Some things I get and some things I just don't.

[susandennis]

Years ago I was a marketing manger for a performance arts theater. It was a small non-profit organization with a tiny staff but I did have an assistant. I was young but she was way younger and good and nice and fun.

One day she did not come in to work. I was really worried but no one else was. We finally tracked her down and she was fine. She just didn't feel like coming in to work that day.

I was furious. She was totally nonplussed. "I didn't think anyone would mind."

I'd never heard of that kind of behavior before. Since then, I've learned it's not at all unusual.

When I say I'll be there at noon, I'm there at 11:55 at least or call the cremator cause I'm no longer alive.

But, a lot of people feel very differently. They say they will be there at noon, but they mean they, at one time, gave a thought to that promise but never felt obligated. And may or may not be there.

They say they are looking for odd jobs to make money but can't be bothered to return a phone call about such an odd job less than an hour later? I don't get it and I probably never will.


Paycheck to paycheck, I do get. Someone said to me the other day 'oh you'd never be able to understand because you have money'.

I did not always have money. There have been plenty of times when I lived paycheck to paycheck and a couple when there was no paycheck for awhile and I was not sure what I was going to do.

Once when I was very young, I got a small bonus at work. It was about $300 which was a fortune to me. I felt so smart when I went to the bank and deposited a lot of it but also got a $50 bill and folded it up and put it in my wallet in a secret place and literally forgot about it.

Several years later - maybe even 5 or more - I was without a paycheck and eating ramen noodles and stressed beyond belief and going through everything to see what I could sell and I found that $50. I lived on it for a long time. Today when I often think of that $50. And I remember what that felt like.

Last week I stopped at the grocery store for just a few things - turned out to be one bag full and the bill came to $100. I was shocked. I do pay attention to prices but I'm not a slave to them. When I got home I examined the bill and what I got and I was struck all over again and how expensive everything is.

I do have money now and I am grateful but I also remember and know what it's like when you don't. That, I get.

Comments

[kitashla.livejournal.com]

At one time we got our groceries at WalMart. Now we get 75% of our groceries at Aldi, simply because we can no longer realistically afford food at WalMart. The prices go up every week. The same things will cost $10 more one week, $10 more the next and then $10 more after that.

I agree that paycheck to paycheck should be a necessary life skill, but a short term one. We spent most of our marriage paycheck to paycheck and are very thankful that we don't have to do that anymore.:)

[princessgeek.livejournal.com]

I've been in both places, too. I never thought I'd be living paycheck to paycheck at 40. I had children almost 20 years ago when I had a substantial savings and a house and investments to pay their college. But now, I make twice what I did then and I'm living paycheck to paycheck. I'm only willing to blame myself for poor planning to a certain extent and mostly just realizing that this is the new normal. Not much else I can do. *shrug*

[timbear.livejournal.com]

Punctuality and money.

There was a day about twenty five years ago when I cleared all of my debt. It was a wonderful day and I remember having a celebratory drink with friends, but it really didn't sink in until one night about six months later when I was in a restaurant having a rather nice meal and suddenly I realised I didn't have to worry about paying for it.

As to punctuality, I'm with you, I can't stand it when people are late. But there are strategies, we know which of our friends won't turn up on time and we always tell them to be there half an hour before the time we tell everyone else. That normally works.

[mixter11nm.livejournal.com]

I don't get people who think it's ok just to stay home from work, not bother to call anyone and assume that no one will be worried. Like you, I am where I say I will be. If I am going to be late, I will call.

There was a time when my kids were toddlers and my husband was making a whopping $25,000 a year. I was not working and we were paying a mortgage. It was HARD but we made it. Luckily, my mom would come over with bags of food, etc. My husband's mom would come over with a smile. I went back to work and we figured it all out.

[silverthief2.livejournal.com]

I would never just not show up to work. That seems beyond tacky and unprofessional.

[viridescence13]

I don't get it, either. I have known people with the same mentality. I honestly don't feel that it should have a thing to do with how much money you make or whether you're living paycheck to paycheck. It's about having integrity and common courtesy for other people. I've agreed to show up at x time and work these hours; you've agreed to pay me for it. If I can't do that, then I'm supposed to let you know as soon as I possibly can. I've never blown off a job. I've lied about why I couldn't come in, but I've always told them that I couldn't come in. That's just what you do, in my book.

As for the odd jobs thing, a few years ago I went back and forth with a guy several times trying to pay him to replace our rotted basement door. Finally I went with someone else. When he got back to me I told him that I'd gotten someone else to do the work and he seemed pissed off about it. I had no idea why -- he took forever to get back to me (like the better part of a week) each time I'd emailed him or left him a message, so I figured that he must not need my money that badly.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing this cautionary tale. If a member of my leasing staff just didn't show for work, they'd be written up and it would be grounds for dismissal.

I love the idea of the secreted $50. Money certainly doesn't go far these days ... that's why I took the step to trade in my truck on a Honda Civic this week. I was spending $270/month on gasoline for the truck, plus payments and it was a six year note!

It's important to appreciate what we have when we have it.

HUGS!

[brigitte lichtenberger-fenz (from livejournal.com)]

Not showing up for work and not giving notive... Aren't you fired then? Or rather don't you give your employer a good cause to fire you? At least that's what happens over here.