Fitter, Fundraising and Financially sound by 40 (ish!)

elantan

Would it be an idea, in the future ( not just now as you are up to your eyes in it) to contact a charity and try to organise an event, this way you could start to learn the ropes

Changemylife

Hiya,
Thanks for the reply - I want to move into the charity sector because I've spent the past 17 years working in the corporate world generally to add cash to the company's bottom line. Now to use a cliche I'd like to give something back and use those skills to add something to a charity's bottom line!
I have already done some volunteering and plan to do more - it's just judging 3 smalls and a full time job it's difficult to get the experience on my CV. Plus I do need to keep some money coming in at the same time - luckily I can freelance so I'm looking at a bit of portfolio working (or a bit of everything!).
CML

elantan

I hope you find satisfaction from working within that sector, personally I'm looking to get out of it, but everyone is different and I'm glad there are people that do want to be in it

Good luck

Changemylife

Can I ask why Elantan?

elantan

I think it's a culmination of things to be honest, I soon realised that it became less about the charity and people we were helping and more about business, the lack of care for other staff members which came right from the top, the total wasting of funds that people had collected in good faith for the charity, the expectation that not only will you go an extra mile but because it is a charity it's the extra marathon

The lies that are told to "officials" like " we meet this standard, we excell at this etc" and yet the reality on the ground is the opposite,

Yes you get that in the private sector, but at least they are more truthful, they say look its the bottom line were interested etc

I think for me I have changed from a very much go getter I want to make a difference type person to a jaded oh here we go again type person

One day I will get a new job and I think both my company and myself will be glad when this happens, don't get me wrong, I don't hate my job, I just don't love it

When I've done a lot of volunteering ( I do a lot of it) I can also see a lot of the issues that surround each company I have worked with, from a soup kitchen to a NGO to local charities there seem to be similar issues all round

But then I am quite cynical

Just please go in with your eyes wide open and maybe do some charity work with the charity you want to work with first and find out of it is the " fit" your looking for

elantan

Obviously there is a lot more to it than I have stated, but I can't and won't share it all

Changemylife

Hello again,
Well it's now me versus the Virgin credit card - £5880 to go - but I need to say goodbye to this one. The account is now closed and I have also done the same to the Nationwide Card (which is higher - gulp). At least I won't be spending on them - which is great, but I am shocked at how much it will cost me to pay them off - the quicker the better at 16.9%. The problem is I can't get any credit anywhere else - might have to consider the OH applying for one to see if we can get a lower rate.
The good news is all the Christmas shopping is done - and I have a meeting in a week or so about some freelance work, which is good news.
Also positive is the fact my PPI claim is progressing - it turns out I had 7 (!!!!!) loans from Lloyds TSB, all small amounts over a 4 year period - I have no idea what I spent the money on, but hopefully it's going to help reduce today's debt.
Chin up and look forward.
CML