Well, it’s finally caught up with us. We knew it was going to happen. We’ve been feeling it coming on… my husband is getting fewer and fewer hours, leaving us with a very sizable cut in pay. We lived through it before, back in 2008. But it seems even harder this time. Once again, I am very thankful my husband is still employed, but that doesn’t change the fact that we are headed toward some lean times.
I don’t know what our options even are. Of course my Hot Oil Man will pick up any extra shifts/extra weeks that he can, and hopefully that will help. But that’s not reliable income. Do I need to go back to work? I am willing to, even though I haven’t worked in about 11 years. I quit when I was pregnant with our first child… what would I even be qualified to do? If I get a job, when will my husband and I get time together? Our oilfield lifestyle has worked in the past because we are able to cater to my husband’s schedule – when he is home we make family time our priority. What would happen to our family dynamics without that time together? There are so many things that are up in the air right now.
Of course we will do the obvious when trying to make ends meet. We can try to spend as little as possible, and cut out extras… but what if that’s not enough? We live pretty frugally already. It’s not like we can get rid of electricity or quit eating. Our only real “extra” is cable. We can get rid of that – and that would save $100 a month. But what’s a $100 when you’re losing thousands? What else can be done to cut corners? I really don’t want to live on ramen noodles and hotdogs. What other options are there? That’s not rhetorical, I really wish I knew what we can do to make ends meet.
I’m not scared though. What’s going to happen is going to happen, and I can’t change it. I know we’re strong enough to make it through this rough patch. And I hope we’re wise enough to make the best decisions. I guess if we have to pack up and move it away it will just be the next chapter of our adventure. I have faith in God, and in my little family that we can survive whatever comes our way.
Good luck to everyone facing tough decisions and trying to make ends meet!