After almost six years, my long ordeal is almost over

[derby378]

I'm going back to work on Monday morning. It's a temp-to-hire job, but it's not another warehouse gig or mailroom job - I'm going to be a medical records clerk making around $34K a year.

I was laid off of a medical admin job in August 2010 that paid $37K a year. Since then, finding gainful employment that paid me what I was worth has been impossible, so I took whatever temp jobs I could. But there have been long stretches of unemployment, and my benefits have run out a long time ago. I am broke, but not broken.

That all changes on Monday. Soon I will have a steady paycheck once again, and maybe I can start paying some bills and getting on with the rest of my life. Maybe even start exploring ghost towns again during the weekends. Or perhaps wining and dining a really cute girl. Having options once again is going to take some getting used to.

I can't wait.

[LonePirate]

1. Congrats. May this be the start of better times ahead for you.

[derby378]

2. Thanks!

[MADem]

3. HURRAH! I hope you enjoy the work, have great co-workers who are fun and make the hours fly by,

and I hope you are made permanent soon and given raises in short order!

Best of luck!

[derby378]

4. Thanks!

I intend to make the most out of this chance.

[Melissa G]

5. Yay Derby! Congrats!!!

I'll buy you breakfast if you come through Austin!

[derby378]

66. I'll keep that in mind

You mean there's a chance we might actually meet each other at last? Coolness!

Can't make it to the San Antonio convention, sorry. But yes, let's meet next time I'm in Austin!

[Melissa G]

74. It was a close thing at the Ft Worth convention.. Yes, Coolness!

Hope to see you soon!

[irisblue]

6. hurray!!

How wonderful

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. This is FANTASTIC NEWS, my dear derby378!

I am thrilled for you!

I hope it will quickly lead to a truly permanent job.

[derby378]

68. Thank you, Peggy!

[pnwmom]

8. I'm so happy for you, derby378. Good luck1

[sueh]

9. Good for you and congratulations! I'm very happy for you, derby378!

[IrishEyes]

10. Congratulations!

Good for you. I wish you success in your new job. Having options is a great thing.

[Omaha Steve]

11. Congrats

[ailsagirl]

12. Wonderful to hear!

Congratulations!!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. glad to hear that!

[lunatica]

14. You'll be surprised how much you're not used to doing stuff

I am OK financially after a decade of becoming poorer and poorer. I got used to not doing things and I thought I missed doing stuff like going to movies, eating steak, driving around for the fun of it, going to lunch with my friends, etc.

Now I can do all that but I still have to overcome thinking that I can't afford it. I find myself not buying something I'd like because in the back of my mind is the feeling that I can't afford it.

Now I'm slowly replacing the appliances that have been breaking down which have been pretty much all of them. It really took an effort to believe I could afford to do it. It's silly, I know, but it's true. And it has nothing to do with stinginess. It's just that ingrained feeling of not having enough money all the time. Of years of going without because the money I had needed to be spent on something more vital. I sometimes give myself permission to splurge on some new clothes or, heaven forbid, a steak, but it doesn't break me of the thought habit of near poverty.

On the other hand I've found that I no longer want to spend on anything just for the luxury of it either. I'm just not interested in actually spending money or buying stuff just for jollies. The things I spend my money on are what's needed only and I'm quite satisfied with that.

[derby378]

69. I hear you

Not having either Ginny or a steady income around threatened to turn me into a recluse. At least staying close to home saves wear and tear on the car - but now I can afford to maintain it properly, feed myself better food, buy presents for family during the holidays, maybe even pay a few bills! Whoda thunk it?

[lunatica]

73. The most precious thing you'll feel now is the lack of stress

Soon you'll wonder how you made it through the bad times.

But what you learned about yourself will carry you for the rest of your life.

[AntiBank]

15. congratzzzzzz! nt

[mountain grammy]

16. Congratulation! Wishing you all the best!

[passiveporcupine]

17. Wonderful news

I hope you get hired permanently

Every long term temp job I took ended up in a permanent job, so hang in there...you can do this!

Sorry things have been so rough for so long. I totally understand. I've been there...hell, I'm there now.

[Scarsdale]

42. Great news

My son, a member of Mensa, was out of work for a very long time. He got a temp job, sorting FRENCH FRIES!! Glad to get it, too. Now he has a real job, with benefits. Good luck to you, after that long dry spell.

[Laffy Kat]

18. Yay! Congrats. nt

[LisaM]

19. Fantastic!

Good luck.

[lastlib]

20. Way to hang tough, derb! Congrats!!

Best of Luck in your new endeavors!

Eye of the Tiger!!

[AtomicKitten]

21. Very happy things are looking up for you. Best regards.

[LibDemAlways]

22. Very happy for you! Hope you enjoy the work

and have great co-workers. Wishing you nothing but the best.

[Tess49]

23. Congrats! Hope you like this job. I worked in medical records for 4 years and really

enjoyed it.

[Jack Rabbit]

24. Good luck, Derby, we all wish you the very best

!!

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

25. Best wishes with the new job. nt

[No Vested Interest]

26. So happy for you! Good luck! nt

[hopemountain]

27. that's wonderful & exciting!

