When Finances and Skills Become Barriers to Dreams

Behind my desire to move away and travel, there are two things that always stand in the way: finances and skills. Every time I want to take a bigger step, these two feel like walls blocking me.

💸On Finances

The salary I earn now is enough for daily needs, but there's almost never anything left to save. My money goes to snacks, daily necessities, cat's food, and sometimes small things that aren't really essential. Even though I'm not the breadwinner of the family, since I started working, I feel awkward if I don't help with household needs like toiletries, tissues, or other basics. Often, when shopping, I don't realize how much I've spent until I see the total—even though the items don't look like much. The cost of living has become so expensive; everything keeps rising. As a result, saving feels impossible because the money always gets used up. Big dreams like moving away or traveling feel so far away. I've thought maybe the solution is to find a job with a higher salary. But of course, that's not as simple as flipping a switch. Sometimes it feels like money disappears before it even has a chance to rest in my savings account.

🛠️On Skills
If I want a job with a higher salary, my skills have to grow, too. And here's where the confusion begins. What skills are actually needed? Where should I start? Most of my time is consumed by my current job, so it feels hard to carve out space to learn something new. I wonder if I should try online courses, learn specific software, or improve my language skills. Everything seems important, but I don't know which one to prioritize. And courses cost money, too, which makes things even more complicated. Sure, there are free tutorials on some platforms, but sometimes you really need a mentor or someone to discuss with—it's not the same as learning alone.

🌱Temporary Reflection
Because finances and skills aren't yet supporting me, I have to bury my dreams for now. It doesn't mean that I'm giving up, but more like postponing until the right time comes. Those dreams are still here, not to be forgotten, but to remind me why I keep pushing forward.

Like a lake hidden behind leaves, my dreams remain.
Blocked by finances and confusion, but never gone.