EDIT: The comments made it less ugly to look at. Cheers mates!
As soon as i started to work as a janitor at my current job 3 years ago, life went downhill. My skills are not appreciated, i am totally underpayed and my boss acts like a effin’ nutcase — most of the time.
I don’t really know why i am still working here, probably because the job in general is not too bad: Most of the time i am my own boss and the job never gets boring. I do have a lot of freedom, working with kids in our hostel is fun and sometimes i can work from my own appartement when i do network and website stuff. And it is a job here on the island, the place i love more than anything in the world.
But since i am so motherfucking underpayed for what i do, i collected a good amount of debt on my credit cards. Actually i do not have a problem with debt, well — if the debt is worth the hassle of giving up a little bit freedom. For instance, i went to Canada two times for two seasons of snowboarding without a penny in cash. Of cause i gave up a huge chunk of freedom for that, because it took years to pay that back to the credit card company. But believe me, it was worth it!
But now i am in the same debt like i was after 2 seasons in Canada, but for what? I tell you, for having a bloody job! So here’s what i did: I abused my cc’s for what i have earned less than before every month: I used to work at the beach for 10 years where i’ve earned about 1500 € in cash, now i do work even more as before and i only earn about 1000 € in cash every month. Splendid.
And since i am in debt again, i feel like i am not free do to and go where i want. Bad timing, because i feel like life is yelling for some actions by me, loud as the fog horn on the Queen Elisabeth II. So what are my chances? Should i try and win the lottery? Should i try to rob a bank? I am usually full of great ideas when it comes to solve those problems for other people, but right now i feel empty like a belly full of water. If you got 5000 euros you urgently want to get rid of, I am your man — and besides, my “Rich Journey” deal is still up for grabs as well! 
It felt good to write this down though.
Maybe i should not listen to my parents and stop worrying about those few thousands i owe the bank. It‘s just money i don’t have, right? Just stuff i owe some corporation. It’s not that i made anyone suffer because of that, right? It’s just a deal. Riiight?
14 Comments
Ha,money talk!Oh Manuel,I am 48 and hubby 52 and due to the fact we raised two boys, paid for driver’s licenses,paid for Bram an enormous expensive study which was worth every euro, you probably won’t believe me , but I have only 600 euro in savings.Due to me having a severe form of ME,I am retired and only getting 300 euro in pension and fell back on hubby’s earnings which are not good aswell .Please, do what you are screaming for inside and do the things you want to do as you are still young and have time enough to save. I am not really in debt , but in red in the bank every month and now I am thinking “it is only money”, you do not hurt anyone, you are a wonderful guy and I hope you will do those things in life you are hungry for,it is when you lose your health like I have, that you realize that money is only money.I will make you a promise, just as I did for Bram, as soon as I have my inheritage it will be an honour to give you some money to go and do some snowboarding or anything you want to enjoy life to the full
With love, Marianne .
I am honored Marianne, but that would make me feel like stealing from Bram
Not at all: it would make me happy to see you two make a dream come true and do something you are longing for
manu!
quit damn it!
i just did and it feels amazing…
soooo many options now.….
go!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love ya!
Ha money talk AND job talk! For the past three years I’ve had 4 jobs. The first one paid to little, the second one paid correct but was no fun in the end (things.got.fucked), the next one underpaid but was real fun (the best employer — aside from the money aspect — I had so far!) and the current one … well, I’ve got a surprise for my colleagues this monday (don’t think they’re reading this).
Reason for this all: finding the fine line between cash and fun.
I partially went for the cash a few months ago (the other aspect was the fact that I could work at a really really really big company that has a frickin’ huge project) but turned out that I wasn’t that happy as I was before.
My next job — as a teacher and IT dude at my old school — will hopefully bring me closer to that line as:
- It pays correct
- I’ll have 40 days of leave
- I’ll have great colleagues
- It’s something I’ve always wanted to do
- It looks fun to already, haven’t even started yet! Heck, still have to sign my contract!
- …
What I’m trying to say: I feel your pain, but in the end you’ll have to find something that makes you both happy and that gives you just enough to deal with the vices of live: coughing it up every month.
You don’t have to become rich, if you earn enough to pay everything (and maybe even save a few euro from time to time) less burdens will be upon you.
I think I’m about to get there (I hope), and quite sure you will too
And about that depth: screw that! It’s only money which you can easily recover by doing some extra work … maybe “beachlevel, inc” ought to be brought to life in order to do some freelance gigs and find the appreciation there?
I’ve been doing so with 3RDS. Had a turnover of 7K last year (only did a few jobs) which I find more than enough to buy me some extras that I can expense (hardware, fuel for my berlingo, cellphone plan, etc.) and to be my own boss from time to time too (I need that)
PS: The above might seem hectic and make no sense at all. Reason: worked all night yesterday and only saw my bed at 10AM this morning and got back up at 2PM (4 hours of sleep, yay!)
And oh, about the inheritage … if I’d plan a trip with it and take you with me, then it wouldn’t be stealing no? It’s all about the perception
I pack my bag and i put in a toothbrush. I pack my bag and i put in a toothbrush and a razor. I pack my bag and i put in a toothbrush and a razor and an iPhone. I pack my bag…
Bram, you probably have no idea how much i hate website client work. Dangerous field for me where æsthetic and design preferences collide
I’ve never learned to say yes when i think no and i am not looking forward to it.
By the way, how good is your German?
PS: Sure, made perfect sense to me my friend. As always
I have been where you are and paid everything back to have it all fall apart again. I’m in the same boat and this time I am saying FUCK IT ALL. Enjoy your life, fuck the companies (it’s only a few grand anyways.. that’s pocket change to those fuckers) and live life to the fullest!
Uh uh, wait till my mom finds out about this and you are all gonna be fucked!
Errm, what i was trying to say was: “Thanks for the support y’all — ”.
“Bram, you probably have no idea how much i hate website client work.”
- No I didn’t … maybe if you say you’re an “artist” then they’ll buy it (and cough up more)?
“By the way, how good is your German?”
- Even worse than your Dutch … the story’s about a lung?! :-S
That might be an idea. Though i doubt it that “my” future clients appreciate an artist. They want a simple job and they will only pay the simple job they’ve ordered. My problems with their ideas are usually not part of their plan. And because of these troubles i usually loose all interest and deliver something crappy which makes me “moody”
I should not do websites anymore. Period.
Ok, forget about the poem.