How I Quit My Secure Job and Have Never Been Happier.

Let me just start with this - this March has

been the best March since 2009, the year and month my oldest son was born. Every year March seems like a pivotal month for me. It is as if March is the month I decide to do new things or make a major change in my life, then April is the month in which I grow; most likely because I had to.

This year was no different. This March, however, I took a major step. I quit my secure,health care toting, vacation offering, retirement paying State job. Was I scared? Heck yes! It paid well and it actually had paid time off. YIPPIE!! It was the first long term job I had since my oldest was born, it was a job I had fought for, at least against my ex husband.  It paid well, it had a retirement! For the first time in years I felt like an adult!

Not all good things last. I was spending less and less time with my kids, having to take them out of school early and suddenly this job wasn't as fantastic as I thought it was.

Soon disenchantment set in, I hated going in. If I got there early I would wait until the very last second to clock in. I started questioning myself. Was this how I wanted to live my life the next 26 plus years? The horrid feeling of being trapped set in, yet I refused to resign myself to being stuck again.

First thing was building an emergency fund.

This took me quiet awhile and while it was only a thousand dollars, I knew I would be okay. I had been applying left and right for new jobs so I knew it wouldn't take me long to find new work.

Second I had to convince myself.

This was and always is the hardest part for anyone. We have a running dialog of 'if I do this I am going to fail;' ' I can't because of (insert some lame excuse here)'. Seriously? It was a war with myself, I'm sure I looked like some crazed directionless squirrel and that's because I was. What was I going to do? Then it hit me - just shut up and do it. Rip the bandaid off fast!

Lastly I celebrated. 

I was joyous, I believe I even sang on the way to get my kids from the baby sitter. I felt lighter, that scared self loathing person was gone. I'm still happy even three weeks later.

The Monday after I quit I got a new job, that pays great and the best part, the hours are perfect! She ding self doubt is had for anyone, but sometimes we need to not doubt our selves as much as we do.

Financial Planning

As we begin wrapping up the holiday season it's time to make those resolutions that may last for a week. Earlier this year I wrote about following Dave Ramsey ' Financial Peace University. I fell off that band wagon. Very hard. So I decided to try it again and ACTUALLY attend a class. 

So I looked on the Dave Ramsey site and the didn't have one. This was a bit upsetting. But a few days later, at church they had a giant banner that read. FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY. It was amazing as I have been looking for a few months. 

Niw I'm sitting or is it laying here donating plasma for extra money. Not because I need something but I'm on baby step one - catching up on bills. 

Bringing Down the Debt

As I move into a new age in life I like many other Americans are burdened with astornomical amounts of debt. I can confidently say I owe so much debt just in regards to student loans that I could buy a good sized house with land! I would actually like to buy a house in the future or at least build one, a tiny home perhaps?

Over the last few years I had tried budgeting, didn't work well as other issues arose. For the next few months I will be using bits of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Uniersity as well as nospending months (thats gonna be hard), learning how to coupon effectively all while bringing down the debt house and destashig my life in more ways that one to build a content and happy place for my kids and I. Please join me as I take this step into a new direction in life.

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Whilst this is not a picture from this week its a reminder!