Okay, so at this point, some 8 weeks later, the vacation's definitely over. I even got my vacation time(about a month's worth, kinda nice!)which was, alas, absorbed by one bill or another.
This is the point when I'm completely on my own. Well I did put aside a few shekels for this occasion, an Escape Route it was so termed--something I started building when things started to get particularly squirrely. So I'm covered, just so long as I don't get squirrely with what I've squirreled away.
I wasn't sure how much lessons and gigs would fit into the equation, but they help. Musical income fluctuates like holy hell(at least mine always has), so you can't really depend on a regular cash flow. Right now there's not a lot happening in either lessons or gigs, but both are providing a trickle.
My gig and lesson money are not paying the bills(at least not yet I should say) but they are offsetting them. Case in point: a bill for $181.00; deposit of $75.00 gig/lesson money. This bill has been reduced from $181.00 to $106.00(and all the way to $81.00 if my Wednesday student keeps his lesson). There is still "out-of-pocket" cost on my part in this period, but it's significantly reduced.
It's like having a Discount Card. My gig & lesson Discount Card. I'm gonna lose a few bucks in this next year, but this handy "item" will at least slow that process.
And of course I'm working on getting an upgrade as far as my Discount Card, so that it brings in more money and thus takes a bigger bite out of those bills. Fortunately, they're not sizeable or even numerous, but still there to be paid. Every month.
So here we are, now almost 2 months into this new phase of life. All in all, I'm enjoying the hell out of it. There are a few adjustments to be made, and I'm making them- hopefully. The main one is that you have a lot more time to work with, and I mean a lot. Once you get around that, then the other stuff falls into play. At least I'm hoping so. Some folks have their Link Card. Me, I've got my Discount Card. Of course, I have to give lessons and play gigs to be able to use it..
