Crossroads, Part 7: A Shift in Focus

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I've updated this series. Though other matters have been keeping me busy lately, my decision to move from my house still lingers. Since my last piece, circumstances in my life have proven to me that not only is this decision one that I want, but it's become ever the more obvious that it's one that I need.

As I've said earlier, at this moment I earn more money than I've ever earned in my life, yet I have absolutely nothing to show for it. My paycheck is mostly gone before it even gets into my account and I'm finding it more and more difficult to keep up. Prices on everything continue to rise (I am now paying approximately $90 a week in gas just to get to work!), interest rates go up, and of course money is always much easier to spend than it is to earn. Though I've cut back on almost everything I can cut back on, my pockets are still mostly empty.

I've often said that I am one disaster away from disaster and this couldn't be truer than it is today. I've worked hard to cut out expenses, pay off debt and keep afloat, and I'm finding it harder and harder to do so these days. Indeed, one large emergency expenditure will surely put me behind on my mortgage, which is the one thing I want to avoid. This endeavor is no longer just taking a chance; it has become a necessary goal.

Since the last piece I've decided to shift my focus for the time being. I've decided to set my sights on finding a new job, which will hopefully dictate where I end up, surely west of where I am living presently. Unfortunately, working in the New York City school system is not an option. Like it is with so many other public vocations, the pay scale in New York City for teachers simply does not compare to that of the outlying suburbs, which is really a shame. Even with the "financial incentive" they offer for working in a "high needs" school, I'd be taking a pay cut of about $20K.

So I've begun to search the western reaches of Nassau County in the hopes of finding a place where I can commute to from somewhere in the city and still keep a salary that will do me well. The house will still be a situation I'll have to deal with. I have a feeling that I'll be going for the short sale though I don't want to go there just yet. So for right now I'm just going to work on saving money, paying my debt down and finding a job. Wish me luck! I'm going to need it!

For more in this series, see:

Crossroads: Striving for a Change or Settling for Status Quo
Crossroads, Part 2: The Decision
Crossroads, Part 3: First Step
Crossroads, Part 4: Justifying My Decision
Crossroads, Part 5: Words to Live By
The Real Estate Short Sale: Answers to Essential Questions
Crossroads, Part 6: New Considerations