The Ultimate Incentive natters on. Part 9

Birdie85

Morning all, Monday rolls around far too quickly doesn't it?!

So sorry to hear your news Pilchard. Hope your FIL is comfortable and you enjoy some quality time with him. Hope the tax stuff gets sorted too, I can never get my head around the fact they they can get things so wrong then come chasing years later for the shortfall that their mistake has created! If you do have to pay, can you offer a token payment so you're not struggling?

Challenge didn't go well at all for me over the weekend! Nothing, nada, zilch! I was feeling quite sorry for myself so hid under my slanket for most of it... I've got plans to get some sorting done tonight though (even though I still feel sorry for myself *cough cough sniffle*) so I hope to get back on track!

**On a side note, I feel even more sorry for myself right now as I somehow managed to bash heads with OH on Saturday and the bridge of my nose is really sore to touch (luckily I didn't get black eyes! :eek:) which would be bad enough, but since I have to blow my nose every twenty minutes the pressure hurts soooo much! Boohoo, damn my clumsiness!

How are you feeling now Dinah?

That 52 week challenge is interesting, will give it a go but not convinced I'll be able to save the full amounts after the second half of the year!

Sorry you're struggling with work Flower, I'd hate to be feeling hounded like that every day to go in, especially as some people really know how to make you feel guilty about 'only' doing your contracted hours. Can you tell your manager that you think it is inappropriate to call you so much when you're supposed to be off work and concentrating on other things and offer to speak to the area manager if it persists? Big hugs anyway, it's awful when you feel trapped in a job and hate the thought of going to work!

How's the job going NIM?!

Dinah93

Sorry you've had a rubbish weekend Birdie, and ouch to the headbashing! I'm feeling the same really, yesterday was a very empty day but that's probably because I was so tired - Grace had me up until 4.30am Saturday night/Sunday morning, I'm not sure if it's her teeth bothering her or if she was just not in a sleepy mood.

I think I only got one thing chucked this weekend, a round mirror plate from our wedding I've tried selling on ebay a few times with no luck. I did spent a huge ammount of time cleaning and tidying, I feel a lot better for my surroundings being clutter free, but as nothing actually went out the door I can't count them.

Dinah93

So week 2 of the savings challenge - all those taking part - £2 in the pot today.

Tete_en_l'Air

Morning all! Yuk yuk yuk to everyone else being back to work and all the traffic and work small-talk that involves! I know I sound like an antisocial old cow haha!

So sorry to hear your news Pilchard - it never rains but it pours eh? However I read your first post and the bit where you say your priority should be supporting your hubby (not arguing with this!) rather than challenges etc, I was thinking, "Nooooo!" - I lost a good six months of last year to the cancer vortex. Apart from one weekend in London, I honestly can't think of a single enjoyable thing that happened between Christmas and about August, because I more or less gave up on doing anything for my own needs/pleasure. It's so draining in the long run though, you need to give yourself a break from always looking after other people - and in particular having the 'admin' side of your life in disarray only adds to stress. So I was so glad to read your second post in which you sounded a lot more positive - atta girl! We're all here for you if you need to sound off, or you can always PM me and we can have a little moan to each other [IMG]http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/<a href=http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php target=_blank>[/img]

Good to see that Gracie is going after new and interesting foods Not that I'm a mother (obviously), but I think there's a lot to be said for doing what feels right.

Hope everyone else is well, and hope your nose doesn't come out in a big purple bruise or anything Birdie! OH's thick skull eh?

I've lost 3lbs since Wednesday so feeling pretty good about the diet wagon, and off to join a running club (I think) tonight, yikes! Not a lot of decluttering got done over the weekend, but we did take the decs down so everything feels very minimalist!

What's the savings challenge, did I miss that? Need to have a look at the 52 week linky...

wendz86

Can totally understand that Flower, if i didn't enjoy my job then i don't think it would be worth going for the little pay i get after childcare. Very unfair of your boss to do that as well.

My manager who has a 1 year old too is moving teams in a week . Thankfully the other manager we have is understanding.

