Week 2 - There's so much we can do.

RubySewSew

Do you want to hear some good news?

Well the car is still the same, no better, no worse. But I am getting it back tomorrow. So I will be able to get to the craft fayre on Saturday.

The boiler man has just been and the fan has gone. Reckon it will be about £100. :beer:

And I confided in the headteacher at the other school that I was planning to resign and she offered me a job! Less hours, less money but will give me more time to get the business set up. So then I spoke to my friend at the LEA who said wait until Monday before I do anything so that she can explore all my options from the inside first. :beer: :beer:

You see, turning point.

Mags30

WOW Ruby, that's great news. I've been reading for the last few days but didn't reply because I had no idea how to help. And if things can improve that fast from a "turning point" I want one:p So glad things are looking up for you.

x

Cheery_Daff

Wow Ruby, excellent news about the car, the boiler, and the job! :j :j Wow! I'm well impressed! :T :T Hope things continue looking up for you, and good luck at the craft fayre tomorrow! :j :j

RubySewSew

Ah, thanks guys!

Boiler and car now sorted for combined total of £370. I've borrowed this from the boyfriend but he is happy for me to pay him back when I can. I was hoping to clear a chunk of this today post craft fayre but that was not meant to be. The craft fayre was steady but not the promised land I was expecting. I made £45 and my friend made 4 times this which means that it is not profitable to share a stall with her! This is sad but I can't (and don't want to) compete with her prices. I reckon ebay might be a better option for my stuff. Although I have a Brighton sale coming up which is a different market so we'll see. I did have a few people enquiring about online sales so I am going to bang some stuff up on ebay over the weekend.

The universe did throw up another odd little gem today. Met a lovely woman running the stall next to me. She is recovering from breast cancer and is in an awful financial position as a result. I mentioned the fantastic support of this forum and also suggested she register with NICE as they are always looking for service user representatives (which is really well paid). And, it turns out she is a special educational needs teacher who is currently doing home teaching. Have I just found my tutor for DS1?! She was fab, and her energy felt absolutely right.

Now, on a separate note, how is this for a dilemma? I already told you that I've been offered a small part time job at a local school which will give me a lot of flexibility, a small, but reliable income, the opportunity for bank work and an inroad with a soon to be expanding school. Then on Friday night, I had a call from the headteacher of a school on the other side of the city offering me the pick of 2 full time jobs or the possibility of creating a job for myself. The money would be good and the work would be stimulating as well as being supported and valued. But the hours would be really long, early starts, hardly seeing the boys, expensive childcare and no time for making or antenatal teaching. I guess writing it down like that answers the question but blimey, what a decision to have to make. I've been asked to go in on Wednesday for a chat and a look around so I will do that before making a final decision.

So. after a physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting week I'm going to tumble the children into bed and curl up on the sofa with a glass of wine. I hope you're all doing something similarly lovely x

Cheery_Daff

Goodness Ruby, what a fabulous dilemma you have there! :j :j :j Well done on sorting the boiler and car! :j Enjoy the wine, you deserve it, and let us know what you decide! :j

moo2moo

So why not tell the head teacher of the school across the city that you have committed yourself to part time hours somewhere else and professional pride and responsibility to your current students means that you wouldn't be prepared to let them down.... however you do have one or two or even three free days that you would be prepared to dedicate to her students but the additional expense of childcare and travel etc would be a concern... ask if she'll permit your PPA time to be paid but done at home to enable you to spend time with your children. If they want you that much they'll agree to almost anything. You could agree to review this arrangement at the end of the summer term which would give her children continuity besides which your children won't be small forever, you could always increase your hours as they get older and their needs change.

