The Dreaded 5 Letter Word (and Fall Winery Pics!)
PIN IT!Just for the record, I am REALLY anxious about writing this post and it’s not the same anxiety I felt when writing this one about Weight Watchers or this one about my struggles with eating and drinking. This one is, if possible, harder because it makes me so vulnerable. I’m sharing a piece about me that very few people know and it’s scary.
No, friends, I’m not talking about sex, genitalia or orgies. (Trust me, I’d be STOKED to be writing about that.) I’m writing about this…
The worst 5 letter word IN THE WORLD. Money. So, if you don’t want to read about my money issues, I’d skip out to a lighter post. This one will be a bit heavy.
Let me preface this by saying I NEVER, EVER talk about money to my friends (I consider all of y’all my friends!). It’s just one of those subjects that is really touchy and comes with weird glances, awkward silences and pity stares. It’s usually just something I discuss with my husband and my family. But, it’s really been affecting ME lately so I just need to let it out. So, thanks in advance for listening. Oh and to lighten it up, I’m sharing some photos from Paradise Springs Winery, a local winery in Clifton, VA, I went to this weekend.
As you’ve seen on Facebook, Twitter and previous posts, I’m having a really rough couple days. And as much as I hate to admit this, it’s because of financial woes. Because I can’t truly talk about my work situation, I’ll just briefly say I work, currently, as a contractor. This means, simply, I get paid hourly and only get paid when I work. This means NO paid time off and, shockingly, no holiday pay. So when I’m unable to work (or even the building is shut down or there’s a crazy emergency) I don’t get paid. Um, guys? THIS BLOWS. I could scream about this for hours but I can’t here. Call me and invite me over for wine and I’ll tell you there.
So, this past Friday on payday, my check was substantially less than it normally was. Like, a lot less. Let me put this into perspective. The amount I was short was the cost of a month’s worth of groceries or our monthly utility bill. And, the worst part was, no one told me it would be. So, when you read that I was crying at work, that was why. Living somewhere like DC, I count on almost every penny JUST TO SURVIVE. My rent is very high, the cost of living is very high (hello $200 a month just to ride public transportation and expensive food). I can’t just function on $300 dollars less without serious consequences. Now, before I can continue with why I’m in such a financial hole at the age of 25, I need to briefly talk about my financial history. This, guys, is where it gets heavy.
My personal financial struggles are linked, albeit symbolically, to my struggle with my weight, self acceptance and self esteem. Growing up, I was chubby. I’ve never been the pretty girl, the popular girl or the girl with the best clothes. Like I’ve said before, in fifth grade I was in women’s sizes. I just didn’t feel good about who I was and I dressed to reflect that. Even when I lost a lot of weight, I still hid behind baggy clothes and over-sized tees. I just didn’t feel attractive. In our society, beauty is tied with more than just your facial features or your size. It’s tied with what you are wearing and who you are wearing. I don’t agree with it, but it’s true. I had a very comfortable childhood, but I was never the one with the hottest fashions. To my family, saving for college and retirement was more important than keeping me in Abercrombie’s newest fashions. This, honestly, is a lesson I wish I would have listened to.
So, flash forward to my first semester in college. The first couple of weeks were really hard on me. I was adjusting to college life and was still carrying around 25 extra pounds. I surely wasn’t the biggest girl on campus, but I was the biggest amongst my friends, and that was hard. It was very hard going out with my thin, beautiful friends because they always had male attention and I didn’t. I sort of felt like the outcast. This was one of the driving factors of me paying really close attention to my diet and working out as much as I did. I didn’t want to be the lonely, “fat” friend anymore. I had one boyfriend in middle school and wanted, truthfully, to date and experience a true relationship. Because I was a “nobody” those first few months, I had to find a way to get people’s attention. To get people to like me. So, unbenounced to my parents, I signed up for my first credit card. Looking back now, I seriously want to PUNCH myself for doing that. However, at the same time, I’m glad I did. It helped shape who I am and taught me some serious lessons about the real world and real life.
That credit card was my golden ticket. As soon as I had it, I started swiping. I used it to buy pizzas for my friends, beer to take to parties and clothes, lots and lots of clothes. For the first time in my life, I was ordering and buying the latest fashions without any limit. Without anyone telling me no. It was invigorating, to be honest. To be 18, go into a store and buy whatever I wanted. Fast forward again to around November of my freshman year. Not only had I lost almost 20 pounds since I started, but I was popular. I had more friends than I knew what to do with and had the attention of some really, really cute boys. I finally felt like I belonged. I finally felt like I mattered, like my opinion, my thoughts, were important to someone else. This was, highly, due in part to my weight loss and my new found financial freedom. Instead of saying I couldn’t afford to go out or couldn’t afford spring break in Panama City, I was buying trips for not just me, but friends and boys I liked. By Christmas time, I had two credit cards with minimums of $2500 and was spending money like it was going out of style. Life was good.
