!! It wasn’t my $30 dinner! It was my love of free food!! Well… free anything for that matter.

Ugh. I’m going to bed for the weekend. At least the guilt from spending is gone.

Sure it’s not the 10% my husband’s was, BUT, I’m perfectly happy with my 2%. At least I’m heading in the right direction!

My boss approved the maximum allotted by our organization (2% was the max this year) and I couldn’t be more grateful. And, since the raise came a little late, they are back paying me the increase from my anniversary date in November. Maybe February’s debt payment will make up for the lousy one last week.

I’m turning up ‘Shake Your Groove Thing’ on my iPod and running off some of this excitement.

Funny. They still haven’t ‘officially’ given me the job, but they are organizing my training.

As we sorted out hotel accommodations, they reviewed my per diem rates for food, gas, etc. The budget manager tapped on my plastic company card, ‘OK Rebekah, we both know you don’t eat much and you’ll never get anywhere near spending all of your allowance. Don’t be tempted to drink the difference. Alcoholic beverages are not covered’ he said with a wink.

They take away all the fun.

It’s been a while since I’ve flown on tickets purchased by my employer.

Traveling on someone else’s dime is always a lot more fun.

I have been given strict instructions NOT to share the happenings of that meeting until the formal announcement in a few weeks.

So, I won’t share what happened behind those doors…yet.

What will I share? Window views are lovely.

It took a few seconds to respond since my prepared speech was more along the lines of, “I have enjoyed working here and I hope you will consider me if a position becomes available. I’ll have my desk cleaned out in 5 minutes.”

I think I stuttered out a “Wow… Um… Cool” which is exactly the ‘professional’ appearance you want to portray when someone sticks his neck out for you.

He told me the promotion has to get approved by the CEO so nothing is official yet but he ended the conversation with…

“Just act surprised when they offer you the job ok?”

I can act surprised… but I can’t seem to wipe this silly grin off my face.

My husband got his raise!! How much?

10 PERCENT!!

He’s a hard worker, he’s reliable, he’s smart, and his butt looks great in his Costco jeans (but I’m sure the last part has nothing to do with it).

We’d like to celebrate but… we just got back from a foreign vacation. We can’t afford to celebrate until 2014. Plus, I’m typing this while sitting on a couch that smells like dog pee… kinda takes away the joy of the moment. ; )

It’s been a few months and my husband has taken on significantly more responsibility and has stayed in the office.

…But still has no raise.

He approached his boss twice and was told it was coming but we have yet to see it.

Of course, part of this problem may be the fact that we are traveling to Italy, paying cash for the trip, and it doesn’t exactly scream ‘We Need Money Now!!’ Little does he know the trip is predominantly funded by a combination of a tax refund and Top Ramen.

Supposedly, the raise is on it’s way… soon. Who knows? Maybe by the time we get home, he’ll have it.

At this point, I’m so happy he has a job, I’ll let the raise thing slide…for now.

Our remaining balance is $1,500.

Oh that annoying extra $500. It’s the itch I can’t scratch. I could wait until September to be done with Toyota or… I could take every odd job under the sun and finish it now.

I’ve never been a patient person.

My husband and I have been taking random jobs this month and so far, we have $380 extra dollars. We are on an eight day challenge to earn the last $120.

We can do this.

We, surprisingly, have a budget surplus this year since we haven’t had a raise in two years, it seemed like a good time to broach the subject.

Or not…

The increase was rejected.

I’m glad – ecstatic – to have a job but I can’t deny that I’m bummed.

Stupid economy.

Yup. Not one, but two folks were laid off today.

Kinda makes me wish I had put that four thousand dollars to my savings account instead of to Toyota Financing.

Eek!

My promotion: I haven’t heard a peep from management and they haven’t hired anyone.

My husband’s raise: His office communicates as well as mine. No word. I was hoping we’d hear something this week but… I guess not.

