In an effort to remind myself that you guys actually like the fact that I'm not a cookie cutter, got my shit together blogger, I need to come clean. Its time that I admit to myself and to everyone else besides my facebook friends. I'm getting a second job.
Honestly, its the hardest thing to admit that you need a second job. It is like failing at life 101. Ya know that class we took that told us if we went to college and got a degree and worked hard we wouldn't have to go through and do the same things that our parents did? Instead, despite their warning you got a stupid ass credit card and here you are seven years later and you are still trying to pay that sucker off. Dear 19-year-old self, Wear sunscreen. Don't get a credit card.
It isn't the job itself that makes me feel like a failure. In fact, I'm pretty sure if I get the job, I'll love it. I realized that all I do is go to work and hang out with Sam. In order to achieve the things I want in my life, I have to do something bigger about it. No one is going to hand me the keys to a house. I'm not going to win a car, despite my luck with winning things. My bills aren't going to just go away one month. As Jillian Michael's says, "If you want results, you're going to have to work for it." I'm strong enough to admit that if I want things, I need to be prepared to earn them. Am I going to be exhausted? Yes. Am I going to have less free time? Yes. But, will I be closer to being debt free by the end of 2012? YES, I will. And that is better than anything I can do with my free time right now. Oh and this goes without saying but I'm pretty much not buying clothing again. Simply because I know that is one thing I can eliminate. Perhaps, I should eliminate going out to eat.
Words of encouragement and pats on the back would be fantastically appreciated.
oooh i dont buy nearly as many clothes anymore, maybe like 1 thing per month nowadays. And I only eat out 1-2x/week...i make dinner and bring leftovers to work everyday. I save nearly $50-75.00/wk doing this...try it! Goodluck!
ReplyDeleteyou inspired me in not shopping clothes, not because I need save money, but that I love sewing and have drawer full of beautiful fabrics and to lazy to make clothes of them. saving money is bonus :)
ReplyDeletewish you the best, you can make it, you did it with shopping, you can make it with eating out. and you're my hero that you have two jobs, really strong young woman!
This is a great idea. When I was paying off my debt, I always worked two jobs - it's what made paying off my shackling debt possible. My second job was working as a hostess in a restaurant/bar/venue where I always went to see bands anyway. It let me be social, drink and see bands for free, which was seriously helpful in terms of saving money. I actually make a pretty decent amount now but I always think about picking up something on the side anyway, as a boost. (I do NOT have the time now, though.) I think a lot of folks who have the entrepreneurial hustle in 'em often work multiple jobs. And a lot of the personal finance blogs recommend multiple sources of income as a more sustainable way of supporting yourself.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the job you want, that you love it and that your nasty debt is gone in the blink of an eye.
Trust me, it will feel *so* good when you're debt free! Keep focused!
ReplyDeleteDee
It's going to be completely fine. U can do this. We're right there with u about trying to get out of debt by the end of the year. Dave Ramsey's plan has really helped us! If u want help with anything let me know. And adam and I are always down for a little dinner party instead of going out! It's the little things!
ReplyDeleteAww man. I know how you feel. Now that I'm not working a full time office job, I'm kind of freaked out by this change. Like not having a sweet check deposited into my account every two weeks. But I've been working pretty hard at getting some babysitting gigs around the neighborhood which has kept me crazy busy. Like, all week and weekend busy.
ReplyDeleteI'm also trying to get rid of my debt from a stupid credit card I got when I was 19. Boy oh boy, is it ever hard! My goal is to at least get that sucker paid off by the end of the year!! No excuses!
Hope to catch up with you soon friend!
xo
Mel
you can do it, girlie!!! dave and i are in the same boat too - you are not alone!!! come over and have some beer from the keg some time - on the house : ) and we can all share money-saving tips. it is such a process, but what isn't?! we are always learning and growing!
ReplyDeleteI finally paid off my 6000 buck credit card bill in the past year and it felt awesome. It's so hard to feel like you are throwing your money away on stuff that you bought so long ago! It's amazing that you are stepping up and doing something to pay that sucker off. You will feel SO GOOD when you do!
ReplyDeleteGetting a second job is not a failure. A lot of people are going through this and there is no shame in it at all. Best of luck with the new job and a big virtual pat on the back from yours truly
ReplyDeleteYou can do it Alyson! Trust me though, you aren't the only one that is getting a second job/clipping coupons/crying at the end of the month. Remember that they don't call it "Facebrag" for nothing.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, working more (whether at your primary job or a second job) is the #1 thing that I would offer as a suggestion if someone asked me how to get out of debt. I can honestly say that my success with paying off debt is almost 100% attributed to taking on tutoring jobs, writing curriculum, teaching summer school, etc. If results are slow, I give up. Taking in tons of extra money from extra work made my debt payoff progress FAST, so I stayed motivated.
ReplyDeleteGetting a second job is a GREAT idea - you will be out of debt SO FAST!! Keep at it, girl.
Courage! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteAnd as a 19 year old, I'm taking your advice. Not getting a credit card. Wearing sunscreen. Ugh, our generation's in deep trouble.
Love,
S
http://mademoisellesonushka.blogspot.com
Alyson,
ReplyDeleteYou can do this! I wish I could give myself the same advice at 19 you want to give. With that being said, I wanted to let you know after a few years of reading your blog, I'm finally cracking down on myself and implementing a shopping ban. I posted about it if you want to read. But really, thank you so much for the inspiration. I don't know if I would have thought to do it before reading your blog and I'm excited about doing it (even though mine is just until my next birthday). What can I say, I set low standards for my will power? I hope you keep up with the blog posts (when you can) as I know multi-job holders don't have a lot of extra time!
Katrina
http://midwestisforlovers.blogspot.com/2012/03/last-piece-of-clothing-that-i-will-buy.html