DreamerHelen's New Diary - "Ad Astra per Aspera"

Kepp

100 hours a week is do-able but not long-term I think. I did it way back when trying to sort debt and lasted about 6 months before I brought it back down to the more manageable 70 or so I do now. It is very hard work and working 7 days a week can become monotonous. However, it's a great way to really hit the debts hard at the beginning, cutting into the interest and bringing them to a more manageable level.

I did those hours spread over 3 jobs though so had some variety. I second what Pesto said - adding in mystery shopping etc would be a good way of mixing things up and keeping you going.

I also don't know how often you get out the house with working on the phone a lot? Being inside too much could be contributing to how tired you are feeling all the time. Getting out mystery shopping could solve that and some money problems

DreamerHelen

What you are saying is 100% right Beccie hun.....I know I can't do this long-term....

I DO try and keep Sundays, after 8am, free....so that I can get out of the house....go visit Mum....chill out....and just generally have a day off....Doesn't always work though, depends on how much Work i have to do that week...

As I said, I should be taking on Private Clients in the next couple of months which means that I can earn £30 per hour...and if I can get 3 or 4 of those it would be great...

Shovel_Lad

Helen - I have one question.

When did you last earn £750 (is that gross or net) for a weeks work on the phones?

It wasn't the 2012/3 tax year because you are receiving working tax credits this year. A single non disabled adult over 25 who works 30 hours a week or more cannot get tax credits if they earn over £14 000 a year.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-no-child.htm

A gross salary of £14000 would mean take home pay of £1028 a month.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tax-calculator/

DreamerHelen

Your question is spot on Shovel Lad....I haven't earned that in a VERY long time....this is why things need to change....and I AM in the process of changing them....

Believe me....don't believe me....It's up to you....I realise I have to prove myself....I am trying to do that now....

I appreciate your thoughts....and your candour....

Shovel_Lad

DreamerHelen wrote: »

Your question is spot on Shovel Lad....I haven't earned that in a VERY long time....this is why things need to change....and I AM in the process of changing them....

Believe me....don't believe me....It's up to you....I realise I have to prove myself....I am trying to do that now....

I appreciate your thoughts....and your candour....

Have you done it since you've been on MSE?

You don't need to prove yourself to me or anyone else on here. You only need to prove it to yourself. The only one who is being directly affected by your debt is you and the people around you in "real life". It doesn't affect me or anyone else who reads this diary. Many of the people who read the diaries here have been - or still are - in debt so well understand the situation you are in and the pitfalls that lie ahead for you.

I no longer have any debt and own my home outright. That took a lot of bl**dy hard work over a very long time to achieve. Have you had any experience of working the hours you say you are going to for any length of time? Just like beccie I know what it is like to work 100+ hour weeks. In a word: knackering. In fact, I'd go so far as to say most people couldn't do it for more than a month without climbing the walls. When you are not sleeping, you are working and when you are not working you are sleeping. You don't even get a full night's sleep. 100 hours a week means 9hr43m a day not working. Want to spend a couple of hours at lunch with "a friend"? then that means you don't sleep as much. Eating, going to the shops, just having a shower? Everything takes time and the only slack you have is sleep time. I doubt I had more than 4 hours sleep most nights. I can go 4 or 5 nights without any sleep at all, working straight through. I know because I have done it on several occasions. But I certainly wouldn't include it in any plans for myself or anyone else. There is a massive difference between "potential" and "achievable" or even "sensible".

I didn't do all this to prove myself to anyone. I did it because I hated where I was and it was my only way out. The only person that could do the work was me and for that to happen I had to stop talking and get off my backside and do something about it. The longer I put off doing anything the longer I would remain in a place I hated. I did it by setting achievable goals which started small and ramped up once I had passed them.

I have lost count of the times you have set yourself obviously unachievable targets and then claimed that you would achieve them simply by the expedient of "having to". It doesn't work like that. You say you understand what people are saying to you in this diary and claim to be self-aware, but then in subsequent posts you contradict that stance. I think you would find it an education in itself to go to the beginning of your diaries and to read through what you were saying, and doing, in 2008. I have done it, and I suspect that some others that are posting have too. You will find that you were saying the exact same things back then as you are saying now, including the parts about this time being different and setting very high targets that you then failed to meet.

I'm not trying to have a go at you, just telling you how it is using your own words and posts. I really do hope that this time will be different for you, but as Einstein is often quoted as saying: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

DreamerHelen

I do know what you saying Shovel Lad....and I take it on board...I HAVE read my Diary from beginning to end and you're right, I say the same things over and over again....

All I can do is try to make things different this time....What else can I do? I can't give up....No scrap that, I WON'T give up....and I don't see what else I can do....

I do appreciate your words....and you have made me sit up and take notice and for that I thank you...

Mara_uk7

Hello missus . Its been a long day here, two flights, bus rides and hours hanging around in hospital while mum sees her specialist ... Two hip replacements needed, but this is Nhs , so goodness knows when they will be done. Hate seeing her in so much pain. Who knew pushing someone around all day in a wheelchair could be so much fun ! People are so helpful and friendly !

So ...how did last night go ? Did you hit £100 ? Youre probably working right now, so i will catch up with you soon. X:)

DreamerHelen

Hi Mara hun.....I hope your Mum will be okay.....My Grandad had a Hip Replacement last Year and he is just fine now....they have you up and about within 24 hours to make sure you get moving....

But do take care of yourself hun....It sounds like it's been a long day for you and you're probably in bed right now....

No, I didn't quite get to £100 last night....but I made a damn good start so I'm proud of that....

I've been to College tonight and normally when I get home I just go to bed but tonight I'm going to Work....Haven't Worked out what I want my Target for tonight to be...just going to do that in a minute....but will then get started and Work until I just can't Work anymore....

Then tomorrow I'm off out to Lunch with a good Friend...his treat bless him.....I usually try to have Sundays off but instead of Sunday I'm taking tomorrow Afternoon off and Working when I get home....

Trying to stay positive....and stick to my word this time....as has been said, I just have to prove it to myself that I can do it this time....that's all I can do....

I was also thinking about something that Shovel Lad said...he said he had manageable goals and then ramped them up once they had been achieved....I agree with this. I think that saying I'll do 100 hours straight away is silly when I havent been working anywhere near that....So I'm going to aim for 50 hours per week for a few weeks and then up it....If I do anymore, great...but when I get to my 50 hours I will feel like I have really achieved something and I think that's important....then I can ramp it up when I've got that in place for a period of time...

I hope that made sense....Just trying to stay realistic...and it's not forever....Just until I can get my Psychotherapy Practise off the ground....which will be over the coming Year....

Anyway...Off to start Work....chat to you all tomorrow xXx

diamond_sky

^ that is much, much better and agree, Shovel Lad's given you very honest but very good advice xx

DreamerHelen

diamond_sky wrote: »

^ that is much, much better and agree, Shovel Lad's given you very honest but very good advice xx

I agree....It's been hard to hear but I think I needed it....And I should achieve my 50 hours this Week....and will really feel like I have achieved something at last....

Was dead last night on the Lines so I went to bed and am up early to do some Work before i go out to Lunch....Hopefully it will be busy!!