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Browsing posts in: Making Money

Two trips to Texas next month

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Thank goodness I plan and prepare in advance. This coming month I will be taking two trips to Texas. This has been the plan for months before the financial crunch.

Quick Turn Trip to Houston

The first is a quick turn trip. Princess has 24 hours to go from her New York internship to her Houston internship. She will land one Saturday night in Atlanta; I will pick her up and then we will jump in her car and ride to Houston.

I was hesitant to let her take that drive herself. It’s over 13 hours of drive time and she’s never driven more than a couple of hours alone. Not to mention the quick turn will put a lot of pressure on that drive. She and I are going to team drive it. She’ll get there a bit more refreshed and ready to start on Monday.

I was able to book a one-way flight with points, paid just $5.60. As long as I don’t have bags, it will be the cheapest trip I’ve ever taken. She is being reimbursed for her travel expenses so I won’t have to worry about gas, food, or anything else. We got her car serviced last week before she left for New York City so everything is all set.

Her return trip doesn’t have the time crunch pressure, and she feels like she will be comfortable making the drive back alone.

Permanent Move to Austin

Two weeks after I return from getting Princess to her internship, Gymnast and I will load up our cars with all his belongings for his move to Austin. This will be a roundtrip road-trip for me. And I will have to cover the gas and food for the trip. I have already taken the week off work, but will still receive my salary. (Grateful for that!)

We are planning to car camp on the trip there. And I will most likely do the same on the trip back.

Gymnast and I sat down recently to plan out final things that need to be done here before this move. And he let me know that I could probably stay home and not go. I could bring a load when he gets ready to move into his own place.

And I so appreciated that, because the financial pressure is immense these days. But with my mom still alive and my dad’s recent battle with cancer, I’m going to make the trip. I will deal with the financial consequences. I thought I was saying good bye to my mom when I went down last fall. To have another chance to see her…priceless.

Gymnast and Princess

Gymnast and Princess on their last weekend together before they take on the world as adults!

Read More from Hope

We are Going to Texas – June, 2018

The Cost of Death – September, 2022

Growing Old isn’t for Sissies – June, 2021

Going from hourly to salary but still part time

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My boss has offered me a salary of $35,000 annually with a set number of responsibilities versus hours. I will control my own schedule and will have consistent income. Even though it’s not enough to cover my bills, having the consistent income will help with my planning AND my anxiety.

There are firm weekly, monthly, and quarterly deadlines. But for the most part the work is pretty flexible. Who knew I would enjoy bookkeeping, accounts payable, payroll, and tax returns so much!?! Having worked doing this work since March, I am confident that the hours to pay ratio is fair.

And she is willing and even encouraging me to make full use of the office and resources here as I get more work. I am so grateful for her understanding.

I have had over ½ dozen interviews in the last couple of weeks and then just silence. I don’t understand it.
Not to be cocky, but I’ve rarely interviewed and not gotten an offer. And then all the reschedules…people ask for an interview and then just minutes before or even 10 minutes after the designated time, they will cancel or just not show up. It’s such a new world. And it’s not pleasant for the job hunter.

I have no idea what is coming, but I know God has a plan in all this. So I will keep rolling with it, treading water until I get back on firm ground again. (Bills are behind now, but based on my forecasting, I think I can keep my head above water…nothing should hit the 30 day mark.) *crossing my fingers and still focused on looking for more work

Read more from Hope

Looking Back One Year – September, 2021

Changes on the Work Front – January, 2018

Work and Travel – May, 2014