It's all about the money
Ok, actually, it's not, but darn one sure misses it when it's in short supply!
As mentioned previously, I changed jobs late last year. This new job is at a small consulting company in Zurich city and I'm employed to work 50% which is 21 hours per week. I'm enjoying the job, it's given me lots of new challenges and already I have learnt so much!
What am I doing with the other 21 hours? Well not much yet; this is much to MrTwist's annoyance (mine too, to be honest) but I do feel like I'm still settling into this new routine and with the very steep learning curve I've been on, I'm pacing myself by not getting too involved in other things. Also, I'm still not 100% sure what it is I want to do with the extra time but as you can tell, I have started blogging more - its a start I guess.
What comes hand-in-hand with a 50% job though is the 50% salary, something I am definitely still trying to get used to! While, as a household, we have not dropped below the breadline and we are still able to pay our bills, I am in no way used to having my bank balance at 0.00 on the 3rd of the month. I'm well aware of how privileged I've been the last few years and am very grateful that I had been able to afford a luxury lifestyle, but that's all over now and it's a hard adjustment! I won't lie and say that I'm happy with my new (financial) situation, it pains me to have to rely on MrTwist as much as I have to now and having to negotiate every rappen is definitely taking strain on me. I may have to adjust my Starbucks addiction and I am ever so grateful to my thoughtful friends who have given me vouchers as gifts - they've already come in handy on days when I just refused to go into overdraft (yes, Starbucks vouchers are still very welcome! send! send! send! I'm really THAT addicted!) I've certainly not been shopping as much as I had before, in fact, I've not shopped much at all except for baking supplies. What I think erks me the most right now is that even if I wanted to buy something, I can't, which is especially frustrating with the January sales in full swing.
I have considered looking for other, higher paying employment, but then I think of that other 21 hours - even though still unassigned. Once I settle those free hours could be everything to me: I could go exploring, take lots of photos, start painting again and yes! open a cupcake business/shop (see the dream here?) You may have noticed that I've been doing lots of baking lately, I enjoy it so much and have gotten really good feedback from everyone I've baked for, but I've not baked for profit yet. I'm going to be attending a few cake decorating classes over the next few months and if I feel confident enough, I think I'll take it to the next level. Though, with all said and done, this doesn't solve my immediate lack of funds!
What's shocked me most about this cash situation is how down its made me feel. The knowing I don't have money or flexibility to do what I want or go where I want and the scariest of all, that I have nothing left to save - its all making me somewhat depressed. Gosh, just the other day I visited my favourite consignment store in Zug to see what goodies she had - it kinda hits home when you realise you can't even afford a second-hand Gucci bag! (I know! I know!) In a more real world example, fund-less-ness also means that I don't know when I'll get to go home to visit my family again or that if need be, I won't have cash on hand to send home should my Angel or my parents need something urgently - I gladly have and always will sacrifice everything to make sure they have what they need, those are the times I don't complain about not having anything.
So that's my rant for today.. life is hard in the SwissTwist lane.
***Yes, yes, I know there are many people who would be overjoyed to be earning less than half of my previous salary and that I'm sounding arrogant and spoiled but hey, this is my blog and my life and it's about ME.
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