The road to freedom! Time to make some changes!

Giggles86

Right here goes! I've been lurking for a while, just reading and have come to the conclusion that a diary might be the thing to keep me motivated. Especially if I can keep coming back to it and seeing where I'm going right!

A bit about me first. I'm 26 and back living with my parents after uni and 6 years of living alone. My debts aren't huge, but are enough when I don't currently have a job. Everything started to go wrong round about Christmas, and in the space of a week in the new year I had to go to a much loved family member's funeral, resigned from my job because it was beginning to make me ill and cry every night, and split up with my boyfriend. I spent a few months wallowing and half-heartedly job hunting, letting the tax rebate I'd received dwindle away slowly and the overdraft get used more and more.

My LBM came the other day when I had a letter from the bank to tell me I'd gone over my overdraft limit, and without the Bank of Dad, I'd still be struggling. The phone call was just what I needed. I'd been becoming disheartened with my job search and more and more fed up about my lack of money, but I'm determined to make changes.

Firstly, I need to find a job. Not an easy task at all but it's the first step on the road to getting sorted. After the bank phonecall I quickly got sorted with an appointment at the Job Centre and dreaded it all weekend! I'm already taking lots of steps to find work and have found my perfect job, if only I can secure it! Shame the holidays are so quiet for finding teaching work though, else I'd have more applications to be going at!

My debts are not enormous (though over the years I've borrowed more than I should from my parents) and the first step is to pay off my overdraft (just under £2000) and get back in the black for the first time in years! My outgoings are quite small...a phone bill and Teaching union subscription each month (until I'm working and paying my dad in rent rather than housework again!)

Once I'm working, I can start saving for a bit of freedom!! My parents are lovely, but I'd love to have my own space again! It's been so difficult packing half my life into the loft, and spending most of my time in my room for a bit of privacy. I've flown the nest once but I'd quite like to fly it permanently, though I may have to pop back for Sunday dinner every so often!!

Today's job is volunteering at a local day centre, helping to serve lunch and being cheerful and friendly...shouldn't be too tough a task! And while the entertainment is on this afternoon I'll be able to fill out 2 application forms I hope!!

Oops! I'll have to run there! How did I let myself get so distracted over breakfast!! TTFN!

Giggles86

Can't believe how tired I am! I've spent the day volunteering. Mainly serving and clearing away meals and hot drinks. I sat and filled in an application form while the customers enjoyed the afternoon entertainment but otherwise have been busy busy all day. I think it was the heat with so many people in one little room, and not much air flowing through!
I wasn't very MSE on the way home as it's pouring down so I caught the bus but that will be my only spend today as my boyfriend is bringing treats for our film night tonight and I know he won't let me pay him half - really can't get used to someone else being prepared to pay as I always paid with my ex.
I need a strong coffee to wake me up now so I can get on with something productive! TTFN!

Giggles86

Well I was a sociable soul last night! Let my boyfriend pick the film and although I enjoyed it, I was so tired I nodded off and missed half an hour of it, only waking up when the phone rang!! I'd not even realised I'd dozed off until the last bit of the film I remembered didn't follow on! He even managed to pick a DVD I'd not watched before so helped me to watch one from my pile of unwatched films!

Today has been pretty good and I've been pretty MSE. Didn't have a great start to the day picking up the deodrant can after my shower to spray on my hair instead of the leave in conditioner! My hair must have smelled interesting!!

I walked to and from the job centre (about 20mins each way) though did feel a bit daft with my umbrella in one hand and my sunglasses on, but thought I'd better be prepared!

I've experimented with some ribbony wool to think about making scarves for some people for Christmas...I could probably finish one in a couple of nights so now need to shop around to find the wool at a fairly low price.
I decided earlier I was craving curry. Not had one for ages and was sorely tempted to just buy one to save the effort. Instead I had a quick look on the internet and ended up only having to buy pasata, curry paste and chicken, and it was lovely And I have enough left to have tomorrow so quite impressed with myself!
Arranged to go to Blackpool on Saturday and am packing up a picnic to take so we only have to spend on tea while we're there...must find my parents' picnic basket as it's got the ice packs in I think!
TTFN

Giggles86

What a weekend! On Saturday the sun shone and the rain stayed away! We had a fantastic day and I barely spent a penny as my boyfriend insisted on paying. I really can't get used to someone else being happy to pay though I do feel bad that at the moment I can't pay for much in return.
Had to laugh on Saturday as we walked along the prom at Blackpool. A large party all got off a coach with their buckets, chairs and picnics, looked around and stopped us, asking if we were from the area and if we knew where the beach was. Unfortunately they'd arrived just as it got to high tide, so the beach was hidden under the sand! I wonder what they did until the tide crept out again!
We walked about 8 miles and walking along the pier we passed through the amusement arcade, finding 80p in one of the 10p machines that had dropped down means that even after spending half an hour feeding in 2ps I came home with a bit more money than I went with!
I've made 1.5 Christmas cards and a 21st Birthday card this weekend, and have another birthday card to make today, and finish the Christmas card. I'll have everything made before the beginning of December at this rate
Should be a NSD today, unless I need to buy something to fix my bike with later! After hearing of several people who've done long bike rides over the course of the weekend I feel I should get energised! And cycling is a fairly low impact activity...just what I need hopefully (and cheaper than swimming!)
Really should get on with something productive!
TTFN

Giggles86

Why does my darling pet rabbit have to start making stupid noises at this time of night! Tonight's activity...tearing newspaper and dragging the food dish around the cage! He's not usually this noisy when it's bedtime!

