Guess What!!!!

After fourteen months of being an hourly contractor, I am officially a full-time regular employee at my job!!

I found out just before Christmas, but it took until this week to get all the details ironed out.

I have a very respectable title, and I will be earning a real, very respectable salary, for the first time in a year and a half! Relative to what I've been making, I will have SO MUCH MONEY!

I am downright giddy thinking about all the possibilities:
--I don't have to put off getting a haircut
--I'll finally be able to really contribute to my Roth IRA and savings account/down payment fund
--I can go out to eat with people more often, and not only order the absolute minimum
--I could buy a new pair of gym shoes for the first time in at least three years
--I'll be able to afford that Europe trip we've been talking about, as well as some other, smaller jaunts
--I might start saving for a camera upgrade (I'd love to go full frame!)

Mostly, I can just relax about money. I've been pretty good about denying myself things (though not as stringent as I could have been, I'm sure) and just thinking poor in general. But now I will have so much more money than I need. I can't believe it.

What a weight off my shoulders!