Checking in from Maine

**claimsgirl66** · 10-13-2008, 01:13 AM

I have been absent the past few months. I have had a heckuva year and things have been hectic. Let me summarize:

Laid off from well paying job in insurance in March.

Unable to find job in my field, so took office job @ cleaning firm for significantly less $$...but I was collecting severance so it was not too bad. Blue collar environment, definitely different world for me....but it was $$ coming in to pay the bills.

Another insurance firm offered me job in August so I have been coming up to speed at another job in my field. Finaly getting the hang of it!

3 jobs in one year, yikes! I have had enough change this year to last me awhile. My new job is going well, $$ is decent, and good benefits and it is a good fit.I already knew people there. I am thrilled to be back in my field. What with the state of the economy and unemployment rate, well, I am quite grateful to be working in my field for a decent salary. I still have friends who cannot find a job.

I paid off a lot of bills w/ the severance $$ which is great. Lately I have been eating out more as I was brain dead some nights from learning a new job, so it was just easier to get take-out for dinner. I also did splurge on a few things when I got the new-new job ( boots, couple new outfits). My daughter is expecting another baby at Xmas time, a girl. My wonderful grandson is 3 1/2.

Soooo.....my diet sorta fell by the wayside as with all the changes this year, I tend to snack and nibble when stressed! Oh well. Something had to give!
I have been coming up to speed on the boards here and need to get back to the budget!
I must say with all that is going on, this forum is needed more than ever!
Hope you all are well. Lots of new people to meet.
Oh, and I was finally brave enough to post a photo of myself here!

**Bournecrazy** · 10-13-2008, 06:01 AM

sounds like your getting back on your feet

just focus on the budget and you will be ok

**cmdarlin** · 10-13-2008, 06:30 AM

Glad to hear a 'happy' ending with the way the economy is going. I bet the leaves are beautiful about now..... I miss Maine.

Debbie

**Maine Girl** · 10-13-2008, 08:47 AM

welcome glad to see another person from maine on the board. Yes cmdarlin the colors are wonderful right know. Wish i had a camera to take pictures for you.

**Darlene** · 10-13-2008, 08:56 AM

You have been busy! :welcomeback:

**dcompton** · 10-13-2008, 10:36 AM

It may not be frugal orthodoxy, but after that traumatic a year, I don't think a couple of new outfits is excessive at all - I'm assuming you didn't buy $10,000 designer gowns. And I imagine you can hardly have too many boots in Maine!

Glad it all worked out well. Sadly, we're not hearing as many happy endings on the boards here right now.

**oct2667us** · 10-13-2008, 10:55 AM

welcome back... Happy to have you back.. You pick looks great

**claimsgirl66** · 10-13-2008, 01:08 PM

I spent about $200 total for a suit,dressy boots for winter, and then a few other pieces. I did get good deals. Funny thing is once you have the frugal mindset, you think twice about parting with your $$$! But I had the cash to pay for the items, as I refuse to have a credit card balance anymore!
I had to get the boots as the old ones I usually wear are 5+ years old and the heel fell off last week and they were beyond repair.

I would love to go spend $10K in designer duds, but (sigh) will settle for new boots from JC Penney! I will wear them Oct - March here in Maine!

Oh and I did have to get the glasses I am sporting in the photo. I am at the age (ahem) where I needed bifocals so I just got those also. I had to keep holding books at arms length to read them! So I got my eyes checked and I got a couple pairs of glasses including the reading glasses in the photo. I am doing a lot of reading of reports in the new job, so I needed those as well. ( I am rationalizing!!). However being thrifty in other areas made me able to have cash on hand for something important, like new glasses.

No more spending $$ though for awhile for me. Back to saving!