The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

Birdie85

archersluck wrote: »

Ooh Birdie, quick question - You know when you order vouchers through work how do you get them delivered? Assume it's the same or similar scheme and they either do free postage or insured, but that's nearly £5 and I'm only saving £16 anyway...
It says free post isn't insured but surely legally I've given them money so they have to get the goods to me if the worst happens.

I've only paid for insured delivery once which was when we got a Thomson gift card, felt a little uneasy about £3400 floating around in the post! :eek:. Never had an issue with standard delivery any other time, we get gift cards now rather than vouchers so I guess if it doesn't turn up they'd just cancel it and issue a new one.

Dinah93

Nursery's here are £30 a day, poor nanny would be working for a lot less than minimum wage to be on an even keel if we didn't share with someone else. It's nice to have options, but I think I'm going to push forward with finding a way I can stay home with her and make money from here - medical stuff aside I do think she'd benefit from having a parent stay home with her, and I've felt unchallenged by my job for a long time.

Apparently my products went down well tonight, some are quick and easy to turn around and produce, some need more time to develop and will be added to the work programme. Apparently none were disliked or deemed unsuitable. The guy is also happy with the concept of paying me a certain amount or percentage per product sold, and wants to set up a meeting with him, me, his designer and his office manager to solidify the ideas and get them started in production. If it happens I'll be thrilled, but I won't count my chickens before they are laid, let alone hatched.

Managed to cook a chicken and a side of salmon, make 10 fish pies (£46 of fish :eek:) and 6 shepherds pies, there is a duck for cooking tomorrow who wasn't entirely defrosted. NIM has taken everything that could be saved but needed eating from the freezer to a soup kitchen in Middlesbrough - this included 20 fillets of plaice amongst lots of random fish and meats so the homeless could have a very nice surprise chowder tomorrow. I went through the kitchen cupboards to fill a box of tins for them too, I like to feel I've helped someone when at the moment we don't have much cash to donate and a lot of these tins came from a mystery shop a few months ago and we probably wouldn't have used (ravioli, soup, hot dogs in beans, processed stuff basically).

Back was feeling much better earlier and I was hopeful I could 30DS tomorrow but the hours of cooking have knackered it again.

Does anyone ever buy those little packs of two bars of chocolate in the pick n mix type area in hotel chocolat? The ones that are £3.50 or £2.95 if you buy 3 or more? I actually read the nutritional info and I was shocked that half a pack contains 561 cals - I'd usually wolf down both bars in a day I think.

Cinny91

archersluck wrote: »

I didn't know you had trich, I had it as a kid (my childhood pictures are NOT pretty!) and don't know anyone else who does, so I'm sending you loads of good vibes as I know it sucks!

It's the worst! Mine triggered when I was around 8, and while I can control it, it's just always there when I get super stressed like yesterday. Managed to get it locked down a bit yesterday, and with the new job, and my family sending me lots of support I feel way better today

But the job's at a Physiotherapists. So my perks are possible free/discounted treatments and looking at the odd buff cyclist. Although don't men runners have oddly thin legs?! I feel like Tete would benefit more from this job than me!

tinkerbel wrote: »

NIM do you still cycle to work? how far is it/how long does it take you? Do you do it every day? Sorry to be so nosy!

I was meaning to ask NIM this too! I heard a woman on the radio complaining that there are no jobs "nearby" and the nearest town is 8 miles away. Someone suggested she cycled there and she just dismissed it as "no one wants to cycle 80 miles a week" and all I thought was "more a matter of need than want!" and I thought NIM did a similar amount of miles.

Glad you managed to salvage some of the food, and even fill a few empty bellies, Dinah And congrats on the products, are they still the cupcake wrappers? Have you thought about doing something like Pampered Chef for a bit of an extra income if you do end up leaving work to care for Grace?

That hotel looks amazing, Birdie!! How long is it till you go now? Next year my Sister may potentially be living in California so mine and OH's holiday will be visiting her for two weeks. Really excited we'll be able to go to an American Disney Land - even if it isn't Florida. Are the long haul flights okay? Just I got really bored and squirmy on the 4 hour flight to Rhodes.

N.I.M

Cinny91 wrote: »

I was meaning to ask NIM this too! I heard a woman on the radio complaining that there are no jobs "nearby" and the nearest town is 8 miles away. Someone suggested she cycled there and she just dismissed it as "no one wants to cycle 80 miles a week" and all I thought was "more a matter of need than want!" and I thought NIM did a similar amount of miles.

