Reach for the stars...

MrsMoo2U

Oh My Nic, what an awful thing. 34 is no age at all.

I completely understand where you are coming from and you dont sound as if you are just in it for the money. You do have to live too which is why I suggested doing the 4 columns work and play because that just helps you to clarify if you can play on a lesser wage. it is an expensive part of the country you are looking at so you should be looking to earn more money. This is why the public sector loses so many good people. I cant believe that there isnt some kind of relocation package available for you. How rubbish is that?

you are right about not trying to stress about it all. Take deep breaths. You have done the right thing by asking those questions...... sometimes decisions can make themselves. Remember though you have seized one opportunity, it doesnt mean it has to be the right one for you to follow through but at least you explored it.... you are now looking another opportunity in the face. That might be much more suitable in the longer term. I took annual leave to try the job in Austria. Looking outside the normal perameters is a good way forward. You will make things happen but sometimes it takes a fair bit of moving the pieces on the board to get there.

niccatw

Oh MrsMoo, how right you are! I still haven't done the pros and cons becasue I was asleep before I even got home from work last night!

It's such a frustrating position to be in. I don't think it's financially viable. Before I even look at the job I'm dropping 6k due to lodger and second job going. And there's no leeway on me going up on the pay scale so I'd effectively be taking a pay cut. And to be honest I think the little voice in my head is saying you don't want to live on an island.

But the job is so appealing! And my current job is just hideous at the moment. I've essentially been told that caseload work is all we can focus on so all the personal development stuff and career development stuff is just an aside and not meeting the current needs of the service. I've been not to take it personally, that's just the way it is and it's a stressful job, live with it.

I have reiterated this is unjust, unfair and not the way it ought to be and not what the NHS board in question would have you believe with all their policies.

I asked a union rep (nt my union) about being told my boss wouldn't agree to me going part time for the other job because she'd lose two days a week to savings. He feels I need uninon representation because that's neggating my right to career progression and development.

I get the impression that it'd make my boss and supervisor's job a hell of a lot easier in some respects if I b*gger off t the other end of the country, which makes me angry. I am sick of being told one thing and then the other.

I am actually comtemplating whether I could go for the two day post and do more hours in second job and whether that would help or impede what I want to do in the longer term.

The other option is that I do just accept the situation at work as it is, keep my head down and do what I need to do to get to where I want to go. But without any investment in development and training, that might be difficult.

As Butti put it, bo**ocks!

What a bl**dy mess.

I fear I have come full circle, smack bang into the brick wall.

I don't think my colleagues know or understand me well if they think I will stay in the corner into which I have been backed.

And I'm sick of having these fights with them!

Right... outside the box ideas needed!

(PS I'm not really here... better do some actual work!)

Butti

On the plus side you are getting some space from your lodger. I appear to have just inherited one that is going to be here 24/7 (where HAVE I heard that before) and prays to Mecca at 5am.

Having said that she likes to clean, so not all bad.

B

MrsMoo2U

Thinking outside the box........ I need some of that today. I am in a similar position, no career progression for me and it is stifling me getting another job now. Hey ho.

So you are already thinking outside the box.
1. 2 day a week job
2. extra hours at second job
3. new lodger?
4. 2 day a week job plus training consultant part time with the lady in question?
5. self employed work plus 2 day a week job?

Easy for me to say but take a deep breath and step back from any decision making for a couple of days, things will fall into place.

Happytogetdebtfree

I agree with mrs moo why should you be made you have to wait till the situation suits them, start discussing the potential for more hours at 2nd job, and look at the 2 day a week job, ring for an informal chat will it increase over time dont hold back things have away of working out dont worry about the hows assume it will come, if it means payments have to reduce to minimum there is always away around things hugs and fingers crossed x

Butti

MrsMoo2U wrote: »

4. 2 day a week job plus training consultant part time with the lady in question?

Easy for me to say but take a deep breath and step back from any decision making for a couple of days, things will fall into place.

I like this one a lot. How about giving yourself a month's break and then finding a replacement lodger, maybe a Mon-Fri and combining it with Option 4.

I think (and I'm sure you do too) you need to keep pushing things along otherwise you will go up the wall.

B xx

MatyMoo

I like the way these ladies are thinking.

Sounds like NOW could really be the time to take that big step in to the unknown :j

niccatw

Butti wrote: »

I think (and I'm sure you do too) you need to keep pushing things along otherwise you will go up the wall.

