Possible meltdown ahead
A friend of mine just called me to see if I was okay.
"I just read on "Let's Japan" that teachers didn't get paid," she said, "so I was just checking on you."
Now, there is an element of truth in this. Two months ago some of the managers were late being paid because money had to be brought in from a different part of the company, be that overseas schools, or other divisions. They were 5 days late in being paid. Then in October, there was allegedly a cock-up in account details between the company and the post office which resulted in some teachers being paid a day late. However, everyone was paid, even the office staff.
I've been aware of this since it happened back in September, but I kind of steeled myself for the worst and carried on. Anyone else would be looking for a job elsewhere, but there are so many teachers who are doing the same thing as me - hoping to ride things out, and that money will start coming in again - that we've lulled ourselves into forgetting about it. My situation, however, is slightly different from other teachers. A quarter of my salary goes every month into paying off debts, which basically leaves me with very little money to do other things. I've got pretty good at budgeting in order to get through the month and still have some kind of social life. I could definitely be saving more money, and with the recent move, and having to get my computer fixed, I'm left with very little in the way of emergency cash.
Here are issues with finding another job:
All I seem to do is worry about money. The same friend wanted us to go out for dinner but I had to put her off until next month, as I don't have the money budgeted to do it. Another friend suggested we go to Korea for a short break at Xmas. I really want to go as I haven't left the country for over a year and a half and I need a break from this craziness, but with the threat of unemployment looming, is it really such a good idea?
Only a another year and I will be debt free. I can't wait. I feel like my life has been on hold the whole time. One thing I will be doing once I've got rid of everything I owe, is work my hardest never to get into debt again, even if it means going without things.
There's a week and half until the next pay day and I will be waiting with baited breath for it to arrive.
I don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight.
"I just read on "Let's Japan" that teachers didn't get paid," she said, "so I was just checking on you."
Now, there is an element of truth in this. Two months ago some of the managers were late being paid because money had to be brought in from a different part of the company, be that overseas schools, or other divisions. They were 5 days late in being paid. Then in October, there was allegedly a cock-up in account details between the company and the post office which resulted in some teachers being paid a day late. However, everyone was paid, even the office staff.
I've been aware of this since it happened back in September, but I kind of steeled myself for the worst and carried on. Anyone else would be looking for a job elsewhere, but there are so many teachers who are doing the same thing as me - hoping to ride things out, and that money will start coming in again - that we've lulled ourselves into forgetting about it. My situation, however, is slightly different from other teachers. A quarter of my salary goes every month into paying off debts, which basically leaves me with very little money to do other things. I've got pretty good at budgeting in order to get through the month and still have some kind of social life. I could definitely be saving more money, and with the recent move, and having to get my computer fixed, I'm left with very little in the way of emergency cash.
Here are issues with finding another job:
- I can't afford to find somewhere else to live, what with deposits, key money etc. I've also just moved to a very nice, perfectly located apartment and am loathe to move again.
- Most other jobs at a similar level, in total, pay less than I get now, if you factor in the housing subsidy I get along with bonus payments (when they're good).
- The job market is pretty stagnant, if not declining.
- Moving to another job may mean having to join the National Health scheme, including pension payments, which totals around 30000yen per month (that's £200 or $300) coming out of my paycheck, a massive increase on what I pay now as my company covers private insurance premiums, and my working contract means I don't have to pay into the pension scheme. This may also make me liable to make back payments which could come in at 500 000yen or so, an amount of money I have no way to pay back.
All I seem to do is worry about money. The same friend wanted us to go out for dinner but I had to put her off until next month, as I don't have the money budgeted to do it. Another friend suggested we go to Korea for a short break at Xmas. I really want to go as I haven't left the country for over a year and a half and I need a break from this craziness, but with the threat of unemployment looming, is it really such a good idea?
Only a another year and I will be debt free. I can't wait. I feel like my life has been on hold the whole time. One thing I will be doing once I've got rid of everything I owe, is work my hardest never to get into debt again, even if it means going without things.
There's a week and half until the next pay day and I will be waiting with baited breath for it to arrive.
I don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight.