Broke.

I was paid on Friday and I'm already broke. Not cool. I get paid ONCE a month at my job. It was a huge adjustment for me when I first started working here seven years ago because I used to get paid at least twice a month, but I've worked with the change and I've managed to figure out a budget system that works for me and that ensures that the money is there when the bills come around. I can't complain about that!! :) I've mentioned before, I believe, that I work for the local University and I really do LOVE my job! Sure, it has it's "off" days, but for the most part, I really enjoy the work that I'm doing. One of the perks of the job, though, is that the University pays for a portion of tuition and fees, should I decide that I want to take classes! We have a local two-year community college, so my employer will pay tuition and fees for up to a three credit class at that school and they will pay for tuition and fees for up to a SIX credit class here at the University. WOW, I know!! I realize that not everyone can take advantage of this because of family life or whatever, but I have NO hesitation with signing up for classes! :) The thing that I run into, though, are the little costs that my employer does NOT cover. For instance, if I take an online class, they won't cover the "online fee" of $40 per credit. So, if I take a three credit class, I'm paying $120 for it. In the big picture, that's nothing, especially because I get the rest of it paid for, which is usually between $350-400. The other thing that I have to pay for are textbooks. Sometimes that cost usually makes up for what my employer has paid for me in tuition and fees. No joke. Those of you who have kids that may one day go to college...well, just prepare yourself for the astounding cost of textbooks. Some science textbooks will easily hit the $200 mark and will be considered "cheap" at that price. It's horrid. Anyway, my point is that this month marks the start of a new academic year and that means that the University is looking for money from me for some of those little costs of taking a class as well as the purchases that I need to make with textbooks. I added that into my little budget at the beginning of the month to ensure that I have the money when the time comes, but let me tell you...I have nothing extra this month. This month is especially tricky, too, because there are some new costs being added into the fees for students and I have no idea if my employer will cover those or not. So, I have to assume that they won't and be prepared for it, otherwise I could be in serious trouble.

So, it looks like my social activities this month will consist of attending the "free" events such as Tuesday night volleyball or a concert in the park or something. Also, my "me time" will not involve shopping this month, but more things along the lines of reading a book or maybe writing a letter. You know...simple things that don't require money. I'll manage it for this month, but I hope it's not like this for too many months because after awhile, it's not so fun anymore. In addition to that, I don't like life having to be so extremely budgeted. I do like to have a little "extra" for fun things. *sigh* But, I guess that's the price you pay for free education!! :o)