You cut me off mid-funk
So it finally hit me: I am living in poverty.
I should have known this being a member of AmeriCorps, but I just realized this after looking at my shrinking bank account. I shop too much, I eat out too much, I go out of town too much, and I buy too many body care products. I thought that getting free housing, a meal plan, and free laundry would give me a livable salary. I am still paying bills from my store credit cards, I have gas to pay for and if I want to go on road trips back to Lawrence, Madison, or Chicago. I literally cannot do anything that costs money. The worst part is that if I want to save money and eat in the cafeteria then I cannot eat healthy or eat good food at all. The cafeteria hardly has vegetables and if they do have vegetables they are over-cooked or unappetizing. Or I can buy organic or fresh food and wind up in the poor house. What do I do? I cannot get another job because I am not allowed to. I have been babysitting, but that doesn't completely make up for my lack of funds. If I want to go down to Iowa City to see my friends that costs money to pay for gas, dinner, and drinks. Or do I bore myself to death and stay in Cedar Rapids. What do I do?
Sure this is a pity party, but honestly how do you deal with this? I think I'm making just as much or a bit more than I did when I worked 30-40 hours per week in retail. Maybe you should apply for food stamps you suggest. Well guess what, I did that and I don't really qualify. I have been waiting to hear from them and as of my appointment 2 weeks ago I was going to get $36/month. I could handle that, it would really help. But they need to get back to me! The Department of Human Services is so overbooked that it takes forever to get in contact with them and I am white. Imagine what it would be like if I didn't have my white privilege knapsack. I feel pretty helpless.
I have never wanted to work at Bath and Body Works more. I'd at least be able to work full-time and actually get paid full-time. Plus I would be surrounded by body care products all day.
I should have known this being a member of AmeriCorps, but I just realized this after looking at my shrinking bank account. I shop too much, I eat out too much, I go out of town too much, and I buy too many body care products. I thought that getting free housing, a meal plan, and free laundry would give me a livable salary. I am still paying bills from my store credit cards, I have gas to pay for and if I want to go on road trips back to Lawrence, Madison, or Chicago. I literally cannot do anything that costs money. The worst part is that if I want to save money and eat in the cafeteria then I cannot eat healthy or eat good food at all. The cafeteria hardly has vegetables and if they do have vegetables they are over-cooked or unappetizing. Or I can buy organic or fresh food and wind up in the poor house. What do I do? I cannot get another job because I am not allowed to. I have been babysitting, but that doesn't completely make up for my lack of funds. If I want to go down to Iowa City to see my friends that costs money to pay for gas, dinner, and drinks. Or do I bore myself to death and stay in Cedar Rapids. What do I do?
Sure this is a pity party, but honestly how do you deal with this? I think I'm making just as much or a bit more than I did when I worked 30-40 hours per week in retail. Maybe you should apply for food stamps you suggest. Well guess what, I did that and I don't really qualify. I have been waiting to hear from them and as of my appointment 2 weeks ago I was going to get $36/month. I could handle that, it would really help. But they need to get back to me! The Department of Human Services is so overbooked that it takes forever to get in contact with them and I am white. Imagine what it would be like if I didn't have my white privilege knapsack. I feel pretty helpless.
I have never wanted to work at Bath and Body Works more. I'd at least be able to work full-time and actually get paid full-time. Plus I would be surrounded by body care products all day.