I mentioned before that over the holiday, I really overextended myself. I didn't use credit, so I don't owe anything, but travel expenses and gifts took a healthy bite out of my savings.
I knew I'd need to buckle down: I've got
But I got a call recently, from a relative, and he'd blown the bank: a few checks overdrawn. He owed me a check for some work I'd done for him, and called to say he wouldn't have it. This isn't the first time he's been short on cash. And it's not the first time I've given a hand. I'm also not really ready to not help him.
I know I should be angry: he's mismanaged the money so much he's not able to pay for even the basics right now. And I'm looking at tapping out my funds (not to mention my time) with the Guild, so I can't easily pick up hours at the Souk to bring in more cash.
But I realize how sloppy I've been in the last few months, and how easy it is to get so far off kilter that you can barely right yourself again. And I'm worried, for myself, and for this person.
I mentioned in an earlier post about my friend Rufus, and his friend Chris: Chris was going through some chronic unemployment, and is really struggling. Part of the struggle is that there was nothing saved for a rainy day. It's a total train wreck, and it makes me ill just thinking about his situation...maybe because it's a possible conclusion of my own actions?
I will, by the end of next week, have zipped down to zero in my emergency stash. And while I'm working now, I have been warned by the Guild that I won't be able to work full-time if I want to become a Senior Apprentice, which will be mandatory for my career. They'd prefer I don't work at all, but may concede me working part time.
So I'm looking at taking a huge financial shortfall, probably within the next year. And, this relative is very likely also looking at a reduction in income within that same time frame.
I am uneasy. I know the right answer: tighten the belt, boost the capital and the earning power...but I feel very anxious right now.
January 13th, 2008 at 01:29 am 1200187780
January 13th, 2008 at 03:19 am 1200194391
It's difficult to juggle the Forum and the Guild right now. There's a certain standard I need to maintain at the Guild if I want to advance with them, and the workload is getting more rigorous. If I'm successsful, it'll vastly improve my earning power over the long term, so it's important that I do well, and having the time to focus on the work is really necessary.
I think I need to find out how to optimize my resources...part of this is time.
January 14th, 2008 at 01:40 pm 1200318041
It might be a good exercise.
January 16th, 2008 at 07:53 am 1200469990
I don't know what the Souk will permit me to do, but between the two, the Guild takes precedence. (I only took the job at the Souk to raise cash for the apprentice's surety fees.)