Posts tagged money

First steps of boomeranging

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10 months ago
by bangbang023 in

After my last post about my anxieties of moving and the new financial burdens I felt I would have trouble bearing, my parents reached out to me and offered me the chance to move back home so that I can get myself back on my feet. I consulted with a few people and, after realizing it would be best for me in terms of long term life planning, I agreed. It bummed me out to make the decision, though, and today, it all became a reality as I’ve started to pack up the few boxes I need to get together.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am very appreciative of the opportunity my parents are giving me. After two years of costly dental procedures, I am no where near where I should be, financially. It’s a burden, for sure, but I’ve been able to get by with my current bills. Unfortunately, the increased bills that would have come along with the new apartment would have crippled me rather quickly and I knew I couldn’t live like that. My parents’ generosity offers me a chance to breathe and truly save for my future. A future that is quickly approaching and one that I’m anxious to get to. That doesn’t help some of the depression associated with moving back home, though.

I’m a boomerang kid. That’s the term for someone who moves out of their parents’ house and then moves back in at a later time, usually due to financial difficulties. The stigma bothers me a bit, yeah, but the change that comes along with this move gets to me the most. I love my current apartment and even the new apartment wouldn’t have come close to this place. The apartment, itself, is also closer to work and Melanie which means I can easily walk to work and get to Melanie within an hour. Now, on days the trains aren’t running correctly, I have to figure out how to get to work. Coming home from Staten Island isn’t going to be a picnic either.

Beyond the traveling issues, comes the privacy issue. I love coming home to an often empty apartment and being alone for a little bit. It’s soothing, especially for someone who works in a very busy retail environment. Home isn’t going to be as peaceful. I’m going to be tested on some days, that’s for sure.

I guess all of this amounts to me feeling a little depressed over the situation. I wish I could afford to continue to live on my own, but the truth is that I can’t and my parents are saving me from inevitable debt. It’s a case of logic and emotion. Logically, this all makes complete sense. Emotionally, I may need some time to realize that.

Moving and it’s inherent stresses

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11 months ago
by bangbang023 in

For those of you who never ever listen to me or read my Facebook or follow me on Twitter or happen to walk by me on the streets, I’ll be moving out at the end of the month. My roommates are moving back to Queens and there’s no way I can afford my current place on my own or with only one other roommate.

After talking to my best friend Joe, we decided this would be the best time for us to get a place together. We’ve talked about it for years and the timing never worked out. Even now, though, the timing isn’t perfect. He’s stuck in a lease until July and I have to be out by the end of the month. How’s this going to work? It wouldn’t if it weren’t for my parents stepping up and helping me out.

To be frank, I don’t make all that much at my current job and money is always tight. With my share of the rent going up and already threatening to stretch me a bit thin, there was no way I could afford the entire rent for 3 months. My dad came to the rescue, though, and offered to help me out by covering Joe’s share of the rent until Joe moved in. If you just said “wow” to yourself, don’t worry, so did I. It’s a ridiculously nice gesture that I wish I knew how to show appreciation for. Add to that the constant support from my mom and you can see why I love my parents.

It’s still going to be tough until Joe moves in. I’ll have to cover the electric bill, gas bill, and cable bill (the worst of them all) by myself and I’m already freaking out. Money just scares me to death and I dread financially difficult times. I’m going to be super stressed out for the next few months because of it, but it’s something that has to be dealt with.

I’m not sure there was much of a point to this post other than me venting. I can’t write a rhyme about this stuff, but getting it out in words still helps a lot. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and patience in listening to me whine all day long.

Jobs for everyone

4
2 years ago
by bangbang023 in

This has been a good week for Melanie and I. Financially, things are about to get a little easier for us and that’s always a blessing.

For starters, Melanie found a job at an Uncle Louie G’s that opened right near her house. The pay is only decent, but she gets tips which, so far, are pretty damn good. As the weather gets warmer and volume picks up, she should be able to get a nice amount of money together for the car she so badly wants to get.

In other news, I finally got the full time Merch position at work. Besides the extra hours, I also got a raise and will be able to get benefits such as health insurance and holiday/vacation/sick pay. Now, I’m not going to be doubling my income or anything, but I will have a bit more padding that will allow me to stress my bills a little less than I have been for the past year, or so. All of this is way over due, but I’m thankful I stuck to my guns.

Decisions made and confusion cleared

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2 years ago
by bangbang023 in

Well, I’m just a tad bit less stressed out than I was in my last few posts. I’ve had time to think and, after talking things out with Melanie and sorting through the facts, have figured everything out for now.

In terms of the Citi position, I’ll let that play itself out and see what happens. In the mean time, I’ve decided to remain in the new position at work. I’ve already received a raise for it (almost 10%) and will, hopefully, be getting more hours very soon. If I can get 30% – 50% more hours, I’ll be ok and can, possibly, stop the bleeding of money that’s been going on for the past few months.

The key here is that I’m getting more money and I’m a lot less stressed. It just took a while to sort everything out.

I have to find that perfect balance

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2 years ago
by bangbang023 in

I’m stressed and want to vent. If you’re pissed off by what you read, I apologize.

This whole job thing is getting a bit frustrating. After doing a “phone screening” with Citi bank, today, I am now waiting on a branch hiring manager to get in touch with me. While this is good news, in many ways, it also poses a problem: Can I take a job like that knowing that I won’t get to see Melanie more than two days a week, at most?

We’re both at different points in our lives and it’s hard to blend those points together, sometimes. I want to do what’s right for me and make enough money to sustain myself, yet I know, deep in my heart, that I need time with her. Maybe I’m just a stupid kid in love, but it’s what I am.

