The broke creative

Finances, Dream Interiors/Exteriors, Shogun…

Apr 21, 2024

I was an art teacher from 2018 - 2022. One year in Dallas and three years in a small town in Louisiana. Towards the end of the 2022 school year I got married and my husband and I relocated for his job (which ended up being a WFH job anyways). They originally wanted us to relocate to Southern California and I was like “HELL YEAH” but they weren’t going to compensate his pay for the cost of living so I was like “HELL NO” hahaha because we would’ve been so broke!! Still dreamin’ though. Spare me the California controversy.

Luckily, we relocated to Dallas! When I say luckily it’s because I was born in Dallas and have most of my close family here. As I became a young adult in Louisiana my interests did not align too much with the environment. Unless you want to be a nurse, work in a plant refinery, be a teacher, enjoy fishing and hunting, having kids straight out of college, and drinking a lot of beer and gambling.. then it’s a great place (I’m slightly exaggerating)! But I really didn’t align with most of it getting older. Regardless great people though. Some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet! I couldn’t ask for a better community or memories growing up over there!

To paint the picture, financially, I was getting paid probably around $44,000 as a high school teacher? I can’t remember but I remember it was something around that. My rent for a safe, cute, but outdated, one bedroom apartment, in Louisiana, was like $900 (lol). Now our rent in Dallas is around $1,600 after fees for an updated apartment but in kind of a sketch area. One major pro is a dog park is literally next door, in walking distance, for our Giant Schnauzer. SO, that being said, once I quit teaching and tried being a freelance creative, it was a struggle financially, needless to say! Luckily, I have a partner who also works full time but his job mainly covers the big bills like rent, electricity, car insurance…

So after a little over a year of pursuing freelance, it just comes down to the reality of the situation. I’m almost 28. I want a house. I want a house that meets my expectations (which aren’t super low lol sue me! I like nice things). I want a house before I have a kid. I want to be pregnant at or by 30. I really just don’t want to go back to teaching at this point in my life because I just never took care of myself well because I would be EXHAUSTED and so anxious all day. I did love a ton of aspects about teaching though! It’s nice to know I can always go back if I want.

So, freelance isn’t cutting it and I honestly just don’t think I have the personality to be that assertive to put myself out there to a larger audience, with nothing holding my accountable except for myself. That could definitely be seen as an excuse, and I guess it is, but if running a small business was easy a lot more people would be doing it. I could do it if I could be leisurely about it! I guess it’ll just always be a little side gig and that’s okay. So then I was on the search for a higher paying job… and I found one!

Now I am manager of a Pilates studio that is part of a major corporation/franchise! I have always worked in customer service but managing and the corporate world has been a culture shock. Having to meet deadlines, numbers, meetings… it’s not a dream but it’s better than teaching. I come home and still have enough energy for the day, probably because I didn’t have to babysit 16 year olds and be on edge all day making sure they behave lol (they usually did but I was still stressed). The hours are flexible and the pay is better + commission, but as a manager you’re always *kind of* working which gives me anxiety because I feel like I can’t ever truly clock out. Regardless, I am extremely thankful because I know learning these new skills will help me grow as a person and to see where this new door will lead to other doors! And that we are finally putting a decent amount of money aside in savings for a house!

Some interiors/exteriors I’ve been loving! Love a good wooden, bright home, with good character and design. Makes me so excited to have a home one day!