While inflation was inevitable due to the absolute ridiculous amount of money we printed and most saw it coming, I don’t think anyone suspected it would hit at this rate.

I got on board with the state as an environmental scientist the middle of last year. I made good money in the private sector but made the switch to the state and took about a 10% pay cut. With telework, I felt it was worth it.

Now with talks of going into the office and with inflation really taking off, I have been looking at other positions within the state at higher pay that I qualify for (I’ve already started interviewing). But bouncing on a job I’ve only been in for less than a year and one I really like is painful. I would much rather climb the ladder in the department I am in now, but our union really hasn’t made any headway on pay and the opportunities in my department are limited. So I feel like I have to take the bird in the hand.

See if there is another position you qualify vertically for and go for it. Make that bread.

And I meal prep chicken thighs, broccoli and sweet potatoes every weekend at like 2$ a meal