Thursday, September 8, 2011
I’m on pins and needles: Mr. Struggle just left for a job interview. This interview is actually for a promotion to a full-time position, at the company where he has moonlighted for over four years. It is basically placing orders, merchandising and stocking for a large, national company that distributes to retailers. The job wouldn’t pay nearly what he was making before, but there is great growth potential, it is nearly stress-free, and the hours are fantastic compared to what he’s worked before in his previous positions as a salaried manager.
Because this is a corporate environment, there are benefits available that had eroded at Mr. Struggle’s previous job (small business), such as a company match on retirement, and medical insurance with a reasonable deductible. It would put my mind at ease to know we could afford medical care again, should any of us need it!
We have had a long stretch of nothing---no responses from previous job interviews, followed by several days of bad news: disheartening newspaper reports of company mergers and layoffs at companies where Mr. S. had just interviewed, as well as a rejection or two from jobs for which he was extremely well qualified. We also have had no news at all from two or three fantastic jobs that Mr. S has applied to, and are getting really tired of waiting. We have determined that if the job is offered at today’s interview, Mr. S will take it and then continue to look for something better, especially if he isn’t give a chance at promotions fairly quickly.
We have also been brainstorming about possible business ventures the two of us could do on our own. We have gotten a federal tax id number and have been designing business cards for this venture. We have decided that we need to create a source of income independent from employment, so as to be more self-reliant. In other words, we want to have more control over our income and our finances. This idea is evolving, so I’ll report more on it as it progresses.
As to the finances:
We are still waiting to hear back from Struggle, Jr.’s university as to our appeal of his financial aid package. We inquired last week and were told we should have a decision before Sept. 22, which is the deadline for the current semester’s bill.
We finally managed to gather all the required information for the mortgage assistance program and are awaiting a decision from the state agency as to whether we qualify for this program. If Mr. Struggle gets this job today, we may still be eligible for a lower amount and will have to decide whether we want to cancel this entirely. This program provides a zero percent loan to help make your mortgage payments, and doesn’t require repayment until you sell your house. A portion of the loan is actually forgiven for each year you stay in the house after the first five, so it’s a pretty good deal if you weren’t planning to move.
I have paid the minimum allowed on any bills due in the past few weeks, trying to hold on to as much cash as possible until we see what the university requires. I did break down and send a larger payment ($100) on the medical bill (the one that came so late), because they had told us they would send it to collections if it weren’t paid in six months.
Did I mention that Miss Struggle2 found a job? She was called by the local school system the week before school started and offered a Teaching Assistant position at the school where she had done her student teaching. For a fully-licensed teacher, the pay is horrendous, but given the fact that teachers are being furloughed everywhere, she realizes that she is lucky to have full-time work with benefits. She is living at home for the time being, at least until she gets her first paycheck and is able to determine a budget. She is deliriously happy with the job, and will surely be offered a teaching position next year.
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