Rebuilding Rob

Daily writing prompt

Write about your approach to budgeting.

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Back in the days before online banking, I used to track all my spending using Quicken accounting software. Before that I used to have to balance my actual checkbook, using receipts and my monthly bank statements. Thank God online banking has made this SO much easier.

Quite honestly, my approach to budgeting sucks! I’m not really one to live beyond my means, and the good news is that I’m not accruing any new debt at the moment. I’m not living beyond my means, so I guess that means I’m living within my means for the time being. But I want more…

I’m resigning myself to the fact that I will probably never own my own home again in my lifetime. I’ll probably be a renter forever; not that that’s the worst thing in the world. Going through a divorce and ending another long-term relationship has forced me to reaccumulate my household possessions, twice. However, my life has worked out the way that it has, and my top priority is providing for my boys. And I’m okay with that.

Living on a teacher’s salary isn’t easy. This is why most teachers pick up a second job, or a “side hustle”. I’m looking to get a second job; but I’m also looking at returning to school at least part-time this fall as well – per my Blueprint for 2024. (how many of you thought I forgot about this one?)

My school is on Mid-Winter all this coming week. Hopefully I’ll use time to get some stuff done around the house, see about landing a side hustle and start researching graduate school in earnest.

Write about your approach to budgeting?

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related posts:

• Acknowledge Me: The Simple Art of Being Seen
• Rob’s Retro Movie Review: This is Spinal Tap (1984) – The Movie That Scaled to Eleven
• A Death in the Family (And My Disposable Income): My Life in Comics
• The Supporting Cast: Navigating the Eras of Male Friendship
• Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision

The article “keeping my head above water” originally appeared on Rebuilding Rob.