This is a post for me to remind myself in a few years how tough things are. I don’t ever want to become a middle income earner who looks at the tough times with rose coloured glasses.
On Thursday I will receive my $2k Economic Security Strategy Payment. It is the same week as my pay and for a few more days than usual my bank balance will be in 4 figures. Unfortunately this won’t be for long. I would love to spend my ESSP on a new TV (seriously though CRT TVs will one day be retro, won’t they?) or a new computer, or a motorbike, or a trip to Disneyland with the kids, but the reality is if I wasn’t getting this payment we probably wouldn’t have any Christmas presents, or electricity connected to have fairy lights on our Christmas Tree, or 2 nights at the Cairns Coconut Resort next week.
So now the kids will have some presents. I will get my hair cut (if I remember to make a booking) and a few more bills will be paid, some even on time.
Next February I lose my pension. Mr 7 becomes Mr 8 and apparently then I am magically able to find a better paying job. Sometime next year I will finish my studies and will try and get teacher registration. Then I will try for supply work- almost $60/hour, but there is only 40 weeks of work available per year, and in reality 25 hours teaching per week. It is more than three times what I am earning now. Heck, if that isn’t reason enough for me to finish this bloody thesis, then I don’t know what is.
You know that ironing basket, the one that you keep adding to and putting off doing because it is going to take you all weekend? And when you get into it in front of the telly on Monday night it only takes an hour? Well I am not going to write a thesis in an hour, but I am going to plod away paragraph by paragraph and it will be finished.
I spoke to my counsellor this week at length about my thesis. I talked about what is holding me back and what can help move forward. Last week was a good start and the property settlement will be over with in the new year. Now I can say, so will my thesis. I won’t graduate until 2010- 10 years after I started the degree. I started it as a way of moving forward. I had a baby at home and a marriage that had severe cracks in it. It has taken a lot to get there and my life has changed dramatically, but it is also the start of new things.
Oh and back to the original premise of this post- I can well imagine people on 6 figure salaries struggling to make ends meet and yes, I spend my money in weird ways at times, but it is a choice I make and a choice everyone makes. No doubt in a few years I will complain at how little money I have, yet I will be earning much more. Hopefully I will have cleared my debts and I will be saving to get that TV and take the kids to Disneyland, or at least MIML™ and I on a cruise!
I am grateful that I receive more in Centrelink payments each fortnight than I pay in tax. I too look forward to the day where I don’t and someone else in my current position does, although in reality it is not a situation I wish on anyone.
December 9th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Apparently we’re not eligible to receive the ESSP. Some would say that obviously means we’re rich and don’t need it. We have a mortgage and three children and lately I’ve been working ’til midnight to make sure we stay in the black. We may not ‘need’ it, but it would really come in handy.
Re your thesis, I have admiration for you for sticking at it for so long. I recommend Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I started reading it when I got stuck on a novel – it was very encouraging.
December 11th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
The thing that sucks about the ESSP is that my man and myself would love to have it as well but .. naturally.. are ineligible to get it. None the less, the mother of his children will probably get it.. and he will still be paying child maintenance (not that he minds that)… however he does care for them for 1-3 days per week.
Plus he will be having them for 3 weeks after Christmas Day.
He’s in debt. I’m not making the type of income I should be making this time of year. Thus things are not all roses for me either.
At the same time, 2009 is looking great for me. I just have to survive 2008 first. ARGH!
January 6th, 2009 at 11:05 am
This was the first xmas as an adult that I’ve had something of a flexible income, I didn’t need to feel bad about who I couldn’t afford to buy comparable value presents for or that I’d inevitably forget to get something for. I also actually bought myself presents which is something I rarely do.
I’m glad to hear that you got the ESSP and were able to give your family the xmas they deserve as well as other treats for yourself too. A thesis is hard work, and the longer they go for the more difficult they are to complete. I have absolute faith that you’ll finish yours this year and should you ever need to vent, rage or otherwise feel free to call or IM me because I’ve been there before
albeit not to the extent you have.