Tightening the Belt

This month will be my first month living on the wee wages of my new job. In January, I gave up my faculty contract to take a professional staff position coordinating the math tutoring center here at San Juan College. There were so many reasons I wanted the job that they pay cut wasn't nearly enough to deter me. However, throughout the spring semester I still had the benefit of some leftover supplemental income trickling in. Now, with my new contract beginning, I have no supplemental anything...just the meager scraps from my contract pay.

I admit, I've been spoiled for the last 5 years. I have not had to worry about money in a very long time, not because I was rich, but rather because the lifestyle that was most comfortable to me fit easily within my moderate means. That's a closer call now.

I have no qualms about living a frugal life...I like it in theory. I don't buy expensive shampoo and eat out every night. I don't pay for pedicures and I don't mind eating beans and rice. I like to grow my own food and ride a bike in lieu of a car. I'm sure I've said in this blog before, simplicity is cheap, but it's not easy. It's time consuming and it takes much forethought.

Well, it's time now to reassess the budget...find out all about being a penny pincher again...forgo extravagance...learn to enjoy the challenge of living on less. I do like a challenge...don't I.