Man, 2019, what a year that was for someone like me, a Pisces just trying to figure things out with work and cash. You know how it is when a new year rolls around, you start looking at all these horoscopes and guides, right? I remember seeing all that stuff floating around about Pisces and their career and money for 2019, and honestly, a lot of it sounded pretty hopeful. I was thinking, “Alright, maybe this is the year things finally click into place.”
I was in this job, see, that felt more like a holding pattern than a launchpad. I had been there a few years, doing the same old thing, pulling my weight, but not really seeing much movement. My biggest expectation, honestly, was a change. I was really hoping for some kind of break, either a promotion, a significant raise, or hell, even just landing a new gig somewhere that felt more like an actual career path. I’d been plugging away at learning some new software on the side, thinking that would be my ticket. Every evening, after dragging myself home, I’d fire up the tutorials, just grinding through them, telling myself this investment of time would pay off big. I pictured myself walking into a new office, head held high, making more money, feeling respected.
Money-wise, it was tight, like it always seemed to be. I wasn’t drowning, but I wasn’t exactly swimming either. My big financial goal for 2019 was to actually start building up some real savings. Not just a couple of hundred bucks for emergencies, but something substantial. I wanted to pay off that credit card debt that had been hanging over my head like a bad cloud for too long. I imagined getting a decent bonus, enough to clear it out and start fresh. Maybe even squirrel away enough for a down payment on a slightly less crummy car. I spent a good chunk of late 2018 going over my budget, trying to find all these little bits I could cut out, figuring if I was super disciplined, I could make it happen. I cut out my fancy coffee, started packing lunch every day, you know, all the usual stuff folks do when they’re trying to get their finances straight.
The Grind Kicked In, Hard
So, the year started, and I really leaned into it. On the career front, I cleaned up my resume, spent hours tweaking it, trying to make it sound like I was some kind of rockstar. I started hitting up those online job boards every single night, just throwing applications out there like confetti. I applied for stuff I was probably underqualified for, stuff I was overqualified for, anything that looked like it offered a tiny bit more pay or a different challenge. I also started bugging my current boss, trying to get more responsibility, putting my hand up for every extra project that came along. I felt like I was constantly proving myself, trying to show them I was ready for more. I even stayed late a bunch of times, just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, trying to make myself indispensable.
Financially, I doubled down. Every extra cent I found, it went straight into that savings account or towards chipping away at the credit card. I started tracking every single expense, literally down to the penny. It was a bit obsessive, but I was so determined. I even picked up a bit of freelance design work on the weekends, just little odd jobs for friends’ small businesses, trying to pull in an extra couple hundred bucks a month. It wasn’t glamorous work, mostly just making logos or quick flyers, but it was cash, and it was going straight to those goals. I remember one month, I only ate ramen and instant noodles for like two weeks straight, just to stick to the budget. My friends thought I was going crazy.
Reality Hits, and It Was a Wild Ride
Did it all go according to plan? Man, not even close. That promotion I was hoping for at my current job? Nope. Some new guy from outside got it, someone with less experience but more “connections.” I remember feeling deflated, like all that extra effort I put in was just invisible. It was a real punch to the gut. The job applications? I got a few interviews, sure, but nothing ever really clicked. A lot of “we went with someone with more specific experience” or “we decided to go in a different direction.” It was frustrating as hell, sending out hundreds of applications and feeling like I was just yelling into the void.
Then, about halfway through the year, something totally unexpected happened. My company decided to downsize a whole department, and even though it wasn’t my department, the ripple effect meant a lot of internal shuffling. My role suddenly got merged with another, and I ended up doing twice the work for the same pay. It was a major blow. My career expectations of moving up or out suddenly shifted to just trying to hold onto what I had. It felt like I was scrambling just to stay afloat, not to advance.
Money-wise, it was also a mixed bag. I did manage to pay off that credit card debt, which was a huge relief, honestly. But the savings goal? That took a big hit when the job situation got shaky. I had to dip into what I’d saved just to cover unexpected expenses that popped up because of the stress and changes, like needing to replace a worn-out tire on that old car I was trying to get rid of, or a sudden doctor’s visit. That freelance work helped bridge the gap, but it wasn’t enough to really get ahead. I remember feeling like I was running on a treadmill, putting in all this effort, but barely moving forward financially.
Looking Back at That Pisces Year
So, what did I learn from all that craziness in 2019? I guess you can plan all you want, read all the horoscopes, set all the goals, but sometimes life just throws you curveballs you never saw coming. My expectations were pretty high going into that year, fueled by a lot of hope and a bit of astrological fluff. But the reality was a whole lot tougher. What I expected was a smooth climb, but what I got was more like a rocky hike, with some unexpected detours and a few tumbles.
What I did gain, though, was resilience. I learned how to really hustle when things got tough, how to adapt when my initial plans got scrapped. I might not have gotten that big promotion or accumulated a massive savings account, but I learned a lot about myself. I pushed myself to learn new skills, which eventually did pay off in the years that followed, just not right then. I got rid of that nagging debt, which was a massive victory on its own. It really taught me that while expectations are good for setting direction, it’s the willingness to adapt and just keep putting one foot in front of the other, no matter what happens, that truly makes a difference. It was a tough lesson, but a necessary one, shaping how I approach my career and my money ever since. Sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches, even if they hit hard.
