Living Almost Paycheck To Paycheck
Three of us were in the lunchroom chatting yesterday at work. One guy said he was talking to his sister on the phone, she asked how he was doing, and he said, “Well, you know, mostly OK. A little depressed over finances. I live right at the edge. Not a lot of room for much of anything.”
She immediately wanted to send him money, and he had to say No, repeatedly. He wasn’t fishing for money from her. He was just talking and sharing.
He’s been selling stuff to make the ends meet. I have done the same. Cupboards were pretty well bare last weekend. Sold a rifle at a pawn shop and picked up $600. Stocked up on food so now the wife and kids won’t starve.
Also had to drop $120 on cat meds for my geriatric 18 year old cat. Giving her antibiotics hoping it’s just an infection of some sort. Other option was cancer. She does not seem like she’s in any pain. She’s old, doesn’t move too fast any more, and she mostly just hangs out and rests. I take her outside to chew some grass and sit at my feet.
Third guy was out of work for two years, and he is pretty much in the same boat.
I likened living almost paycheck to paycheck to being a soldier in war. A couple of coworkers from years ago at my first IT gig were infantry in Viet Nam. They said when they first got in country, every pop and crack and they would dive for cover. There were these “old men”, who were probably only 6 months to 2 years older than them, who would just stand there. When the “old men” dove for cover, then it was serious shit and you damned well followed. After 6 months, like the “old men”, they no longer flinched at every pop or crack. You just acclimate to it.
There really is no depression. I mean, you feel down at times, but at least for me I’m never despondent or suicidal or anything.
On whether to offer money to someone or not, that’s a tough one. I mean I have no pride or shame on the subject. If someone offered me money, I would take it. However, there are plenty of others out there much further down and out than me. Save it for them. If desperate enough, I will ask.
The main thing, quite often, is just be an ear for someone. They may just need to talk out loud about it and get it out of their head. That alone can be enough at times.
Looked into a different gig hoping it would be a part-time after hours contract thing. Nope, once they start hiring, if they start hiring, it will be full-time. Money might be double, but contract so no safety of state employment. Trading one form of paycheck to paycheck for another. I keep looking in the hope I find something on the side that isn't "Would you like fries with that?"
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One of the things i am eternally grateful for is the ability to pretty much feed us from what we can catch or grow, kinda gives a sense of security plus my kids will learn to feed themselves eventually so i can get some sleep. 