Please excuse the terrible pun of this post's title, I have money on the brain.
Is it just me, or is it darned near impossible to save money in your twenties?! I mean, honestly, I don't know how people do it. Every single paycheck I get, I put a substantial amount of money away, but for some reason, my savings account never seems to grow far above a plateaued number. Maybe I'm just naive, but who knew that going to the dentist could cost hundreds of dollars, and why haven't we figured out a way to make gas cost less than an arm and a leg? Forget eating out or keeping up with the current fashion trends, sometimes I feel like I can't even afford to go the movies anymore (especially at $10+ a ticket).
I really should take a minute to slap myself on the wrist for complaining because things could be so much worse. I don't have any credit card debt, I'm not saddled with student loans and I'm not strapped with a car payment. But, even without all those bills piling up in my mailbox, I still feel like all I do is give my money away.
How are young people expected to thrive on below average entry level salaries?
Just the other day, a friend's dad commented on how much he thought young professionals in our industry should make. Shocked he was to find out that we both make ten to fifteen thousand less than he anticipated. Unfortunately, when the job market is so saturated with talent, employers can pay less and get more. Getting paid at all is better than nothing right...?
Another friend went on a job interview two weeks ago and was told the position paid $27,000...but she was expected to work 60+ hours a week. That means she would make under $10 an hour. Costco pays more than $10 and hour, and face it, who doesn't love Costco?
My parents would tell me to get with the Dave Ramsey plan and deliver pizzas if I want more disposable income, but an immature and entitled part of my brain says, "I graduated from college for goodness sake, I shouldn't have to hold a full time job AND a part time job!" Another slap, across the face this time, and I'm brought back to reality. No one is going to just give me more money...I will have to actually earn it or learn to spend and save smarter.
Don't get me wrong on all this, I definitely don't think I should be overcompensated for working a mere 40 hours a week. I certainly don't mind having to come in early, stay late or bring work home with me, but it would be nice to feel as if my expensive college degree will literally pay off eventually!
Sad news is, I won't magically have more money overnight. I guess the next step is to start pinching pennies while working on my patience. I've always been a bit of an instant gratification junkie.
For now, I'll be around still in my twenties, and still trying TO SAVE MORE MONEY.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Armed with confidence and a library card...
I can hardly believe that I haven't updated this blog since December...DECEMBER! Who am I kidding? I can totally believe it. Anyone that knows me closely has come to understand that I am forever and always working on my follow-through. I won't fill this space with cliched excuses on how busy I've been, but instead I'll just pick up where I left off.
I had a "where the heck has time gone?!" moment yesterday when I was reminded that I'm quickly approaching my year anniversary at my current job. A year at this job means it's been two years since I graduated...two years?! I have a completely mixed batch of emotions about being two years out from graduation. While I feel so different from my friends that are still in school, I'm not sure I quite fit the young professional mold just yet, which begs the question, when will I feel like a real, working adult?
It's silly to think that one day a magic lightbulb will go off, and I'll suddenly feel older, wiser, more skilled and ready to tackle the working world. Wouldn't that be great if it worked that way? I'm beginning to understand that there are no shortcuts to garnering professional experience, and trying to skip rungs on the corporate ladder is risky and foolish.
I've found that gaining experience at an entry level is vital to cultivating a strong foundation for a successful and sustainable career. To this day, I am still working on building confidence in my abilities and my value as a professional. While it is easy to become insecure in such a shaky and unpredictable job market, I'm learning to place trust in the work that I do.
It would be ignorant to believe in the myth of job security, and with that thought always in mind, I have discovered that I enjoy finding ways to make myself valuable in my position. Unfortunately, I can recognize that I thrive on affirmation of the work that I've done...a common trait amongst my generation. I think this stems from my obsession as a perfectionist. Needing those verbal, overt compliments is something I like least about myself, and daily I am working to make kudos less important in my life.
In trying to make myself a more integral part of the "team" at my current job, I have begun to ween myself off needing a positive review for everything I do. I am taking more risks in suggesting new and different ideas; some of which are shot down, and I don't even have a heart attack. People aren't keeping score of how many times my ideas are turned down, I'm hoping they are beginning to see me as someone who always has something new up her sleeve.