If you haven’t already guessed, it’s not a story with a “happily ever after.” By the time of spring break 2005, I was broke. Don’t get me wrong, it was still one of the best weeks of my life, but I had maxed out both cards. And honestly, I didn’t even understand what this meant. I knew I couldn’t use it anymore, but didn’t grasp that I needed to immediately remedy it. I was late in payments, didn’t pay some months and completely destroyed my credit. It’s taken, YEARS, to rebuild and it’s still not perfect. I’m not saying this because I want pity, I just need to say it. People with kids or people in college, DON’T do what I did unless you are fully able to pay off what you buy. Credit isn’t just magic money.
Here’s the hardest part, in addition to rebuilding a shattered credit, I also have some of the same issues I had when I was 18. I’m not happy with what I look like. I’ve gained weight, I’m unsure of my career path, I’m constantly confused with who I am. I once again find myself as that loner, that chubby girl in the corner with nothing to offer. And I do find myself trying to over compensate with money. I spend more than I have on new fashions, fun trips, fabulous accessories because I’m scared if I don’t have them, I won’t be anything. I’m completely terrified that if I’m not dressed to the 9’s, no one will even try to get to know me. My husband, God bless him, loves me regardless of what I’m wearing. He’d love me if I was 1,000 pounds (although would strongly urge me to move) and if I wore a paper bag. But inside, ME, I’m not there. And this horrible insecurity rose up again when I saw the scale start to tip. Every few pounds, it gets worse. And here I am, today, nearly 160 pounds and having to pay for the metro in coins with just a few penny’s to rub together.
So where do I go from here? I wish I knew. I wish it was as easy as saying “I am going to save money, not worry about what others think and reaffirm myself with positive things!” But this is more than just a spending problem. It’s in my core and I need to figure out a way to fix ME before I can fix my spending and my eating. I need to figure out how to be happy with me, regardless of my weight, my financial status or my looks. Which, friends, is hard.
So, now you know why I’ve been down and why I may not seem like myself. I hope I’ll find my way soon down this scary, windy road. Let’s just hope there’s a rainbow with a big ol’ pot of gold there when I do.
Claire
Tags:a realistic life, finance, money, Paradise springs winery, real life, shopping
I'm so sorry your work situation leaves you in a financial burden, hope it looks up for you soon - you are gorgeous and awesome and I heart you. ;)
Thank you again for sharing!
All I would say is that focus on the good things about you to start with-what are the things you love about yourself and that make you unique? Surely, your looks and financial status don't define the REAL you? I don't know you well enough but I can be sure that anyone who has the guts to write what you have and be ready to internalise and fix things, must be someone with great strength and will power. You have a loving husband to add to that list! Focus on the good and slowly the bad will disappear.
What to do about the money situation? Maybe find something part time/online?! You have probably already thought of these things already and I am just making my already long comment even longer-but i am saying it anyway!
I hope you feel better and things get easier for you- you're still so young (I wish i were 25 again) and have your whole life ahead of you-this is only a few prep steps on how to live the rest of your life stress free!
Good luck!
PS. Cut up those credit cards-they are EVIL!
xx
I sadly have no good advice to give you about how to make things better, I wish I did. I just hope it makes you feel even the tiniest bit better knowing you're not alone in regards to money or weight. I'm sitting in that boat right along with you. Shoot me a message if you ever want to just vent, need a workout buddy, whatever! =)
(And these photos are gorgeous -- I want to go there!)
I don't know what to tell you, because I haven't gotten out of it. But if you ever need to talk, I'm here!
Hang in there... you really sound like you have it all together. Your post was so well written and thought out that I don't worry about you! I know you will be OK, it may take some time to find your way down that path, but you will.
Your post was extraordinarily refreshing and honest. There are probably more people out there with similar feelings than we know. Nicely done!
You're smart so I have no doubt in my mind that you will get it all figured out. Struggling now makes us wiser and more well prepared for the future!
Also - fantastic pictures!
mates regarding this article, while I am also zealous of getting familiarity.