Do I stay or do I go?

So I've gotten a new job - accomplished my goals for the month of February.

Now, I am debating over taking a secure path to meeting the goal of paying for the oncoming wedding - OR - taking a semi-risky path with the chance that I might not meet my wedding budget goal or I might blow that goal out of the water and have money left over to put a down payment on a house or go on my fiance's dream Hawaii honeymoon or both.

The secure path: Work my new job which pays about 10% less than I was making and work 2nd job which is fairly unfulfilling and keeps me up until 10Pm most nights BUT - will definitely help pay for the wedding bill faster.

The semi risky path: Work new job which pays about 10% less than what i was making and with my newly stress-free free time, work on a part-time business or businesses that I will enjoy running but may not earn me anywhere near what i could make at the part-time job in the short-run - OR - could possibly pay much more than the part-time job in the long (and possibly short) runs.

I'm torn as to what to do. It's 12:30 AM here now and I know this is not good sleep-wise because I need to get up around 6:30 to go to my 2nd to last day of work at my higher-paying yet more stressful job.

I'm debating whether or not I should just try and hit a certain goal mark for the wedding account and then quit the second job so I can sleep like a normal person and have time to work on a business at the same time.

What do you think?

I got a job!

Finally, after weeks of worrying I found another job within my company.

I am so excited. The new job pays less but that will be a non-issue in the short term due to the 2nd job. In the long term I look to do something on the side instead of the 2nd job - so I won't have 2 bosses. The something on the side may very well be literary-related, only time will tell.

The new job is also less stressful so I'm almost welcoming the cut in pay for the comparative relief in stress.

losing your job (without debt) ain't that bad

The last couple of days I've been thinking about the fact that despite the fact I've been laid off, right now is probably the best time for it to have happened to me.

As of 1/3/08 - "I'm Debt free!" so unlike other times when I've quit a job whilst being deep in debt - because I hated it - yet had no new job set up . This time, I have no job set up BUT I also have no debt.

My lease is up about a month after my final paycheck and I usually pay my rent early ( like this weekend) So I'll have a month to think about where I'll go. A relative has already offered to allow me to stay at their place.

And not to be a 'Negative-Nelly' but, I pretty much hated my job so it was a bit of a relief this past week going in and knowing that the angry person on the other line, or the letter from an attorney asking for $1000's of dollars for something I personally believe is B.S. - will not be my problem in about 2 months.

There is also the fact that I really don't want to spend my 30's 'working my way up the corporate ladder' I'd much rather start my own business - where the only boss to answer to is me - rather than answering to umpteen levels of management I currently have to endure.

So overall, so far, losing my job for the first time (rather than quitting) hasn't been that bad of an experience.

Progress Report - For week ended 12/23/07

So here's my progress so far the month of December as Christmas is just a few days away:

1. Send novel manuscript to 10 book agents and/or publishers - SUCCESS* - I've taken the first step at least, I sent 'query letters' to 10 agents. From what, I understand most book agents like to see a query letter before ever agreeing to look at the manuscript. I got mostly 'no thank you' responses back but two asked for additional details.
   
2. Apply to 20 jobs (part-time or full-time) - I've applied to seven thus far, time has not yet permitted me to apply for more. With some of the Holiday time off I'll do my best to apply to more though.
   
3. Raise net worth to $8,500 or better - This goal is on track, although I did spend a little more than I wanted to last night with old friends for some Holiday libations. Hopefully, Santa may kick in with some Xmas cash and come to the rescue if necessary.
   

Hopefully everyone will have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season in general.

18 days to go...

So I went to Barnes & Noble today after work and was perusing a great book on Benjamin Franklin & Wealth.

I found a great, long quote while there about debt - when I tried to find it again on line it was only in bit's and pieces:

This site: http://www.sacklunch.net/poorrichard/ has just about all of the quotes but they are broken into much smaller pieces.

I guess the sweetest and most 'to-the-point' quote would be:

"He that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing."

I've been debating today whether I should hold on to my 2nd job when(not if) I pay off my debt. There are advantages on both sides.

By staying I would be able to:

1. Pay for a shiny piece of jewelry for my girlfriend (possibly future fiance/wife) quicker
2. Save more money to pay for a possible wedding reception (my girlfriend and her family will have nothing to do with 'dancing' or 'drinking' that my family & friends all-but require in order to attend - it's a long story...)
3. I'd be able to stock up on a struggling wardrobe by using the nice 2nd job discount.

By leaving I would be able to:

1. Relax
   
2. focus more on finding a better 1st job
   
3. Spend more time with girlfriend, family & friends
4. ...Did I mention RELAX?
   

I'm leaning heavily towards the latter option right now but, I know I'll feel bad If I resign again from the 2nd job just as they are getting into their 2nd busiest time of the year 'back-to-school'. I can guarantee though if I am more than 1/2 or 2/3rds as stressed out then, as I am now about just my 1st job - I will be giving my 2 weeks notice with no remorse whatsoever....