£7k in 7 months...I hope!

jtr2803

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around much, am having a bit of a horrible week. Feeling very low and have probably cried more in the last week than I have in the previous two years . Think I am just a bit burnt out with exams and money etc. I went to the pub that want a new bar person last night and have agreed to start next week but I have some serious reservations. I'm not too bothered about the days and hours the shifts are but I didn't realise till quite late in our meeting that there is no in-situ landlord/lady - no one lives at the pub and I am expected to lock up at night on my own. The pub is in quite a rough area and the landlady openly told me that they have a few punters who wander up there late when already drunk and cause a nuisance :eek:. I have previously run a bar and had to cash up/lock up but that was on an Army base so was extremely safe.

Also, I had a bit of a tour last night and she showed me the till etc but on my first shift I am being dumped in the deep end....there wont be anyone there to help me if things start going wrong or I can't find something/don't know how to do it which is worrying the hell out of me. The girl who is working until 5 is likely to be around for a while I am told but after that....on my own . I've worked in loads of pubs but always had someone around such as another bar staff person or the manager there for support. Was so upset last night as although the money is good I am dreading it already and I don't know what to do. My OH isn't happy at all about me being left alone to lock up and is worried about my first shift, I was in tears last night because I just don't want to do it.

I am going to message my friend who worked there and see what she says, she might say that the chef normally hangs around in which case it might not be so bad but I can't see him wanting to stay there with me all night. Just the thought of it is making me feel sick.

Sorry for the random babble and I will try and catch up with everyones diaries over the weekend. Just about to start revision for my exam on Monday which I am also dreading.....it just keeps getting better and better.:(

xxx

LittleMoog

oh Jody, big hugs. Sorry you're feeling so worked up, it's mental what exam stress can do to you, let alone combining it with debt stress as well

Try and stop at a specified time each evening, and spend 45mins-1hour chilling out (bath, book, music etc) so you can settle down to sleep, it always helped me when I was revising, so I got a proper nights sleep and could start fresh in the morning. Also don't beat yourself up if you can't sit and revise solidly for more than 45 minutes or so - that's about how long your brain can actually take in new info. Get up, have a 10 minute break. Glass of water and a few trips up and down the stairs to get your blood pumping faster (more oxygen for your braincells!) and back to it.

I'd suggest giving the pub a couple of shifts as a trial. Ask OH to come up half an hour before closing, so you've got some back up if you've got lairy punters to turf out and so you aren't locking up on your own. It might turn out ok, but if you hate it, leave! It's not a permanent job, just a bit of extra cash to speed up repayments, so it's not the end of the world. Better to spend a few extra months repaying than to be miserable I say :cool:

kavics17

I was thinking about this, i think I would be bloody scared locking up on my own, and also knowing that I am responsible on my own for the whole place. I think I would turn it down, even if I need the money as a woman it's hard to face dangers. Hope you will find a solution, just try to relax and chill. Good luck

jtr2803

HI ladies and gentlemen....I'm baaaaaaaack, did you miss me? :j

Well I had my last exam today - it went HORRIBLY.....I think I definately failed and I am not just saying that. I came home very upset and didn't go into work afterwards as I just couldn't face it . BUT on the positive side, it's over now and regardless of whether I have passed or failed it's too late to change it now.

The last two weeks have been the biggest period of stress I have gone through in a hell of a long time and it's making me question my career choice and my own ability but I can deal with this once the results are in. My boss has been very supportive and told me not to worry if I fail but I will feel a bit of a twerp if I don't at least pass one.

Thank you all for your support during a tough time, I am really looking forward to getting back on track as the housework has slipped, the poor fish have been neglected and I haven't shaved my legs in weeks (OK maybe too much info there ). My psoriasis is also bad at the moment but that's because of the stress so I am hoping it will subside a bit soon. I am looking forward to getting back into the old Money Saving habits and keeping you all up to date with my progress, or lack of .

julespickles wrote: »

oh Jody, big hugs. Sorry you're feeling so worked up, it's mental what exam stress can do to you, let alone combining it with debt stress as well

Try and stop at a specified time each evening, and spend 45mins-1hour chilling out (bath, book, music etc) so you can settle down to sleep, it always helped me when I was revising, so I got a proper nights sleep and could start fresh in the morning. Also don't beat yourself up if you can't sit and revise solidly for more than 45 minutes or so - that's about how long your brain can actually take in new info. Get up, have a 10 minute break. Glass of water and a few trips up and down the stairs to get your blood pumping faster (more oxygen for your braincells!) and back to it.

I'd suggest giving the pub a couple of shifts as a trial. Ask OH to come up half an hour before closing, so you've got some back up if you've got lairy punters to turf out and so you aren't locking up on your own. It might turn out ok, but if you hate it, leave! It's not a permanent job, just a bit of extra cash to speed up repayments, so it's not the end of the world. Better to spend a few extra months repaying than to be miserable I say :cool:

kavics17 wrote: »

I was thinking about this, i think I would be bloody scared locking up on my own, and also knowing that I am responsible on my own for the whole place. I think I would turn it down, even if I need the money as a woman it's hard to face dangers. Hope you will find a solution, just try to relax and chill. Good luck

Well yes, the pub job......I messaged my friend who had been working there and she managed to put my mind at ease quite a bit. She said she messed it all up her first time and that the landlady, whilst very nice, is quite new to pub management so we are all kind of bumbling along to start with. On the plus side they are currently trying to find a live in bar person so someone will be there at locking up time in the not too distant future. My friend said she is going to do her best to come and lock up with me on my first night so she can show me how to do everything. It's very kind of her but I feel bad about it. I am going to phone the landlady tomorrow and speak to her about it as she may offer to stay with me - don't know. I am also going to ask if I can do maybe an hour or two one night with another member of staff so I can familiarise myself with the till, where everything is kept etc so I don't go in blind on Sunday. I drive past the pub on the way home every night so it's no massive deal.

