This weekend I chopped off most of my hair into a cute pixie cut. I have never had my hair this short, but it’s rather nice for a change. It’s easy to maintain, especially due to the fact that I am sweaty about 75% of the day. No more nasty, crunchy, dried-up sweaty hair for this gal! Well, until about 4-5 weeks when my hair grows into a mullet, at which point I will have to decide if I want to shape up my pixie or rock a rat tail.
Although I felt guilty about spending money on a haircut, I knew it was something I needed to do in order to remain sane throughout this already hot and humid summer. I am beginning to think that Philadelphia has two seasons: gray cold and thick heat.
Guilt set aside, I finally sat down with Gatorade (electrolytes first, wine later!) and decided what bills I could pay and what was going to have wait. I made a phone call to one of my student loan companies. Yes, companies, as in plural. I have two separate loan companies that financed my graduate degree, which I cry over every time I think about it, which is why it’s shoved deep in a folder somewhere.
Anyways, back to the phone call. I spoke to a guy with a Midwestern accent, which was a nice change. We understood each other perfectly and he offered to send me half a cow once he realized how much money I owe AES. (I wish).
Turns out, I can apply to post-pone my payments if I don’t make enough gross income. Now, I haven’t done the math yet, but I believe my student loan payments are greater or equal to 20% of my income. So I should get the forbearance.
I know, it’s not ideal. I already have one set of loans in forbearance and now another?! Like I said, not ideal. But, this would free up a bit of money so I can pay off my credit cards and so weird unknown numbers and someone in Omaha, Nebraska can stop calling me.
The only thing I’m nervous about is the phone call I will get from my father, (or rather, my mother who will be calling on behalf of my father, who does not discuss finances with me, which is good, because he has no idea the amount of credit card debt I am in). My dad co-signed on this private loan because half-way through graduate school, I needed more money. Which meant, another private loan. Looking back, I shake my head at myself, thinking I could have lived more frugally that year and then I wouldn’t be in this position.
But honestly, it was the first time since graduating undergraduate that I had any money, even after teaching for 3 years in the “real world.” I LOVED graduate school because I was never worried about money!
At least I enjoyed one year of freedom.
So, back to the debt. I decided to pay an excessively late payment to one of my credit cards. And my cell phone bill, because I need my phone for work, so not having one would really, not be an ideal situation. I saved a bit for rent, but will get paid once more prior to it being due and business has been picking up with the dog walking, which is awesome because I love making more money, even if it means running 2+ hours a day. Plus, the dogs are adorable.
And there you have it, this week’s debt update. I do feel a sense of accomplishment when I pay something that is due, but there are still many things that I cannot pay, and that stresses me out big-time. I can only do what I can and it’s not the end of the world. I just haven’t realized that yet.
