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Preparing for interview #1 at the fast food restaurant made me realize just how much I have changed. I was excited. But not nervous. And felt no shame at the possibility of working fast food again. (In fact, it’s full circle, I interviewed with the chain where I had my first job at 15 years old. Obviously, not the same location but…)

I approached this interview as I would any professional job interview and considered it my responsibility to interview them as much as they were interviewing me. It went great and the job is exactly what I hoped it would be. Yeah!

And today, I have a second and final interview with them.

It’s a new role they are creating. It will not require me to be behind a register in a busy restaurant. And no, I am not opposed to that because of my pride or any other reason. But with my hearing loss, I really struggle to hear in loud, noisy places. And it continues to get worse. I would not do well working a register in a busy, loud environment. Just facts. I did mention that to them so that all my cards were laid on the table.

Details of the Job

The pay is $13 per hour, no uniform required (although I was not opposed to that to save the frustration of figuring out how to dress,) and the hours while not flexible per se, they will be determined by the jobs that come in so I will control my own schedule in a sense versus having set hours I have to be in the store. Seriously couldn’t ask for a better fit to accommodate everything else I currently have going. And it will put me around people for a change.

I will know better after today’s interview if I might expect an offer, but I am excited about the possibility, and think this would be a great addition to my current “jobs.” He says he is looking for someone to start within the next month so it doesn’t look like it will interfere with my family time at Christmas, and if I do start before then, the intrusion would be minimal so I’m open to it.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.

Hope’s $2,500 Budget

by Hope

Here’s my first take on a $2,500 budget. This was so hard and I cannot reasonably get it down below the $2,500 at all.

Spending Category	Monthly Amount
Mortgage	1013
Utilities - Water, Gas, Electric, Trash	350
Auto - Gas	80
Auto Insurance	650
Groceries	100
Pet Food	140
Internet	70
Cell Phone	55
Health	100

Annual/Quarterly Payments
Life Insurance (Qtr)	67

Total	2,581

This budget doesn’t include everything. I kept eliminating line items and reducing budgeted amounts. But ugh, I can’t. I have to make more money.

And this does not include a single dollar of debt payments. This is terrible.

It’s a great exercise, I get that. But not realistic at all.

Mortgage Modification

You will notice that my mortgage is higher. I signed the paperwork for a modification I applied for back in early November yesterday. It was to increase my payments beginning in January. I had applied back in early November when I wasn’t sure how I was going to make October, November or December payments. And I got approved after I paid the $1,300 to cover October and part of November. I’m not sure yet how that is going to play out. It may apply the payment I made in the between time to January or ? So I’m in a waiting period to see how the modification affects future payments.

Health

You will see a new line item for health. Over the last few months, I have put this last and let the things I had begun doing for my health over the last couple of years slide. This primarily consists of daily 10K steps and an assortment of supplements. As a result, my mental and physical health has suffered greatly. And I have realized that even in the worst of times, I have to prioritize my health. So this is now a non-negotiable to me, I have to be able to purchase the supplements that have greatly improved my health and over all well-being. While I have come off all but one prescription, I do take a variety of holistic supplements. And I can’t just skip them. I’ve tried that on a few of them over the last couple of months in an effort to save money and it is not good.

Car Maintenance Needed

My biggest concern outside of just covering minimum payments is that my car is about to hit 100,000 in miles and needs an assortment of maintenance. For sure, it needs new front brakes. The dealership gave me a list of things and prices when I last got my oil changed along with pricing so I could plan. In total, it needs about $1,600 in work. I believe the brakes are the most urgent. But I’m going to have to find someone to review the list and advise on what to prioritize. And, of course, none of that cost is even kind of reflected in this budget. Nor is the cost of registration, which although nominal in the state of Georgia, is due this month.

Car Insurance

When the kids are here at Christmas, we are going to sit down and compare costs for getting Princess and Gymnast onto their own plans. I think that will end up being higher, but we need to do the research and they are struggling to do it on their own. Beauty shares my car so no reason for her to be on her own plan, but starting in the new year, I will be asking her to contribute more.