Stop spending.....how??

mac2008

Charlotteicious wrote: »

Hi Mac, it is true, my partner does need a higher paying job.
He currently works for his parents in their cafe - with the view of taking it over in a few years...but they aren't the most generous of people, he doesn't get a lot of things such as sick pay/paternity leave/holiday pay etc. And he can only get what hours are available..but always AT LEAST 16hours per week.

We are working on him finding other jobs, but he didn't do well at school so we think this is holding him back, as he is only getting rejections from jobs..we are solving this, he is currently re-sitting his GCSE's through night classes and then hoping to do an NVQ/Access Course/A-levels in night classes too. He also applies for jobs that include training (he is looking into carework mainly).

However, i know he does want his parents business, and from what i can see it does well...but there is the factor of how long can we wait, and will they stick to their word?

But i can't force him to change, only encourage and do what i can to help..

Cool - Thanks for filling us in on this. Sounds like he clearly recognises the need to change and more importantly is working hard towards it. You say you're struggling with writing plans, but this has got to be a good start for the 3 & 5 year ones - work out when he's going to get the new qualifications, maybe identify 2 or 3 job types to research more etc and use this to reduce the risk and give yourself options if the cafe job doesn't work out.

Re. working for his parents in the cafe - sounds like a pretty bad deal to me. I know working for a family business like this means he ain't going to get 5 weeks paid holiday and a company car, but could he (or you both) address at least some of this with his parents - like upping hours (or making them more regular), taking on more responsibility etc. Perhaps if you convinced them that your long term goals were for a house etc. and a better future for you & their grandchild, they might be a bit more on-board? Obviously I know nothing about specifics of his situation, so sorry if this isn't possible for you, but even if its very difficult initially, it might be a conversation worth having. It'd be great to have his parents as committed to your long term plans as you & he clearly are.

opinions4u

Small around the edges help:

Survey sites ... Google Valued Opinions, Pure Profile, YouGov, GlobalTestMarket and Pinecone Research. Typically this is worth around £3 an hour - but can be put on hold while you attend to family duties! When I was really skint I pocketed around £35 a month from these.

Online Shopping ... Look in to TopCashback. Earn commission for any online shopping that you have to do. Ideal if you are starting new contracts for phones, Sky, power bills etc. Don't use it as a reason to do additional shopping though!

Any shopping for non-essential purchases ... don't buy on the day. Never impulse buy. If you still feel you want the item 2 days later then discuss it with your partner and agree on it's need.

shirleymarye

Auxillary nursing in hospitals,don't know if they still do it! They may have domestic work evenings or how about office cleaning evenings or nights.

Charlotteicious

mac2008 wrote: »

Cool - Thanks for filling us in on this. Sounds like he clearly recognises the need to change and more importantly is working hard towards it. You say you're struggling with writing plans, but this has got to be a good start for the 3 & 5 year ones - work out when he's going to get the new qualifications, maybe identify 2 or 3 job types to research more etc and use this to reduce the risk and give yourself options if the cafe job doesn't work out.

Re. working for his parents in the cafe - sounds like a pretty bad deal to me. I know working for a family business like this means he ain't going to get 5 weeks paid holiday and a company car, but could he (or you both) address at least some of this with his parents - like upping hours (or making them more regular), taking on more responsibility etc. Perhaps if you convinced them that your long term goals were for a house etc. and a better future for you & their grandchild, they might be a bit more on-board? Obviously I know nothing about specifics of his situation, so sorry if this isn't possible for you, but even if its very difficult initially, it might be a conversation worth having. It'd be great to have his parents as committed to your long term plans as you & he clearly are.

Yes that is something i didn't think of adding onto the 3/5 year plans!
It is a bad deal...he knows this, i tell him frequently....but not much can be done. Last time he approached the subject the fired him for 3weeks! They don't really seem on side with us and help his siblings a lot lot more...but thats fair enough..it's up to them(OH has said maybe if he was a drug taking, jobless, drinking too much and clubbing whilst leaving babies at home and asking for money, maybe they'd do something for him once in a while :undecided)
I think if we come up with a list of job prospects, along with typical salaries and what qualifications he'd need and how long to gain, this may put it into perspective for him!
I know it won't be like this forever, before i was pregnant i did work in a few jobs and was usually on around £20grand a year, which wasn't too bad really...so now i have a few more qualifications (i've been doing my own classes in the evening) maybe i'll be able to get similar pay if not more once my LO is in full time school.

Charlotteicious

opinions4u wrote: »

Small around the edges help:

Survey sites ... Google Valued Opinions, Pure Profile, YouGov, GlobalTestMarket and Pinecone Research. Typically this is worth around £3 an hour - but can be put on hold while you attend to family duties! When I was really skint I pocketed around £35 a month from these.

Online Shopping ... Look in to TopCashback. Earn commission for any online shopping that you have to do. Ideal if you are starting new contracts for phones, Sky, power bills etc. Don't use it as a reason to do additional shopping though!

Any shopping for non-essential purchases ... don't buy on the day. Never impulse buy. If you still feel you want the item 2 days later then discuss it with your partner and agree on it's need.

Added to my list!! Thank you!
Trying to curb the impluse buys - doing well so far, but i think a 2day decision is better than my current over night one!

Charlotteicious

shirleymarye wrote: »

Auxillary nursing in hospitals,don't know if they still do it! They may have domestic work evenings or how about office cleaning evenings or nights.

Also added to my 'look into' list


(It's a very long list now! Thank you everyone )

Charlotteicious

Can i just say a big yay to me! :T

I've just opened our 'Christmas Box' (box full of all things christmas - table cloths, decorations, napkin rings etc) and found 8 gifts that i bought in the sales that i can give out this year! Woo hoo for forward thinking!!!! Also found 6 packs of cards which is super as i needed some for my AVON customers! :j

Also - set up a blog and joined socialspark and ebuzzing
Dooyoo won't currently load, and i have the others written down to investigate after tea WHICH WILL NOT BE ORDERED/LO's bed/AVON delivery!

PollyBanwell

Wicked! Well done you! I got all our cards in the sale last year - really nice 1920 Deco ones from Clintons!

Its like when you put on your winter coat for the first time and find a fiver!

Charlotteicious

PollyBanwell wrote: »

Wicked! Well done you! I got all our cards in the sale last year - really nice 1920 Deco ones from Clintons!

Its like when you put on your winter coat for the first time and find a fiver!

That's never happened to me :-( lol!

I do love saving money on xmassy things in the Jan sales! Our first christmas together we had no tree, no decorations, nothing, so i bought them in the Jan sale for a fraction of the price :-) and now i add to it with home-made ginger bread and felt made decorations that i've crafted, pinecones with i've sprayed/painted and then the odd decoration that i find cheaply here and there or on car boots!

opinions4u

SAVING: While it's a short term hit on your income now, opening a regular saver account now to fund next Christmas may ease the strain at the end of 2011.

First Direct 8%, Lloyds TSB 5% or others to track down via www.moneyfacts.co.uk/savings.

MARKET RESEARCH: Another potential earner to Google would be Saros Research - they run focus groups and will often pay a decent sum in return for your time and travel expenses. It's ad-hoc so you can pick and choose when and where you get involved.

FOOD SHOPPING: Eat before you shop. You'll spend between 10% and 20% less.