Life after bankruptcy?

Wordsmith

Good, Ani. I hope you found the day restful and were able to recharge the batteries a bit.

miggy

I'm so glad you had a day off Ani - and got some TV time in too.
As for me - 3 hours asleep then I woke up... 8 mins past 11... do I or don't I?! Well, I gave in and watched so now I'm headed back to sleep if poss before going back to work at 9.
Are you up early tomorrow? I'll think of you on just in case! Enjoy the EG, mine's a cappuccino with choccy topping: best way to face midnight that I know of!

kerri_gt

Glad you enjoyed the wedding ani - and finally got a day off to recharge a bit. I'm not really fussed about the Royal's myself, but it's nice to have an occasion where the whole, or most, of the country celebrates and gets to enjoy.

ani_26

Sending you a cappucino now, miggy as i will be in bed again,soon. I feel as tired as ever, despite the day off, and back on the grindstone again,tomorrow xx


On reflection. This is my very pesonal diary and my thoughts, exactly how it is. I've said all along, if you look back to that very first post, don't read my diary, or post, if you don't want to. This is still how life is in the real world for me, and i'm not going to pretend to anyone, that by going bankrupt, it is neccessarily going to make all your problems disappear, because for me, it clearly has'nt, despite the fact i'm working my butt off, and yes i might be better off, if i gave up working altogether, and let you all, the taxpayers, support me in the life of riley. However it IS beyond my ethos, and until my future is decided, i will continue working hard and working through my thoughts, because, lets face it, maybe i'm more of a person than any of you or i, give me credit for.

kerri_gt

Well I certainly think you're more of a person than you give yourself credit for Ani xx

ani_26

Thanks kerri gt xx

Have a good bank holiday, everyone. What did i say about april? Enjoy the summer whilst its here. Back to work, as usual, for me now.

I forgot it was the anniversay of my mums death, last week. I can't even remember how many years it is, now. The forget me nots reminded me, yesterday, and there were slight pangs of guilt as i realised i'd completely forgotten, on the day. I guess the forget me nots will always serve to remind me. at some point. I was obssessed with finding some to throw on the coffin, but could'nt find any. I don't know why. They are in out in abundance, around here. Soon be time for sweet williams.

Wordsmith

I hope today was not too hard for you, ani.

ani_26 wrote: »

I have already stated previously that earlier this year i was working for something ridiculous which actually equated to something like £1 an hour, when i sat down and worked out the time, effort and hours i'd invested in the job. And yes, more fool me. Just one of ' those ' jobs.

How does this situation arise, that you are working for £1 an hour?

ani_26 wrote: »

The sums are in the process of being done, the hard truth is, this has been the way it is for several years, now, to the extent where it has now destroyed me.

Do you mean this is why you went bankrupt? Have you been working for £1 an hour for several years?

ani_26 wrote: »

I'm fed up of covering the same ground. I can't do it anymore.

I'm not sure whether you mean answering questions about it or that history is repeating itself. If you don't want me to ask the question, then I apologise, but I don't recall you saying why you are working (and have been for years?) for such a pitifully small amount.

I read the post you put up yesterday but later deleted - I'm not judging, I would just like to help you find a way forward in a practical way, since that is clearly what you need to do. I am asking the questions because I would really like to understand.

Wordsmith

ani_26 wrote: »

... despite the fact i'm working my butt off, and yes i might be better off, if i gave up working altogether, and let you all, the taxpayers, support me in the life of riley. However it IS beyond my ethos, and until my future is decided, i will continue working hard and working through my thoughts, because, lets face it, maybe i'm more of a person than any of you or i, give me credit for.

Are you talking 'work ethic' or 'not going on benefits'?

If it is work ethic, could you go on benefits but volunteer for 40 hours a week for a charity? That way you wouldn't be living the life of riley - you could consider it working for a charity but being paid by the government. Not a bad trade-off, since there are so many government cuts it could simply be seen as displacement or redistribution of funds. You benefit, the charity benefits, the recipients of your work benefit, the country benefits. And it would give you time and space to regroup.