B xx

Never a truer word were spoken.

It's quite clear I'm not a huge risk taker! And even less so when it comes to finances when I have worked my a** off to getting them looking healthy! So the scariest thing is getting myself into a situation where I can't cover my outgoings.

Option 4 is certainly the most appealing. I think I need to apply for the two day post and see what happens next. I have just emailed the lady and asked whether she was serious about recommending me to the training company that organises most of her stuff. I also asked whether I could help her out if she was anywhere within driving distance of me.

Don't all shout at once, but I offered to do this for free. She has a substantial body of literature behind her and is a very well known name in a very small field. For me to do the same thing is difficult as I don't have my name out there. Working with her, even if I am not being paid, will get me known and will also give me ample opportunity to learn a lot. She is also in her 70s so I'm hoping we can help each other out a bit!

So this is what I have asked and I will see what response I get.

Kinda wishing the mortgage had a bit more equity so I could fix a long term deal while I have a sensible income/ wage slip!

I am hugely wary of leaping into the unknown in the pitch black! I don't know the market at all, I don't have any savings, I have a fixed amount of outgoings to cover each month, which two days a week will not cover, I don't know or understand how to work out figures for private work... there's a lot of work to be done and I don't think it's necessarily short term...

If the two day a week job doesn't work, I think I need to accept where I am, but I think I have to put a time limit on it and know what I am working towards.

Or you are quite right - I will be up the wall and around the bend even further than I currently am.

My friend and I met yesterday. We agreed that we don't like being grown ups and that everything is too serious. There needs to be more frivolity in life! We agreed this over banana toffee cupcakes.

Flat-mate just told me he has a full-time job as an admin asistant. About time!

As far as he knows I have said yes to job.... Well, technically I haven't yet said no...

Head is still frazzled. And there are times I just feel physically sick - which I know is just nerves.

It's glorious (though cold) here and I just want to take off to Loch Lomand or the beach, but I said I'd help my friend clear stuff from her storage as she'll be moving to Dubai 11 days! So sitting, stewing and waiting on the call.

ETA: Now also emailed the association of professionals in my field who work in private practice, asking when their next meeting is and if I can come along. And I have signed up to a business start up awareness session with the business gateway in April. It was the only Saturday not already booked. I'm on the reserve lsit for two dates in March and there's a day for business palnning and finance in April that I can probably take annual leave for.

I also bought this book which will hopefully help me on my way - as long as I read it!

Right, had the call... off to declutter some-one else's life... it's so much easier than doing it for yourself!

MrsMoo2U

Nic, I am not going to shout. I think you have done absolutely the right thing by asking about doing some unpaid work. You could do this around the job you currently have by taking annual leave etc. It is all about networking and learning and putting the building blocks in place for the future. You are really motivated now and there is nothing (other than fear) to stop you. That saying about work to live not live to work should be at the forefront of your mind right now. Could you handle staying with your current job if you are building up to the future....... it would be short term wouldnt it?
Also you need to have some faith in yourself here. Yes it is scary but you are obviously good at what you do (why would they have reopened the job for you and then offered it to you. Why has that woman said that she would recommend you? - Because you are good, you are passionate about what you do too.) Believe in yourself, step off the cliff and you will fly. What is the very worst that could happen? And will it kill you? NOPE!

I know that I dont know you in RL but I just want to say that I am very proud of you for taking life by the scruff of the neck and making it work for you. X

MatyMoo

I think you are looking at things in the right way Having got this far along the debt busting road you don't want to do anything to put a halt to that.

You know what the minimum you need to earn is to cover your outgoings. Can this be covered by the 2 days a week and the 2nd job? And maybe a Mon-Fri Lodger? Don't forget that you would pay less NI and tax with a lower income.

If the outgoings were covered would it be easier to take that big step towards freelancing? Can you find out what others in the same or similar fields charge? Is that why you want to attend the association of professionals in your field's meetings?

I never signed up to being a grown up either! But earning enough to cover what has to be covered allows you the freedom to have fun which makes you feel young and carefree. Worrying about money is ageing, boring, limits what you can do and makes life very dull

Everyone I know that has been brave enough to take that step in to self employment has managed to end up with a better work/life balance as well as earning the money to make it worthwhile.

I am not brave enough to do it myself either, although I am no longer in debt (as such) I have a hefty mortgage and only my income. Also, I don't know of any self employed Credit Managers! :rotfl: