Horace's Biting the Bullet Diary

Horace · 30 July 2011 at 8:56AM

I am trying to be positive Beanie..sometimes it is just so hard. I have been trying to get more working tax credits after the enforced boob by dodgy accoutant last year that resulted in me having to live on £24 a week not realising that I could have asked for an increase:mad: Although the credits have gone up to £51 a week recently, I still feel as though I am drowning. I cannot get through to the HMRC on the phone and have been trying for quite a few weeks now - I get the press 1 for this 2 for that etc and then I have to listen to them pointing me in the direction of the website, then I get asked to press various buttons again to get through to someone, then I am told that the call will be answered to it rings for a while and then I get a message saying they cannot take the call...all the time it is an 0845 number:mad: Mind you it seems that I am not the only one because the Treasury Committee has deemed the HMRC unfit for purpose.

With regard to the chap who is applying pressure, he is going to get such an earful one of these days because I know I will snap and then I could probably kiss my websites goodbye:mad:

Today, I am trying not to spend any money even though I need milk (I have a drip left for coffee) but I do have Ovaltine or Hot Chocolate so will have to drink that instead. I am having a small lamb steak for tea with spuds and veg (thank you freezer and thank you Tesco out of date shelf).

I will need bus fare for Wednesday because I have remembered that I am off to a course (free) at a conference venue in the centre of town even better lunch is included:D

So on some fronts things are looking up and on others I am not doing so well because I am worried sick...I wonder if I could get a charity food parcel?

startagain_2 · 30 July 2011 at 10:10AM

Oh Horace, you poor thing.... events and circumstances seem to be ganging up against you.
Have you applied for one of those "crisis debt thingies" ? It seems like you need a bit of financial help urgently.
I am no expert on what you do (networking?) but I would suggest that you take a little look at everything you are taking on and accepting ( for free) and work out whether it is actually costing you more than you can afford, or indeed whether it is actually worth doing?
Remember the golden rules - Do I need it? Can I do without it? Can I use my time/effort/money for a better purpose?
Whilst it is all very well getting all these freebie tickets to seminars and hotels - what good are they doing for YOU personally, at this moment in time?
I am no lifestyle guru, fact , but when I have been in desperate need of money I have taken anything (even toilet cleaning) to give me a bit of income. A few short months ago I was really down about the life/work situation I was in and now it seems that it is on the up again. I have had to change course a couple of times though.
I am sure things will pick up for you - take a bit of time out to think things through - look for alternative ways of geting a bit of cash, short term.
Can you defer a bit of rent payment for a bit of a breather?
Can you apply for a crisis loan?
Can you find any sort of immediate temp work, not neccessarily using your normal skills?
Can you sell anything - any boot sales tomorrow locally?

Think outside the box, we are with you all the way.....

SA

x

Horace · 31 July 2011 at 7:46PM

The networking is my business and I charge people to attend breakfast meetings..it is something that is growing slowly. I am trying to get them to pay by standing order too so that money is there regularly instead of using paypal and suffering their fees.

I am looking for work, temp work anything but there isnt anything about. As for one of those crisis loans I can't get one, I cannot defer my rent either as landlord won't allow it. I had to go out today and get some milk so that I could at least have a drink.

I have asked about fruit picking (the plum season has started), I am looking at bar work (which I hate), cleaning, shelf stacking, typing, filing (another job I hate).

I have been asked to show someone how to use her website and blog - I should get something for that.

In the events business you have to do the visiting venues etc and if a venue is offering me a free stay and a free event then I am going to take it because it builds contacts. I am also angling for a job in some of these places too.

It is a pain that things have conspired against me but I shall do what I can to get out of this hole.

I have applied for an event job working on a project for the olympics - something that is hourly paid.

I am just feeling sorry for myself and will do what I can, I have stuff I can ebay and will look at a carboot next weekend (must clear camping stuff out of boot currently).

MissShoes · 1 August 2011 at 11:43AM

Horace wrote: »

The networking is my business and I charge people to attend breakfast meetings..it is something that is growing slowly. I am trying to get them to pay by standing order too so that money is there regularly instead of using paypal and suffering their fees.

I am looking for work, temp work anything but there isnt anything about. As for one of those crisis loans I can't get one, I cannot defer my rent either as landlord won't allow it. I had to go out today and get some milk so that I could at least have a drink.

I have asked about fruit picking (the plum season has started), I am looking at bar work (which I hate), cleaning, shelf stacking, typing, filing (another job I hate).

I have been asked to show someone how to use her website and blog - I should get something for that.

In the events business you have to do the visiting venues etc and if a venue is offering me a free stay and a free event then I am going to take it because it builds contacts. I am also angling for a job in some of these places too.

It is a pain that things have conspired against me but I shall do what I can to get out of this hole.

I have applied for an event job working on a project for the olympics - something that is hourly paid.

I am just feeling sorry for myself and will do what I can, I have stuff I can ebay and will look at a carboot next weekend (must clear camping stuff out of boot currently).

