Debt Free by 40 Debt Diary

Katyusha

Re: Cruella the Cliche. Every office has one. This is the bog-standard person who likes to score points off other people, make others look stupid or tell them off IN FRONT OF A THIRD PERSON and generally play pathetic little power games with people they perceive to be 'beneath' them. Unfortunately, they only thrive because others let them get away with it. You should send her an e-mail asking her why she said that to the third person when she'd specifically told you just to send it as was.

Alternatively, just punch her.

Kat

Craftyscholar

Any chance you can get her to email instructions to you?
I had colleagues who always kept copies of emails from an otherwise OK boss who forgot what she had originally told/asked them to do.

ZTD

Katyusha wrote:

Alternatively, just punch her.

Hole punch?


Centre punch?


Ticket punch?


Or drown her in a punch bowl?


Decisions, decisions...

robnye

Craftyscholar wrote:

Any chance you can get her to email instructions to you?
I had colleagues who always kept copies of emails from an otherwise OK boss who forgot what she had originally told/asked them to do.

ditto - i do this....... save copies that is, not stitch people up.....

Imelda

Totally agree, in my office there is a very strong [STRIKE]stab in the back[/STRIKE] blame culture. I have since learnt not to do anything without it being writing. It's very pedantic but has saved my skin a number of times. Right now my boss is writing a report, with full audit trail of emails from myself and another colleague because our department is being blamed for an error that was nothing to do with us. It's a horrible situation but you have got to look after number 1.

GettingThingsDone

I'm sure Cruella's too smart to get caught out on that one. I personally would reply back to her with something along the lines of:

'Yes typical of that lot - I agreed with what you said when we had a chat. Nevermind, I'll convert it and send it over...'

Then when you send it over, if you can have a chat with the recipient and crow-bar in something along the lines of:

' I was going to convert it for you but Cruella said you'd be happy to do it. Not sure what her email's all about but there you go...'

and depending on who it is, something like: 'I won't tell you what she says about you.... no nothing. no, seriously nothing at all...'

Generally spread a web of truth about her around the place. You can tell I don't work in a big organisation any more - I really used to enjoy playing these games.

At some point she'll crack up/slip up... and be hole-punched...

Katyusha

>You can tell I don't work in a big organisation any more - I really used to enjoy playing these games.<

Hang your head in shame, baby!!

I still believe that confronting these people is the best. They are like kids. It's all about boundaries. Back in 1642 I worked in an office of five people where the photocopier had to be replaced. The secretary (let's call her Françoise coz that was the silly tart's name) was meant to organise this. She procrastinated, held several important 'stationery strategy meetings' with the Canon sales team, but nothing got done. Eventually, I got tired of photocopying on the copy option on the fax machine and ordered a photocopier myself. When the copier was delivered, Françoise stomped around declaring how dreadful communication was in this office and how I could just not do something like that - in front of both the photocopier delivery people and the whole office.

I waited till the copier was in place and then zoomed into her office and told her in no uncertain terms NEVER to discuss office matters in front of outsiders or talk like that to me in front of other people. 'It's very unprofessional,' I said. Taken unawares, she just managed to splutter: 'Well, I...I think you're very unprofessional too!'

The repartee. One nil.

She was much better after that.

Kat

oakdale_minx

I've started to have serious thoughts about my secured loan. I've reduced it from 20 to 10 and now to 5 years from this month. As soon as the bank charges are returned and all the CC's etc paid off, this will mean I can definitely change the term down to 4 years.

However, I've just used an online loan calculator and, if I reduce the term to 3 years, my monthly payment will be about £590. Now, if I do this, I will have about £150 a month left after everything is paid. Not much to cover food etc.

However, with AQA going straight to the savings account from next month, I could keep back, say, £150 a month. This would mean I have £300 a month for food/clothes etc , my loan would be paid off in 3 years, I would still have about £300 or so from AQA each month going into my savings account and I would have the money left over from my backpay less what I pay for a car/bank charges sitting there (probably about £3000 when the dust settles)

It would be a big leap to take it down to three years, it would commit me to working on AQA for that length of time really, although I guess over the period I would get my annual increments from work and I would have the back up money still sitting there.

I also want to look this year at getting a better mortgage deal after the lock in period ends in May. Not sure if that will come off, but I'm going to be looking into it anyway.

Any thoughts??? I would be debt free at 39 and 10 months..........

Sulumar

Hi Oakdale_Minx

Re your loan, rather than try and reduce the term so severely that you put yourself at risk if the AQA doesn't remain consistent or, God forbid, some disaster occurs, why not allocate the extra you'd be prepared to pay into a savings jar for 12 months and see how you go. If after 12 months things have gone ok then pay the saved cash into the loan and then tweak the loan term.

Or have I got things wrong?

You're doing really well, and I can see how keen you are to get shot of the loan, but don't leave yourself vulnerable.

Bunnyinthelights

OM,
In my life when I have been in situations where I have been bullied, I found that I took it for only so long before I had to ask them straight up 'What's your issue with me?' (in so many words) I can remember 3 such incidents. Each time the bully backed down and were from then on nice to me. You can choose to be a victim for so long-stand up to Cruella and respect yourself. Look at what a strong and remarkable person you are!
(ok, off my soap box now...)
Bunny x