Finances, Work 
12 Comments Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Well, I start a full-time job as a cashier at a gas station on Tuesday. It’s five minutes from home on foot.
Sounds great, right?
Let’s just say that minimum wage in BC, an absurd eight dollars an hour, only pays the bills. And I have to start at 5:30AM for at least one training session. I tend to go to bed at 3AM when I’m following my circadian clock, so I expect to be rather groggy on Tuesday. There’s no way I’ll be able to get myself on an 9PM bedtime routine by tomorrow night!
I’m thrilled that I’ll have money coming in this month, but I’m still looking for something that will pay a living wage. I cannot believe that there are people in BC who make only eight dollars an hour. I can’t remember the last time I only made eight dollars an hour. But beggars can’t be choosers and considering the employment situation in Campbell River, I know I’m very lucky. At least, my fixed expenses are covered. Now, to find the extra income stream to cover renos and all that gas I’ll need to make it back to Dawson in the spring.
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Well 8 bucks an hour is not much, but it is better than o per hour, so look on the positive side kinda thinking. Congrats on the job, I was going to suggest maybe a dishwashing job but i read your post on the new appliance, so I figured I better not lol. Thats a neat little machine.
Regarding employment, it is bad here in Ontario, I know so many guys that are off work or very underemployed. This recession has hit alot of people. But lucky you, your travelling and living a cheaper style of life, maybe this was a great time to do what your doing????????
Going to spend some time reading your blog tonite as I have neglected to drop by lately, too busy.
take care
Coal, as I said, I’m glad to be meeting expenses, but I think that if I’m working full-time hours at a job, I should be making more than just enough to cover expenses!
LOL at the idea of me in a dishwasher position.
The lifestyle’s turning out to not be that much cheaper for me, not with what I’m spending on gas going north and back. I think things might change slowly now that I have a solid summer contract lined up.
I’m enjoying your blog, especially how WARM it makes me feel.
Perhaps you will get raises. I worked at a convenience store (Valero/Diamond Shamrock) that raised us 25 cents at 3 months, 6 months and a year. I liked the people that regularly came in and made some new friends there.
Service jobs will never pay very well and in my experience are the hardest of all
I hope you can find a cushy office job soon, or perhaps get some freelance business out there. Maybe brainstorm all the possible things you can do and start advertising your services(?)
The job situation on the island is my one concern.
Tibbar, I was told that I would get $10/h after 90 days, which is half of my winter!
1001 Petals, our society has a really twisted view of who deserves the big bucks.
I’ve been advertising my services and have applied for real jobs for which there won’t be decisions made until the next couple of weeks, so I’m still keeping hope! 
Congrats on the job Rae (I think). At least you will not be burning up your wages on gas to get to work. Something better will come along.
Thanks, Croft. I’m not THAT ungrateful.
I’ll be working for that gas station for which you gave me the coupons, if you know the one I mean (thanks again for the coupons, btw!). I would never have taken a job at that salary if I had to drive there!
Rae,
Tu n’es pas chanceuse, mais comme tu es débrouillarde et que tu vas continuer
à chercher je suis certaine que tu vas trouver autre chose. Bonne chance
Grand-maman
Votre grand-mère est correct. Or,
Su abuela es la correcta
Gotta love Google Translator…. Probably not even close….
What part is she right about, that I’m not lucky and/or that I’ll find something else if I keep looking?
No one could ever think you are not lucky! You are semi-retired at a very young age and have the freedom of the open road. You are traveling and picking up friends and memories as you go. Something better will come along!
I have a hard time seeing myself as semi-retired, but I guess I am! I’m still setting up my new full-timing life, but it looks like I’ll only be working about nine months of the year, when I take into account that I don’t get days off in Dawson. Hmm…
Some say that I’m lucky, but I think it’s more a matter of choices. I gave up financial freedom for freedom of a different sort. There are days that it’s a hard price to pay, but then I remember that my home has wheels and I remember why I’m doing this.