Into the unknown....

jtr2803

Sorry to hear about IS Annie, my mum is having an absolute NIGHTMARE with them at the moment since she went back to work, they try to encourage people to get back into employment but seem to make it so hard and it gets me very angry :mad:

Good news on the tax though, have they given you any indication of how much it would be? Hopefully it will be in time for your holiday too

AnnieG

I think I'm looking at about another £700 or so, which would be amazing, just in time for my holiday which I'm so glad was all paid for before the job went. I've pretty much given up on getting anything before we get back from our hols now, as it's only 3 weeks till we go. The permanent jobs I've applied for are both interviewing before I go however, so it's possible, just possible, that I could have a job to start when I come back. Lets not count any chickens though, what with the car, income support fiasco and then that nonsense with the temping work, lady luck hasn't been exactly smiling on me over the last few months!!
Still... NSD for me again today, only because it was raining and I didn't want to go out to the shops!!

jtr2803

Well done on the NSD and the refund sounds like it will be a nice amount, let's hope that the tax man sorts it out nice and quickly for you!

Have you done all your job applications now and sent them off?

AnnieG

Hello... if anyone's reading!
I haven't been here for a while... I really struggled through the summer holidays, having DS at home 24 hours a day for 6 weeks really took it out of me. He was meant to go on hoiday with his dad, but decided he didn't want to go, so the summer has been totally full on. We did get over to France for a couple of weeks which was lovely, but I've been having soem real issues with his behaviour, so it wasn't quite the relaxing break I'd hoped for.
The summer has been a money saving disaster! I'm trying to get back on the straight and narrow now, especially as I still haven't found a job. I've got one application in at the moment that I'm waiting to hear about.. a job I really, really want although it would mean an hour's commute each way. Other than that, I'm starting to think that I'm going to be out of work on a long term basis. Still, I'm trying not to let it get me down, although I do have my moments. I got some Amazon vouchers for my birthday and have ordered some books, so have got my winter hibernation planned!
I need to go to Mr S today, and MUST do it before DS comes home from school or I'll have to take him with me and he'll want want want! I just need some potatoes and some fruit, so it shouldn't cost much.
I'm also trying to keep the house in some sort of order, as I don't seem to have the neat and tidy gene that most people are born with... so I shall go and have a whizz round (not too quickly though as I've hurt my back) and then I can sit down with my book without feeling guilty!

jtr2803

Hi Annie!! Welcome back to MSE, sorry to hear that the holidays have been really stressful for you . How did you hurt your back? I hope it feels better soon.

The hibernation plan sounds like a good one, I really enjoy reading but just never seem to get time unless I am on holiday. Hope that going to mr S was as stress free as poss and good luck with the job application, it certainly wont hurt to apply

AnnieG

Hi! I'km feeling a bit more cheerful today... my back is feeling better.. I don't know how or why, but sometimes it just 'goes', and the only thing I can do is take ibuprofen and put a hot water bottle on it. But, it's on the mend now :-).
I've been put forward for some temping work... I worked in recruitment years ago and my clients never interviewed for temp jobs, I don't know why they need to, it seems to prolong the process. Still, at least there's the possibility of the chance of some work... I need to find something soon. I applied for the other job but haven't heard anything yet, so am playing the waiting game again.
Haven't spent anything yet today and am hoping to keep it like that! I need to have a couple of days getting myself properly organised with meal plans etc, and I've also got some form filling to do, which is very exciting...???!!!
I'm also waiting for a cheque from the tax man, on the overpayment from my last job, they send me a bit then say if you're still claiming income support in 4 weeks, send this form back and we'll send you another cheque, but I've been waiting ages for this one.
I'm going to make some cherry scones now, and 'forget' that I'm trying to lose weight!!!

AnnieG

Well, so much for feeling better, I've had a rotten weekend, DS has been a total nightmare. I was doing ok with not spending too much money, I got him lunch from subway with a voucher he'd got from somewhere, then went to Halfords to get a new inner tube for his bike. I asked the chap to fit it for me as I'm hopeless at that kind of stuff, and he did it for free, and also replaced the brake cables... for free as well!!
Then ds turned on the attitude and the day was ruined. I had ginner planned, but was so exhausted by all the shouting and arguing that I just went and got fish and chips instead.
I took him and his best friend out this morning to the bmx track, and they ended up throwing punches at each other, so today descended into chaos and upset as well.
Still, I was going to do a supermarket shop yesterday but managed to put it off, so can go tomorrow when ds is at school. I'm going to have a real frugal week or two if I can.. no sign of a job yet and my savings are dwindling quickly.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

jtr2803

I'm sorry to hear you aren't having a good time of it at the moment. Sorry if this is a bit personal but is there any relief or support you can get with your son? It sounds like it is really taking it's toll on you x

AnnieG

Hi Jody
It's not personal... I don't know if there's any help I can get, although someone suggested contacting the nspcc. It's really hard as I'm on my own and don't really have many friends here, and although my brother and his family are just round the corner they keep themselves to themselves and I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking to them about it. My dad's usually very helpful, on the end of the phone, but my stepmum's really ill at the moment so I don't like to bother him as he's got enough to be dealing with there. I've been struggling on for 8 years now, he's never been 'easy', although there are plenty of times when he's just absolutely gorgeous. I'm hoping that he'll grow out of it or something..... I've seen a book I want to get him, Alvin Hall has written a book about money for kids, so they uinderstand about budgetting and the economy etc, so I think I'll order it from Amazon and we can sit down and read it together.
Other than that, I'm trying to be very strict with myself on the financial front, now that the summer's over I'm in 'batton down the hatches' mode, and trying to spend as little as possible. I think the cupboards are full enough to last a couple of weeks, I'll just need stuff like milk and fruit.
On that note.... I need to get a loaf in the breadmachine!

AnnieG

Hello :0)
I've had a good day today, really productive. I've scrubbed the kitchen to within an inch of its life, baked some biscuits and bread, done 2 loads of washing, tidied and hoovered the living room, planned meals for the next 4 weeks and had a lovely bubble bath! Phew... I'm glad to be having a sit down now. This week has been good on the money front..I've hardly spent anything. I ordered a couple of bits from Lakeland today ready for Christmas chutney and jam making, and a book about finance for DS - aimed specifically at kids, so that'll be useful I hope.
I went to an open day at the uni yesterday and have found a course to do at their lifelong learning centre. It's not too expensive and is only a couple of hours a week, so if I haven't found a job by the time it starts in a couple of weeks, I'm going to enrol.
I applied for a job that I really wanted, and am really disappointed not to have been shortlisted.. well, I don't think I have anyway, as I haven't heard anything and the closing date was 2 weeks ago. I was kind of pinning my hopes on it, but it looks as though I'll have to pin them on something else. I've seen something else to apply for, but it'd mean moving... which I'm thinking I'm going to have to do as there's nothing about here. So, I'll send off the application form and see what happens. It'd mean living nearer the rest of my family, so there are advantages.
Busy day tomorrow, I've got several forms I need to fill in, to upgrade my membership of my professional organisation and other such exciting things.
I can smell the bread that's been cooking in the machine... the only problem with homemade bread is that it's so nice we get through twice as much!!