The Real Cost of Money (It Nearly Broke Me)

I’m a 48-year-old cybersecurity graduate currently looking for my first SOC role. While I keep applying and studying, I’m doing gig work to pay the bills and documenting what this phase of life actually looks like. Today I’m out doing delivery work and seeing how much I can earn in a day. While shopping, I found myself thinking about the real cost of money. Over the course of my life, I’ve realized that money doesn’t just cost effort, it comes with a hidden price that you don’t always see in the moment: your time, your health, and your sense of stability. And it makes me wonder… what are we actually trading for the money we’re trying to earn? If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 💵 See how I earn money in real life:    • Income in Action   📊 Watch the full “Life in Numbers” series:    • My Real Life Weekly Logs   frugal living financial stress midlife restart starting over in life gig work income Part of an ongoing documentary series about unemployment, gig work, and living on a tight budget.