I think you're all correct; the phrase "paycheck-to-paycheck" is usually used for much more extreme situations than what I was thinking when I first responded to the question. Mea culpa.

I think people do use it in that manner though, so I am not sure you are wrong even though I have a different interpretation.

What Sophia said. That's why I wondered if different people had different definitions of it.

I think people do use it in that manner though, so I am not sure you are wrong even though I have a different interpretation.

The paycheck-to-paycheck of desperation, yeah, I know it well. Grad school/student teaching year, I was living on my $10,000 student loan for the year and was charging groceries and gas weekly, not to mention buying a professional wardrobe to teach in. The single year began a decade in debt. Things are tight now, but I never want to go back to what it was like then.

I was looking forward to going outside and not having to worry about frostbite--it was only six degrees when I got up this morning, and according to the Tribune's website, it's still only twelve degrees now. But, it's supposed to be in the 20s tomorrow, so the warming front is on its way, yay!

The past two evenings have been so cold that the bookstore was deader than dead both nights. (I actually read a few magazines while at the register after I straightened everything in sight, and I've never done before that in the seven months I've worked there.) I think we'll probably be swamped tomorrow with the warmer weather.

paycheck to paycheck means one missing check and your are screwed and a late check can take months to recover from.

and I don't want to live there again. If we get the CC debt down to zero - and Pay off the car ( which is a 0% loan )my little baby paycheck will truely be gravy. Then we can aim for the magical number of 6 months savings in the bank.

The worst thing I did financially was get a credit card before my junior year of college. I'd use it at the liquor store, or Walgreens, or for Chinese food, just about for everything other than the emergencies I told myself I'd use it for. They gave me a $2,500 credit limit, and I had it maxed out by graduation. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

I get to leave in 15 minutes, but I am officially Stopping Work now.

If we get the CC debt down to zero - and Pay off the car ( which is a 0% loan )my little baby paycheck will truely be gravy. Then we can aim for the magical number of 6 months savings in the bank.

My lofty goal (which I think is actually doable, with some serious discipline) is to get my CC and car paid off by the end of 2008. Then I want to build up a 6-month emergency fund, fully fund a Roth, max out my 401(k), and save so that I can pay cash for my next car.

I feel all adult just saying stuff like that.

Speaking of paychecks, the father of the girl I tutor once a week decided it would be a keen idea to send my check in with his incredibly scattered, disorganized daughter. I tutored her on Tuesday. Guess who hasn't been paid yet?

I was looking forward to going outside and not having to worry about frostbite

I was hoping that it would be a little warmer today, but this morning the snow was all squeaky and at lunch the windchill tried to burn my face off, and I'm shaking my fist at internet weather sites and hollering, "LIAAAAAAR."

Kathy - it's only 12 by the lake?

It's 16 here.