The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

Lara44

Hmm Birdie, it's been a lifetime at uni so far! 2000-2004 for my first degree, with a year on placement. I did product design and while I liked thinking and talking about it, I wasn't very talented at actually *doing* it :rotfl: I started freelance work because I couldn't get anything full time, as an assistant producer. I had a good assistant job which ended, then I worked for a really horrible boss. My self confidence was shredded and eventually we parted company as she accidentally projected her b!tchy comments about me on the wall setting up for the Christmas party. OH got sacked a few weeks later so we moved in together as we were so broke!

Then 2005-2007 I started my Masters part time in cultural studies, and I worked 4 days a week as well. I joined MSE just at that time because I was a packer / odd jobs person in a design company for minimum wage and I was struggling to make ends meet. After a year or so the other lady left and I gradually moved into the studio manager role, and got a little pay rise.

I worked in this same studio manager job for a year so I could go full time and have some money. OMG £18k a year it was brilliant, it was so much money. I got bored and wanted to do research, checked out the jobs available in different sectors but I wasn't sure about them, so I decided on more study. Started PhD in 2009 part time, no job credit crunch and savings running out - eeek! Then my replacement at the design company quit (the boss was quite hardcore) so my boss lured me back for more money part time provided I could do pretty much the whole job in 3 days per week, so I did. Then I was so lucky to get funding which enabled me to go full-time from May 2010. And this is where I am now, yippeeee! Hope to finish mid 2013.

Phew, that was probably the long and boring answer!

Flower08

Dinah93 wrote: »

You seem so happy Flower, your posts just have a much more upbeat feel (and more smiley faces!) than they did before.

I really am so happy I was so worried that with my history of depression I would suffer with PND once Noah was born, but I really am just enjoying every minute of it (even the night feeds!). Seeing his little smiling face just makes everything seem so much better, I really didnt think being a mummy could ever make me this happy I sound so soppy!

Dinah93

Inspiring. I'm a real stroppy monster without my sleep, and I'm really dreading that part, so I'm pleased to see how much it's changed you.

wendz86

Flower08 wrote: »

I really am so happy I was so worried that with my history of depression I would suffer with PND once Noah was born, but I really am just enjoying every minute of it (even the night feeds!). Seeing his little smiling face just makes everything seem so much better, I really didnt think being a mummy could ever make me this happy I sound so soppy!

This is so lovely to hear . I agree that it does make you so happy.Poppy is a bad sleeper but i have to forgive her when she gives me a cheeky little smile.

Birdie85

Aww Flower I'm so pleased you're so happy with little Noah. Really lovely stuff!

Gosh Lara, you've had quite the work/study history there! Is this it or can you see yourself going back for more in a few years time?!

Lara44

Awwwwww Flower, that is just brilliant!!

This is it Birdie, I'd like to work in a Uni next, although the cuts are a bit worrying

Kepp

Just wanted to de-lurk to say congratulations to you both!

Flower08

wendz86 wrote: »

This is so lovely to hear . I agree that it does make you so happy.Poppy is a bad sleeper but i have to forgive her when she gives me a cheeky little smile.

Im really lucky, Noah goes to bed at 10pm, wakes once (very rarely twice) in the night for a feed, and then gets up around 7am. I always have a little groan when I hear him wake up, but as soon as I get to his cot and he smiles when he sees me I really dont mind!

Dinah, I used to be terrible for sleep. If I didnt get at least 10 hours undisturbed sleep a night I would be terrible, but its amazing how quickly you get used to it. Noah was a bad sleeper to begin with, but now I know I am really lucky with him.

wendz86

Poppy used to be better, she has just got worse...last night was every half hour to an hour arghh! Think it might be teething though. She wasn't too bad a couple of weeks ago was going to bed about 7, waking up at half 10 ish when i was going to bed and then only waking up once more.

I have always been a light sleeper so think she gets it from me, wish she was like her Dad and slept for hours hehe.

Dinah93

I think I got about 10 hours last night, which is a lot for me, but I couldn't keep my eyes open - I fell asleep while doing one of NIMs MS reports. When he came through he was such a sweetie, put my computer away, hung my clothes up and the bit that made me all weepy (not that its hard these days) was that he even thought to find my phone and put it onto charge so I'd have it today. Still woke up sleepy.

I haven't done a to do list in a while, but with Christmas drawing in I think I might do a sneeky little one for this week.

To do
1. Finish tidying study
2. Get fitted for maternity bra
3. Send new house card to auntie
4. Email mums cousin to tell her about baby
5. Do Wed MS report
6. Do Sat MS report
7. Christmas-up the house
8. Wrap remaining presents
9. Ask dad for propane torch and soldering iron
10. Tuesday wrap anything sold
11. Friday wrap anything sold
12. Post November money update
13. Get NIM to call desk man to come pick it up.
14. Take coat to dry cleaners
15. Call past car insurer get NCd sent
16. Cancel hotel chocolat offer
17. Get NIM to call 02
18. List the last box of stuff in the conservatory on Amazon/ebay

No worries on the list tbh except for the last item, that box is pretty massive.

Potentially this month we need wheel balancing, a new mattress, new glasses, we've already repaid £100 for a bike which isn't on the debt spreadsheet, Christmas food and a few presents, some maternity clothes and most definitely some bras.... I can see this being another miss the target month