301k in debt and morbidly obese - things aren't great!

gallygirl

MrBloater wrote: »

I need wine.

Wine and cardboard Mr B. That will see you through most things. Dodgy hug for you and Mrs B :grouphug:.

Igamogam

Things getting clearer Mr B? Thats great news.........wish I had a bit more clarity here

short_bird

There's a blog called http://www.askamanager.org/ that is very good on what to do about multiple job offers. American site, so there may be some things that don't apply but enough common ground for all of us.

MrBloater

Evening all. Declined two offers today and provisionally accepted another one. Although the temptation is to sit back and wait for something more lucrative - I have to realise that one of the reasons I have escaped fairly lightly from this whole mess, is that, despite how maverick I am, everyone who has worked with me knows I deliver the goods and I am totally straight with my word. So if I was to play cute it could all backfire.

The other thing I've done that has been really useful has to be to look at my freelance possibilities from another angle. I have been compiling many important looking lists of the various projects I have on the go - rather than getting on with actually getting on with the projects, but instead I have now ripped up the lists and rephrased my list - "where's the money going to come from?" - and here's what I have so far.

1. eBay - my faithful old sparring partner, there is still a shed full of stuff out there and I have gone back to my old cardboard collecting ways. Attempted to list some items last night but the site kept crashing, but have by my feet a bag of 27 items to be listed next time it's a free one. Solution - more cardboard and a renewed love of listing will solve this one.

2. Existing Books - ramping up, or even starting, a marketing push on the 10 things currently adorned with my name would be a start - although the royalties from the US publisher are useless as they arrive in small cheques which cost more to convert than they are worth. Solution - as I hold the digital rights I should put them all on Kindle.

3. MSEy stuff - vouchers, competitions, being vigilant about suppliers, reclaiming bank charges, quidco, PPI, haggling for best deals, etc. Solution: in progress already

4. Affiliate income - signing up for clickbank, adwords and making some sites, blogs that people will want to come back to. Solution: getting the structures in place

5. Consultancy - coaching, mentoring, using my legacy at my current school to build up the CV and put the word out to see if there is any scope for me. Solution: CV polished, website built, contacts made and contacted.

6. New Writing - have about 10 different projects I would like to bring to fruition. Solution: think about which might be most lucrative and focus on that. Find some time to write.

Off for a cup of tea now. Oh and for those of you wondering why I haven't mentioned the running, it's cos I'm contending with altogether less pleasant form of runs at the moment. And the two do not go well together. Bet you wish you'd hadn't asked now.

Igamogam

...............and tea instead of wine! A whole new Mr B is emerging

MrBloater

Today's been cr*ppy in some ways, but thankfully not so much in the literal way. Anyhow, am really finding it difficult to jump off the fence. And maybe some wise words from the folk here will be necessary. To repeat the dilemma - the job at the current place is over, done, dusted and I leave with something of a cloud over me. However, that didn't stop the cloudbringers doing a bizarre u-turn and offering me a place at their mothership. This I have turned down. And am happy about doing so. It would have involved crossing the river every day and I don't do rivers. Have also turned down a chance at a very different place to where I work now, which had the benefit of being around the corner from Mrs B's place. It wasn't quite the exact fit for me. Which brings me to the final offer on the table. It is considerably less money than I am on (but in all fairness each of the offers would have involved taking a pay hit - I had hit the top of the scale and this was possibly a major reason why I got my head nudged into the guillotine in the first place), but it is pretty local, and it is with people I respect and trust. All I have to do is sign the damn thing and then half-term and Christmas are not going to have the odious spectre of bankruptcy hanging over them - I won't have to keep a brave face on and assure the nearest and dearest that my freelance plans will instantly bear fruit. I would be at the school gates, but that would coincide with the bailiffs being at the front door.

I guess I have two things bouncing around in my head.
1) By accepting this early offer, I could well be missing out on a more lucrative oppurtunity that might come along in the next few weeks. But it's like playing Russian Roulette. You either put the gun down and breathe a sigh of relief or you get your head blown off. Safety first for Bloater.
2) Although it won't be lap of luxury comfort on the reduced income - am I really going to have the desire/need to get the freelance stuff off the ground? I could end up, cos I am pretty good at what I do, rising up in the new place and soon be on near enough what I am on. But by doing that I could missing out on the chance of controlling my own destiny.

It's the old 'is it a safety net or is it a cage?' dilemma. My head hurts. And the now obligatory evening cup of tea is giving me naff all food for thought.

Igamogam

The job you have been offered is with people you 'respect and trust' Well that speaks volumes in my book........do you really have the desire (as you say) to go freelance or is it just something that appeals to the inner Mr B? Is there scope for you to take the job with trusted and respected colleagues and then maybe go PT in order to pursue/work on the freelance stuff?? Hmm questions questions indeed.

Unfortunately only you can make the decision on which side of the fence jump off..........

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi MrB, this is always a difficult dilemma. My only advice would be that in the face of adversity determination and resilience often surfaces. Whilst only you can make this decision, if you are metaphorically hungry, that may be the trigger to go freelance at some point.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Tilly x

Poohwombat

In my humble opinion you should take the job with the people you know and respect. If you were a single man without dependents I might be urging you to 'go for your dreams' BUT you aren't and you do, so in this instance I think you need to play it safe.

If you hang on too long that offer might disappear and the nearer we get to Christmas the less likely any other firms are to be coming up with any alternative offers.

Once you make a decision you will feel like a weight has been lifted I'm sure.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Luckystepho

Hi Mr B, my advice would be to take the job but use your spare time building up the freelance stuff etc. As well as potentially providing a lucrative income top up you may be in a position at some point to be able to replace your job with full time freelance income if you choose.