The debt surprise: I’ve been working nights and weekends doing side work. I recently deposited the paychecks and, I don’t want to ruin the surprise but, the July debt update should be a good one.

If there is anything I missed, let me know!

He is not being transferred.

He was called in for a meeting with his boss and was asked to stay in his current position. If he chooses to stay, he will receive a permanent pay increase – a much smaller increase than the transfer position – and possibly a promotion.

He will not be paid prevailing wage but the increase is permanent rather than temporary and the promotion is a big one.

For our future, staying put in his current position is a better choice, but for now, I’m a bit bummed at not hitting the jackpot of debt reduction.

We’ll find out the specifics of his pay increase this week. Fingers crossed!

This new prevailing rate is temporary, 12 to 18 months at the most, but it will help us to become debt free and save 3-6 months worth of expenses.

Of course, there is a hitch. He will commute more than an hour each way to work while still maintaining a full time summer school schedule. We are going to have to double his gas/car maintenance budget and add to the food budget so he can grab something to eat between work and school if necessary.

Even with the added expenses, our debt reduction payment should jump between $500 and $1,000 per month.

Whew! We’re finally starting a downhill slide!

I have a healthy fear of rejection. I also have a slightly more than healthy fear of authority. Combine the two and I am destined to push paper for the rest of my life.

I knew about the opening for a week before they made a public announcement and all I could think was…I don’t want to be an admin assistant forever.

Finally, at the end of the week, after six hours of nervous jittering, I loaded myself with fake confidence and marched into my boss’ office. Rather than ask him for consideration for the position, I asked him the ever dangerous, ‘What does my future look like?’

A smile spread across his face and he said, ‘I’ve been waiting for you to ask that question for six months.’

We spent the next half hour reviewing his plans for my future. It was one of the most rewarding conversations I’ve had in a long time. He even encouraged me to throw in my hat for the new position but if I don’t make it, he has another opportunity in mind for me at the beginning of next year.

It’s easy to sit where we are because it’s safe, but sometimes… you’ve got to storm the castle.

I’m short and my leg to torso proportion closely resembles a crossbred Welsh corgi and a dachshund. I buy petite short pants… and have them hemmed.

Sure, I could ‘accept my God given shape’, ‘celebrate my uniqueness’, and believe all the other feel good sayings my mother told me OR… I could wear really, really, really tall shoes and live in denial.

Denial is the name of my game.

I never thought tall shoes would save me money until my co-workers started to ask me to accompany them to lunch. With the fantastic food offerings of downtown San Diego, it’s impossible to pass up… unless you can’t walk. It’s easy to say no when walking more than three steps causes me to beg God to take me from this earth and save me from pain.

So, I kick off my shoes, put on my slippers, and toast a sandwich.

Before you insult that lady at work with the ridiculous shoes, remember… she may be saving money… or maybe she’s self-conscious about her tiny legs… or maybe it’s both.

As I waited for the elevator while holding my cardboard box, the manager of HR walked up and asked if I was leaving.

‘Yup, I’m out of here!’ I said with a smile.

She put her hand on my arm and said, ‘Is there something I can do? Did something happen?’

Then it hit me. She thought I was quitting.

‘Oh, no. This is for an outreach tomorrow.’ I said laughing.

‘Oh my God. Don’t ever scare me like that again.’ She said placing her hand to her chest.

As I caught the elevator down, I couldn’t help but smile. In these uncertain times, I’ll sleep well tonight. It’s good to feel valued.

First, and most important, we rarely do work for people we, or someone close to us, doesn’t know. I do not trust Craigslist for anything other than used doggie kennels and throw rugs. My husband mainly does work for friends and family – someone always needs a sink fixed or a toilet repaired. Let people around you know you’re willing to help.

I do accounting work for the company I worked for a few years ago. They are often short staffed and need an extra hand. I let them know I’m always available. It makes it easy when they already have my tax reporting information and I don’t have to keep records.

