Give Me Back My Five Bucks a quest for financial independence

Wait for it … wait for it … I JUST GOT OFFERED THE JOB!!! :)

I’m pretty sure that I’m going to take it.

We’re still hammering out the fine details of the compensation package, but it looks like I would start at $3k less than what I was making at my last job, and then after a 3 or 6 month period, I would be bumped up provided everything is going well and I’m performing to their expectations (that is what I’m negotiating about right now – the HR woman is going to call me back to make sure that the bump in salary is a possibility). Not exactly what I was hoping for, but I would be getting 1 more week of vacation than my last job, plus extended health care – which wasn’t even an option at my old job. Plus the fact that my salary has the potential to bump up to what I was earning before. Even if they come back and can’t guarantee me a bump in salary,  that’s fine by me. As the current overall package they’re offering is about the same as what I was earning before, given the extra vacation and benefits.

The job comes with 3 weeks of vacation, 50% MSP coverage, and a nice extended benefits package which is fully covered by them.

I’m going to wait for an official offer letter before making my final decision on the position. But I am so happy and relieved and excited! I could potentially start on Monday!!! :)

I want to thank everyone who has left me positive messages or e-mails, and sent positive vibes my way. Your kind words and encouragement really helped me over the past few weeks, and it’s a great feeling knowing the personal finance community is so kind and tight-knit. You guys are the best.

So, I still haven’t heard back from the job. I think they’ve offered the position to someone else, and haven’t contacted the other candidates yet just in case that person decides not to accept their offer. I’m feeling a bit sad, and am dreading the rejection phone call or e-mail.

People have been so ridiculously annoying about the entire job search. Every single day I get at least 2 or 3 text messages from people asking if I’ve found a job yet. Then there are the Facebook chat messages, and MSN messages. I always say no, or that I’m waiting to hear back – and then I get replies back like  ”why? why is it taking so long?” It’s like I’m getting accused of something, and it’s driving me insane. Every day at least 3 people ask what I’ve been doing all day, or with my time now that I don’t have a job (people I never even told that I lost my job – they heard it through gossip), and it’s like no answer I have is good enough for them. I feel like the questions they’re asking are judgmental, especially because I’ve always been the one in the group concerned about personal finance and I’ve always been the one with the good job. I wrote a Facebook status a few days ago, and somebody replied with “looks like somebody needs a job!” Maybe I’m being overly sensitive about the situation, but maybe people should be MORE sensitive. It’s not like I’m not trying.

Anyway, yesterday I went for lunch with an old colleague and friend. I spent $12.02 and had a tuna panini, caesar salad and a glass of water. It was really nice to see her, and also talk with some of my old co-workers.

Today I plan on baking an apple pie for BF. He loves this particular apple pie recipe because it has a yummy caramel mixture drizzled on the top and inside of the pie. :)

Well, yesterday I applied for one job. I’m not sure what’s happening, because it seems like there are no postings anymore. I hope it’s just a little dry spell, and more will start to pop up in the coming weeks.

As for the job I’ve been interviewing for? They called me yesterday morning and told me that they would be calling my references. And I haven’t heard back from them since. My references are pretty good – but aren’t super solid (that’s what happens when your average time at a job is about a year: 12 months, 8 months, 18 months) … so I’m worried that my references could be my downfall if they’re trying to decide between a few candidates and someone else has ridiculously good references and a long job history.

I have a sinking feeling that I didn’t get the job. Which is fine, just disappointing. I kept checking my computer yesterday, waiting for a rejection e-mail. I’ll probably find out today either way.

Today I’m going out for lunch with someone from my old job at the non-profit (who is also one of my references). It will be nice to get out of the house, and I’m hoping to spend no more than $12-15 on lunch.