Money, It's a Crime

Today I saw in the NY Times:

Women Are Now Equal as Victims of Poor Economy

Uncomfortable Answers to Questions on the Economy

Given a Shovel, Americans Dig Deeper Into Debt


Woes Afflicting Mortgage Giants Raise Loan Rates

Two Troubled Banks Each Post Billions in Losses

Losses Mount, and Airlines Plan Steeper Spending Cuts


Trying to Save by Increasing Doctors' Fees


The Culture of Debt


Now, I've been feeling these pinches, for sure. I've been essentially "underemployed" since March, now just drawing my first paycheck (and not a full one, yet). I have definitely noticed food prices going up, and I'm definitely spending twice as much on gas as I did when we first moved into our place. I have been one of the unemployed masses. At times in my life, I have made some stupid decisions on how to handle money. I'm sure I'm not alone here.

But this transition time has been especially hard. I get paid once a month now, and my first paycheck wasn't a full (or barely even half) a pay period. I had tapered off my freelance quite a bit since I was in Hawaii and then working on getting a full time gig. So I essentially have like...a week and a half's worth of money to last until August 15. It sucks. Hard. Worse than college, because now I have more worries, more responsibilities, and more expensive taste.

Times is tough. All over. I know I'm not alone. But being broke can be sort of isolating, if you can't spend money and your friends are going out.

So what I'm saying is . . . if you know me in real life and notice I am not around much in the next few weeks socially, I'm not avoiding anyone or being too cool (trust me, I'd rather go out!). I simply do not have the cash, and won't for a while. (and maybe even extendo-awhile since I need to get a new mattress before I break my back.)

If you want to join in on a cheap bottle of wine and some CD-playing, I'll be in my living room.

And while I'm at it, once I get used to a steady paycheck again, I'm trying to be more fiscally responsible, too, so I'm trying to figure out ways to cut back and save more. Kat on a budget. Boooooo.