Ouch about the nose Birdie!

Well done Tete on the weightloss! My first weigh in is wednesday.

Managed to actually chuck a few things this weekend - some jewellary and toiletries. Putting stuff aside for a carboot i am planning in the spring too.

poddle911

Hello!

First day back at work for me and I don't want to seem ungrateful, but man's it tough after two weeks off (I know, poor me, right?)

Pilchard, really sorry to hear about your FIL and what a tough time you've been having of it. Glad you're finding strength to be positive, and I can't speak from experience but I think Tete's advice is spot on - if you can focus on things outside your emotional circumstances it might help you get through it. Big hugs

Dinah, really glad you're getting some help too - it's absolutely unsurprising given everything you have on your plate. Hopefully you'll start feeling more like your old self soon, but I can't imagine you could be a better mum to Grace than you already are.

Nice work on the weight loss, Tete I'm starting pilates on Thursday. Dreading! Good luck with your weigh in too Wendz!

Aw, poor Birdie Sounds painful, like one of your legendary badminton incidents. Are you still doing that, btw?

Flower, that sounds really stressful, I'm sure your boss shouldn't keep contacting you on your days off. Definitely have a word with her if you can face it. Exciting that you're planning baby number 2, though. Not to mention the rest of you girls! Fingers crossed for all of you xxx Dinah will have a thread football team soon by the sound of it

PS. I've started the 52-week challenge too with a lot of optimism. OH is also doing it, but putting in a regular amount of £26 a week, which seems a lot, but I guess we'll see who's laughing in 6 months :rotfl:

PPS. Cinny, I keep meaning to say, poor Ryder! What a gorgeous pup, glad he's being so well looked after - bless him and his cone of shame

Birdie85

Don't know what you mean about my badminton incidents Poddle, I only hit myself in the back of the head twice the last time I played! I am still playing, it peetered off around Christmas but we're back to it now. Was supposed to be playing today but I couldn't face it as I can barely breathe as it is! Hopefully I'll be well enough to play on Wednesday... and will no doubt injure myself somehow as I'm so out of practice!

Very good advice about not giving up challenges etc Tete. Hope this year is so much better for you Tete and you can take some of that advice and not get lost in the 'cancer vortex' Pilchard.

Do you think you'll be adding to the football team at some point Poddle? You'd make gorgeous babies! Let us know how you get on at pilates, I quite fancy trying it.

ruby_eskimo

Dinah93 wrote: »

So week 2 of the savings challenge - all those taking part - £2 in the pot today.

All done. (which seems to be my go-to email reply today)

Just popping on to say that Rock of Ages was really good! We had the £20 tickets and you still had a really good view. Had to stop myself from singing along a lot of the time!

Have a really irritated eye at the moment. Have tried washing it out and I can't see anything in there but I can feel something. Don't want to have to go to the opticians but might have to.

Hugs to all.

Tete_en_l'Air

Thanks Wendz and fingers crossed for Weds - have you been good? You have a good incentive! Ooh and I LOVE pilates Poddle and Birdie, I always walk out of a class about 3" taller than when I went in! Really miss doing the class at work but I have a DVD at home I should make use of...

Ruby, maybe you had something in your eye at one point and scratched the surface of your eye with it so now it still feels sore even though there's nothing there? Maybe worth making an optician appt, you can always cancel it if it gets better.

Had a look at the 52 week challenge, I'd put off reading it as I thought it was going to be really complicated for some reason but it's simple as anything! Not sure about the idea of gradually increasing the amount as you get towards Christmas mind! I might try and do it in reverse seeing as I'm *hoping* to be a lot poorer by the end of the year anyway.... so that means I need to put away £103 now?? Oh yikes.... Maybe Mr Poddle has the best idea!

Birdie85

Yikes, I think you're best off doing it the 'right' way Tete and having to cut back/give up later on in the year rather than work backwards and give up straight away because you're skint!

The only way I'm going to be able to save those kinds of amounts in the second half of the year is if I earn the extra cash... now there's a challenge!