Average Jane Needs A Break

This has been one of those weeks that makes me wish I could ditch the role of responsible adult and go back to the blissful ignorance of childhood. 

It all started when I realized that my bills for this part of the month were playing "beat the clock" with my payday (today), and the bills were winning.  I had already used up all my overdraft protection before I got the notice that my car payment was being debited.  I had to race to the credit union and deposit my lunch money just to keep afloat.

It’s all well and good that I’m being paid today, but since I’m already $500 in the hole and the bills are still coming in, I don’t think the money’s going to go very far.  As a special bonus, I also need to pay my annual car licensing and registration in July, as well as get a new driver’s license.  Sigh.

I found out this week that I’ll be needing some minor surgery.  I put it off until August because July is just too activity-packed, but that just gives me more time to worry about it.  The helpful, illustrated pamphlets from the doctor’s office that were supposed to make me well-informed and ease my mind ended up freaking me out instead.  See "blissful ignorance" above.

My last medical experience taught me that I’ll need to call my insurance company in advance and make extra sure everything is covered (as much as possible).  I’m still expecting plenty of out-of-pocket expenses.  Well, at least I have insurance.  Things could always be worse.

The last straw came yesterday when I got a notice from the IRS that there was a discrepancy on my 2004 taxes and I need to pay them an additional $1,200+.  My first reaction:  Ha ha!  Get in line, IRS!  At this point, they might as well be asking for $1.2 million dollars, seeing as my bills and debts consistently outstrip my income.

The good news is that I think I know what the problem is with the taxes.  For the company in question, I started out as an independent contractor and went to full-time employee status mid-year.  The IRS is saying I only reported about half the income that the company reported, and that’s probably because the other half shows up as 1099 income, which isn’t itemized on the return.  At least I hope so.  I’m turning the whole thing over to my accountant the minute she gets in today.

I have a four-day weekend starting tomorrow and I plan to just shut off the portion of my brain that deals with all of this other crap until work starts back up on Wednesday.  I’m going to play with my niece and nephew, write songs, sing, goof around in the kitchen, read, watch TV, lie on a blanket and watch fireworks, and basically party like it’s 1983.  (Except that it’ll be legal for me to drink and I won’t be such a fashion "don’t.")

Now, to make it through one more workday…