In my last post, I shared the news about my new job. Well, here’s the update: it was short-lived.
I worked just two days as a mail sorter before the agency contacted me on Sunday evening to tell me there was no more work available.
I can’t say I’m completely surprised. Agency work is often temporary anyway. Work is never guaranteed and I knew being laid off was a possibility when I accepted the job.
Still, I was hoping this would be the turning point I’d been waiting for. I actually liked this job, and it felt like something I could stick with.
However, for now, I’m back at square one.
What This Means for My Finances
When I started the job, I was thinking about how much faster I could reach my financial goals. Building my emergency fund, paying off my debts and eventually moving in with my girlfriend all seemed within arm’s reach.
Instead, I’m back to relying on Universal Credit, keeping a tight budget, and sticking to my slow-and-steady approach.
I’ve always said I’d be transparent about my wins and my setbacks. This one definitely counts as a setback.
Why I’m Not Totally Shocked
This is the harsh reality of agency work. You work only when they need you, so there’s no guarantee of hours or stability.
Like I said, I knew what I was getting into, so I didn’t make any drastic changes to my budget. All I did was think about how I’d use the extra income, if the job had lasted.
Unfortunately, this time I didn’t get enough change to make it a reality.
The Silver Lining
Losing this job wasn’t ideal, but it’s not the end of the world either.
Firstly, my budget is still sustainable on Universal Credit, so as long as I stick to my monthly budget, I’ll be okay.
Also, I realised that I could have mentally coped in this job long-term, so that’s a really good sign.
In the past, I’ve struggled to hold down jobs because of the rigid routines, high pressure, and sensory overload from busy workplaces. Due to my autism, noisy or crowded environments eventually get too overwhelming for me.
With this job, none of that was an issue. It felt like something I would have been able to manage long-term, had it worked out.
Moving Forward
For now, I’m back to my old routine. I’m back to tracking my spending, sticking to my strict budget, and looking for more work.
From now on, I won’t write any more “new job” posts. Instead, I’ll briefly mention any income changes in that month’s net worth report. That way, I can focus fully on my personal finance journey, rather than constant job updates.
This wasn’t the momentum boost that I’d hoped for, but I’ve been here before. Progress doesn’t always travel in a straight line, sometimes you take one step forward and get knocked two steps back.
As long as I keep moving in the right direction, these setbacks won’t matter too much.