Leaving Do Dilemma

LuckyPenny

A colleague is leaving work after 10 years, we both started at a similar time, she left on 30 Aug and I was away so couldn't go to her leaving do and told her I was really sorry but I'm on holiday. So I have returned from holiday to a message to say she has changed the leaving do to this Friday 6th Sept. I'm not sure whether other people couldn't come or whether she specially re-arranged so I can come. I only have this message from another colleague to say she has rearranged and wants me to come. However after being on holiday I am broke, I could go further into my overdraft but I am seriously trying to clear my debt. Pay day isn't until Friday 13th Sept and I am even try the store cupboard challenge in order to spend as little as possible. I have blown my budget on holiday. The cost of the night out will be a short train fair £4.50 I think and then drinks, my usual tipple in Bacardi and coke, so expect all in all probably £15 might cover it. What should I do?

LadyV2508

I think you should definitely go and enjoy the evening! Could you possibly drive there and split the cost of petrol with other colleagues? Or if not maybe alternate alcoholic drinks and soft drinks?

Im sure your work colleague will appreciate you going, even if its just for a couple of hours. Hope you have fun :beer:

Tixy

Do you want to go? Or not really?

If you want to go and will enjoy it then if you can stretch to it I probably would.
If you don't really want to go or cannot stretch finances then I would either make an excuse (prior engagement) or tell her the truth.

Scritti

Tixy wrote: »

Do you want to go? Or not really?

If you want to go and will enjoy it then if you can stretch to it I probably would.
If you don't really want to go or cannot stretch finances then I would either make an excuse (prior engagement) or tell her the truth.

Exactly. I've worked with people for almost a decade but they've been very much work colleagues and I wouldn't get into any debt to go to their leaving do.

But there are people I very much like and I would definitely go, especially if it would only set me back 15 or 20 quid.

It's not a lot of money in the scheme of things and there's a big difference between blowing 100 quid a week on nights out and spending 20 on a leaving do for someone you've worked with for a decent percentage of your life.

If you like this person and really want to go then, for God's sake, go and have a fantastic time. It's brilliant that we're all saving money and debt-busting all the time but you have to let your hair down occasionally or else what's the point in living at all?

Then again, if you're not really bothered, maybe knock it on the head but explain to her why so as not to cause offense (might need to little white lie a bit though so as not to upset).

Again, if you do go, I hope you have a great time!!

MidLifeCrisis_3

I agree with the above, if you want to go then go and if it's more that you don't want to go then make up a prior important engagement that "you really just can't get out of".

Can you get a lift to keep costs down further or, if not, is the bus cheaper than the train?

As you are already in store cupboard challenge mindset how about drinking lime/blackcurrant/orange and soda or squash for the evening? It's generally much cheaper than a softie like coke. My kids think soda and black is a real treat and we have been surprised to find that some places charge as little as 15p!! Others charge more like 30p-75p and F&B's charged the same as a coke:(. I prefer lime and soda, but it can be a bit of an acquired taste as it's less sweet than stuff like sprite. Bonus is there's usually no "Not drinking tonight then?" questions either as it's easily mistaken for a drink like gin & tonic, etc :cool:

Hope this helps, let us know what you decide to do.

LuckyPenny

Hi all
I do really want to go. It's going to be a boozy bash so I think getting a train is a good idea because I have the last train to get excuse. I'm going to take £20 to pay for the train and drinks and not go to the cash machine.

Thank you all looking forward to a few hours out on the town :beer: