Frugal living

On my last post, I explained I was unemployed ;  been working in a call center for a big company
Choosing to quit a job that made me miserable, I had to make some changes in 2 steps.
 
First step for me was to find a way to reduce my expenses, funnily enough without the need of going to work - (hence the joke - you're going to work to buy a car to be able to go to work).

Anyway, I already made substantial saving, because now I cook and eat at home, and have no need to go elsewhere so I'm also saving a lot of time each day.
 
My wife is more relaxed, and I can take care of my kid and share domestic chores.

Check that website with loads of good tips for a Frugal living The Simple Dollar

 
In a second step I had to find a way to get busy - and since I've had to struggle before to find time for my many projects - I'm gratefully lucky now to get to work on them (I'm writing small stories, learning how to paint, learning a new language, and later my goal is to make comics).

So now instead of my old habits of going to a work I hate and be miserable, I'm working on my own projects and I'm happy.

Fool me once

On my last post I explained I was unemployed because I quit my previous job in a big corporation, where the work was getting worse and worse.

Now that all this is behind me, I made resolution - not to work for a big company ever again.

for me it was the second time, and a similar experience, first month you receive training, the next year you struggle to find your own pace and learn, the second year you start to get comfortable with the job and usually get promoted, the third year you start to see how the management is squeezing you, and the fourth year you can't take it anymore - you just need a break.

I forgot to mention I worked in call center. Quite possibly the most messed up job environment. Everything you do is monitored, and you're just a replaceable asset.

So my little tip for you reader : Don't ever stay more than 2 years in a call center - please just don't.

The financial Crisis held as an excuse

On my last post I explained I was recently unemployed ; I forgot to mention that I had to quit.

Probably not a smart thing to do, giving his resignation letter in the middle of a worldwide financial crisis - but trust me, I didn't had any other option, basically to summarize the feeling, I couldn't stand to work there anymore.

Nowadays, the financial crisis is taken as an excuse for unacceptable management decisions (salary freeze, and finding way to squeeze more of each employee - that should stay grateful because the company is keeping them). 

Employees are kept in the fear of being laid off, and would accept unpaid overtime, working on Saturday, extra work, extra responsibilities etc ... and with the only hope that someday the situation will get better, and they may finally get the recognition they deserve.


Accidentally I've stumbled upon this post on slashdot, which basically is describing the same situation.

Getting Paid Fairly When Job Responsibilities Spiral?

I will end this post by quoting Dilbert : 

A team leader is being interviewed by the team manager.
The team manager asks, "How do you reward your best performing employees?"
The team leader replies, "We increase their workload until their performance becomes average."

That's exactly what happened to me, I had to laugh ... but I cried a little bit inside too.

Unemployed

I recently became unemployed, and it's an interesting experience. Being your own boss for a while is something I believe everyone should try. The freedom that comes with it feels really good.

However, there is the issue of money, which will eventually become a concern. But for now, I'm enjoying the journey because that's exactly what it is – a ride, just like Bill Hicks famously said.

This morning, a memory came back to me right before my interview with my last employer. In retrospect, I should have paid more attention to that little incident. While waiting for the bus, I unknowingly stood underneath a plastic barrier that was opening. You know those barriers that block off parking spaces for taxis. It wasn't heavy or particularly dangerous, but when it came down, I saw stars dancing.

Speaking of my last employer, let me tell you something about corporations, especially those big companies. They often promote big marketing messages like "Create, Protect, and Care," usually accompanied by images of happy, smiling people with perfectly white teeth. But deep down, these corporations can be a rotten hell of exploitation and backstabbing. Just look at recent economic events – banks declaring bankruptcy and causing global turmoil, oil companies polluting the oceans. It wouldn't surprise me if we soon discover that major fast-food chains are using dog poop in their hamburgers or recycling oil from the ocean in their sodas. Who knows? Clever engineers looking to save a few bucks might find a way.

From time to time, I think about what Matt Damon said in "Good Will Hunting." (Watch this.)

Lately, I've been watching South Park in the middle of the afternoon (as I mentioned, being unemployed can have its perks). You shouldn't underestimate these cartoons; some of them are pretty good. (Watch this.)

Hopefully, writing this blog will help me maintain my sanity.