Sarah Winfrey

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Member for: 2 years 30 weeks

A financial year in review, or, Who is this Sarah-person anyway, and why should I listen to her?

A year ago, I was poor. It was my last semester of graduate school. I had quit my well-paying job in the fall so that I could take more classes and graduate. I was a TA, but that didn't pay so well, and I chose to go to England with my family over Christmas, even though it meant spending almost everything I had in savings. I chose to go--my brother was studying there--but I knew that, when I came back, I would be so poor that I might not be able to pay my bills through graduation.

Last spring, I learned more about truly living cheaply than (honestly) I ever wanted to. I didn't spend anything that didn't have to be spent. I didn't buy clothes, or see movies, or get any of the little things that I see when I'm shopping for other things and pick up "just 'cause." I expected to be miserable, but I wasn't. In fact, I felt free. I didn't have to make decisions about which items to buy and which ones to leave at the store, because I knew I couldn't buy any of them. I still found myself having fun, because good conversation and hours of laughter with my friends don't cost anything. I learned what is really and truly necessary in life, because that was all I could afford. Still, I was glad when those days were over.

During my last month of school, I transitioned into the job I work now. It's a great job in a fabulous department working for an institution I believe in, and there aren't a lot of places I'd rather be working right now. The pay is competitive for what I'm doing, and the benefits are outstanding. I'm busy and happy at work.

However, I recently realized that, if there ever was a time for me to follow my dreams, that time is now. I've always wanted to do two things: write, and help people. Right now, from the place of financial security that my current job offers, I'm exploring those options. I'm learning what it will take to make doing what I love financially viable. I know what I want, and I'm figuring out how to go after it.

Over the next year, I plan to begin the transition to only doing what I love. I'm not sure what that means yet, as I don't think I have enough solid facts to set specific goals. But I'm looking into it, and thinking about it, and I'm happier and more excited about my life than I've been in a long time.

It's this journey that forms what I write in my contributions to this blog. I'm learning, and writing, and sharing, and I couldn't be happier about it all. Please, let me know if you have any specific questions for me, or any comments about my journey. I look forward to walking it with you!