Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Just in the nick of time

Well, just when we were in the process of implementing our "slash and burn" budget, DH got a job offer yesterday! Woo hoo! It's only six months, but it'll do for now. He has another interview Friday for a permanent position - here's hoping he gets it. In the meantime, this uncertainty has been a really good thing for me.

I now know that, even though it wouldn't be fun, we could live on my nonprofit salary. We wouldn't have the extras that we've become accustomed to (we're really quite spoiled), but we'd have a roof over our head and we wouldn't starve. So the animals wouldn't be able to eat the high-end pet food for a while. Heck, Hershey the Picky Eater probably would like the cheap food better! And Ringo will eat anything he can put in his mouth, but that's a post for another time.

I also now know that we can find some creative ways to get cash if we need it. I was prepared to sell my CDs and some of the DVDs. I emptied the change jar to get enough money to pay for my cell phone (I was ready to get rid of it, but now that Grandma's not doing well I'm not comfortable with that if Mom needs to get a hold of me). I probably could have found 103 things to sell on Ebay if I'd thought about it for more than 2 seconds.

And, I know the value of a well-stocked pantry. I've always known it, really, but we could have lived for at least several weeks on the groceries I've compulsively stockpiled. Yes, we would have had some awfully creative meals, but they would have been balanced. I could even have drunk powdered milk if necessary, though I grew up on that and vowed never again.

This means that, when we re-expand our budget, we can re-evaluate where our money is going. We have been so wasteful! In the event that he doesn't get the permanent position, and even if he does, I would love to pay off my car in the next six months. We still owe a good chunk of change on it so that would take a serious commitment. But that would mean that if this happens again, there's $200 a month that we don't have to fund. I would have loved to have an extra $200 a month in my budget!

Anyway, just have to say phew! Just in the nick of time!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats to both you and your dh! Wonderful!
~R~

Heather said...

Wow, I have been reading over your blogs and Karen, you and your dh are doing so well with being creative, I love the fact that you and your dh work together for new ideas and ways to save.

I too am going to start doing the weekly menue plans etc, I just have to as there just has to be a better way. I have gotten alot of wonderful ideas from you :).

I will be here often to read your blog :)