Edinburgher's balancing act

edinburgher

Finally cancelled an 'investment' bond with Scottish Friendly, which had been performing very poorly (£6 odds bonus on a year where I paid in £300). I'll not get any of the money back which I've paid into it so far, but the prospect of another 8 years with sub par returns didn't appeal! I'd rather have the money to save (as opposed to invest), as it looks like we may see interest rates rising by the end of the year

Still, it's another £25 a month regardless and I have upped my monthly payment to my savings account before I had a chance to waste it on silly things. I've been paying into it for 18 months now, so it's money I can afford to continue saving.

edinburgher

Today was my second four day week of my new working pattern and I feel like I'm really starting to get into the swing of it :beer: Despite having no cash to speak of, I managed to:

1. Book dentists appoints for me and GF
2. Buy my packed lunches for next week and another couple of energy saving bulbs to replace incadescent ones with
3. Cook a tasty dinner of slow roasted chicken with rigano (Greek wild oregano), steamed spuds and steamed turnip
4. Make homemade chicken stock for a broth during the week
5. Read half of George Orwell's 'Coming up for Air'
6. Play the Wii. Ok, I know this doesn't sound too complex, but I hardly ever get the chance to use the bloomin' thing
7. Drink two glasses of wine. Soon to be three...

Ok, so the working days are longer now, but I think I may be finding that balance I was looking for.

doodledo_2

Sounds like you have had a productive day.

Much planned for the weekend?

edinburgher

Does drinking coffee count as much? Get paid Friday coming and am completely skint until then.

On the positive side, have managed to sort out the fraudulent transaction on my Paypal account and neither Paypal or my bank will be levying charges

How about you? DD home this weekend?

doodledo_2

Good news about paypal.

I am skint too but only have to get through till Weds. Fingers crossed.

DD is now with her dad till Monday so have a weekend to myself, well if she stays. So lots of things to crack on and do round the house *yawns.

doodledo_2

And where the hell are you young man!

InaPickle

Glad to know it was not just me who was wondering...it's quieter than a kitten with slippers on in here!

edinburgher

Thanks for the concern, but I haven't really had much to report in the last few days

I will be taking tomorrow off as I am severely down in the dumps at work. There is literally nothing to do and I don't want to talk to my boss about it as she's one of those people who can make a mountain (of work) out of a molehill and takes forever to do tasks which I can usually blast through in an afternoon. Before you accuse me of doing the job badly, I should point out that I've massacred my objectives since starting the job almost a year ago

I find myself in the irritating situation where I'm essentially being paid £25k to babysit a few email inboxes and answer the odd question that, while tricky, doesn't justify the wage I earn. Maybe all civil servants are lazy swine and just sit the day out watching the clock, but I honestly hate it and long for a challenge. I have always felt less than stretched at work and am starting to think that maybe my comfort zone means that I don't take risks and end up in jobs which are less than intellectually stimulating.

Don't get me wrong - I thank God that I have a well paid job during a recession and I couldn't pay my rent without it - but still: Is adult life simply the endless drudgery of rotting in a swivel chair in some mind-numbing 'professional post'? Is this just my reluctance to grow up/buckle down/insert platitude here, or am I wasting my time?

I only started down my career path in a cynical attempt to make enough money to clear my debts and it's worked to a large extent. Now I find myself wondering what's next and more to the point - will I be brave enough to figure it out?

Typical me really - spend 3-4 years working to getting that 'reasonable job' and when I get there I don't like the view.

Enough moaning for one night :lipsrseal

doodledo_2

Evening Ed.

I think it is really important to be in a job you like and that stretches you if you are that type of person. But on the flipside its down to circumstances etc.

I sat in my last job for 4 years, being unchallenged and bored because it suited my lifestyle, the hours fitted round me bringing my little girl up and working from home.

When she started full time school I took the jump to a much bigger and more challenging job. It was a huge risk as the job on paper was pretty much beyond me. But here I am 6 months later and absolutely loving it.

I think you need to look for something more challenging, which in a way is a good position to be in as you have a decent paying job covering your bills etc.

Don't sit in a job for years that isn't challenging you, from what I know of you this will not make for a happy Ed.

edinburgher

Cheers Doodle - I know it's good that I'm in a position to look for something for the future without worrying about bills etc. in the now and I am truly glad for it

I'm just a little worried that I'm looking in the wrong places and that my deliberate decision a few years ago to opt for a 'safe' job has skewed my vision on what I'd like to do and realistically, what I can.

I'm not an idiot (2:1 degree and postgraduate qualification), but sometimes I just feel a bit thick, as I can't figure out this sort of thing for myself!