By: Mia L. Hazlett

I sat in my office and reviewed the notes from the meeting I had with my boss. I needed to reach out to the committee to start planning for our holiday party. This needed to happen sooner rather than later because we had to secure a venue. What stood out most was the budget I was given for this event, $4,000 less than my annual salary.

Time progressed, I reserved the venue, and the logistical planning began. The more and more I planned, the more and more it grew on me, I couldn’t afford to attend this epic annual party. I was on a tight budget and Christmas was less than two weeks after this event. But since my boss was the host and I was planning everything, I had to attend. Against everything in me, I RSVPed.

Time progressed, I reserved the venue, and the logistical planning began. The more and more I planned, the more and more it grew on me, I couldn’t afford to attend this epic annual party. I was on a tight budget and Christmas was less than two weeks after this event. But since my boss was the host and I was planning everything, I had to attend. Against everything in me, I RSVPed.

For weeks I listened to everyone talk about the party and how great it would be. I finalized all the things you need to finalize when throwing a huge party at a high-end hotel. But the stress I carried was crazy. How do I back out of a party my boss is hosting?

The evening of the party, I didn’t go. People kept calling me and I didn’t answer. Now I adopted a new stress, facing my coworkers and boss on Monday. I didn’t know if I would be fired, or what would happen, but the migraine I carried that weekend over spending my Saturday night at home, was incredible. I wasn’t fired, but they shared their disappointment. I was too ashamed and scared to say I couldn’t afford to attend and took the reprimand.

You see, I had young children at the time. I was living paycheck-to-paycheck (P2P). Now definitions may vary with P2P, but for me it meant, after all bills were paid, groceries, and gas, oh and the little school project this, and new shoes that, I had maybe an extra $60 a month. Maybe.

And trust me, I stuck to my budget. I had to. I was a single mother with two young children. To drive to the venue, that was extra gas. Parking, well that’s 40 bucks right there if I don’t tip. And I would probably drink water all night because it was a cash bar. So instead of putting my household at a deficit, I stuck with how I was raised, don’t live outside your means.

I share this story because it reminds me of the struggles I endured, and I am cognizant that many people are currently in crisis with the P2P battle. Not only are they battling it, but they are not doing it with an extra $60 a month to spare. Some people aren’t even making it to the next check before they are out of money. I have met some people who have barely recovered from COVID layoffs and one particular person had been working for the past two years. He was still playing catchup to his six month layoff almost three years ago.

Housing costs are sky high. Groceries are ridiculous. And the ability to rely on a reasonable annual raise to offset the increases is hopeless. If households have savings they are not significant enough to sustain an extended layoff or maybe even an expensive car repair.

I don’t have the solutions to end poverty, but I do have emotional awareness that life is lif-ing differently for all of us. I hope there are pathways for people to enjoy their lives beyond worrying how to pay their bills or working simply to get them paid. That’s not living. That’s surviving. At the minimum, I hope you are able to afford your company’s holiday party.