Ronni
The motormouth ;)
- Location
- Nashville TN
I'm 67. I'm a personal organizer and assistant for a variety of folks in the wealthy part of my town. It's repeat business because I create systems and then keep them up, whether it's closet/kitchen organization, computer files (photos, videos etc.,) seasonal things like spreadsheets for master contact lists and mailing of xmas cards etc., and a variety of other kinds of organization.
I haven't worked since Mid March, when Tennessee issued its first Safer At Home Executive Order. I'm high risk because of my age, but fit and healthy with no medical conditions and on zero medications. Per the 4 Stage Plan for Tennessee, it's recommended that I continue to shelter at home till the end of Phase 4. I won't be able to do that.
Some of you know my history. I was married for a very long time to a controlling, domineering, abusive man. Part of that abuse was financial. I'm still working to dig out from under a mountain of debt that he created, opening credit cards in my name, hiding an enormous array of financial irregularities, and effectively crippling my ability to retire any time soon. I have little social security because of my own ignorance and naiveté, and my trust that he was taking care of all the financial details, paying the IRS, sending in the appropriate forms etc. Before you chastise me (I've done MORE than enough of that myself thank you!!) remember that I'm not from this country, so the SS procedures, tax stuff, the appropriate protocols were completely foreign to me so I was more than happy for my ex to take care of all that for us.
The upshot is that when I retire I won't have much to live on, so it's imperative that I pay off all my debt before I shut down. Before Ron came along, my plan which I'd worked out with my kids was that I'd work till everything was paid off and then live with my daughter and her family, or my oldest son and his family, both of whom spent time humorously arguing over who gets to keep me! But then along came Ron We plan to get married and he has no debt other than necessary work debt with more than enough in his work accounts to bring those balances to zero if it became necessary. He has enough social security for us both to live on if he retires, not luxuriously but simply and without worry.
So. I need to return to work in some capacity. Obviously it's a concern, not just for myself, but for my clients too, some of whom are older and retired and so they're high risk like me. I'm going to be contacting everyone over the next few days, to ascertain where they are with the virus, how comfortable they are having me back, how comfortable *I* am returning to some of these environments. I have a couple clients who are younger, have kids at home, and so there are lot more moving parts to consider in terms of potential contagion, people in and out of the house, the adults returning to work etc.
My leaning is to pare down my client list. Not return to work full steam. Be mindful about my contamination risk. The upside of that is I don't have to work as hard, more time at home, less chance of risk. The downside is less income, so longer runway to become debt free. And if I should become ill (not covid-ill) and can no longer work, I hate the idea of debt hanging over my head, or Ron and my head if we're married.
I'm uncertain, and just feel kind of frozen about my next step. I need to contact clients but I don't know what to tell them. I guess I'm just throwing all this out there to get some input from you all.
Advice, what you'd do in my shoes, questions...whatever.
I haven't worked since Mid March, when Tennessee issued its first Safer At Home Executive Order. I'm high risk because of my age, but fit and healthy with no medical conditions and on zero medications. Per the 4 Stage Plan for Tennessee, it's recommended that I continue to shelter at home till the end of Phase 4. I won't be able to do that.
Some of you know my history. I was married for a very long time to a controlling, domineering, abusive man. Part of that abuse was financial. I'm still working to dig out from under a mountain of debt that he created, opening credit cards in my name, hiding an enormous array of financial irregularities, and effectively crippling my ability to retire any time soon. I have little social security because of my own ignorance and naiveté, and my trust that he was taking care of all the financial details, paying the IRS, sending in the appropriate forms etc. Before you chastise me (I've done MORE than enough of that myself thank you!!) remember that I'm not from this country, so the SS procedures, tax stuff, the appropriate protocols were completely foreign to me so I was more than happy for my ex to take care of all that for us.
The upshot is that when I retire I won't have much to live on, so it's imperative that I pay off all my debt before I shut down. Before Ron came along, my plan which I'd worked out with my kids was that I'd work till everything was paid off and then live with my daughter and her family, or my oldest son and his family, both of whom spent time humorously arguing over who gets to keep me! But then along came Ron We plan to get married and he has no debt other than necessary work debt with more than enough in his work accounts to bring those balances to zero if it became necessary. He has enough social security for us both to live on if he retires, not luxuriously but simply and without worry.
So. I need to return to work in some capacity. Obviously it's a concern, not just for myself, but for my clients too, some of whom are older and retired and so they're high risk like me. I'm going to be contacting everyone over the next few days, to ascertain where they are with the virus, how comfortable they are having me back, how comfortable *I* am returning to some of these environments. I have a couple clients who are younger, have kids at home, and so there are lot more moving parts to consider in terms of potential contagion, people in and out of the house, the adults returning to work etc.
My leaning is to pare down my client list. Not return to work full steam. Be mindful about my contamination risk. The upside of that is I don't have to work as hard, more time at home, less chance of risk. The downside is less income, so longer runway to become debt free. And if I should become ill (not covid-ill) and can no longer work, I hate the idea of debt hanging over my head, or Ron and my head if we're married.
I'm uncertain, and just feel kind of frozen about my next step. I need to contact clients but I don't know what to tell them. I guess I'm just throwing all this out there to get some input from you all.
Advice, what you'd do in my shoes, questions...whatever.