A World We Didn't Expect

So I got another text message from a different co-worker today. Yeah, we're a texting staff (not a sexting staff, we learned the dangers of that at our sexual harassment training). She wanted to know if my paychecks are smaller than the ones I got last year because hers are. Interestingly, in a minor melt-down about the meager size of my paycheck last night, I did some research. Not only am I bringing home less than I did as a first year teacher in my weekly paychecks, but my own district would have to pay me more if they hired me as a new hire right now.

I think I have to realize that I am not on a career path because teaching in my state is just considered a job. I have been working for this district for four years. I have attained a more advanced degree, but I am actually being punished by my district for staying with them.

Now, I know it is a catch-22. My district isn't actually hiring new hires. In this economy and within my age group, the good fortune to have a job outweighs any longing for a career.

I guess I am just realizing that when my age group entered adulthood we entered a world we didn't expect. We had no clue that finding work at all would be hard. We did not expect a negative correlation between cost of living and compensation. We had no idea that when your job doesn't pay the bills you wouldn't have other options.

From Comfort Zone to Budget It Is a Tough Transition

I tend to think that things are really bad financially, but they are not really that bad. I was very fortunate to grow up in the kind of family where the budget was flexible and we never had to worry about how we were spending money really. I was never taught to be wasteful, but we had no debt, we bought new clothes as trends changed, we went on vacation every summer, we ate out if we felt like it, and we always had cable=).

Even in my first year of teaching, my budget was really flexible. That year costs had not increased and I was not paying for grad school.

For the first time this year, I am really having to thoughtfully stick to a budget. I don't just go to the grocery store and throw everything in the cart that I "need". I don't get a haircut every six weeks. I don't buy new clothes because I don't have the latest styles. I don't go out to dinner because I don't feel like cooking.

I know all of this is good for me to learn. I really never appreciated that my lifestyle was privileged. I guess I was kind of spoiled. I am starting to appreciate that I am privileged even now. Yes, I have had to give up some things I am accustomed to, but I have a nice place to live, I have a car, I never have gone hungry even for one day, I have nice clothes, and I am paying for grad school out of pocket. Even though I am feeling the financial crunch more than I ever have I am also seeing financial blessing.

I was raised to spend money in a certain zone (maybe under 300$) without ever thinking about it and to consider big purchases thoroughly. Now, I have to consider all purchases and stick to a budget. Part of it is the recession and part of it is the career I have chosen. It is really not so bad, though, because I don't need a lot of the things I have had in the past. I've learned that Target jeans are pretty much the same as Gap jeans. I've learned that the brand of toothpaste isn't really that important either. Time off in town can be just as relaxing as a vacation.

All of This Free Time

Is reminding me how hard it is to save money!!!!

1.) When I am at work all the time, it is easy for me to save every penny.

2.) I need to save every penny because my grad school tuition has gone up, up, up; but my pay is frozen due to the economy.

3.) When I have a week off, I am constantly tempted to spend.

On this page are some examples of things I want to spend money on--but won't... In case you want to spend money on them, they are found at Forever 21.

Pinching Pennies

So far, I haven't felt the sting of living on a teacher's salary. There are several reasons for this:

1. I am single and don't have any children. I don't have to support a family.
2. My Grandparents paid for my college. I don't have loans or debt.
3. I don't own a home. I don't have to pay a mortgage yet.

For the first time since I started teaching, money is really tight this month. There are several reasons for this.

1. The tuition on my graduate school went up. I just had to pay a 2,000 dollar bill for my Fall classes.
2. We had a week that we weren't paid at all this year because of calendar changes. This makes my summer budget even tighter.
3. I bought to much random stuff for my own classroom this year. It seemed like a good idea because I am in a new grade, but in retrospect maybe it wasn't such a good idea.

My point is:

1. It is really hard to live on a limited budget. Because of state budget issues, I am still making the exact same salary I was when they hired me three years ago (as a first year teacher).
2. It is kind of hard to be motivated to pay for graduate school when my degree will amount to approximately 1,000 more dollars a year. With graduate school costing 6,000 dollars per year, it will take twelve years for this degree to pay for itself. I guess I'm not doing that for the money either.

I also get really annoyed when people tell me, "Well, you're not in it for the money."

Of course I'm not in it for the money.

That doesn't mean I don't have financial needs.

That doesn't mean financial compensation wouldn't be nice sometimes.