Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 2

patchwork_cat

Cha97,- Hi we haven't 'spoken', but I just wanted to say that after I returned from maternity leave I went job share and one thing was it took quite a while to 'pick up' the work again.

Having talked to a number of friends it is harder as job share as you are kept out of the loop so to speak on days you don't work. I found that there would be a new initiative or a meeting on the days I didn't work and they would forget to fill me when I came into work. I found the only way was to be proactive and if I could I would go into meetings when not meant to be in work (not very practiable) or would ask what happened in the meeting etc. on my first day back in.

Teaching is a career that is better suited to family life than a lot and with the facility to work part time even better.Give it longer it may take time to settle back. As you say it may be easier in September as everyone else will also be back on a getting back in work mode ( the kids too!)

whitewing

michelle,

We all have days that knock our confidence. It doesn't mean you can't do it; you just had a blip. Pick yourself up, dust yourself down and try again. You'll be fine. You did it before; you can do it again.

andromache,

thank you for the lovely pm. I will reply when I've cleared my box down.

cha97michelle

I know exactly what you mean patchwork cat. They keep scheduling training sessions for Tuesdays, and if they give me enough notice i do go in. I think i am realising i probably need them to do an extra day in nursery. they will be happy and occupied, i can work at home for the day, then my time with them will not be spoiled by the work that constantly hangs over my head. I should find it easier after half term as my year eleven students are no longer in, but i'm going to just have to keep plodding for the time being at least.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'm less down today, but i know i need to make up my mind and be fair to myself and the kids. I might start writing a list of the pros and cons, and then think about it some more when i'm less exhausted.

Michelle x

taka

Aeb - Wow that must have come as a bit of a surprise :eek: Congratulations x3!

Cha97 - You have had 2 long sets of time off in a relatively short space of time I'm not surprised you are finding it a bit more difficult to get back into it all and I'm sure the best teacher in the world would still have a struggle to make that transition back into an ever changing job. Please don't be so hard on yourself. Were you given any advice on what area to work on to improve? Think of it as a challenge to be met rather than a failing. Absolutely no one is perfect 100% of the time.

I wouldn't rush into anything too final if it is something you genuinely would like to continue doing, now or in the future when your wee ones are older and at school themselves. Waiting to make any decisions until after the new school year has started sounds a good idea. The last part of the school year is surely not the easiest time to try and return and hope to fit straight back into.

Brighton_belle

Sounds good michelle. I love the different perspectives and ideas that people on this forum offer. based on their experience:T.

Redglass - I work for an IFA and it seems most stock and shares ISA's are taking a bashing. Some IFA's (like mine) offer a free 1st session and your friend may be able to get one to see one for advice.
If she goes to
http://www.unbiased.co.uk/find-an-independent-financial-adviser/
she would find one in her area.
(I have no connection with this website and have never used it.)
I think it is a fairly specialied area and if you recommend something and it goes completely belly up, you might feel relly bad for recommending it?

Oh, I emptied my £2 savings box yesterday and had £54 in it:j, which I need to bits and pieces for the room switch around (possibly, trying to avoid spending where poss, but we need the right storage so not overwheemd by stuff)

HH62

Hi everyone.

Well, I haven't been around and you probably all know what that means.:o I've been spending...:mad:
I started this challenge in January so full of determination but I've failed miserably.

I've just got one of my credit card bills through for last month and it's shocked me to realise how much of a mess I'm getting in. This has to stop. Now.
So I need help and I know this is the best place to get it.

I can cut back my spending. I know I can. First off I'm going to start planning out my meals because impulse food spending is taking a big chunk of my income.

I've got lots of big payments to make over the next few weeks - still not renewed my passport and I MUST do that before the end of May. £75.

Car tax, insurance, MOT and servicing are all due at the end of June :eek:
The car is non negotiable. I live in a rural area and I can't manage without it. It's paid for and it's fairly cheap to run.

I'm looking for work but I think I need to find ways to earn some money at home too.


I've been upset this afternoon, I suppose I've had my LBM . I'm sick of struggling with this, I'm sick of being scared to look at my bank statements and open my credit card bills. I'm sick of having my head in the sand and not dealing with this.

Any suggestions or advice would be gratefully received and I'm going to read the rest of the board for ideas and such.
Thanks for reading.

Frugaldom

Hi HH, at least you have taken the first major step and faced up to the impending financial doom in time to avert a catastrophe, so well done on that front!

Back to basics from now on, though, and that means giving up on credit until it's well under control - just my suggestion, as it worked for me

Looking forward to sharing your journey. I live in a rural location, so fully understand the need for frugalising to make ends meet. It isn't too late to get into the garden and make sure you have a little bit planted here and there for free veggies. Apologies if you have already started planting and my frugal memory has lost that piece of info. Have you considered freeranging two or three hens?

Right, back to your SOA - sirt out your list and cross each item off against your income and then start afresh with your true budget. Do you live alone? Have you space for a lodger? Is there a LETS group or other exchange/bartering group near you?
Good luck and don't forget to make debtbusting fun. Without it, there would be no Frugaldom nor would there be a 4k forum with all these lovely people around to help & support one another.

patchwork_cat

Michelle - you still have your year 11's until after half term? Surely they have effectively left now? Yes this is a problem with meetings they are always on a day you aren't working! Murphy's law.

Would it be an idea as you say to have them stay at the nursery an extra day even if it is only temporary whilst you find your feet. It may be that you can effectively manage your workload better and spend more time with the children even on working days?

looby-loo_2

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Michelle - you still have your year 11's until after half term? Surely they have effectively left now? Yes this is a problem with meetings they are always on a day you aren't working! Murphy's law.

No such thing as exam leave at my school. Yr 11's last full week ends one week after half term, after that they have to come into every lesson until they take the exam in that subject. If they don't come in full time until the end of the week after half term they don't get their attendance certificates and this is the % that goes on their reference. They don't seem to complain, in fact when they hear of other schools starting exam leave they don't like the idea as they say they will have forgotten it all.

Michelle, don't be too disheartned, you will find your feet again - new year, new classes, you'll be fine in September.

Happy bank holiday everyone - happy planting

aeb_2

Is it because I know about the babies that I suddenly feels more tired than usual? Everything seems ok acording to the midwife I saw today
The practical reality is starting to dawn

Frugal things
Made a loaf and a cake
Listed 5 things on ebay

House things
A bit of thinking