Story of one man's LONG road to financial recovery

turbo.jet

Typing in the barcodes was dull, then I discovered I could have scanned them using the camera on my phone. D'oh!

turbo.jet

I've just seen ASBO are selling slow cookers for £9. I've heard a lot of people talk about them on here as a moneysaving, batch cooking idea so I'm going to get one. Although, the lack of freezer availability is really making the batch cooking thing a bit of a challenge!

I tried to buy one at lunchtime but the cash register wouldn't scan it, and the lady wanted me to re-queue, and it was really busy and I got a bit frustrated, left it there and walked out. Oh well. There's another store near my home so I'll see if they have them there on my way home tonight.

LondonGirl252

I love my slow cooker and £9 is a bargain!!

turbo.jet

Yeah I thought so. I went back after work and got one so looking forward to trying it out My OCD paranoia is making me a little bit worried about the thought of leaving an inexpensive appliance plugged in and heating all day while the place is empty, but I figure you have to live your life.

It did get me thinking about my insurance cover though. Its the next project on my list, to re-do my 'sum insured'. I am not sure we have enough cover, and my new flatmate has a diamond engagement ring (which I'd SOOOO sell if I were her! hehe) that would suck up a huge chunk of what we are covered for. We've probably got enough to cover us for a single burglary, but if we had a fire we'd be stuffed I reckon.

My savings target is taking a bit of a hit. I thought I had Christmas all wrapped up (pardon the pun) but a few more necessary gifts came out of the woodwork, plus my OH's birthday is the week before Christmas. I got the birthday gift (watch) half price in a sale though, which I am very pleased about! Even at half price, it is still quite a considerable present though, but very deserved.

The 'savings' were always meant to be for presents anyway, presents and my ticket to Australia which I need to book soon.

Anyway, looks like it'll be December 21st before I hit the £1250 mark. I'll know for definite after the next pay and all my Christmas presents are all wrapped up. It'll be really difficult to buy the plane ticket to Aus and make such a huge dent in it, but I am so overdue the visit it has to be done.

The one thing I am looking forward to, is that it looks like I won't use my overdraft this month. This is UNHEARD of for me! I'm feeling just a little bit proud of myself about that!

turbo.jet

I've been in the process of switching the current account I use for Bill Payment Direct Debits to Santander in order to avail myself of their £100 incentive for switching. During the switch-over I had to make sure I had enough in both the old, and the new account to cover any bills. The switch over was completed early last week, so I was able to pay myself back the buffer that I'd put in the bills account. The injection of funds meant I ended the pay period and didn't use my overdraft Very pleased with myself about that. Its unheard of for me - its a time of 'firsts' at the moment.

Did the gig with my photographer friend on Staurday night, was very easy, printing and mounting photos of the guests while they ate their meals ready to give out at the end of the evening. She was impressed with the way I worked and said she'd like to use me again so fingers crossed it becomes a regular thing!

I'm about to pay the money from that in to my ISA account which means that I now have a grand total of £1,100 in savings, and by the 21st of December I will have £1,350 in savings. To have savings, let alone so much is also unheard of for me!

If Santander pay me the £100 for switching to them, and/or I do any more photography events, this will be added to this figure.

In other MSE-related news, my Dad has always said he'd help me out with a bit of spending money when I finally made it home to Aus for a visit. I was chatting to him earlier this week and let him know I'd decided to go over in May and he then told me that it is £1,000 he is planning to give me!!! So generous, I never expected that much. Not even AU$1,000 let alone pounds! I'm really glad I ordered a really nice hamper to be delivered to my parents just before Christmas now. They really do deserve it.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Hello how fab you are doing so well, one thing I must disagree on is the issue of strike action.

Yes when all negotiations fail, what is the one bargaining tool left? Mass withdrawl of service.

We only have the working rights we do today and the powers we have as individuals (however they are now limited from years of erosion from big business) because of people like Luddites, and General Strikers.

The strikers themselves will suffer loss of earnings, and are at risk of losing their jobs. No one enters into these things lightly.

So when we think of how we are inconvenienced, and we are but that is the point, we need to also consider the big picture.

I am very socialist minded, I am sorry, no one wants to spoil things for an individual, its just the only option left, and one which is most damaging to all parties... xx

turbo.jet

Hmmmm. I was waiting for that! I didn't think it'd go un-noticed. Its certainly a contentious debate and being former Cabin Crew I have several friends from BA who I have had to agree to disagree with in the past.

What negotiation do you refer to? I may stand corrected however your argument seems to assume they have a given right to more money in the first place? If they are being unfarily treated perhaps, but if you consider Airline Cabin Crew and Tube Drivers, the conditions and/or reward they receive is exceptional and they have no right to hold the public to ransom for more money from their employers. If one is unhappy with their pay, they need to consider a role which will provide them with the reward they want.

Skint_but_Optimistic

Of course lol. I am not following it closely, I just thnk its everyones right to strike.

turbo.jet

I'm glad we are all different - makes for an interesting planet! Personally I agree in everyone's right to leave their job if they are unhappy.

Skint_but_Optimistic

yes lol, that too, but I am a militant type.

Example, I am currently in negotiations with my boss, over unfair working practices. Apparently, I dont get the level of flexibility my colleagues do, as I have not been with the business as long.

I have a young family, there are family friendly policies, which they wont invoke as my colleagues are not afforded the same terms as they dont have babies.

So I dont get terms due to length of service, and I dont get the same benefit from family friendly policies, as I am the only one at my level with a baby and this would be unfair on my colleagues, therefore I am missing out.

I am afraid the union are now involved! Why should I leave a job where I am a manager now with ten years service, because I am being discriminated against? Now this in real terms is me asking for money, as time is money. This is all because of one persons interpretation of the policy.

Power to the people!!