The hilariously over-optimistic goals I am setting myself in 2010....

brizzledfw

Oh thats rubbish. You would have been great I am sure. But keep on looking...

AND re the new on spec work yes tell them that this is a free trial - but that you will be charging them in the future..you are not a charity lol

Keep posting Hannah..you have one of the funniest diaries on here

dalleDF

Arg! Have just read an article by that daft harpy Liz Jones in the Mail, talking about how much debt she is in. This woman needs a serious reality check. It just makes me so mad that she can be so frivolous and yet contemptuous of people such as those on this site who are actually really struggling and trying to get themselves out of debt. 'The peasants are revolting!' Ugh.

Anyway. There has been some news on the job front. My old work have been trying to get me to come back for a while, and they have just offered me a big chunk more money than what I am on now to go back in a similar role. The job title is lower but I would have more people reporting to me, and it would be more stressful. But I sort of want that stress in a way. I am losing my mojo doing my current job. It's still not quite where I want to be, but I think if I just did it for a year to sort out my finances, and kept applying for other things I really want in the meantime, it might work out. One of my old colleagues is also thinking of going back there, which would encourage me further because I know we work well together. The only thing is, I am not sure how financially stable the company is. They can't afford to pay people the silly wages they are offering, but they are having to do it to attract/retain good staff. So I'm really in a quandry. Please give me your words of wisdom, MSE people!

In other news, am well and truly off the healthy lifestyle wagon, and the scales are still broken, but I still seem to be fitting into my clothes so all is not lost.
I also had a bit of romance in my life recently (probably only temporary though) which cheered me up considerably.

On the money front things are not great, it is going to be another month of living on lentils. Maybe I should just take the job and get myself sorted out, then start jobhunting again with a clean slate. The thought of having enough money to get my own place is also spurring me on.

mrs_robinson_3

Hey Hannah

Do you know, I've got a bee in my bonnet too about that Liz Jones - she's probably the most self obsessed person have ever read, and to pay someone like that to pontificate about themselves in print amazes me...... Mind you, worse is that I read it. Though in defence, I don't buy it, just get MIL's cast offs of YOU and I find her column so weirdly compelling....it's like reading the innermost thoughts of a 17 year old and just want to shake her...the phrase "get over yourself" seems to have been fashioned with her in mind.

Ooh, rant over.

As to the job, well more money sounds good, obv. - think you should go for it, but depends on your appetite for risk I guess.....

Have a good month - lentils notwithstanding (actually, I love them and cook with them all the time....dal, spicy bean bake, lentil casserole, you name it, I make it....)

Mrs R

dalleDF

I know Mrs R, Liz Jones is so vile and self indulgent. I like to think that I am a lover not a fighter, but I would make an exception for her. She needs a good slap.

In other news, I took a deep breath, looked at my snowball, felt defeated, and took the job. It is going to be hellish for a while but I will try and look upon it as a challenge. I will be instrumental in using my skills to turn around a bad situation. Luckily now that I have told a couple of people I am going back, it has started a snowball effect and others are now expressing interest. So hopefully I will have a strong team behind me in a couple of months time. My gut feeling says this is a really bad idea, but my wallet is rejoicing.

dalleDF

P.S. I am angry at the new romance in my life, inexplicably, because he was flirting with another girl, even though I have no claim on him whatsoever and I don't even like him that much. What's that all about? But, on the plus side, I have started on my new tattoo project. My food budget has shrunk down to almost nothing as a consequence. Oh well, at least my freezer is full.

brizzledfw

You are determined to do this tattoo project aren't you;)?? Sounds as if though you will have some spare money with the new role so kinda evens itself out?

Am sure job will not be that bad...just think of all that extra cash:T

When do you start?

dalleDF

They haven't sent me a contract yet, but if all goes to plan I should be back there early April. It would mean I could set myself a new target of debt free in 6 months, which would be the best feeling ever. I still feel quite worried about the job, but prepared to roll my sleeves up and get on with it. No more living on lentils!

Speaking of which, my plans for the weekend mainly revolve around being a domestic goddess, since I am too poor to go out and have fun, unless I check Time Out for some free things to do. I recently finished a novel that I was completely engrossed in, and felt bereft when I got to the end, but rather than buy more I have vowed to work my way through the many unread books I still have from Christmas. Then I will sell them on Amazon and Green Met.

So, this weekend I shall be reading, drinking lots of tea, cleaning the sty, doing washing up and laundry, making enough lentil dahl to last me for the next 2 weeks, meal planning, hoovering, and then when my day's work is done I will take a cheap bottle of red round to my friend's house. I also have a movie from LoveFilm that I haven't watched yet. I refused to cancel my subscription even when I have been really skint, because it means I always have entertainment and I'm sure it has more than paid for itself on money saved by having nights in instead of going to the pub. Well, this is what I will keep telling myself anyway.

dalleDF

p.s. Have just messed about with my spreadsheet and realised that when I make next month's debt repayments it will mean no single debt is above the 2k mark anymore. This is a small milestone but still very encouraging.

brizzledfw

Well done Hannah..keep on going girl..

Also something else I started dabbling in is the freebies forum..worth a gander I think. Am waiting on washing powder at the moment so some of it seems pretty useful and if you lurk you can see that some MSErs are pretty skilled at getting stuff in the post most days!

Cheers

Brizzle

PS But....not as much entertainment as Love Film tho:rotfl:

dalleDF

I have now handed in my notice and have set a date for going back to my (new) old job. I am still nervous about it but the money is really going to make things much easier. I have been desperate for a new handbag for months and mine is about to fall apart, but it hasn't been in the budget, neither has a replacement for the black jeans I split, or a desperately-needed haircut. It will be lovely to be able to get the things I need without panicking about whether I can afford it. And to actual start saving. Can you imagine? Savings! But I am getting ahead of myself. I will have to make the biggest overpayments I can afford for the next 6 months to achieve this, and still no holiday I don't think.

In other news, I stopped smoking for 5 days and then went out with a friend who always sabotages my good intentions. Am reading my stop smoking book again. *Sigh*. Have put on loads of weight as well. I am thinking of walking to the new job, now that the weather is turning nicer. It will be a fairly painless way of burning extra calories, although I hate getting up earlier than I have to. Also, the new (old) place is right near an amazing sushi place, which I will be able to afford! So should be eating better as well. And salad. Lots of salad.

I met a nice man recently who I am going on a date with soon. I don't know much about him yet except that he is healthy and outdoorsy (they say opposites attract!) and he wants to be a personal trainer. Maybe I can be his first project.