Year In Review - Finance!

Well this isn't a subject I talk about too often; I don't think anyone should really discuss their accounts in public. Finance is something I have to cover as a blogger however, because like everyone else, it is the biggest part of my life. Without money, none of us would be able to live the lives we do; learning to manage an income, wasn't my strongest attribute, but it is an important undertaking, I have had to get to grips with this year.

Jamie left Spain at the beginning of 2017, leaving me in a very difficult position. At the time I wasn't working and relied heavily on the little amount of money, he paid for board and lodging to survive, without it, I was effectively penniless. With Darrell not due back from Australia until March 2018, I would have to survive for two months with very little. I had about one hundred euro to my name, all I was left with. Jamie hadn't been paying his rent for a while due to circumstances beyond his control, so I had to find weird, wonderful  and inventive ways to survive. Sure enough I managed to get by, God knows how, but it did teach me a great many lessons about life and just how financially vulnerable we all our. Any slight deviation, in yours or my situation, could result in anyone of us losing everything; believe me I came close. If it wasn't for the help and encouragement of others, I wouldn't be here to tell this tale today.

When you have little or nothing left, financially and otherwise, you really do change your whole outlook on life. I remember sitting in my cold house, in the middle of January last year, no lights on, because I couldn't afford too, watching television. The show was discussing how low benefits were in the UK, how difficult it was for people to survive and how little the Government were doing to help, those in greatest need. I don't mind telling you, I got angry; I had no access to money, nothing, zilch and would have happily survived on the amount of benefits these people were complaining about; 'SWAP WITH ME,' I shouted at the TV. I couldn't believe how selfish and greedy they were, when there were others far worse off than them. There were times I didn't eat or leave my bed, because it was so cold, the house was so damp and I had become depressed and apathetic, but I got through it. My two cats, Lily and Precious were the tonic that got me over the worst, without them I would have given up. Having to look after these two, was my saving grace.

Things have changed a lot since those dark times. Darrell has of course returned from Australia, travelling to work in the UK for a short while, to get some income, keeping us going while we were waiting to work in Spain. By the skin of our teeth, we scraped through. Darrell is now working at the airport and I am working at LoungeD. We do finally have enough money to survive on, being able to sit back a little  and enjoy life, rather than constantly worry about the lack of financial security. Don't get me wrong, we could be a lot better off than we are, but getting employment in Spain, isn't an easy undertaking, especially during the winter months. The secret is to work hard in the summer, as I did and put as much away as possible for the difficult times. I have at least managed to do that and we will get by this winter.

We have a lot of catching up to do, to build up our finances for the coming year, after such a roller coaster ride at the beginning of 2017, but with hard work and perseverance we can manage to improve our life dramatically. I am still earning money from writing and blogging, as well as my bar job and of course Darrell is lucky enough to have a full time position, in a job he loves; so things could be a lot worse. I knew life in Spain wouldn't be easy, and have been proven right but I am still here, where others have failed, returning to Britain with their tail between their legs. Today I am content and happy, determined to finally make a life that will allow us both to fulfill our dreams!

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