So, what do I do? I don’t know, to be honest. I’m stressed beyond belief trying to figure this one out. A middle ground solution would be to let the Citi situation play itself out and see if I even get a job offer, but, at the same time, not go back to the position I love at work and stay in the spot I am currently in. I can, probably, work out a pay raise and extra hours from it, though it’d officially be part time and still not like my work.

The problem with that idea is the lack of benefits and I need benefits. I don’t know what to do. My mind is racing a mile a minute and I’m not ready to leave the starting line. I have to figure this gigantic puzzle out and make a major life decision when I’m simply not ready to do so.

I’ve heard your advise. I know what most people will say, so please leave it be. No matter what I choose, people will be pissed off and say I’m wrong. It’s a lose – lose situation and I know it. Lucky me.

Half way there, but not enough

2
2 years ago
by bangbang023 in

Well, when an employee quits or gets fired, there’s obviously an open position within the store. As I mentioned in my previous post, a co-worker of mine quit and, by doing so, vacated a full time spot. I decided to apply for it. I got it, but I didn’t. Allow me to explain.

When a store wishes to open up a position for application, they have to go through the corporate offices. Unfortunately, there is a freeze on the hiring of full time employees and the company refused to budge. When I was told of this, I was also notified that they hope to have the freeze removed within a month or two. So, I was presented a decision. Do I wait in my current role and apply when the spot opens or do I take the part time position in the new department and apply for the full time when the chance is given to me?

I did some thinking and talked to a few people, though I mostly talked it over with Melanie. In our discussion, it became clear that I would have a much better chance of getting the full time position if I knew what the job entailed, so it would be much better to use the available part time role as a training for future possibilities.

This is such a tough choice to make. I’ve become an essential part of the machine in my current department. I’m also friends with the supervisor and he relies on me to help keep things moving. I’m leaving that all behind and part of me feels a bit guilty about it. I know I have to do what’s right, but I like being the “go to” guy and I feel a strong responsibility to keeping things moving the way they are.

This is a decision for me, though. I’m doing it and hoping for the best. I’ll go from working with my hands to doing tons of paperwork and researching possibly lost items. The real benefit isn’t in the work, but the possibility of full time pay and the freedom on the weekends to spend time with Melanie and play softball with my room mates. Wish me luck.

Minor changes in life

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2 years ago
by bangbang023 in

I’ve been making some minor changes in my life. I thought I’d share. Lucky you.

Firstly, I’ve decided to let my black nails go. It’s not an easy choice, but I think I’m past that phase of my life, finally. It’s not significant to anyone besides myself, but it is what it is. I’m sure Yogi Bera would be proud of that line.

I’ve also decided to cut all spending for the next two months, at least, as much as I can. After my purchase, and subsequent review, of MLB 2K9, I’m done. I need to start saving again and this is the only way I know how. Melanie has been supportive, though I hope she and her parents can tolerate us going out to paid activities less for a little while. It’s just something I have to do as I struggle to make ends meet. It’s the economy we live in, I guess.

The job improvement search continues

1
2 years ago
by bangbang023 in

I could say that the job hunt is continuing, but I already have a job, so I’m really looking to just improve my job situation. I’m pretending that makes sense and so should you.

I’m still not getting the hours I want, at Best Buy, and it’s starting to annoy me. I can’t save with the limited amount of hours they do give me and, even worse, I can’t stop the bleeding of cash. I’m continually losing money because my expenses are simply greater than my shrinking income.

I’m still looking at banks as my way out of this abysmal situation. I’ve applied twice at Sovereign Bank (second app was today for a full time position. I included my resume, this time) and I plan on applying at Wamu and Chase in the next few days. It’s not my dream job, being a bank teller and all, but it’ll pay the bills and give me room to advance my career. I guess, sometimes, you have to sacrifice passion for money. It kind of sucks.

Wish me luck, guys. I really need it.

Settling in

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3 years ago
by bangbang023 in

I’m not sure how many people know, but my room mates and I were very concerned, during the past few weeks, that we would be able to stay in the apartment we’re in now once the lease expired next month. It was a stressful time on top of every thing else I had to deal with on my own.

Well, after discussions with the landlord, we’re going to be staying, so now we can really settle in. We finally got ourselves a kitchen table. Our kitchen area is small, so we never bought one out of concern we’d buy one for the size limitation we currently had and then not need it a few months later. It’s nice to have a place to sit and eat, finally.

We’re also doing small things here and there to make things more homely. A set of coat hooks down by the front door and such add nice finishing touches to the place and make it that much more comfortable to be in.

Money is still very tight and I’m not getting nearly enough hours at work, but at least I’m ok…for now.

A quick nod to Sovereign Bank

2
3 years ago
by bangbang023 in

I have to give a quick thumbs up to the customer service at the switch center for Sovereign Bank.

I recently decided to switch banks since my previous bank doesn’t have any branches near me enough for any quick runs to the ATM, and such. I chose Sovereign because there’s a branch near me, near Melanie, and at every CVS, so it’s pretty easy to avoid ATM fees wherever I go.

Well, in setting up my account (my sister, who works for the company, did most of the work) I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with their “switch center”. This is a line of their customer service specifically created to assist new customers with setting up their new accounts and direct deposits. They have been very kind and helpful in getting everything covered. It’s been amazingly comforting. What’s even better is there’s no menu system when I have to call them. I just get forwarded straight to a human being. Sweet.

Thank you, Sovereign Bank and thank you to my assigned rep, Debra.

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