The Ultimate Incentive part 10. The only thing holding you back is you.

Dinah93

Hey all. Been reading during feeds but not posting as typing one handed is a nightmare. Grace seems a bit bothered by her teeth the last few days, not particularly grumpy but off her food and drinking milk like its going out of fashion.

I need to come up with a debt tally as it's gone up, a lot. Both cars failed the MOT, both needed a lot of work, mine has finally passed now after over £200 of repairs, NIMS has had £300 so far, then something else went on it which is electrical so it may well be that that £300 is wasted as the car is just for scrap. Insurances came to nearly £500 for his and £260 for mine as well.

I'm struggling again with depression quite badly at the moment, back up to the max dose on medication and just hoping that kicks in soon. I know if we didn't have the debt it would be much less of a factor, but right now it seems such a long way off. I'm also finding it very hard to not know what my employment situation will be in 4 months time, today we had to give all our qualifications and experience to HR, but I just wish I knew the scores. I'm kind of wishing they'd get shot of me at the moment, I find myself having nightmares the nights before I go to work, and I'm struggling to sleep at the best of times. That said we need the money, so I guess I need to hope they keep me unless we get a nice little windfall somewhere.

Having an NCT meeting at ours tonight, spent all yesterday cleaning, tidying, baking cookies, and I'm really worried no one is going to show up. I don't know if the branch have given out my address as certainly no one has asked for it.

Birdie85

Sorry to hear the depression has ramped back up Dinah. Sadly the job stuff is just going to have to be a wait-and-see thing, unfortunately I've found that HR departments are never in any rush to put you out of your misery, they seem to forget that you spend your consultancy period worrying and not daring to commit to anything financial because you just don't know what's going to happen. It's rotten but there's nothing you can do about it, I really feel for you being stuck in this situation, especially feeling the way you do about work.

How's the stuff with your Dad's business going?

Did the NCT ladies turn up last night?! Hope you had a good time. Also hope that Gracie's feeling a bit better, bless her.

How's things with NIM's job going? Have you managed to share housey jobs out a bit more so you're less stressed about keeping on top on housework?

shrimpy_80

Hope your NCT meeting went well and you had a good evening. Do you know when the redundancy announcements will be made? The waiting is horrible, even if its bad news I think its better to know. We were quite lucky in a sense as mine came with virtually no notice (but enough pay to tide me over) and OH only had to wait a couple of weeks. We were also lucky enough to find new jobs without a gap in pay, although OH is pretty miserable in his new job, working rotten shifts with stupid amounts of unpaid overtime We could manage on just my wage for a bit at least, but he isn't keen to do that and particularly at this time of year it probably isn't sensible. It has made me more determined than ever to get this debt gone, as I seem to be paying off good chunks each month but not really getting anywhere with it. I think it will be a case of new year, new attitude for me!

Hope your medication is helping more and the weekend has helped. The pics of you getting your tree are adorable I wish I had something more wise/useful to say

Birdie85

Sorry your OH isn't happy in his job Shrimpy. Hopefully he'll find something new in the new year. Good luck with getting the debt cleared next year too!

I second the comment about the tree pict being adorable! Amazing to see how much Grace has grown since last year! Cute that she was accidentally co-ordinated with you 2 too!

Everyone feeling Christmassy now? Christmas Eve is 2 weeks today! :j I really need to finish my shopping, I like to have everything sorted and wrapped in good time... not going to plan this year! I also might have to accept defeat and buy Christmas cards as I haven't had the energy to make any.

Dinah93

NCT ladies did turn up thankfully, so cookies were enjoyed by all.

Crazy busy here, I think the next time I have a half day free is December 23rd!

Redundancy is up in the air, might find out something on the 18th-20th December, but won't know anything for definite until the 6th January.

Seem to have settled into a happier routine in our household. NIM going back to work has been great for us emotionally. He's also doing the bulk of our extra income earners atm, mostly mystery shopping. This means I'm taking care of the house, and we're both happy with things this way around. I do try to make some extra money when I have time, but it's lovely not having the primary responsibility for one aspect of our lives.

