New Financial Year, New Me?
In the UK, the financial year begins on the 6th of April. I have no idea why, despite working in various financial services jobs for 4 years. I suspect it might have something to do with Crop Harvest patterns from the medieval era or something. You survived winter, lets see how many bags of seed and corn there are left, and then if there’s anything to tax or tithe you on, we shall do so.
As it stands for this, 2021, my situation is looking rather dismal. A contract I was working on was not renewed, and I am currently standing in 5481.86£, or 9493.66$CA of Debt.
All of that is held in Credit card debts, caused by ‘the incesset whims of life’ or so i thought at the time (excuses were made, many lackadaisical excuses).
I have realized at least Three times before that Credit Cards can promise a dream, and yet sell you a life more inescapable than the servitude of the Israelites in Egypt. At least they had a Prophet come and liberate them,while I, short of my parents passing (Which I 5000% do not want) can expect a life of labouring through this avalanche of debt, overdrafts, and being relieved when a paycheck (or in this case a new job) comes through.
All that betrays the fact that I have rarely paid attention to my finances, and that I need a rude awakening to ensure what I have stretches through this period of uncertainty, at least until job comes my way.
As of week one, the anxiety is already killing me, and I so sincerely wish to go back to Baby Patrick and tell him to save his Allowance, in the hopes that the 1$/week I (theoretically could have) saved when i was 5 would blossom into a frugal Savings Habit that would make a Swabian Blush.
But no, I stand here, 26, living an ocean away from my parents, with 2 months of living expenses saved, Jobless, and Frightened out of my mind at having to call the Bank of Mum & Dad for an ‘Interest Free’ Payment that will cost nothing monetarily but will inflict its damage through the ‘Shame Rating’ and ‘Disappointment Interest’ the further I need to beg and borrow from them.
I of course recognize it could be worse. I could literally have no one to turn to, and yet having Parents to turn to makes it still not a walk in the park, even when you factor all the issues of Millenials getting low pay and higher rents, less job stability, and then drop the turmoil of Covid into this, it still…..hurts ones pride to ask for help from the Parental Bank.
We shall however see what the future holds. For Now, I’m Patrick Speers, who is grateful you are reading this, and I’m reporting to you live from what feels like Rock Bottom but probably isn’t.
Tune in should you wish for more ramblings as I attempt to slay the hydra of Debt, save some money, and struggle through living in Scotland through this pandemic.
