Trials and tribulations of a Debt Free Wannabee!

Swinstie73

savingholmes wrote: »

A lot of agencies told me they hoped it would pick up in April with the new financial year and budget year - so far it looks like they may have been right!:j

Good one savingholmes, hope you get more interviews under your belt. Is it me or does everything look a bit rosier?! I went for a health check this morning and was 7lbs lighter than I thought I was, and was assured the scales were right - yeah! Think the sun makes everyone happier :j

savingholmes

HI Swinstie good news on the weight - well done!:T

GG - hope things pick up for you soon.:A

Just found out I hadn't got yesterday's job :rolleyes2 but not too upset as it was only temp and really I want perm... The culture there too by reputation wasn't great so it would have been a very challenging role from a culture perspective... :eek: The agency said I hadn't done anything wrong - they'd been torn between me and someone else - and they had decided that the other person would fit into the team better. I wasn't that sure I'd fit in myself so can't blame them for that.... I've been reading that you should always send a "thank you" note after an interview to thank them for their time and let them know how much you want it. I couldn't bring myself to do it 'cos I was almost scared they would offer it me... I think that answers the "fit" question so I'm not going to let it get me down.

It is so hard to know what to do - just go for perm (but take longer to get) or get any job going... OH wants me to hold out for perm this time. My 2 interviews next week are for perm and are better money... I don't want to be continually looking for work so I think unless it is well paid I probably will hold out for perm - it depends on the day tho!

Survived signing on. They were so surprised when I asked for more interview travel claim forms - they are not used to that! He was like "already?" :shocked: I was saying - I have been looking for 10 weeks - didn't plan on signing on!:rolleyes: Good news that I can get my travel (to interview) paid for from now on. It has probably cost well over £200 so far...:eek:

hypno06

Well, you are certainly going about things in the right way - so sooner or later it will all come together.

savingholmes

hypno06 wrote: »

Well, you are certainly going about things in the right way - so sooner or later it will all come together.

Thanks Hypno - I certainly hope so. One of the quite high level jobs I have applied for (that you would therefore think that less people would go for) has attracted over 200 applicants!:eek: At Tuesday's interview I am one of 18 people being interviewed for 2 jobs (down from hundred plus I think).

I think the most important thing when job hunting is to stay positive so that's what I am trying to do with reasonable success so far thanks in part to all the wonderful MSE posters! My OH is being very supportive too so that helps and because we started our DFW journey last July we have emergency savings so altho we still have debt we are in a much better position than many others who lose their jobs...

hypno06

I think that is how I feel with regard to the recession as a whole - we have been doing so much "realistic" living over the past couple of years, that it really is second nature now - storecupboard challenges, switching suppliers and shopping around etc - these are all the things that many people will be having to face for the first time, and to get used to in a hurry - for us, it is now "normal".

So, if we aren't well placed to survive the recession, and whatever it throws at us, then there is something wrong!

sistercas

hypno06 wrote: »

I think that is how I feel with regard to the recession as a whole - we have been doing so much "realistic" living over the past couple of years, that it really is second nature now - storecupboard challenges, switching suppliers and shopping around etc - these are all the things that many people will be having to face for the first time, and to get used to in a hurry - for us, it is now "normal".

So, if we aren't well placed to survive the recession, and whatever it throws at us, then there is something wrong!

I absolutely agree hypno, as you say it is second nature to us, I am so proud of the way I live now and actually I feel better about myself and life in general
SH hows things good luck with the interviews

savingholmes

Well done SC and hypno :T- it is great to be able to say that isn't it and see how far we've all come!

Well I have had a good weekend. We drove to an area of outstanding natural beauty with the kids yesterday and had a good 1.5 hour walk so that felt good. It was very MSE - I weighed up all our options for a day out and they were all coming in at £15-20 admission fees which I didn't want to pay but I did want to go somewhere we hadn't been before. This was a good option as it was less than an hour's drive. We had a McDonalds tea to round off the "treat" from the kids perspective but at £11 something not too bad for a "day out"!

Been to church this morning - a friend of mine was there with cancer - it kind of puts things in perspective too....

Tomorrow I am dropping the kids at MILs, then going to see my sister (only a few miles further and saves a separate trip!):money: and then coming back her for feedback on the personality tests I did last week. So even though I've finished work at the moment I still feel busy busy busy and really tired... I seriously do need to learn how to pace myself and how to go to bed at a decent time!:p I'm looking forward to a few evening of peace without the kids I must confess!;)

Hollyberry

SH - sounds as though things are going really well - that's a lot of effort you are putting in. :T No wonder you are tired...

If your gut instinct says no to a role, that's normally for very good reason, so I think you are absolutely right to listen to that little voice. I've only ignored it once, and that was at my peril.

Enjoy a little bit of a break, hey? A lot of people will be off for the Easter hols now, so you can afford to have some time for yourself.

savingholmes

Hollyberry wrote: »

SH - sounds as though things are going really well - that's a lot of effort you are putting in. :T No wonder you are tired...

If your gut instinct says no to a role, that's normally for very good reason, so I think you are absolutely right to listen to that little voice. I've only ignored it once, and that was at my peril.

Enjoy a little bit of a break, hey? A lot of people will be off for the Easter hols now, so you can afford to have some time for yourself.

Thanks Hollyberry for the encouragement. I once didn't listen to my instinct saying a job was wrong for me and had a really difficult year as a result - I think you are right we should listen to our instincts more!

I definitely want a little break....

Today was as busy or worse than I expected as the traffic was appalling. Had a nice lunch with my sister tho (she reads this - got to say that :rotfl:) used up my £5 pocket money for a good few weeks:rolleyes:! At least we managed "early bird" pricing!

I got my feedback on the personality tests (one I was brutally honest on - and one I "tweaked") - she said that both tests were appropriate profiles for the type of work that I do but that the first test came across as stronger and probably better for the type of work I do with a couple of minor tweaks... The first was more task focused, the second more people focused. I think what I got from that was that I need to accept myself more and that actually I have the right personality fit for the work I do and therefore I don't need to be scared by these tests in future! :cool:

We also discussed the other types of psychometric tests - she said that by all means I should practice my maths but in real terms for the type of work I do if I fit in other ways they would probably be prepared to ignore my maths result as not vital to the role.... In other words - accept myself, focus on my strengths and don't stress about it...

So actually all of that was a great encouragement! I am generally too hard on myself and that came across too! Must learn to be kinder to myself (reaches for the chocolate)
:EasterBun
I do now need to prepare some more for my interview tomorrow mixed in with some relaxation too! Roll on spider solitaire !;) The kids are now away for a few days so I am hoping to finally have a little bit of space and peace!

savingholmes

Hi all - I had a bit of help in the relaxation department today - I borrowed the dvd 2ps I love you" from my sister. It was gorgeous - made me laugh and cry and gave me a really warm feeling....

No excuses left now for not preparing for tomorrow so I suppose I'd better do that now then LOL!