Is it OK to admit here that I’m in a bad mood? It’s been simmering for weeks, and you should feel a little sorry for Ken that he has to live with me. There are so many reasons I’m crabby. For one, I signed up for too much this winter, and I’m overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do. It’s impossible to get it all done, and I’m dropping all the balls, which makes me feel terrible. And also I’m tired, because it’s hard to work this much.
Also, have you read the news lately? Like, how are we supposed to function when things are just so insane? I turned off my news notifications years ago, and I try to limit how much I consume, but you can’t completely ignore it because 1) that just doesn’t feel responsible, and 2) everyone else is talking about it all the time. Last week, I went out twice with friends, and our collective anxiety was the number one topic of conversation, which doesn’t make for a very relaxing or fun evening. Even when I see my parents, we end up spending half the time playing out absolutely worst-case scenarios of what could come next. It’s exhausting. And really sad.
What I’m going to write next is going to sound very selfish, but what the hell. This is one of the things I dreaded most following last year’s presidential election. I knew this administration would suck all the oxygen out of the room, and that we would waste so much fucking time thinking and talking and agonizing over their every little move. And here we are, doing just that. And it sucks! What’s worse is that I don’t even know what to do to make things better. I feel paralyzed and hopeless.
Since I can’t completely succumb to my sadness and just crawl under the covers for the next four years (I have to believe it’s only four years), I have to keep going. I just hope at some point I can shake this crabbiness. Because Ken’s patient, but no one wants to live with a grump full time.
How are you managing right now? Sending you a virtual hug if you too feel like shit. Solidarity, sisters (and brothers).
And perhaps I can distract you for a little while with this fun Home Economics, featuring two financially savvy 30-somethings in Atlanta. I hope you enjoy!
I’m always looking for new Home Economics contributors. You can fill out the form here.
Age: 34
Location: Atlanta
Relationship status: Married
Age of partner: 37
About me: I’m a first-generation immigrant, working in the TV and film industry, and I live with my husband, baby, and dog.
Income:
- Your job title/salary: Graphic artist, $110,000
- Partner’s job title/salary: UX/UI designer, $100,000
- Your monthly take-home pay (paycheck amount after taxes and other deductions): $4,500
- Partner’s monthly take-home pay (paycheck amount after taxes and other deductions): $4,300
- Additional monthly income: We get an additional $3,000 in income from investment dividends and selling cryptocurrency. I bring in an additional $250 a month freelancing. We also receive $2,000 a month from our rental property. (We rent to my husband’s family; all of the rental is set aside for home maintenance and improvements.)
- Total monthly income: $14,050
