I have such a dilemma that meets me head on every single day. I simply don't make enough money! I have a job that pays pretty well, but it just isn't enough. I am not getting ahead, and in fact, I feel like I am slipping farther behind a little bit almost every day.
I don't have a college degree, but I have some college. However, I have skills and experience that run circles around people with degrees. I am smart. Very smart. Just not smart enough to figure out how to get a better job that pays more!!! Companies won't talk to me in many cases solely because I don't have a degree.
I have accolades and praises from many people regarding my skills and talents and abilities. They are many and very strong in many areas. If you care to look, here is a resume online where you can see my skills, recommendations, and experience. I even have several work samples from different jobs or projects I have done.
http://teamworkdreamwork.com/resume
So where is my answer? I have a large family, and grocery bills alone are over $1000 every month, and sometimes higher than the $1200 rent I have to pay for a house that is big enough for us. I have to live on the edge of civilization and commute into town 40 miles in order to be able to get the rent all the way down to $1200 a month! I am starting to think that maybe I could shift money spent on gas could be put into Rent, but it's still a lateral move, and I need instead to be making improvments.
I get so sick and tired of running out of money days and days before the next paycheck is due to arrive, and not having enough food in the pantry and fridge to make it. I make way too much money for assistance of any kind, but I still feel like I am living below the poverty line. My wife needs new glasses/contacts, the pair she has now is a set of reading glasses we bought at Walmart because we don't have insurance and money to get another eye exam and glasses for real. Our clothes are old and wearing thin because we buy for the kids first...and all 6 of them are growing out of their clothes too.
Our van was virtually purchased FOR us when we had to move here and stay with my mother-in-law because we didn't have any kind of vehicle at all when we got here. We have filed Ch13 Bankruptcy, and so this Van is all I have for transportation to and from work. My wife is stuck at home all day, but she is working from home answering phones and scheduling work for her Dad's business. It doesn't pay well, but it's something she can do from home. Home...which feels to her more like a prison because I have the only vehicle.
Our kids are homeschooled, not just because we don't like to local schools, but because we have no way to drive them to better schools. I have the only vehicle.
We have our dreams and goals, but I get so damn discouraged on days like today, when I check the bank balance and see that it is going to go into the red tomorrow because we had to pay some past due bills and buy groceries, and now once again, we have overspent.
I won't even go into how we are struggling to find a way to have anything for Christmas for the kids because this has already been hard enough to talk about...
And today's message from Coach was about Attitude. I am having a hell of a time staying chipper about life with such burdens on me right now...Usually I am the one with the up and positive attitude even in the face of huge challenges. But not tonight. I wish that changing my attitude could fix my negative bank balance, but no matter how hard I smile at it, and tell it I'm having a GREAT DAY!...it's still a red number.
It's time for me to scramble and find some way to cover my negative balance and get a few more groceries before I get paid on Friday.
I am very good at computer stuff. If any of you have any computer work I can do for you (fixing a problem on your PC, teaching you how to use something on your computer like new software or an Internet program) I can help.
I need to make a few hundred dollars as quickly as possible, and I will bend over backwards to take care of your problem, fix your PC errors, or even help you find the right computer stuff to buy for Christmas. I am not looking for a handout, but I want to earn my way out of my dilemma.
If you know anyone who needs computer help, please give them my email address: jim@i-supportdesk.com or my cell phone number: 602-791-3371
Thanks for reading this. I think writing it helped a little bit. And maybe if any of you know anyone that is willing to pay a fair price for help with their PC, maybe writing this will have helped me solve my dilemma.
Take care everyone!
comments
Maybe not what you are looking for
I read this and it reminded me of a blog a read called Zen Habits.
The author has a large family like you and has only recently found some prosperity in his life. I don't know that it answers any of your immediate problems but you may find it very relatable. One of his earlier entries is called Baby Makes 8 : Finances of raising six kids
He tends to appeal to us computer types as well so you may enjoy his view on other things.
I want to offer two other pieces of advice and I realize again this isn't what you are looking for, but here it goes. For the upcoming Christmas gifts your solution may be as simple as the closest church or community group - like rotary or Kiwanis. You seem smart/brave enough to ask for help when you need it and if they are able to help trust me people want to. The people in my office are sponsoring a family that is in a tight spot this year and what they don't know is how much fun we are all having doing this for them. We all get to buy toys and music and clothes for these kids and some of the people in the office don't have kids to buy for in their life. I plan on getting my kids to pick things out and they love any excuse to go into a toy shop.
My other piece of advice is get a degree. Easy to say I know, but it can be done and it will open so many doors. Even if it means some sacrifices now - like time away from family it will pay it self back ten fold in the experiences you and your family will be able to have.
[Edit: I wrote this before I went and looked at your resume and now I feel a little foolish. A degree can't hurt, but you obviously have the skills people are looking for in IT these days.]
I'll stop pretending I know what I am talking about now and just let you know I heard the message you had here. If I encounter anyone who needs this type of computer help I will know where to direct them.
Zen Habits
That blog is awesome! Thanks! I flipped over to his other post about how he saves money...and whoa...I have almost all of those already in the works! :)
Thanks for reading and commenting! That helps!
I wanted to share, but didn't know how to...?
I read your blog with some pangs of memory of where my life was (and to some extent still is in some areas).
I want you to know that focussing on what isn't and on lack will only get you more of that. Focus on the abundance and what is; be grateful for what you have; ever tried car sharing? there is ALWAYS another way - we just have to ask ourselves what it is...
Become immersed in who you choose to BE rather than where you see yourself right now...For your sake and for the sake of your children and wife - BE the strength they need and show yourself HOW amazing YOU can be...
The business world needs enterprising people like you and will pay handsomely for your involvement...could it be that you are still looking down at the floor instead of looking up at the Moon?
Dream a bigger dream for yourself, you deserve it!
Hugs Buddy...
Ethan
Stars, Moon, and Everything In Between!
Ethan, I LOVE that: "Looking down at the floor instead of the moon" AWESOME.
When I first became self employed, Jim, I would say: I want the stars and the moon and everything in between. It was a lot of work, but staying focused on what you DO want sure makes it a lot easier than being focused on what you DO NOT want. I feel that Tools will assist you in shifting this focus! Hang in there - from one Zonie to Another