If you mean you don't want to 'go on benefits' you could consider it an informal loan. Give yourself the time and space to get sorted, find a better way of earning so that when you start earning again at a higher salary you will be 'repaying' the 'loan' by an increased amount into the government coffers.

Aesop

Hi wordsmith

from what ani has previously written in the diary, they are self employed. In an industry that they do not wish to write about, no, I don't know what it is, hence my reference to self employed tax inspectors

This industry being self employed, they only get paid when whoever they are contracted to decides to pay them. Maybe contracted is the wrong word.

Some of the people Ani has been working for has paid up really quickly, others still owe money I believe.

I think when Ani worked out how much is paid, take off all the expenses, travel, etc and tax and NI, the jobs equate to only £1 an hour.

It reminds me of Avon, someone on that thread worked out after we had paid all our expenses, take into account actual time working, prepping books, distributing, collecting, delivering orders, etc after a year, we only earnt about £1 per hour. And that was one of the ladies with top sales! Well as a rep anyway, it is the Sales Leaders with large teams who make lots of money. They are the ones you see in the papers, etc.

ani_26

Wordsmith wrote: »

I hope today was not too hard for you, ani.



How does this situation arise, that you are working for £1 an hour?



Do you mean this is why you went bankrupt? Have you been working for £1 an hour for several years?



I'm not sure whether you mean answering questions about it or that history is repeating itself. If you don't want me to ask the question, then I apologise, but I don't recall you saying why you are working (and have been for years?) for such a pitifully small amount.

I read the post you put up yesterday but later deleted - I'm not judging, I would just like to help you find a way forward in a practical way, since that is clearly what you need to do. I am asking the questions because I would really like to understand.

Forgive me if i miss anything, as i'm tired.


I'm sure you must know as well as anyone Wordsmith, as you too, are self employed, although you are also employed in a shop ? for Royal Mail?


Of course i'm not thick or stupid enough to have been working for £1 an hour for several years, although i am thick and stupid on some counts.

I'm also sure many other people have taken cuts in their salary, in recent years, Have they not? There was someone only the other day saying they had talen a £10,000 pa cut.

So if a budget is agreed for a job, and the job turns out to be unachievable, with an unrealistic budget, i fulfill what i've agreed to do, and then at the end of it, total up the amount of hours i've worked on a job, and concur i've earned £1 an hour, ( minus petrol, which i've paid for, out of the goodness of my heart ). That never takes into account the amount of paperwork i might have to do at home. Because you never switch off when you are s/e. You are ' open all hours ', are you not? ( As i'm writing this, the phone has just rung, a work call at 20.00 on a saturday evening ). So there you go. I'm too soft,me. A pushover.

Maybe you know of some union or official body i could seek to represent me in court, free of charge ? What do you do in these circumstances? It simply does'nt work like that. As stupid as it sounds, i have to survive on some degree of goodwill, which includes being devalued.

I, simply have to write off my time, and goodwill, as i'm told, at least you are working, and thats the way it goes. Swings and roundabouts, i think its called.


Undoubtably, what used to be money for old rope and extremely well paid, is sadly, now in decline. No - I don't work on commission or in sales. I consider myself to be a professional person, doing a professional job. A shame that others don't see it that way, as i'm increasingly asked to travel for hours, for which i'm not paid, or use petrol, for which i'm not paid.

Now most people have expenses of getting to work, admittedly in varying degrees. There are those who would complain if they have to travel more than a few miles to work each day. They don't know how lucky they are.

I've managed to now 'cut ' some of my travel costs, by relocating, in the move, which makes a huge difference in the amount of time i spend travelling to and from work, although i'm still travelling, who knows where? everyday.

The petrol allowances have been cut, and as i'm sure you are all aware, the price of unleaded has risen to 135.9 per litre. has it not? And yes. Fees for jobs have been cut accordingly, too. But everyone is in the same boat, and there are one or two others, struggling like me.

Is there anything i've missed? On to the next post....................