Oh God! What have I done!!!!!!

charlies_mum

Muppet81 wrote: »

I guess I need to lose the mentality of "I work hard so I have earned the meal out/new dress/holiday/trip to the theatre"

QUOTE]


Exactly - I used to spend to compensate for the fact that I hated my job. As others have said, you will soon adjust to your new income, you just need to switch to OS mode

Ytaya

Life is too short to work a job you hate unless you absolutely have to! Well done for getting out!

I second the suggestion to post a statement of affairs. Sure, you're not having a debt crisis, but more eyes looking at your bills could give you some ideas on where you can save a bit of money. A few quid here and there soon adds up!

Do you use sites like Quidco and Pigsback? Read Martin's recent article on cashback sites. Some of them have opportunities to get a little cashback just for clicking links, not for buying things. It's only a few quid a month, but again, it adds up.

There are ways and means around these things. Your sanity is worth more than a cr@ppy job!

rev229

I don't think any job is worth doing if it is making you so unhappy. I was in the same position a few years ago and decided that I go no longer carry on. I made the descision after a really bad day at work not to go back, I didn't know if we were going to manage on my husbands salary alone. I sort all the money side of things at home OH not a clue!! The first thing I did was went through all the outgoings and things we could cut back on ie cable tv downsize broadband. Check utility bills to see if they owed us anything in fact the owed us 300.00. Reduce food shopping We have no debts apart from the mortgage so where lucky. But we have managed really well in fact we are much better off now than we have ever been because we have to think is it really necessary before we buy it. And the kids appreciate that if they want something badly they will save their money for it. It was a worry to start with but I would rather be poor and happy than rich and very unhappy. Good luck.

Queen.Bess

You will only regret what you haven't done! That's my motto, and I'm sure very quickly you will know you've made the right decision!

Meal planning is very easy and the suggestions already made will help you now end! Plus, keep looking on here for great ideas and inspiration and you won't go wrong!

Good Luck!

jennyjelly

Just wanted to add my support.

I really do believe that things work out for the best if you take a leap into the unknown.

Six years ago I walked out of a job that I had once loved but because of changes I had grown to hate. I had never before left a job without another one to go to and cried all that night at my hot-headedness, certain we were going to end up starving in the gutter.

The next day I applied for a job I saw advertised in the local paper and got it. Although it is less hours (and consequently less money) it has turned out to be the best job I have ever had and I work with the most fantastic people. I'm just coming up to my 6th anniversary there and can't imagine ever leaving.

If I had stayed in the job that was making my life a misery I would never have looked in the paper and never had seen the advert, so I would probably still be miserable in the old job.

Look on this as an opportunity to make your life happier, and if you are a bit poorer financially you will probably end up richer in other ways.

I wish you the very best of luck.

Fruball

Hi there - As someone else has said, you could take action against your employer - I think you would have a very good case. Have a chat with the CAB to start with as that will cost you nothing

On a brighter note, everyone I know who this has happened to has found a nicer job and its all turned out for the best so try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know)

Enjoy your days off in the meantime, it would be a shame to waste them I hope the sun comes back so you can enjoy it :beer:

Three_Dancing_Dragons

Muppet, you are not a muppet nor are you a freeloader.

IF (and I say if) you decide that you want to find another job I highly recommend "BRANDING YOURSELF" by Mary Spillane which will take you through a process of working out what you have to sell to employers, regardless of your age. It'll help you feel a lot better about yourself.

If you want to completely re-evaluate what you want to do when you grow up then Richard Bolles "WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE" is a job seeking legend.

Nor is it too late to consider self-employment. I've just read "MILLIONAIRE WOMEN NEXT DOOR" by Tom Stanley that profiles numerous women who have made their fortune later in life.

Mind you, if you've only just sent the letter maybe it will panic your bosses and they'll offer you a raise to stay?

apple_mint

Take note of everything that is said here - there is a lot of good advice and support.

1. I'm 50 next year and a) it is not old and b) you have the sort of experience employers are crying out for. There is a skills shortage and if you wanted you could have a change of direction and use those skills in a different line of work.
2. If you have less hours at work, then you can start to look around for bargains and also to look for recipes that will give you the sort of meals you are used to having. Remember chefs charge a huge a amount for the experience they pass on in their meals. You can get this for free reading their books in libraries or through their web sites.
3. Home made doesn't mean that it is a lesser meal than going out to a restaurant - there is a thread somewhere on MSE about how disappointed people have been with restaurant meals because there home cooked meals are often better.
4. I used to be in a well paid job. I was made redundant and now have a job that pays less but means that I am home every night instead of travelling all the time. I love my evenings at home and we have a better lifestyle because we don't buy ready meals, we make our own wine (get some of those 70's wine making books from the library) - we haven't bought wine for a year now because we are self sufficient - and we feel so much better off.

You don't have to work in a job that makes you miserable. You are not a freeloader. You are simply making a career change :-). Think positive. Employers should be thankful they have your skills. If they are not appreciated you take them elsewhere.

Muppet81

Three_Dancing_Dragons wrote: »

Muppet, you are not a muppet nor are you a freeloader.

Mind you, if you've only just sent the letter maybe it will panic your bosses and they'll offer you a raise to stay?

Trust me .... no amount of money would do that. Not now I have made my decision

Gingham_Ribbon

great ways to cut back hunt

great disguised own brand hunt

great bit on the side hunt

Here are some threads from around the boards to get you started. Also, let us know what you spend your food budget on and the kind of food you like to eat and we can have a think about alternatives or ways of cutting back. Have a look at the main site for tips on cutting back on insurance and other bills too.

You did a good thing. It will work out with less effort than you put in at work with more benefits. Good luck.