by Ashley
First, I want to thank everyone for the kind and thoughtful comments on this post. This trip proved to be not nearly as stressful as my previous one. Not that it was a walk in the park or anything, but I think it helped to have both siblings with me and to already have a good idea of what we’d be walking into with the doctor (and our “hunch” of a diagnosis has now officially been confirmed). I’m going to set this topic aside for a bit, though I’m sure we’ll be revisiting it in the future, at least in regard to how these issues have impacted financial decisions. Thanks again for all the support and understanding!
I’ve already said that I love August. But one of the reasons why I’m excited about this month, specifically, is that it will be my first month earning a full month of pay from my new full-time job! Wahoo!!!!
So I guess I’d had it in my head that I’d be getting double-paid this month (from full-time job AND part-time job) and that next month we’d have some KILLER debt payments to make!
Only…..no.
I did the same thing last year, too. My part-time job has an odd interval of paychecks. For my summer teaching (which lasts 3 months), the pay was split into two lump sums paid out in June and July. So although the semester isn’t over yet and I continue working this month, I won’t get paid this month because of the schedule of payments (technically I was already paid in-full, and it just happens that I got paid before the semester ended).
I still don’t know if I’ll be able to continue working part-time in the Fall. I have a meeting with the department head this week where I’ll ask(!!!). I’ve got my fingers crossed for good news but, even so, I won’t be expecting a paycheck from the part-time job until September. And, worst case scenario if I’m forced to leave the part-time job, I won’t have any months at all with double-pay because I’ll have to leave my part-time job before any double-paychecks would occur.
So, yeah. That sucks.
On the bright side of things (a BIG bright side, too), at least I get paid this month! Last year I didn’t get any pay in August at all since my part-time job doesn’t pay during the month. This year I won’t get double-pay, but at least I’ll be getting a full month’s worth of pay from the new full-time job! YAY for that!
I’ll definitely keep you updated on the status of the part-time job. I’ve had a couple commenters ask what the deal is and it’s still up in the air right now. I’m just trying to be positive and hoping for the best, but I’ll let you know once I have my official meeting with the new department head!
Hi, I’m Ashley! Arizonan on paper, Texan at heart. Lover of running, blogging, and all things cheeeeese. Freshly 40, married mother of two, working in academia. Trying to finally (finally!) pay off that ridiculous 6-digit student loan debt!
I so hope you get to keep your part time job. I know it just adds more to you plate but I think it would be awesome to make some major debt headway! Oh, what did you decide to do regarding your pay schedule? Did you have that corrected?
My bummer realization was last week when the contract on my husband’s house fell through, meaning I’m still covering everything until it’s sold. (We got married last April, house has been on the market since last July, with a break for winter.) He has been paying college tuition for his son (done now), PLUS making a car payment and paying rent on his “crash pad” in the city where he works – so there’s really no money left over to contribute to ‘our’ household expenses. BUT, I am thankful that we both have jobs and that we can afford 2 house payments plus his rent payment. It’s just getting old, and we’d rather have that money going toward something else. Gotta look at the bright side of things – even if it isn’t as bright as we’d like it to be, or thought it would be.
I know it would be nice to have that extra money from a PT job, but don’t do it to the point that you’re sacrificing time with your family. You will have enough stress of adjusting to a new job & taking care of your dad (however that looks) so don’t kill yourself just to get some extra money to throw at your debt. It would be better to adjust your payment schedule than be miserable because of trying to work that extra job to keep on a schedule (or even get ahead of schedule). Your health and your family are more important.