I heard a statistic on the news yesterday about how high a percentage of Americans are stressed over their finances–duh! I stopped at the grocery store yesterday with my teen to pick up a couple of bottles of soda and some plastic cups for a party she was headed to. She mentioned she had a headache so I threw a small bottle of Excedrin in the cart, too. When I hit the “total” button on the self-checker machine, I was shocked that these few items came to $25!
We’ve all been feeling the pinch at the gas pump for some time now, but the residual effect of fuel prices is really starting to hit home–EVERYTHING has gotten more expensive from groceries to clothes to sheets and towels. Even the $.99 store brand pretzels I buy are up to $1.29.
We heard from our oil company the other day about fuel costs for the winter–our “budget” payment is going to go up $200 a month, and my husband’s salary is, well, let’s just say not going anywhere, lol.
It’s frightening to say the least. For the first time in 15 years, I find myself facing the very real possibility that I will have to return to working outside the home. I don’t mean a “fun” retail job just to get me out a little bit and gets me some pin money; I mean a real, honest-to-God panty hose and heels job.
I’m not afraid to work; in fact, it would probably do my brain and my soul a world of good. But, what will it mean for my family? My girls are used to me being home when they get home from school (or just a few minutes behind them) or always being available if they are sick or have forgotten something or have some other crisis during the day. When they were infants, I couldn’t have imagined leaving them in daycare, but now that they are in middle school and high school, I feel it’s more important than ever that I be around for them.
I’m angry that something so nebulous as “THE ECONOMY” can wreak such havoc on my day-to-day to life. How do you fight something that you don’t really understand to begin with? How do you defend yourself against something you can’t control? How do you deal with a situation you are in through no fault of your own?
Until Next Time,
Joan