I am going to do 8 weeks before deciding whether it is for me or not, I reckon by that time I will have earnt in excess of £400 which will pay for my car service, the balance on the centreparcs holiday and give me a bit of a slush fund for emergencies. If it goes ok then I will look to continue until probably the end of the year or until I have squirreled enough away to pay off the debt with Cabot, which I should get a reduced amount for early settlement, maybe £800 or so?.

I haven't put anymore on Ebay yet but made about £45 after fees etc on the last lot so that was good. Even during my stress I managed to do my daily scratchy and am up to £17 now :T. Haven't done any surveys recently as just haven't had time but going to aim to do 2 or 3 this week once I have calmed down. Am thinking it would be nice to try and get away for a long weekend in September but this depends on money. Quite fancy the norfolk broads or Somerset but will see how £ goes and make a decision in August. Have updated my spending diary, things haven't been too bad - 2 NSDs over the weekend although I did spend about £13 total for seeing Jason Manford (who was HIL-ARI-OUS!) which included parking, few drinks and a cheeky Macdonalds on the way home. Spent £1.30 on bottle of water today before exam but I needed it! Do need to buy some fish food soon and have committed to buy two corals from a nearby reefer which is why I am forcing myself to work in the pub!

Aside from the financial stuff I need to start eating properly, I can't remember the last time I ate fruit and have eaten so much junk due to just picking , must sort this out! My best friend from a few years back also got in contact on facebook a little while ago, I haven't seen her in two and a half years and in that time she has got married and had a baby. She let me down badly which is why I stopped talking to her but that's all done now and I am hoping to meet up with her soon .

Phew, think that is me done for now. Hopefully I will be about more often from now on - have missed the chats

Jody
xx

Choc-addict

Hey you!

Nice to be back and see that things have calmed for you. I'm sure you have done better than you think with the exams lovely - just forget about them now, what's done is done and no worrying will change the outcome.

Second job sounds a bit of a mare- I can understand your worry. That said it may be fine (fingers crossed) and could solve a lot of problems if put to good use - I like you plan of using it to cover the car/holiday balance etc - all money you don't need to find elsewhere then.

I'm with you on the food side, been eating rubbish this week away but I was on hols so not going to beat myself up - back to it this tomorrow when life resumes it's normal self....

Off to do a bit of clearing, packing away etc....itching to plan next hols....I must be good, I must be good, I must be good :o:o

Speak soon! xx

kavics17

Glad that exams are over, time to take it easy a bit.

Good luck with second job, I still think you're brave to do it and I wouldn't (but I'm not brave anyway), just hope it will be alright and they will find a live-in person who can be there when you lock up.

Going back to healthy eating can be really hard but you can do it, we still have one take-away a week,that's our luxury, we can treat ourselves once a week. Anyway, better get back to work, I will never finish if I don't get on with it...

jtr2803

Hi all,

Just a quick update - scratchy 10p and did a 50p survey last night then had a lovely hot bath and relaxed lots! Very busy at work as I wasn't here for a few days.

I still need to catch up with lots of diaries - Jools, AnnieG, LMRH and some others, hopefully I will get time this evening.:)

Just phoned the pub about going in on Thursday but the landlady wasn't there, spoke to the chef instead and he was really nice! Said he would do me a closing up spreadsheet so I know what to do and that he will try and stay with me Sunday night to help lock up. He will also give me his mobile number on Thursday so that if I am there and have any problems I can call him and he will come straight round as he only lives a few minutes away! Feel more relaxed about it now I have spoken to him.

Well, hope you are all having a good day.

xx

LittleMoog

Hi Jody,
You sound a lot more relaxed today hope it all goes well at the pub on Thursday, I always really enjoyed pub work, good if you like a natter while you work

OrangeFairy

Hey Jody!! Well done on the end of your exams!

I hope all is well.

Great about the second job. I need to look for something really. My bro and sis work in a nearby restaurant/pub and the landlord is a customer at work! He buys their till rolls from us and we maintain their till systems. He always asks for me to serve him . So i reckon a smile and a request for a sat and sun night job or just when they were short of staff would hopefully get me somewhere.

Choc-addict

jtr2803 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just a quick update - scratchy 10p and did a 50p survey last night then had a lovely hot bath and relaxed lots! Very busy at work as I wasn't here for a few days.

I still need to catch up with lots of diaries - Jools, AnnieG, LMRH and some others, hopefully I will get time this evening.:)

Just phoned the pub about going in on Thursday but the landlady wasn't there, spoke to the chef instead and he was really nice! Said he would do me a closing up spreadsheet so I know what to do and that he will try and stay with me Sunday night to help lock up. He will also give me his mobile number on Thursday so that if I am there and have any problems I can call him and he will come straight round as he only lives a few minutes away! Feel more relaxed about it now I have spoken to him.

Well, hope you are all having a good day.

xx

Glad you managed a nice relaxing bath and also that the chef has been so helpful at putting your mind at ease. Take care x