Three weddings and counting and I have another lesson in life why being unemployed, or formerly unemployed, ruins your social life. You see I was invited to five, that’s right, five weddings this year. That number is not a lie. Starting in August and running through December; I’ve made three and sadly that’s where it ends.
One would think that wedding season is an unemployed person’s field day — friends, free food, booze and a built-in-dance party. Score! Plus, no one talks about jobs at weddings or the economy. It’s a rule. It’s all about remember whens and babies. Honest. If you ever do get asked about jobs just say “I can’t wait until they start a family.” Presto! Oos and awws — it works every time. Babies. You are so in the clear. But wait, there is the whole gift thing, and if it’s a wedding not in the city you live in then you have the flight, hotel and accommodation costs. Blasted! Unemployment foils your life again! No one said losing your job also meant that you’d also lose the chance to party at your friends wedding.
So what do you do? If I was better at life I could have done the following to ensure my dance party ticket at the last two weddings of the year:
- Saved my extra money from EDD: Ha. EDD totally could have financed my wedding habit if I hadn’t needed to pay bills. Maybe if I called my credit card company and explained that it was my best friend from when I lived in Austin and I totally had to be there. Sadly, I failed at life earlier on and because of credit card debt, my former EDD checks went to rent and that debt. Even working during the semi-unemployed status my money went to rent and debt. I’m taking steps now but if you are better at life than me then start saving now. I have another wedding in April of 2010. If I’m smart I can save now. Remind of me of this in six-months.
- Planned ahead: I was so neurotic about the future that I didn’t think far enough ahead when tickets were cheaper. Fail.
- Cut your friends off: Send a memo to your friends requesting they change the day of their wedding. Tell them 2009 is unlucky for fertility or something. Seriously, I can’t be the only one who thinks 2009 has been the year of the suck. If all else fails, “lose” your phonebook in a freak accident. Oops.
Honestly kids, from the increased debt I took on when I was unemployed to my inability to buy peanut butter anymore (not because I don’t like it, but because I can eat a jar in a week and that’s just not healthy), my former unemployed life wreaked havoc on my finances and my iron levels. So not only am I still in debt (all though working now), but sadly it looks like my dance card ticket has been revoked to my last two weddings of the season. My free meals and booze are only going to come from my sparkling personality and charm. Looks like I’m at a negative again. Oh well, there’s always wedding season 2010.