Second, if we do work for someone we don’t know, we keep it under $100. My husband is sometimes approached by fellow customers in home repair stores. There’s something about him that radiates honesty and good heartedness – maybe it’s because he is. If the job is too large, he refers them to a reputable company. It’s not worth the risk of not getting paid.

Third, be good at what you do, stay on top of trends in your industry, and be honest. My husband is extremely talented and is always reading construction magazines. He is never dishonest and will likely throw in work for free. Ninety percent of his work is from referrals. Happy people will tell their friends about you.

Fourth, pay close attention to the laws about certain types of work. California is stringent on almost everything. Working here without some sort of licensing is illegal for many trades. For example, construction work is limited to $500 (including material) if you do not have a contractor’s license. It’s also important to report all income when tax time rolls around. Nothing is worth the risk or penalties of an IRS audit. Also, if you are on unemployment, money from side work MUST be reported and will likely result in a reduction of benefits.

Fifth, don’t expect to make a ton of money. Usually, we make just enough for groceries or to cover what we’re short on an electric bill. It takes a lot of time and the money is little.

Again, I’m no expert. Before doing any type of side work, check with your local government authority and your tax advisor.

A job.

He was laid off on Friday.

I’m struggling with this not only because of the lack of significant income but more because of how it happened. There were two employees laid off on Friday. The other employee was given three days notice, my husband was given no notice. I could understand if my husband had been at all unreliable or perhaps a bad employee, but he was neither. They simply needed some final projects completed and were worried he wouldn’t put in the extra overtime to complete them if he knew he wouldn’t have a job by Friday afternoon.

My husband has worked at this company for SIX years. I expected better from them.

I’m dealing with it the best way I can. I’m working to reduce, reduce, reduce. I’ll go more into that later.

I’m also trying my best to be something I am not – optimistic. Here’s my new list of reasons it’s G-R-E-A-T he’s unemployed:

1 – He can make all those mid-day calls to businesses only open from the annoying Monday through Friday 8-5 window. I’ve been trying to call my bank for YEARS!

2 – My husband, who is far more talented in the kitchen than I am, will cook more. Sure it will be Ramen, but it will somehow taste better since he’s making it.

3 –We won’t be weighed down by worries about job loss.

4 – We will be more creative in our bill pay process. Perhaps San Diego Gas and Electric will accept peanut butter cookies and hugs for payment? How about if the cookies are homemade?

5 – I don’t have to worry about my car getting repossessed because… I OWN IT!! And, we’re ahead in payments on the truck so we have some glide time.

6 – I will be able to empathize, once again, with some of my readers on what it’s like to not have a job and wonder how on earth we are going to pay the bills.

So here’s to my struggling readers – I’ve been there before, I’m there again, and we’ll survive it.

I’m still sick.

My doctor says she can squeeze me in on Monday.

If I’m still sick by Monday, I’ll shoot myself and save her the trouble of an insurance claim (totally kidding folks, it’s the fever talking).

I was able to drag myself into work today. I completely forgot about the pre-scheduled site visit between me and oh… 25 or so other people.

Hmm. Perhaps showering would have been a good idea.

I scrambled to meet the project manager who took a look at my shoes and said, ‘Thank God! A woman with sense. Thanks for wearing closed toed shoes. Whenever we go on job walks, all the women wear open toed shoes and it’s very dangerous.’

I did not see the necessity in mentioning that my sick nauseated 5 in the morning haze prevented me from finding my cute pink strappy sandals… or even a hair brush for that matter.

Seven hours of 100 degree heat and ‘Yes’, ‘No’, ‘Maybe’, and ‘That’s only legal in Thailand’ later, I was allowed to return home.

Sorry no financial updates. My brain is a blob and I plan on spending the next 48 hours under my big fluffy comforter.

Have a good weekend.

Begin with an end in mind.

OK, so here’s the sad part, I don’t remember how exactly they applied that statement to management. BUT, that statement is HUGE for me personally.