Hope the right job comes along for you....and soon, too. Shoes x

Horace · 1 August 2011 at 5:31PM

Well, I have a week of meetings, breakfast tomorrow and then associated work to get people back next week. Will also be having a meeting after breakfast tomorrow for some other potential work. I have this thing on Wednesday, Thursday is the Hilton Metropole thing plus a meeting at the Hilton beforehand Friday is the wordpress stuff followed by a trip to Shrewsbury for 3pm for another meeting (must try and convert change jars into pound coins) this time to discuss teambuilding events for corporates - these events are of the bushcraft ray mears type.

In the middle of this I need to book a dental appointment (may ask if I can put off til December) and a trip to the quacks as my prescription has nearly run out.

More things are happening..slowly but surely I will get myself out of this pickle.

Lunch was blackcurrant jelly with leftover semolina (it had to be eaten before it went mouldy), Dinner will be soup as I have found some packets of Minestrone in the cupboard (out of date but still, I don't think that dried food goes off). I did have breakfast this morning too.

Tomorrow will be breakfast and soup with soup:rotfl: (unless I have baked beans on bread as my toaster has packed up too:mad:) Mind I could do a baked bean toasted sandwich:rotfl:

Horace is also sorting out affiliate links for her website - once I know how to add a new scrolling window (why did I take it off? botheration!). These links are aimed at businesses who will hopefully buy especially as I shall blog.

Horace · 2 August 2011 at 3:10PM

Hello Diary

It is whingebag here again *rolleyes*

I had a dreadful night's sleep and didnt want to get up at 5.30am for my breakfast meeting. I was a bit miffed as one guy who was due to turn up rang me to see if the meeting was still on because he had been advised that it wasnt by the hotel staff (turns out he spoke to a cleaner who knew nothing), then another one didnt turn up at all and silly me forgot to charge £15 for a no show when I spoke to his boss...sigh But all these are booked in for next week with an extra lady coming too as she contacted me this afternoon.

Had to smile as I was contacted by my local chamber today - I havent been to an event for months and in fact know that my membership has expired..well according to them it hasnt..dunno how they work that one out when the woman told me that I took the membership out in June last year and I have 3 months left. I am not going to argue - anyway I was invited to a free event that includes lunch up at the Villa ground (I can get there by train or car although I think car will be easiest)...what is good for me is that there are 205 delegates there:cool: Rubs hands with glee at thought of businesses who like to network - more peeps for my events.

lunch today was bread and jam (bread was 50p from the whoopsie shelf in the co-op and the jam was free). Talk about moneysaving:rotfl:

I am doing what I can to make money too.

In other news, I tied up the tomatoes yesterday and need to water them again today - three small plants have turned into triffids which are laden with fruit:eek::cool::D Landlord's agent is now aware that it is catwoman who smokes the waccy baccy so she will be getting her marching orders:j

Horace · 2 August 2011 at 4:17PM

Yippee:j :money:

I know you're thinking..mad woman what is she getting excited about she is skintaroonies. Well skintaroonies woman has been shortlisted for interview for a part time job at the University of Worcester - they want someone to start as soon as possible too. It means me working 18.5hrs a week but 18.5hrs a week will net me £15001-£16696 pro rata which is better than a smack in the mouth with a wet fish:D (this is about 25 miles or so from me but I know I can either go by car and drop my car off at the park and ride and bus in or I can go by train, or go by car and park at the University which will cost me £2.20 to park all day.

I have no intention of giving up my self employed work as that would be madness but I do need money coming in. I also have that 8hr self employed post to be interviewed for as well. I know which one I would prefer but if I can even have a part time job that pays then I will be happy even if I have to stick at it for 12 months. Look at me talking as though I have got both of them already. Now I am feeling nervous because I haven't been for a job interview as such since June 2007:eek:

I am also wondering what Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise edition is? I am still in the dark ages using Office 2003 and more recently I have been using Office 2010:eek:

Horace · 7 August 2011 at 11:45AM

I spent Thursday night in posh hotel having a show around and attending an event, what a palaver it was because they hadnt got my booking nor had they made arrangements with the concierge to arrange for my car to be parked. Eventually, I got free parking in their VIP carpark and the bedroom. Event was ok but it had some vile people in attendance - dunno why companies send these people because they are not interested in talking to others in similar fields and end up being a bad advertisement for the companies they represent:mad:

Had breakfast (only discovered as I was checking out that breakfast was included:mad:) headed home, dropped off suitcase and went straight back out again to a meeting in Kings Norton. After Kings Norton my satnav took me on a magical mystery tour before I ignored it totally and got myself on the M5 to Shrewsbury. I travelled along at 11 miles an hour for the most part - I boggled at a motorcyclist that went past me with a pillion passenger (nowt so odd about that) only the girl was wearing flip flops and had thin cotton trousers on neither of which would have offered any protection had she come off the back:eek:

Had fab meeting in Shrewsbury - learnt a lot too and could have talked with this chap all day - I came home the scenic route and avoided the motorways altogether.

Yesterday, I mainly slobbed about but did cook the bolognese that I promised myself I would cook in the week.

Today, I have been doing some work and I am preparing myself for my forthcoming interviews. I need these jobs...self employment isnt paying enough and although I am constantly nagged I am doing what I have to do to survive.