A Twist and Turn of Events

This long update and twist of events will probably not require an asking of needing prayer, so that is my note on that.

What a whirl week it has been. My birthday was among dear friends and pretty low-key. Perfect. I think I am coming to this turning point where mellow is perfect for me. Which is why I like overcast weather and just sitting around reading a good book when time allows or going to the beach or walking.

Okay, to the update: Tuesday I met with the DM for Abercrombie. It seemed to go okay. She was a hard person to read. She let me know the position for MIT would not be open until November, which is fine, and that she had a couple other pending interviews. Okay, nothing more I can do than have good meetings and interviews, and let everything not in my control take the drivers seat. Tuesday night I came home to mail from Coffee Bean... huh?! Yeah, my thought exactly. It was my full background check report they did for my promotion to Shift Supervisor. It didn't clear!! I have never been arrested or charged with anything, but they got me by my credit. The next day I was on the phone with our HR and at this point both my store manager and district manager were meeting with me to discuss what to do next. Here I have been in this role for over a month officially and this is happening. So, I get home and get on the phone with the company who ran my background check and there is nothing they can do, so I let me HR rep know I need the Director of HR to re-review everything. But this is the moment that the ostrich has decided to pull her head out of the sand and say "I can't pretend this will go away; I can't wait for things to drop off; Bankruptcy for 3,500 worth of delinquent debt is not an option!" I called Equifax (they are one of the Credit report bureaus and asked them for every dumber for every collector and charged off account, and began calling them and finding out my options to fix this. I know where I stand and it is going to be tough, but I have to do this, and now.

I need to cut my expenses in half pretty much when it comes to rent, utilities, gas, and cut out alot of my presumed "desposabile income". I have never had a judgement or not paid rent, and I am in great standings with my current responsibilites with my insurance, phone, rent.... but I dropped the gym (unneccessary), and will be moving back. Less gas, cheaper insurance, and I can find cheaper rent. While a couple weeks back it was looking very promising to take over the spot and lease of a friend who is moving, that is looking less and less promising, and I need to get everything into motion. My district manager is helping me in fight the results of my background check and regardless of that outcome, is helping me in a transfer request back to my old store in Pismo Beach. I have emailed a couple of families who have rooms for rent, and will be meeting for sure one of them while I am home in a couple weeks. Also, a friend has a room in SLO that I emailed her about because two weeks ago she asked me to come be her roommate and I asked her if her offer still stands if we could work something out the first few months while I clean all this up. I will be pulling a second job, and going nowhere and doing nothing pretty much that costs money. Besides church, I plan to work. Pick up some freelancing event jobs, and even babysitting if need be. I have a peace on handling it in this way and if the two jobs thing happens and I have figured out that I can pay things off in 5 or 6 months and have CLEAN and great credit just in time to start paying back student loans.

I am thinking... how many jobs have I applied for... especially in my degree field have I probably not gotten nor been considered for because of a background check. While, under the privacy laws the reasons they don't clear are held from the inquiring party, that makes it look even worse, and that is the first impression I am giving these agencies and organizations. So, I am done avoiding, and assuming it will magically go away. I am 24 and too young for this. I was 18 and stupid and yes the last 3 years I have made great finanical decisions, but it is the decisions of 3 years beforehand that void the latter part. At this time, I am weighing all my housing options that God presents, applying for jobs, and praying. This is not the way I wanted to return home, but you know... it is happening. Yes it is cheaper to live back on the central coast and my gas will go down (on how much I commute even), I have a better support system in the event something happens to me, my insurance goes down, and all my housing options cut down housing utilities and rent by 200.00 at least. Now while, the originally housing option is still there, it is not as strong as it seemed a couple weeks ago. So, I can't let that hold me back nor depend on it to work out when I can't afford (ha, a pun) to wait!

So, by the end of next week I should know about my transfer. What a perfect time to pick up a second job... when the holidays are approaching and seasonal work is there. I don't care if it is being a hostess, or working retail, or heck... being a night auditor for a hotel. I know I need to do this, and I have a peace about it. 6 months is nothing compared to honoring God in my finances and whatnot. I plan to take financial peace at church once I return home, but the next session is not until Spring, but by then hopefully most of this will be taken care of. I really just need to better give my finances to God, and let Him worry. He always provides for my needs. I just need to let Him give me discipline and determination to take care of business. I have compared expenses and factored in a second job here and in SLO, and by a good amount with needing to pay things off, I would be able to better do that up north.

So that's what's going. It is alot to take in, but I am trying to make the best of it all. The enemy could have the advantage of knocking me down, but you know what... NO.

On another note, I found out Tuesday I need a root canal like.... now. I have an infection, that could be one of the causes of the headaches I had been getting. So, that will be happening, following with getting a crown in a couple months.

So I think the prayer needs are obvious. I thank you for those who have been encouraging me in this and those who already knew the situation I do thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Means alot to me.

All the Best,
Caitlyn