[ReRe]

28. My best to you as you begin again!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

29. desby378

**THIS**

I am broke, but not broken.

I hope you can squirrel away a bit of money to grab some souvenirs from those ghost towns!

Congratulations on being gainfully employed again. You are clearly a deserving survivor.

[hollysmom]

30. good luck

I wish you the best of things.

[blondie58]

31. Awesome!!!

After one week of Seeing you work, i have no Doubt that rhey'll make it permanent!

Ägain, congratulations!

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Congratulations!

I've been there, and hoping this turns out to be everything you want. Best of luck, but I have no doubt you'll do just fine...

[MarianJack]

33. Mazel Tov!

PEACE!

[Lunabell]

34. This is great news but...

don't date a girl. The age difference would be too great. Try dating a woman.

[derby378]

67. Hee-hee!

Sorry. My wife was 13 years my senior. She told me she wanted me to chase some "sweet young thing" if anything happened to her. But I'm keeping my options open - as long as they're legal and at least halfway intelligent.

[mnhtnbb]

35. Congratulations!

I worked in medical records at UCLA--day shift--for 6 months after I graduated college early and before I started grad school. It was a fun group of people.
Hope you enjoy the job and your co-workers AND having a steady paycheck!

[Ilsa]

36. Congratulations! I hope all of

Your bosses and coworkers are easy-going, goodhearted democrats!

[magical thyme]

37. congratulations on your new job and

your life re-boot!

[secondwind]

38. I feel so happy for you

[downeastdaniel]

39. Hang in there, we are living in very painful times to the vast majority of us. Rejoice!

[Just reading posts]

40. Congratulations!

[Fla Dem]

41. Congrats and I wish you much success!

[Demsrule86]

43. Congratulations

I wish you the best. My hubs was laid off when we moved to Ohio in 08...I had left my Wisconsin job for the move. He eventually went back to work at General Motors, but it was tough. We seriously considered driving off a bridge so the kids would get insurance money...of course, we didn't ...but we lost our health insurance (thanks Obama for extending cobra and making it free) we did empty our college fund, nearly lose our house and cars before it got better. This forever changed me. I know how hard it is...I hope you have wonderful success to make up for six brutal years.

[femmocrat]

44. Congratulations, derby378!

I'm very happy for you! You deserve every bit of good fortune! 🍀

[bigwillq]

45. Awesome!

Congrats!

[kimbutgar]

46. Congrats on the new job!

[Surya Gayatri]

47. Well done... good luck!

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

48. How wonderful!!!

Congratulations

[niyad]

49. that is such wonderful news. may this be only the beginning of many, many good things.

[NikolaC]

50. Congratulations!

[SylviaD]

51. Congratulations!!!!

Wow, this brought tears to my eyes.

You have been through a lot - now enjoy yourself a bit. You deserve it.

*HUG*

[Boomerproud]

52. I've been in the same situation as you and I couldn't be happier for you.

What a weight lifted off your shoulders. Yes, you can start living again!

[Moostache]

53. Congratulations! May times be pointed upward for you now and for a long time to come!

I hope that you get a chance to enjoy the new beginning.

[LongTomH]

54. Congrats and Best Luck!

[trueblue2007]

55. congratulations.

[Ligyron]

56. That's great news!

Wishing you a world of success in your new adventure...

[bluescribbler]

57. Great news!!

I've been there, but not for nearly as long as you have. I'm currently working a temp-to-hire position, earning $5.50/hr less than I earned in 2008 and the company's first offer to hire me direct was $3.00/hr less than I'm earning now.

Good for you, and best of luck going forward.

[democrank]

58. What wonderful news!

Best of luck to you.

[Eleanors38]

59. Great news, derby. May romance and adventure come your way. E38.

[C Moon]

60. Awesome! Congrats!

[ErikJ]

62. I decided to be my own boss in my 20's.

I can work as hard or little as I want and make as much or little as I want. To hell with depending on "the man"for survival. No begging for a job and no pain of layoffs.
But a warning. Some self-employed make millions and some make hardly anything. 90% go out of biz within 5 yrs.

[StoneCarver]

63. Derby378

Glad to hear it! I wish you the best of luck! May you live long and prosper.
Stonecarver

[Skittles]

64. happy for you, derby378

go ahead and do something very nice for yourself - you deserve it

[AikidoSoul]

65. Here's wishing your better luck continues

and that you life is filled with love, good health, and security.

[derby378]

70. Thank you, everyone

I am truly touched by your kindness and well-wishes.

[Liberal_in_LA]

71. congrats

[a kennedy]

72. So happy for you.....and loved this part, "

I am broke, but not broken. Good luck getting back to the rat race.

[steve2470]

75. yay awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[hamsterjill]

76. Here's wishing you (very) well!

With your attitude ("I am broke but not broken&quot , you're going to be an asset to any company. I sincerely wish you the best, and admire your tenacity.

You're not only going to make a comeback, you're going to make it great! The very best of luck!

[raccoon]

77. Best to you! Good on you not giving up. nt