Mind change to debt thanks to MSE forums!

sassychick2014

Hey hon

Love that you think I'm extremely organised and efficient, I'm so not!

Yesterday went the way that only good days can, not as planned! I didn't end up leaving until nearly 11.30 so I had to drive therefore spent £3.30 on parking. It also meant I didn't get one done which was really annoying. However, one of the ones I did yesterday needed some more information and I've been asked to go back in - and they'll pay car parking. This means I can do the seventh one today and get the parking paid for - bonus.

I did however get a few things yesterday that will be perfect stocking fillers and I get reimbursed for them too. Always a pleasure! I'll be going in with Littley after school - much to her disgust I'm sure - and can pick my mum up from work at the same time.

I don't think I could do 7 every time though as it was a bit of a rush to get them all done, I got to school pick up just as Littley was coming down the road so I literally had seconds to spare.

This morning I've been on a training course and so have got to spend the next few hours catching up with the work I was supposed to do then. It's all good though and even though I keep looking at my days and going "urgh" at the extra work I'm doing I then look at the £9 a day challenge and remember that it's all worth it.

Best I stop nattering and get my backside in gear!

Have a good day everyone xx

Whitefeather8

To think six months ago you were struggling to find any suitable work and now your diary is full, I am so pleased, though sometimes I find that work is either feast or famine. It would be nice to get a perfect balance.:beer:!

sassychick2014

Morning

It is indeed feast or famine and I'm not sure which way it's going to go atm! I'm pretty strapped for cash and have just realised that not only is it my nephew's b'day today but he's 16 so am having to find some money to buy him a fab present. Have no idea what to get him as my brother thought my suggestions were "lame". Charming hey!?

So, I started looking through old photos for my parents Christmas present and it turns out I don't have as many suitable ones as I thought. I have found some pics that are will be very funny to recreate but probably not ones that my parents would want on their wall. I think they have a shed load of pics at their house so am going to have to tell a little white lie and say Littley has a school project and needs pics of Mummy when she was little. Hmmm, hope they'll believe me. I really hope I find some good pics though as if not I have no idea what to do for their present!

Oh, on the 16th birthday note, my brother and the family are all coming down and we're going to dinner somewhere a bit posher for us but not too posh that it will cost an arm and a leg. Not sure if I mentioned it but lately instead of paying for our own meals we've been doing one part of the family pays for meals, one for puddings, one for drinks. This sounds reasonable but I found myself paying £25 for pudding last time and considering between us Littley and I ate & drank about £14 worth of stuff I was a bit miffed. It's purely due to the fact there's 2 of us, 2 of my parents (drinks - £18) and 5 of my brother's lot (meals £30 (2-4-1 deal)). I mentioned it to my mum who agreed and said we'd go back to how we were but they'd also buy a round of drinks. However, this posher place we're going to (that I so can't afford) has a Groupon offer on atm so we get the food at half price, thankfully. Think our meals and drink should come in at around £10-£15 again so can't complain to much. Although I will! haha

Have a great day everyone xx

Whitefeather8

Divvying up the bills at the end of a group meal, always seems to see us out of pocket too. People in our circle often leave early, paying what they deem is their share before the bill comes but nearly always forgetting to add anything for a tip, or shared bottles of wine .:(. We have been meaning to say something for years ............


Have a great day x.

sassychick2014

Morning all

Well, after finding the Groupon deal we decided to go elsewhere, purely because of the rudeness of the staff at the restaurant. When I asked if we could have a table for 8 I was told we couldn't use all the vouchers. So I asked if we could do 2 tables of 4 next to each other and was told (and I quote) "we can't guarantee the tables will be near each other because if a walk-in or someone else books who are paying full price they are a higher priority than you".

Seriously!? Couldn't believe I was being told that I wasn't a priority even though I was going to come and spend around £100 altogether in their family run restaurant. Needless to say after some discussions with the family we're going somewhere else who have agreed to do the Christmas meal offer earlier for us, decorate the table for nephew's birthday and generally bent over backwards to accommodate us.

Maybe I'm immature but I haven't cancelled our tables as calling them isn't a "high priority" for me. Their loss.

Bought nephew the best present I could think of which was slightly more than what I was able to afford so have had to take a little out of the put which has really annoyed me if I'm honest. I'm still way ahead of where I want to be and I'll find the money to put back in over the next month but the fact I had to "dip in" frustrated me. The plus side is I know he will love it and that makes up for it.

Have a great day & weekend everyone! xx

Whitefeather8

Hi Sassy,

I don't think you had an immature reaction to that treatment. The way the restaurant handled the situation was was appalling and I would fire off an e-mail to the Manager of the restaurant and to Groupon, asking for an apology and my money back. That is certainly not in the Groupon spirit. The refund might cover the extra on your nephew's present, which I am sure he will love x.

sassychick2014

Morning hon

We hadn't actually bought the vouchers as we wanted to make sure we could get a table first, and am so glad that was the case. They rang me on Friday eve and asked if we still required the table so I said no and explained why. For some reason the Manager couldn't get her head past the Groupon issue - which I kept saying wasn't really an issue - and wouldn't listen to the fact that it was the words "higher priority than you" that had offended us. In the end I just hung up on her as she was being so rude. I'm quite tempted to put a review on TripAdviser but I cba!

We ended up going to a well known Mexican chain who were absolutely fantastic and couldn't go out of their way to help us. We had a really lovely time and I made sure I told them that they were fantastic. I firmly believe if you're happy enough to complain you should be happy enough to praise.

Well, best get on. Was supposed to be going for a walk today but my friend is to tired which is brill as I really couldn't be bothered! lol But I do have lots of work to do so I better get on and do it.

Have a great week everyone xx

Whitefeather8

I am like that with Trip Advisor, I never quite get around to posting. Sometimes I read all these 4/5 star reviews and wonder if the people visited the same place as me, I would have appreciated some balance!

I am glad the Mexican meal went really well!

sassychick2014

I know what you mean. I looked on there before I booked our hotel in Sydney and saw some very mixed reviews but also saw that the manager had taken time to reply to each and every one and had thanked the good ones and apologised for the bad. He also put an explanation on there for things if he could, which I thought was really good.

Have a great day xx

sassychick2014

Morning everyone

Just a short one as I'm supposed to be working!

I've been wanting to do a course for ages to help improve a hobby that I would love to explore more but haven't been able to afford it. They're all quite a few hundred and to pay that and not get any financial returns for it at this moment is pointless.

However, on looking on Groupon for somewhere to eat the other day I found a course which is exactly what I'm looking for, reduced by 96% to £14!! I've had a good look round and have just signed up for it.

The best bit is I am now allowed to get an NUS card which I've just done, including the ISIC card. Nearly everywhere I shop has student discount and I used to take advantage of my mate's when she was a student. The cards cost £15.99 altogether but I will make this back in no time. The ISIC card is for international use and when I was looking at activities to do in Aus they all had student prices on them so I'll save a fair whack on those too.

I'm really chuffed with this as I get to do something cool and inadvertently get to save money too. I'm going to still save the full price for everything (just in case) and will enjoy the extra money I have to spend when we're there.

Have a great day everyone xx