Half-Gifts

Well, some good news. Yesterday, I was hired to teach a single class over at Maryville, where I taught last semester. Between the Maryville assignment and SLU, that makes three classes for me this semester--more than I've ever taught at one time. It's a lot of work, but it's also more money for me.

As for bad news, I'm going to take my aging car into the shop next week. I've got a brake problem that causes my car to shudder violently when I slow down after driving at high speeds. I've done a little research online, and I think I know what the problem is and how my car needs to be fixed, but it sounds like it's going to be an expensive procedure--anywhere from $350 up to $2000, depending on how bad the brake damage is.

I've decided, as I think about my budget for the rest of the year, that I'll use the entirety of my Maryville paycheck to pay for my car repairs (I also need to change my shocks, which is also very expensive) and to pay down my ballooning credit card debt. My SLU paychecks will go towards rent and all my other usual bills and living expenses. The money from the online tutoring gig that will start in September will go towards paying for a new computer. The 6-year-old computer at which I am typing now is on its last legs I fear. It crashes several times a day now, and I don't know how much longer it will last.

It sucks being poor.