Does anyone else out there live week to week like I do?

[KatyaR]

32. You are not alone.

I haven't had a promotion or a decent raise in years. I do fund development work that an accountant should be doing (in the last year I've handled over $5 million in donations) as well as high-level administrative work but only get paid half as much. I'm told that I'm really smart and talented, but there's never any money for me to have a raise, and no overtime or bonuses either. Last year I had to buy a car after my old clunker bit the dust. Car payments and insurance now eat up what little money I had for things like food and clothing. I haven't had a haircut in almost two years, and no new clothes or shoes in almost three. Try finding another job when you're in your mid-50s and look like that.

My employer's moving the HR services to a PEO, I'm sure our insurance costs are going to go up, I don't know how I can afford to pay any more than I am now.

Now my crappy apartment complex is for sale and we're afraid that it's gonna get turned back to the bank and we'll all be out on the streets. If that happens or even if they just raise the rent, I'm done.

Right now I have $80 to my name, and I owe almost $50 to the state for a car tag. No fallback, no savings, and no family to help. I haven't had a vacation since the 80s, hell, I can't even drive across town to see a friend or go to the movies. I go to work, the market, a couple of errands, and that's it. I can't afford a full tank of gas. I haven't been to the movies (and there's a theatre 2 blocks away) in probably four years?

For people who say "you should always save," I say shut the hell up and stay out of my face. The last time I had a job that gave promotions and decent, LIVABLE raises was back in the 80s. Try living on what you made 30 years ago when everything has doubled or tripled in price or more and see how well you do.

And there's no light at the end of the tunnel anymore. Bain Capital bought it and sold it off for a few bucks.