Middle-Class Struggle: Limbo-Land

Friday,  July 29, 2011

Ever feel like your entire life has been put on hold? 

No decision on the unemployment---still!

No word from the university’s financial aid department.

No progress on putting the mortgage on hold.

No word on at least six different job possibilities.

Mr. Struggle thinks this week’s telephone interview went very well.  The bad news is that they had already filled the job.  The good news is that they are hiring for similar positions in other locations.  Of course, they are not offering relocation expenses to new hires.  Mr. Struggle mentioned that he could live with relatives in several locations while we sell our house, and the interviewer seemed to be interested in that possibility.  Mr. Struggle was given the name of some local employees and told to contact them for more info and a tour of the local facilities, which he did.  He is impressed with the company so far, but feels they were trying to sell him on the job.  While that speaks well of Mr. S and his expertise in the field, we’re not sure it speaks well for the potential salary at this particular company.

I have half-heartedly started cleaning closets and purging possessions, in case we do end up moving.  Yesterday I had Struggle, Jr. do the same, when I realized  he has only a few more weeks at home before heading back to school.  In the meantime, Miss Struggle2 has been emptying her apartment and moving her things back home, since the lease on her college apartment ends next week.  Our garage is overflowing with her furniture and the guest room is piled high with her boxes.  She can’t get an apartment and move out until she gets a permanent job.  She has not had a single call from the résumés she sent out last week.

We haven’t bought anything other than food and gasoline lately, so the checkbook doesn’t look too bad.

Previous balance: $1696.79

Deposits:  $169.52 part-time job (last week)
                     169.53 part-time job (this week)

Expenses:      $69.94 food
                           99.26 gasoline

Current balance: $1866.64                             

We took a two-day trip to visit with family who were here from out-of-state, which is why we spent so much on gasoline.  Miss S2 has been borrowing my van, but very conscientiously paying for her own gasoline as she travels back and forth to her apartment packing her things. 

While we were out-of-town, a relative bought Struggle, Jr. some early birthday presents and then slipped him some cash to help pay for his books and school supplies this fall.

I have projected a month ahead for the income, bills due and living expenses, and calculate that, barring anything unforeseen, we can make it one more month without drawing from savings or selling anything.  Surely, the unemployment will have started by then, or better yet, a new job.

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Struggle Family Members

  • Mrs. Struggle: early-50’s, mother of three, college graduate, freelancer
  • Mr. Struggle: mid-50’s, father of three, college graduate, looking for full-time work
  • Miss S1: working out-of-state and applying to more grad schools
  • Miss S2: under-employed college graduate and boomerang child
  • Struggle, Jr. : university sophomore
  • Princess Struggle: mixed-breed, middle-class mutt