Often times, I pick a task with no end. I want to get more fit or I want to eat a healthy diet or I want to live as a penny pincher and on and on and on. Here’s the problem: Unending goals like these will lead to burnout.

Head smackingly obvious right? Then why do I keep making these stupid never-ending goals?

I think that’s what I appreciated about the Dave Ramsey program and why it has worked for me. I was convinced to pay off one debt at a time. It’s a goal with an end followed by another goal with an end. I also think that’s why training for a marathon and a triathlon has kept me more motivated than working out without an end in mind. If I want to quit after I finish I can, but I have a feeling I’ll be signing up for another one as soon as I cross the finish line.

Rather than say, ‘I want to be debt free forever’, say ‘I want to pay off my car by next summer’.

Begin with an end in mind.

What is your end?

We don’t see each other often. Perhaps that’s why our marriage is so great. We don’t have time to fight – heck we’re just so darn excited to see one another we don’t really… um… talk much.

He took a rare three nights off last week and we went running and cycling together every day. We made dinner. We walked the dogs. We watched movies. We remembered what it was like to be married.

I couldn’t help but think about how wonderful it was to have him around – to see him relax, even for just a night or two. He must have been thinking the same thing. He said, ‘I want to work less and live my life more.’ He has decided to work 6 days per week and 2 nights per week – and yes, that’s a cut-back (he was working 6 days and 6 nights).

I can’t agree with him more. As he toils to pay our debt, I can’t help but wonder if our self-inflicted punishment of hard labor is worse than the crime of spending. I wonder if one day, we’ll look back and regret the time we missed when our life was just us. We can cover our bills plus some without the extra work so we’ve decided to slow down.

So… we will pay things off more slowly BUT I have my husband back – and I’ve missed him dearly.

He did not get the government job.

Short Term Financial Effects:
We will be able to pay our bills at the same pace since he won’t have to take a large salary cut.

Long Term Financial Effects:
Possible unemployment in 6-8 months. No government pension and retirement healthcare.

We’re still positive. He’s working. I’m working. We’re paying our bills. We’re living below our means. The construction market has started to take an upward turn and his job has become a bit more stable. So, we went on a 20 mile bike ride, grilled some chicken, and had a glass of wine on the back patio.

In the big scheme of things… life is still pretty darn good.

Great. I’m going to fail this review – I thought

‘When you first interviewed with us, I told the committee that I could see you had a bright future. I put my neck on the line for you…’ he said.

And…

‘And I’m reaping the rewards. Your performance has been unparalleled. Never, have I given a probationary score this high’ he said while smiling.

There are five Rebekah’s in this department. Obviously you’re confused.

‘I have never seen such a high level of organization…’

You call it ‘organization’, my doctor calls it a case study in obsessive compulsive disorder

‘…You are well liked by your peers and HR has only praise for you…’

You’d be amazed at the power of homemade cookies and good old fashioned gratitude to others

‘…and you are always willing to put in extra time to get projects done.’

You fired someone… IN FRONT OF ME… if that doesn’t put a fire under someone’s pants, nothing will

In an environment of so much insecurity, it was nice to get a pat on the back. I didn’t think he had noticed – and was pleasantly surprised to realize he had. This review doesn’t guarantee my job (no one is guaranteed a job) but I’m glad to hear I’m doing something right.

Whew!

Most of us found that simple adjustments to our chairs, sitting habits, and stretching helped reduce muscle tension and strain. I was able to use some of the techniques at home and found myself more aware of my balance and posture.

I started to think this was a great investment in preventative medicine until…

my co-worker was curiously absent this morning.

Only hours after our training class… my co-worker went home, lifted improperly, and caused serious injury to his back.

What do they say about leading a horse to water?

If you want to save some money on doctor’s bills now and in the future – here are some pointers on good posture:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/Back_health/hic_Posture_for_a_Healthy_Back.aspx