Opinion:

I am neither doing good nor bad.

Not so long ago, accepted a promotion with a pay raise, but they cut my hours, so ultimately I am bringing home the same. In that regard, I am frustrated. I am a minimalist (I always have been), so my needs have generally not been extensive. But it still feels like a "gut punch" to be working harder, being "technically" paid more, but bringing home less or the same.

I am arguably being considered for another promotion, but I am unsure if I will want it. They've been talking about a salary position, but the number of hours and workload, in many ways it will seem like I am making less, even though technically, I'll be paid more. I've done the math on the hours vs pay ratio, and I don't think I'd be happy with the newly founded "status quo" I could be facing.

That said, because I am a minimalist and because I was not born with a silver spoon, a dollar goes a lot longer for me than it does for some people. In that sense, I am financially "smarter" (for a lack of a better word).

But I digress. I am neither doing good nor bad. Bills are paid, the house has food, and nothing at the moment of concern, but I don't feel spectacular either.