Grace is loving advent, her literary advent calendar is going down a storm.

Feeling very busy and whirled around at the moment, looking forward to the days between Christmas and New Year to get a bit caught up. Hats off to full time working mums, I'm amazed anyone can do it without a breakdown.

Money still dire but at least NIM gets paid from the new job this month and things can start going in the right direction again. After a 3 week saga both cars now have a MOT and insurance.

ruby_eskimo

*pokes head round the door*

Hi everyone! I've been a bad MSE'r and disappeared off the face of the planet. Life got a bit too much and I ended up just needing a break from everything. But I'm back now and determined to get everything sorted.

Things have settled down with the OH, I'm about to start another new (and very scary with lots of responsibility) job, and I have a great bunch of friends that I know will always be there for me.

I hope you're all doing well, I'm going off to update my signature and try and catch up with what's been happening with you all!

wendz86

Morning,

Hope we are all OK.

Things finally quieting down at work and have sorted my job out for next year. I am staying at the same company just working on a different client with my old manager (who is lovely) and got a small payrise so all good!

Dinah - the christmas tree pics of Grace are so cute! She has grown so much. You are sounding a bit more positive so that is good, must help a lot NIm being back at work.

Birdie85

That's good news about your job Wendz! :T

Nice to hear from you Ruby, glad things are going well. Hope you stick around to keep up more up to date with you!

Sounds like things are super busy for you Dinah, but you sound a little more chipper which is good. I'm sure that the New Year will bring progress on the money front.

Not much to add from me other than that I'm coming down with cold after feeling pretty darn smug that I've so far managed to avoid the germs. Cried all over OH at lunchtime, turns out a cold+hormones+all my other pains = one teary Birdie! Luckily I decorated the cake for tomorrow's competition last night so I can just spend tonight wrapped up, feeling sorry for myself!

clearmydebts

Hi all,

Can't seem to get on here anymore!

Lara - congrats on finishing the thesis. Are you in Paris this week?

Birdie - big virtual hugs. Having a cold whilst preggers is miserable!

Hello to everyone else. All good here. My brother and his family flew over from Oz last week with their 4.5yr old and nearly 3 yr old (who we never met). So I have been enjoying lots of family time. I don't know what we will do when they go back Max is obsessed with his cousin

Doing terrible on the money front. Not added to the debt but it's not really going down either. I'm not really sure where the money has been going.

Birdie85

You must be having such a lovely time with your family CMD. At least we're lucky in this day and age to have things like Skype so Max and Evie can see their cousins. I wouldn't worry too much about money this month, it just leaks out in December, as long as the debts aren't going up despite this then I'd say you're winning.

Feeling a little better today, but can feel that it's not gone, just waiting for a good time to really strike me down! Told my body that I can't get ill until Sunday night so hoping it listens to me!

OH made me laugh this morning, got a phone call saying he was stood in Boots looking at the half price S&G and do I need one? He was giving a count down of how many were left (8... no, 7! Argh, now 6!) so told him to grab one whilst I rang Mum to double check that she'd got me one with discount... ring her up and she's useless, totally not realised that it was even going on sale today so had to wait for her to call up a work mate and get one put to one side whilst OH was walking around holding onto a set for dear life (and apparently getting smiles from other people with one, they were all in a little S&G club! )... managed to get one sorted through Mum so rang OH back who said that there were only 2 left now and was I SURE I didn't need it... he was really nervous about putting it back, bless him! I think he just didn't want to have to leave the club!

Hope people have nice weekends planned? It's my Dad's birthday tomorrow so I'm going out for lunch with my parents tomorrow whilst OH is throwing himself around a muddy pitch, then hopefully OH and I will be going to see frozen tomorrow night. On Sunday we're having my family round for lunch as it's my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. :T Why they got married the day after my Dad's birthday and 10 days before Christmas is beyond me!