I've been wanting to make this post for awhile now, just haven't woprked up the courage till now.
As the title says, I have been lucky enough to aquire a new job that pays better and has better benifits.
The kicker is that I'm going from working retail inside, to labor outside (In the same field)
Currently I work in a pool store, sales of a specialty. Tomorrow is my last day in that job, and Thursday I have to be at my new job by 8am.
Now my problem is this: I absolutely abhor waking up early in the morning. This is something necessary, as it's required for my new job. I've worked outside doing the same thing before, but I had problems. I used to get massive (so bad I couldn't keep my eyes open) headaches. Early in the morning I could barely stay awake enough to drive properly. This cannot happen anymore. I belive that the headaches were caused by malnutrition and my eye-glasses of the time. Now I've got a O.K pair of polarized sunglasses and contacts, so that cuts that out of the problem.
Since I'll be in the sun all day, sunscreen is and will be a must; but I'm un-aware as to what to do for food. I know that eating a lot of fruit will help, especially in the morning with something like wheaties. Then comes to lunch and dinner. I have to eat alot, and I have horrid eating habits. I'm young and skinny, and I would like to stay that way. What woud be recommended for lunch that i would have to prepare the night(s) before hand.
Next complication: I work two jobs, and the second is 4 nights a week (mon, wend. thur. sat) from 7pm to about 1am. This leaves me only three free nights a week. Severly limiting my time to do anything else. The only actual day off I will have will be sunday (irnoic because I hate sunday).
So this kinda puts me in a predicament. I do not want to quit the second job because I'm using the moeny I'm making is it (400-600$/mo) to save for a new car. At the job I start thursday, it's a salaried position that pays 450/wk during training and 500/wk(anywhere from 40-55hrs) after that. This coming from the 340/wk(8.50@40hr) that I'm making currently.
I have just recieved my first credit card, and I'm only using it for gas for my car. This keeps it below the 50% mark(300$ credit limit) and allows me to use it responsibly to establish credit.
My major expeses are this:
- Rent: 350(500 or so after utilities)
- Insurance for car: 110
- Cell: 80
- Gas: ?
- Food: ?
I've been wearing the same clothes for 3 years now, and I'd really like some new ones. The holes are starting to become too large.
Food is my biggest expense every month, what's recommended to get that down? I'd like <350$ a month or so. This is just for me. I don't eat at home; much groceries are more expensive than fast food now >.<. Not having time to cook doesn't help much either.
My little beater gets horrid gas milage, It's in such dissaray I'm just waiting for it to die on me. Gas I suppose will be 80-100$ a month.
I'm 19 now. I've bee living on my own since the day I graduated with no fiscal help what-so-ever. I've quite aware of taxes and the "real world". I would really like to stop having to live paycheck to paycheck, and still be able to enjoy some things. (Like new clothes and maybe a new CD now and then).
As soon as I got that credit card I went to staples and purchased a two colum ledger to help me get a grasp on my monthly expenses so I could establish a realistic budget. Plan to do this as soon as may ends.
Any advice, tips or anything would be greatly appreciated. I love this community, I spend alot of my free time at my night job reading through this forum, don't post much as of yet. I feel I've got too much to learn to join into the discussions sometimes.
`J