Jumping aboard!

NorthStar

I've just read your diary fom start to finish and it sounds like you're doing a great job and I really admire all you're doing.

downsizer3

Oh - thanks for that - I really appreciate the support. And I need it.....

Sadly the meeting didn't go too well. Not a disaster either but I'm feeling a bit battered I think.
Since I had my wee one I've worked a 4 day week but I have to go back full time - fair enough - can't put our staff back on a 5 day week ( some quite like the reduced hours) if I'm not, but I loved being a mum on Fridays. Plenty of working mums out there who do 5 days so I'll just have to manage but I just can't afford the friday childcare.
My mum says she'll help out but in their late 70s its tough so I'll also ask ex to do 2 Fridays a month - time he helped out - or pays up. He'll make it difficult of course.
Feeling like I'm letting my daughter down somehow - I did enjoy picking her up from school that one time a week. At least I can still drop her off.
Anyway - in terms of the business I'm OK till Sept - that's crunch time and I'll only have 3 months of tax credits to pay back by that time so I'll nearly be there. Savings pot will be at £1k on current forecast. So - I need to save like mad. Got to get those savings up. I need £1k a month to survive off and pay all bills.
I also have no idea what else I can do for a living. Certainly don't want to do this any more and I'm too soft to be a boss - can't face telling staff they need to shape up or ship out etc.......
Feel like life has thrown so much crud at me recently wahhhh. In honesty I'd love a part time job - time to start looking I guess ( royally fed up of this anyway). C'mon good luck - where'd you go????

downsizer3

Not slept all weekend worrying about childcare on Fridays as I've got to go back full time. I'll get something sorted but I'm still angry about being forced into this. It'll cost a fortune and ex has said he can't (zero effort to try) help so I'm on my own as usual.
Long term though I've made a decision - I'm going to leave the practice and change job.
I've not been happy here for years but I've had to focus on other things and getting us into a house I could better afford. My outgoings are down to a minimum. If I had a part time job that didn't need all the childcare I'd be no worse off - so I'm going to look about.
I do need to encourage my ongoing projects to all finish at the right time and I'll not be saying anything till Sept.
In the meantime - I will review my skills (stop laughing) and see what there is out there - what I could do. And when the time is right - I'll escape these playground bullies I've worked with for about 16 yeras! Terrifying thought but actually quite exciting to think I can get away from here at last!!

downsizer3

Feeling a bit jittery at the thought of leaving a job I've been in, a business I've had effectively, for about 16 years. I'm also excited at the prospect of a change.
It is the right thing to do long term as I'm not happy here and looking ahead I have to move at sometime - better now than when I'm too old. Goodness knows where but as I think it all through it starts to become clearer. Just hope someone out there wants me. I've lost a lot of confidence being browbeaten by 'pinkie and perky' over the years - to escape all that negativity would be great.
Imagine. Working somewhere where you're valued and appreciated??? Could it happen?
Just got to wriggle out - if I can get through this financial year - great, and then I'll be off. ( my problem is that when I decide - I want to do it now) but I must bide my time.
More change and upheaval. :eek:

Weronika

Good luck in finding the job you will love! Some changes are good:D

downsizer3

Realistically it'll take me a year to get myself organised to leave my job - debts paid off, savings built up etc but the plan is in action.............;)
Some good news. Insurers for burglary were arranging replacements for my TV and laptop - apparently they don't make TVs as small as I had So they're sending me a whopping 32" telly ( can you see I'm no gismo-gal) to replace my 19" one!! Result! :j It should come today.
AND I get a better laptop with Windows 7 because my one was obsolete - no surprise as they're out of date about 5mins after you buy them and mine was about 5 years old......
Oh its nice when things go right!

Greenhouse / veg patch up and running. Have planted potatoes, carrots, rasps, red currants, rubarb, ginger, pupkin, strawberries, chilli, tomaotoes, cucumber and peppers. Lets see what survives my newbie gardening skills......

Just about have childcare sorted for Fridays. Its going to cost me an extra £160 a month though.........gulp. Back to my sums....
I have told ex he has to help cover costs - or do the childcare - one or the other. Don't hold your breath.:mad:

Weronika

great news about the TV and laptop!

downsizer3

Coo - new telly looks big! They stole the aerial connector too!! Realised last night when I was trying to put it in so its off to the shop to get one. Bah.
Laptop comes today - am rubbish at setting these things up so that'll be annoying getting it to talk to my hub wotsit (am I blinding you with my technological jargon? )
I was at my spreadsheets again. Working out my doomsday scenario. If I left work at the end of the year, all my outgoings without childcare and assuming I don't pay council tax if I'm unemployed ( is that right?) my bills are £250 a month. Not bad eh? That also assumes I go interest free whilst I'm unemployed but my OPs would also carry me for a few months if I couldn't do that. I was quite pleased with that. Would need food too obviously but its nice to know I've got my outgoings so low. Felt pleased with myself about that.
Obviously if I managed to get a ridiculously well paid job I'd be laughing......ahem!
Other option is part time work so no childcare but have an income - over 16 hours as a single mum allows me tax credits I think so I'm actually pretty flexible if I decide to go. PT work isn't a long term solution but I get to spend time with my wee one so there are lots of benefits there.
I'll sit tight until card and Tax credits are paid though - but the good news is that I could survive! :j Nice to know I don't have to put up with endless sheeitee from my crabbit old men partners in here - yay!

downsizer3

Payday and therefore payment day! Also means I get to change my signature which I like! :j
Only £150 left on my card and have £1000 paid off TC OP whoop whoop!
Off to photographers to view the professional photos I had taken of my daughter and me. Just want one nice big shot of us both. The trick is not to buy more than that as its eyewateringly expensive stuff. I can take photos of her - just can't get good ones of us together so went to the professionals - now here comes the hard sell! I do however have a £95 off voucher which brings the prices down to a mere disgusting.........:eek:
Its another frugal month ahead - and a long one too. Urgh. Soup it is.........

downsizer3

Its a year this week since I moved into my wee house - and have been making my OPs whilst doing it up a bit. Just one room left that needs much done - but thats a job for the winter. Shouldn't have any major outgoings in the near future so that'll help.
Holidays and stuff obviously but hopefully I'll manage that and get these savings to where they should be.
Good news on childcare - my folks can help on Fridays so I won't have an extra £160 a month on childcare............thats a huge help. Phew.
Ex obviously as much use a chocolate teapot...........nothing new there then.
I did however tell him its time he chipped in with costs now he's working. Something's better than nothing which is what I've had for the past two years... Watch this space!