I am taking on new projects for the sake of the company rather than recognition. I've learned a whole mess about how vigilant people really are at work. Trust me, if you're working hard, the right people are noticing, even if they don't say so. Just have faith that you are building a reputation for yourself as a responsible, innovative hard worker. Besides, the glow of a positive reputation lasts a lot longer than the flickering spotlight of positive recognition.
For now, I plan to continue on my quest to become an indispensable employee by doing a little research. I had an itch to go back to school a couple of days ago, and then, after contemplating the reality of taking out a student loan, I decided my itch was actually for learning and not school itself. Getting a public library card is a whole lot easier and cheaper that committing to several more years of higher education.
Officially, I will shoot for becoming an expert in my industry through researching new strategies, familiarizing myself with important case studies and reading all I can on relevant topics. What can it hurt? If I aim for expert and fall a little short, I'll still know more than I did before I started! No one else is going to make me a more well-rounded and knowledgeable young professional, that's my job.
All I know is that I am not content in just sitting still and letting opportunity pass me by. I do believe that we play a part in crafting our future both personally and professionally, and I pledge to do all I can to obtain the kind of career I've dreamed of.
Signing off and tentatively promising to post more because after all, I'm still only in my twenties and always still trying.
I had a "where the heck has time gone?!" moment yesterday when I was reminded that I'm quickly approaching my year anniversary at my current job. A year at this job means it's been two years since I graduated...two years?! I have a completely mixed batch of emotions about being two years out from graduation. While I feel so different from my friends that are still in school, I'm not sure I quite fit the young professional mold just yet, which begs the question, when will I feel like a real, working adult?
It's silly to think that one day a magic lightbulb will go off, and I'll suddenly feel older, wiser, more skilled and ready to tackle the working world. Wouldn't that be great if it worked that way? I'm beginning to understand that there are no shortcuts to garnering professional experience, and trying to skip rungs on the corporate ladder is risky and foolish.
I've found that gaining experience at an entry level is vital to cultivating a strong foundation for a successful and sustainable career. To this day, I am still working on building confidence in my abilities and my value as a professional. While it is easy to become insecure in such a shaky and unpredictable job market, I'm learning to place trust in the work that I do.
It would be ignorant to believe in the myth of job security, and with that thought always in mind, I have discovered that I enjoy finding ways to make myself valuable in my position. Unfortunately, I can recognize that I thrive on affirmation of the work that I've done...a common trait amongst my generation. I think this stems from my obsession as a perfectionist. Needing those verbal, overt compliments is something I like least about myself, and daily I am working to make kudos less important in my life.
In trying to make myself a more integral part of the "team" at my current job, I have begun to ween myself off needing a positive review for everything I do. I am taking more risks in suggesting new and different ideas; some of which are shot down, and I don't even have a heart attack. People aren't keeping score of how many times my ideas are turned down, I'm hoping they are beginning to see me as someone who always has something new up her sleeve.
I am taking on new projects for the sake of the company rather than recognition. I've learned a whole mess about how vigilant people really are at work. Trust me, if you're working hard, the right people are noticing, even if they don't say so. Just have faith that you are building a reputation for yourself as a responsible, innovative hard worker. Besides, the glow of a positive reputation lasts a lot longer than the flickering spotlight of positive recognition.
For now, I plan to continue on my quest to become an indispensable employee by doing a little research. I had an itch to go back to school a couple of days ago, and then, after contemplating the reality of taking out a student loan, I decided my itch was actually for learning and not school itself. Getting a public library card is a whole lot easier and cheaper that committing to several more years of higher education.
Officially, I will shoot for becoming an expert in my industry through researching new strategies, familiarizing myself with important case studies and reading all I can on relevant topics. What can it hurt? If I aim for expert and fall a little short, I'll still know more than I did before I started! No one else is going to make me a more well-rounded and knowledgeable young professional, that's my job.
All I know is that I am not content in just sitting still and letting opportunity pass me by. I do believe that we play a part in crafting our future both personally and professionally, and I pledge to do all I can to obtain the kind of career I've dreamed of.
Signing off and tentatively promising to post more because after all, I'm still only in my twenties and always still trying.
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