Today has been a pretty good day. A birthday dinner with a friend who I've had a few disagreements with lately. It was good to have a laugh with her for a change, and we enjoyed a lovely steak for the grand total of 6quid each thanks to Wetherspoon's steak night! It's been my only spend today, and tomorrow should be a NSD as I'm volunteering again. Last week I even got a free dinner! I think they were so pleased to have some 'young blood' and some of the people there thought I was only about 16 Going to take another job application with me to fill in while the entertainment is on and keeping everything crossed that it's not quite as warm as it was last week!!
I think the rabbit has finally given up his new game! Time to sleep!
TTFN

Giggles86

Yesterday was exhausting and I've managed to get myself roped into something else! Didn't get my application form done because I was invited into a meeting they were having as some 'young blood' with good ideas apparently! I'm now helping to advertise and out on refreshments for a concert in October. This could be fun as I'm already in charge of organising another concert which is in January! If only these were paid jobs!
Not sure why but when I got home I was totally miserable. I think part of it was biting my tongue all morning and not getting frustrated with my Gran (who a few family members have commented is getting increasingly dotty and forgetful recently) and not having any down time at all between getting up at 7 and getting home at half 4. I ended up curled up in bed at 5 with a Disney DVD before a trip to Asda with my brother's girlfriend (while my mum and brother created a pond in their garden) where she bought me chocolate bless her
Today I have to finish 2 applications and send them off, keep an eye on the weather for the washing, and tidy the house. Doesn't sound like much but I'm finding motivation a real challenge at the minute. I've applied for so many jobs and not even had interviews. It makes me wonder if I should be trying my hand at something else and abandoning my dream Ah well. Must crack on TTFN

grannyx2

Hello Giggles, thought I'd pop in a give you bit of a cheery Hello, :hello: and a bit of motivation to keep up your diary.

I know how demoralising the job hunting is but you will get there in the end. Think of the volunteering as good experience and something to mention on your applications as well.

Look on ebay for some cheap wool and car boots are good too. I do a lot of knitting so am constantly on the look out for bargains.

The where is the beach story made me laugh.

BFN, I'll subscribe if you don't mind, lots of love Granny x

Giggles86

Hello Granny Lovely of you to join me. Thank you for the car boot tip, I would never have thought to look there for wool.

In a bit of a panic this morning as it's closing date for my dream job application and I haven't delivered it yet! My dad is going to drive me over there in a bit (when he's finished a job) to try and hand deliver it (I prefer to do this when I can!) but I'm in a total tizz! I've been a bit miserable and unmotivated this week so haven't been able to concentrate on it for long! I'm hoping the school is open so I can hand it over to someone. It not, I have an email address for the headteacher after she send me some information about the post that I will send the application to. But I always feel it's much less personal than a paper copy (even though for once this is typed as I kept making mistakes!) As much as it's my dream job, I can't wait to be rid of the form. I feel like a bit of an idiot leaving it until the last minute and hope the closing time is the end of the normal school day, and not 12 or 9 as I'll be too late then (it doesn't suggest anywhere that it's earlier!)
I then need to pack a bag for the weekend for a much needed escape!
I will be able to relax once this form's in! Why oh why didn't I do it the day I got it and I wouldn't be in this state now!! That'll teach me!!
TTFN x

Giggles86

Application form sent in! Now it's time to try and relax a bit! Not much more I can do regarding applications today. I might try to get my old phone working effectively as my current one is driving me crackers today! And I don't want to have a weekend of being cross with my phone!! (though I'll be with pretty much the only person who texts me!) TTFN

Giggles86

Hello diary! I'm still here! Enjoying 2 lovely relaxing NSDs so far this weekend, even though I've been away!! BF has insisted on paying for everything...even persuaded me to choose some crafty bits to make cards that he paid for. We had a lovely Chinese last night with his mum and even though we've been doing little bits of jobs all weekend like cleaning the pond and his car it's been fab. He's made me feel special and it's just been nice to chill out. It makes such a change to feel like this after months of stress! Just need a job now!! TTFN

grannyx2

Sounds like you have had a really nice weekend. Well done on the NSDs. Good luck on the job application too.

Granny x