I may not approve of the "Get on your bike" commentary that ran around the elit! politic in the 80s but I think that woman needs her benefits taking off her. Seriously, 8 miles and shes whinging?

Although I didnt come on the bike today, wish I could have done but I was doing some work last night and parts decided to go walk about. I found the last bit this morning but wasnt sure I'd get the work done and get to work on-time so tis gonna wait til tonight.

You feeling better about things today Cinny?

Tete_en_l'Air

Just bobbing in to say I didn't realise bloody Office make you pay postage to return shoes you've bought online! Grrr. After I paid £4 postage on the order too! Not my favourite shoe shop anymore.

(Hope everyone's well - congrats on the job Cinny!!!)

shrimpy_80

Congrats on the job Cinny, great news and fab that you've found somewhere flexible.

Hope you do get the freezer fixed Dinah, gestures of goodwill are always nice and what a lovely idea to send the excess food to a soup kitchen, I really hope the good karma comes back around for you.

Birdie - I nearly died of envy when I clicked on your links! Its looks seriously amazing!

Boo to the postage Tete, will they let you return instore for free? I know some places do? And if you have the Quidco check in app you can earn 10p while you're there - every little helps! You have inspired me to do a mini September challenge, off to update my sig now.

ETA: Tell me honestly, does having days sober make me look like an alcoholic...?

N.I.M

Oh meant to tell you all, Freezer is fine. Theres an issue with the power supply to it so I've got it on a heavy duty extention cable until I get to redo the wiring at the weekend.

Cinny91

N.I.M wrote: »

You feeling better about things today Cinny?

Much better, thanks Mainly because my Brother decided they don't need to say sorry as ultimately we'll "all go running to him" apologising one day, which means I don't need to sit worrying that an argument's going to knock on my door.

Glad the freezer is okay! We have a little one under our stairs now, it's only for Ryder's food but I'd be in a panic if it broke.

Been talking to our accountant about "nerdy" conventions. Soo tempted to buy me and OH tickets to one in November, as the past appearances would have made me die a tiny bit. But I'm not a super fan of all the things like that, so I could be out of my depth quite easily :undecided

They shouldn't make you pay for returns! That's just stupid. Couldn't you return them to a local branch?

Birdie85

Cinny91 wrote: »

That hotel looks amazing, Birdie!! How long is it till you go now? Next year my Sister may potentially be living in California so mine and OH's holiday will be visiting her for two weeks. Really excited we'll be able to go to an American Disney Land - even if it isn't Florida. Are the long haul flights okay? Just I got really bored and squirmy on the 4 hour flight to Rhodes.

Your sister wouldn't mind putting me up for a couple of weeks would she?! Long haul is OK but it is pretty sucky for a fidgetbum like me, especially on night flights when you're expected to settle down and sleep which I find impossible. No matter how much entertainment I have I get squirmy around the 6 hour mark. We've paid for extra leg room seats this time so at least I can squirm and stretch without kicking anyone!

Cinny91 wrote: »

Been talking to our accountant about "nerdy" conventions. Soo tempted to buy me and OH tickets to one in November, as the past appearances would have made me die a tiny bit. But I'm not a super fan of all the things like that, so I could be out of my depth quite easily :undecided

I know what you mean! Really want to go to Comic Con but I'm scared I'd stick out like a sore thumb! I really want to go to the San Diego one, it's on my bucket list. :cool: I'd also quite happily go to the Star Trek convention because I think it'd be amazing people watching!

shrimpy_80 wrote: »

ETA: Tell me honestly, does having days sober make me look like an alcoholic...?

Well..... You only have to worry when you turn into my Mum who proudly says 'I've not had a drink all week'... on a Tuesday! :rotfl:

Glad the freezer is OK, it was really good thinking to donate the food you weren't able to cook, big karma points! :T

Cinny, your brother is an idiot. Obviously he's been hoodwinked by the harlot and eventually the spell will be broken, but for now I pity the fool! :mad:

Pampered Chef would be perfect for you Dinah! Great idea Cinny! You'd just have to resist from buying everything for yourself!

wendz86

:rotfl:That sounds like my mum Birdie.

Dinah - glad you managed to sort out the food from the freezer, should keep you going a while. I think the decision of staying home with Grace sounds like it is best for you especially if you aren't enjoying your job that much.

Cinny - glad that you are feeling better. Your brother may be waiting a while though....

That sounds amazing going to visit your sister in California. That is one of my top places i want to visit.