I like to think of myself as Lisa,Inc. I am my own corporation. I take on jobs/contracts. They have to fit my values, financial needs, and long term goals. When I was married, we made decisions based on our married life, values and goals.
I'm alone now. So, I get to make all the decisions. It is different in that I am alone with no partner to face things with and it is good in that I don't have to compromise with a partner.
I work in the school system as a paraeducator, teacher assistant, teachers aide or whatever title they want to give me. I have a Bachelors in Business Administration and an Associate in Nursing.
I worked as a licensed RN for several years. The benefits as a nurse were terrible and the hours and respect just as terrible. Only the pay was good. I left because to many times I would work a shift and not have anyone scheduled to work the 3-11 shift after mine(nurse shortage) requiring me to stay until someone could be found. To leave would be considered desertion and had criminal penalties(felony). It wasn't that I wanted to abandon my patients, it was that I had an 7/8 year old in a daycare that closed at 6pm and at 6:30p they were within their rights to call social services to pickup my child as abandoned if I didn't get him. It was a no win situation, so I quit. I have no regrets.
A family situation required that I be flexible in my work situation so I started substitute teaching. They liked me and I liked them, so when a permanent assistant position came open they offered it to me. After discussing it with my then spouse I took it. The health benefits were/are fantastic, I would be off summers with our son, and our schedules mixed perfectly. The pay wasn't great but we wanted some income, retirement(comes with COLA) and healthcare in case something happened with his job. We set up our finances to be able to live barebones on my income if necessary. Stuff happens!
I was encouraged(principal/teachers) to go back to school and get a masters in education to allow me to teach. Unfortunately, that did not fit with my home situation. I needed to be home in the evenings, on weekends and during summers. Financially, it wasn't necessary, so I chose not to get a masters. I could go back now that my son has graduated(yesterday), but it would take 2/3 years at least going 2 nights a week and summers. I would work as a provisional teacher, eventually get licensed and then retire about 3/4 years later at 55. I don't want to devote my time exclusively to getting a masters for 3 years. I want to live now.
So that leaves me with a job that pays about $25,000 a year. Next time I will write about my plan for housing. Its a challenge as I live in one of the richest areas in the USA (my nephew said we are in the top 5, but last I read it was the top 10, picky, picky). Bottom line is this is an expensive area.
Jobs
June 5th, 2008 at 08:42 pm
June 5th, 2008 at 09:12 pm 1212700341
I also live in an expensive area. If I could unload this house, I absolutely would. I have found that the seaside communities all around me have lots of cottages and apartments that are dirt-cheap in the off-season... basically you get to live at the beach when it is cold out, but it is CHEAP. I would do that and save money in a heartbeat, and just do month-month rentals during the summer.
I look forward to unloading lots of unnecessary STUFF that accumulates ina house, also. Travel light, and you can travel often ; )
June 5th, 2008 at 09:20 pm 1212700826
One of the primary reasons I have decided to put so much effort into clearing away my debt is so I do not have to work as a Registered Nurse. My goal is to go back to school within 2 years and finish my degree in English. What will I do with it? Who knows...I certainly won't get paid nursing wages with it but it will benefit my soul.
Kudos to you for not compromising your sanity and your soul.
June 7th, 2008 at 12:21 am 1212798105
June 7th, 2008 at 05:40 am 1212817220