Ever feel like you are cursed? Warning:self pity story to follow!

[tmli]

As alot of you know I am recently seperated from my dh. I have gotten myself a great job and a pretty good apartment. I am doing pretty good if I do say so myself! I am planning a trip for June, just signed the contract last week for a personal trainer, just made an appointment for contacts, joined a divorce support group, started to re-examine my faith, seeing a good shrink....you get the picture!

All along there's little bumps in the road, I get knocked over but I keep getting up and dusting myself off! Now I found out today there is an unexpected financial set back from before the marriage ended that is going to cost me $3000 that I was not counting on. It also is needed in a very short period of time. There's no getting out of it and it is not something unfair or dishonest that my dh did--we each are responsible for this amount. It's kind of not our fault but we probably should have been a little more informed so we would have known it was going to happen.

Now first thing of course is to say that's it cancel the trip, forget the contacts, tighten the purse strings. But I really don't want to do these things. I am working hard to rebuild my new and better life. I have had the crying, why me pity party for one already, but now I'm thinking enough.

I think I am going to get a part time job...of course there are tax implications to be worried about. But I've been thinking this for awhile anyways....I have more free time now than when i was married. I am so bored on the weekends my ex has my ds. Plus he has time through the week. Because my job is from home I have free time to give to a job.

I have just applied at Silver City Movie Theater. Sick I know, but I've always wanted to work at a movie theater, plus they offer flex hours. If that doesn't pan out I have a friend who manages a local McDonalds and she said she could offer me flex hours as well.

Do you think I am crazy? Is it insane to get a part time job to fund my luxurious tastes? These jobs are traditionally for teenagers will I feel like an idiot? An old out of style, out of touch idiot?

I really just wanted to write all this down somewhere to sort it all out. It just seems whenever I get a leg up there is something knocking me back down.

Does anyone know what type of impact a part time job will have on income tax and what I can do to offset it?

 

[mbb]

just wanted to say...Look at you grow, girl!!

I think you're making great decisions for you, and if seeing free movies is good for you, then go for it!!

On the tax thing, it probably will have some kind of implications for you, so my advice would be to see a good financial counsellor, and go from there.

You're doing good stuff

 

[cabmom]

You do whatever you have to do to get by and to keep up with the obsession!
Things will get better!

Marilynn

 

[Debbie]

Tracey, you GO, girl. You have come so far and you should be so proud! AWESOME!!

I've an honorary "neice" who worked at McDonald's. They were fabulous for her time off that she needed for concerts, choir, school etc. My DD (did) and my DS work for Famous Players. They, too, are very accomodating for scheduling. AND you get to see the movies, too. In fact, DS just asked to stay out Thursday for the staff showing of The Ring 2. Oh, and if you were to work candy bar there, you sometimes get the leftover popcorn.

 

[tmli]

Thanks guys for the well wishes and cheers...sometimes you just need to know you are heading in the right direction.

I've played with my tax program and because it is just ds and i now, I claim him as a dependent and get some pretty good coin back. Add to that the fact that he gets the disability tax credit I think I'll be ok. It seemed to make about a $400 difference for the year including the decrease in child tax credit....

All in all I'm over the panic and just excited now. Once this debt is paid I can use this extra income to finance even more disney trips!!! Plus it's been 7 years since I worked outside the home or for a company I didn't own. I hope they call.