RubySewSew

I'm absolutely shattered and am resigned to the fact that for now my work life balance is all wrong. Had meeting with headteacher at the local school and came out to find my son had just thrown up. Have had to rush him to doctor with suspected appendicitis. He seems a bit better now but it does mean ANOTHER day off school. I know I'm planning to resign but I won't have a job to resign at this rate. I get panicky every time I have to phone in. But it is ridiculous. I haven't had time to collect my prescriptions, or shop, or cook. My doctor is adamant that I should be signed off. The next few weeks and months are going to be a worry and I don't know how I am going to pay for Christmas. There are things I need to move forward but I am immobilised with tiredness. I need to bang some stuff up on ebay tonight but I am so tired. Maybe I could make myself a wall plan to help motivate myself. I need to try and keep a track of all the silly little debts that I have and I would like to be trying to pay off a little but each day. I'm also trying to think of what I can make for people for Christmas including the boys. I don't go mad but it always cost more than you think.

Need to try and get my energy up. Doesn't help that it was 4pm before I had any lunch today! Maybe a milky coffee will help. Off to make a plan...

RubySewSew

Ok, have used DS1's sick day to sort some stuff out. Opened post this morning to find a collections letter from Santander. I was planning to sort this out today anyway but it certainly hastened the process. I called them up and got bounced from collections to customer services and back to collections. Basically, the areas relates to £180 of charges which have come about because they charged me £15 for a 7 day unauthorised overdraft of £7.08. They want to set up a payment arrangement of £1 a month and I want them to write off the charges so that I can start paying money into the account and bring it back into credit. The woman in collections was telling me that I had to face the consequences of my actions (my actions being to go £7.08 overdrawn because of bank charges). At this point I burst into tears and pointed out that I was dealing with the consequences, the consequences being that I couldn't afford to feed my children. She then had told me off for shouting at her and for stating that I couldn't feed my kids. I appreciate it can't be an easy job but I'm sure there are people far worse off, far more emotional and far less reasonable than me. The whole situation is so ludicrous. I decided to put it in writing instead. I am so mad about it!

I also wrote to both Halifax and Nationwide with regard to charges applied to the account. These total £537 and all relate to Halifax failing to transfer my account properly so that my credits were going to them whilst my debits bounced out of Nationwide. Both banks are denying responsibility. So in total this year I have run up £817 in charges, none of which should reasonably stand.

I have also phoned human resources to check how to maintain continuity of employment and to ensure that the school can't terminate my contract due to sickness. HR were really helpful so feeling a little more reassured now.

I have also taken a mortgage holiday to relieve the immediate pressure on my finances. I wouldn't usually borrow against my mortgage but this is a short term solution. By relieving and stabilising the immediate situation I can implement my budget, pay off my debts quicker and start to overpay my mortgage.

And I am selling my Wii. And everything that goes with it. That should ease some of the immediate pressures. And I've made a list of debts, things to sell and things to do and posted them inside the kitchen cupboards so it is something I am always aware of and can keep track of more effectively. I set myself a goal at the beginning of the year to reduce my debt but I have actually managed to increase it. At least I can aim to end the year knowing that I am managing my debt. And maybe start the new year with a new job, a new business and a new hobby.

Once I have worked my way out of this mess I never want to owe anybody another penny ever again.

Cheery_Daff

Oh Ruby, you sound so tired ((((((((((((((ruby))))))))))))) Glad you managed to sort a few things out today - and don't deal with those meanies over the phone, always in writing! Always! Glad you spoke to HR too, and that they're helping to reassure you. As for Christmas, can you sew things?

At work, so can't stop long, but will be back later
xxx

RubySewSew

I am tired! I didn't realise that came across, I didn't mean for it to. I've just been through my diary and put all my dates in and I am making myself a promise and you are a witness to it.

I am not agreeing to do anything else between now and the new year.

I simply can't fit anything else in so I'm going to stop trying. I possibly should have realised that a few weeks ago. And it is so hard going out to work in the evening at this time of year!

Reasons to be positive:
I have got work to go to.
Things will be better come January
I have a jacket potato in the oven - yum yum!
DS1 is feeling better
I still have stuff to sell
Can hopefully get some cash for the weekend by selling wii
There is a plan. There is always a plan!

So, jacket potato, work, snuggle up on the sofa. Done.