Trying to escape the Rat Race

picasso2

Just popping in quickly to say Hi . I've got three interviews over the next few weeks and two of those have presentations. Sooooo mad busy preparing.

I also go back to work tommorow.

Wish me luck folks

Igamogam

Good Luck Picasso

NewLeaf_2

good luck with the interviews

Evcakes

Good luck with your interviews x

Hope doggie is feeling better.

picasso2

Well I've had the first of the interviews today and the second is tomorrow. I'm not confident. Why is it that no matter how much you prepare and have perfect answers lined up you open your mouth and rubbish comes out? Or is it only me. I could kick myself.

In the meantime work have launched a mutual resignation scheme. I don't know a lot about it but I understand it is a way to cut staff without making people redundant. It was announced that people eligible to apply would receive a letter about it and this was waiting for me when I got home. Effectively because of my length of service I could get a years salary and the only condition is that I do not work in the NHS for that year. Financially this would free me up to take a job doing something different at a much lower salary. I need my manager to support my application so I'm hoping to speak to her about it later this week. It's certainly something to think about.

It's been a tight month financially. Luckily I made £60 on eBay. I was planning to divert this to my new emergency fund or a credit card but I have had to use it for general household stuff. I also got £16 from surveys which has been swallowed up but as I have everything I need for Xmas it didn't need to go in that fund anyway.

I haven't had time to tot up where I stand with my debt so I'm going to give it a miss this month . It's not great because of the vet bills and I still haven't received the claim form for the insurance either.

I haven't touched the competitions really or done much with the surveys. I haven't got the energy with being back at work and trying to get another job. Not much time for the fun side of life either , in fact I feel we'll and truly planted on the hamster wheel. That needs to change !

Hope everyone is well and not getting flooded out

NewLeaf_2

keep your chin up

picasso2

Well I didn't get either of the posts. I didn't show myself up though and the job market is tough these days. I'm trying to decide whether to go to next Wednesdays interview. It's far from an ideal job and its a one year contract with a pay cut. There are Four people on the panel and a twenty minute presentation. I think I will ask my manager if she will support my application for the mutual resignation scheme. This would give me some breathing space financially to take a step back and do something different or less demanding. If they don't agree then I will think again after Xmas.

Time to get some rest. Early start tomorrow and I'm betting there is ice to scrape off the car.
Night

picasso2

Hello again.

I'm on annual leave this week. I've only been back at work two weeks and that's part time at the moment. I'm not complaining , the weather reports are not great and I hate snow and Ice so I'm grateful that I'm not laying awake at night worrying about going out in the stuff. I'm too old to be digging the car out at 6am.:o

I was supposed to be at another interview today but I withdrew. There are some changes going on at work but also my senior manager has supported my application for the MARs scheme. I should know by Xmas if and when I get to leave. My plan is that I will spend a month trying to get a job of some description locally, I'm not bothered what just not nursing. If nothing comes up there are quite a few nursing homes locally that often have vacancies. Then when my year out of the NHS is up evaluate where I am financially and decide whether to go back to the NHS or not. I suspect it will have imploded by then though
I'm also toying with writing a book in that year :rotfl:

Debt wise I'm not too clear where I am at the moment. I've had some shocking vet bills and I'm still waiting for the claim forms from the insurance , plus I have done some comfort spending. I'm not going to beat myself up over this though. I've been shuffling the cards around a bit too following a 0% BT offer with a couple. I should know where I am by the end of next week.
At least I have everything that I need for Xmas now. I'm staying at my sisters and I'm taking wine for the table and I really don't need anything special in.

So lots of things on the horizon. Hopefully the new year will bring a new less stressful life

picasso2

Just about to fall asleep when I had a bit of a light bulb moment.

The rat race is really just a state of mind. So by accepting and taking steps to change my life I've already got one foot out of the door. I don't need to be in a cabin in the middle of a field to live a happier , healthier life.

Don't you just love lateral thinking

Sleep tight x

picasso2

Well its a New Year and the signs are it will be full of hard decisions and huge reductions in my income.

December 2012 was challenging with our poor cat becoming very ill on xmas day. I am thankful that I have always had pet insurance and recently changed vets as she needed to see a specialist. Thankfully things are settling but she will require ongoing monitoring.

We didnt go over budget at xmas on presents but did some comfort shopping . I'm not beating myself up over it but 2013 will see this having to stop. DD is away with freinds for the week so I'm hoping to get an idea of how frugal I can be.

So I've looked at the cards etc and whilst I did not get below 18K last year as I should have done when I compare with Last years total I have reduced my debt by £3,263 I've done some shuffling to reduce the amount on the higher interest cards and will be doing a little more over the next couple of days.

I'm going to plug away again with surveys , I recieved £373 intotal combined with cashback this year and it will be nice to equal this next year.

I will also carry on with the competitions. In 2012 I had 110 wins. Mostly small bits and pieces but worth around £1950 in total and some useful stuff. I would love to win some things I really need this year such as a lappy and a camera but at the end of the day I'm always thrilled regardless.

So bring on 2013, a potentially very interesting year !