Taking my finger off the self-destruct button

Seaxwyn

Oh my gosh, £3003, that would make my blood run cold. Well done you for having the tax money though! I've just had my January tax bill, only £1000 this time but I still have no means of paying it except for the traditional credit card balance transfer method.

Totally agree about the presents - you give thank you presents so it's obvious to all that you are not mean. If she wants to give her colleagues xmas gifts that's lovely, but that doesn't mean everyone has to do it. These shop relationships can be tricky for mere writers to navigate, can't they? I have been involved in an escalating battle of favours with my shopowner friends and occasional employers. Today I went to the bank for them and they retaliated by giving me a huge pan of delicious curry. But amongst all this, i worked 3.5 hours and they didn't pay me. I wonder if they simply forgot (unlike them) or if my working for them is now just another favour.

Anyway, onto the most serious point. From an outsider's perspective, it seems blindingly clear that you could make inroads into your debt faster if you did move back to the UK (sorry I don't know how to do the small font). There are obviously good reasons why you don't want to, but could you consider it for a limited time? eg move back til you have paid off x amount, or saved up y?

Wordsmith

Thanks Beanielou and Seaxwyn. And thanks for saying it's not mean not to give Christmas present in return!

I don’t know about moving back to the UK, Seaxwyn. I think it would put me in a worse position financially. The property market here is dire, with many brand new houses lying empty, so there is no chance that anyone would buy my overgrown site with four walls. I don’t have anywhere to live in the UK, unless I turf out my tenants, which I don’t want to do. Even if I went back to my house I would have to find the mortgage repayments immediately; if I rented I would have to find rent money (and deposit money) from the start. And I wouldn’t have an income – it would take ages, if it was possible at all, to build up freelance work as I no longer have contacts in the UK, and who knows whether I would get a PAYE job, never mind one that provides a decent salary. As I don’t have savings, I would have to hit the ground running with earning enough to live and to continue paying the debts – difficult enough to do in good times but in this economic climate not very easy at all. To me it seems no money = no move. At least here I have work and I have a low rent. My main expense is flights and car hire, but much as I hate to accept it, there may not be too many more of those to worry about. Rather than move, I think I just have to be more creative and clever.

I am planning ways of making money that don’t rely on me living in a particular place. I hope to start building that side of the business from next month – tiny steps that I hope will one day reap rewards, but not for some time.

EssexHebridean

Merry christmas to you Wordsmith xx

Radish72

Merry Christmas Wordsmith

Best wishes for next year

Wordsmith

Thank you for Christmas wishes. Hope you all had a good one.

Favoured friend arrived late Friday. I am working in the shop today, but had yesterday off. Well, one day a year isn’t bad! Was glorious here yesterday – snow on the lanes but a bright day. Took dog for a walk, had lunch, drank a bottle of champagne (had been in the fridge for about three years), read a bit, watched a DVD. Lazy day. Very, very cold though. Thaw started overnight, but still lots of people without water. The shop had a burst pipe yesterday, but lovely boss man’s girlfriend and her family dealt with that. They did try phoning me, but I’ve got no signal at the house and so missed it. Shame. Amazingly it didn’t ruin any stock, but found out half way through today that the ice-cream freezer wasn’t working and probably hadn’t been since yesterday. Some rather runny ice cream in there. Favoured friend went home today as he’s got to be back at work tomorrow. Short but sweet. Spoke to dad on the phone (had to walk up the lane and stand in the freezing cold in a gateway – Brian came for company), and he sounded more perky than he had for ages, so that was cheering.

Now instead of cold and frosty it is cold and rainy. Still, am coming over to see me da on Tuesday – and looking forward to it. I may have a slight problem though, as I don’t think I have enough credit on my card to hire a car – I will try tomorrow and then put plan B into operation. First, though, I will have to work out what plan B is.

Tomorrow I am at the shop doing accounts all day. I can hardly wait.

Seaxwyn

Hi Wordsmith. Glad you had a good day. Good luck figuring out Plan B!

beanielou

What Sea says from me too.

poorbutrich

Sounds like a lovely, peaceful and idyllic Christmas. Hope you have a wonderful and happy 2011 - look forward to reading your continuing adventures!

startagain_2

Wordsmith,

Many,many thanks for your diary. Today is the first time that I have seen it and have just spent ages reading it all.
The way you write is wonderful even if the subject is pretty miserable at times. I especially like the way you describe the animals, Brian sounds hilarious, and I too own a dog who keeps the number of the RCPCA close to hand at all times!!! It is also nice to read about someone else who doesn't have an OH or DH and just gets on with things.

I do hope things work out a little better for you in 2011 ( as I do for all of us) ..... please try and find the time to update your diary. I am hooked.

SA

Horace

Hi Wordsmith

Just catching up with your diary - I confess that I haven't posted much on MSE these past months mainly due to getting my business off the ground and now going through a re-branding. I decided that after someone wanted me to work for £4 an hour to organise her wedding that I didnt really want to do weddings and would rather stick to corporate events and joint ventures which are starting to prove rather lucrative.

I also fired my weasel of an accountant too, this person kept cancelling meetings or not turning up at all which cost me time and money and then had the nerve to say that I was a low priority client:mad: I now have a new accountant who has given me fab advice - yes, his bill is going to be more than the one that I paid for before but I know that he will earn his fee because he has already pointed out things that my previous one hadn't claimed for yet should have claimed from Mr Revenue.:mad:

Am still living in the flat but am now thinking of moving - I want to get away from the dope smokers and I think that I could find somewhere cheaper even if it has 2 bedrooms - a flat or a bungalow - I don't mind which as long as I can have cable installed for my broadband and telly.

Both my parents are ill - dad is getting very forgetful and even more deaf, does it sound bad that I am putting off going to see them because I know that I shall get nagged and shouted at by mother and I really don't have the strength to deal with her or dad if truth be known. I don't handle stress that well and havent since bullying twit from the Uni. My confidence is returning because I am now a group leader of a networking group and I am secretary of a business club - all of these posts are unpaid (although I did get my annual membership paid of the networking group because I have volunteered for various roles since I joined in 2009 and that saved me over £500:j

I still scratch around for money and have my £2 jar and my change jars, I still do pkone surveys in exchange for luncheon vouchers (handy when I want to go to Waitrose for edible treats). I am now truly on my own too having ditched ex boyfriend (nasty, evil little man).

I think that 2011 is going to be great for all of us.