PB Rides Again....Life's Never Smooth, Is it?!

PositiveBalance

Hello all,

Right, well after my last diary curtailing somewhat I think it's time for a new one. It has been a seriously rocky time in the PB household: leaving a bad job where I was bullied for a seemingly good one, being fired somewhat illegally (don't get me started on either) and now finding myself without full-time employment and temping here and there has not left the old purse strings feeling at their happiest.

So here is my new diary. I'm not going to focus on paying back money so much as keeping my head above water and applying for jobs and much-needed decluttering that will hopefully net me a few pounds. Most of all I need goals. And people to hold me accountable if my 'To Do' list remains hypothetical instead of actual. Feel free to drop in and say hello. There will be tea and cake for all! (If this homebrew wine I'm trying to get sorted works, there will be some of that as well, but you'll have to wait about two weeks for that! )

Right, so here are my current aims:

1. Apply for an average of 2 jobs a day.
2. List/write up descriptions & take photos of 5 items to list on Ebay/Gumtree etc. (Is that too many or not to be realistic?)
3. Reduce food spends as far as possible - make *another* freezer and cupboard inventory (or is the old one not beyond redemption. No, it really is old)
4. Get a new savings account at high interest
5. Keep up with the 'Save and extra pound a week' challenge that you heard about.
6. Abuse my 30 free day online DVD company trial as much as possible.

I also need to do exercise etc. but I'm terrible at trying to do too many things at once, so perhaps I should try to get into a routine with this first and then add more as I do along.

Having said that, stuff I really need to do:

1. Email landlord about locks.
2. Buy new lamp (when car returned) plus bottle at same place.
3. Email Orange/EE to complain about shocking service and search for new mobile provider.
4. Bake blueberry muffins today before the blueberries go off (they are looking slightly doggy).
5. Bake something with the oranges that are looking poorly.
6. Make a loaf of bread in breadmaker.

Right, I'd better get on with it. Here's today's 'To Do' list:

1. Email landlord about locks
2. Ring Person1 and Person2 r.e. where to look for jobs.
3. Text Person3 r.e. her contact for getting a job.
4. Apply for 2 jobs
5. Make loaf of bread
6. Bake blueberry muffins
7. Make orange drizzle cake/muffins
8. List 5 Ebay etc. items
9. Watch film to send back to DVD company

Right, that will keep me busy, although the film is very long so this will take a while!

tattycath

Hi PB. :wave:
Well done on the new diary.
I have a diary too, but, like you, if I try to do too much different stuff I don't seem to achieve as much as I do when I concentrate on just a couple of things or so.
I need to list at least 5 things a day too really-do you do 99pence listings or do you pay to list at a higher price?
I do a mixture of the two-and of course free listing days are always a bonus.
My job is looking increasingly unstable-think I might be leaving soon.
It will be a mixed blessing really, the dynamics have changed now, morale has been really low for over a year now.
Good luck in your quest Hun.

mooomin

I'm going to be jobhunting too, my main thing to do today is get my CV up to scratch, but I have loads of other things to do as well, so I might postpone that for tomorrow

The baking sounds good!

PositiveBalance

Thanks tattycath!

I'm sorry to hear your job situation isn't smooth. Perhaps it's worth rejigging the old CV, just in case?

As for the listings, I'm not really sure. I like to keep things I'm not sure that will sell until free listings days that was it doesn't hurt me if they don't go. I'm probably going to hunt out my 99p things for the minute, though. I guess that now they charge fees on postage it makes little difference if I list something at 99p then add the price difference I want plus fees difference for postage onto the postage (if possible), but I don't like playing games like that...I don't like profiting from postage as it's not fair.

I'd better dash and get those muffins on, else they will never get done! Speak soon. xxx

tattycath

I made chocolate muffins last night.
Got to use up some puff pastry later today and some apples and oranges too.
I've been number crunching and I would need to sell about £200 worth of stuff a month in order to still make inroads on savings and mortgage overpayments.
Luckily due to past hoarding we still have plenty of stuff to go at for a couple of months. The only problem is most of the stuff is low value, so that means it will be a lot of work for just £200-but I think it's doable if I get my rear in gear.

edinburgher

Helloooooooo PB and well done on starting up a diary again :T

I have come with words of enthusiasm, nonsense and solutionising

The 'response to PB's list list'

• Don't beat yourself up if you can't apply for 2 jobs a day, I can go weeks without finding a job that I think I can apply for
• Instead of listing x items a day, why not set yourself a target to write up *all* of them and then stagger the postings at your future leisure?
• Instead of writing an inventory of what's in your cupboard/freezer, why not target two items a day and either use them up, or start them? So, those two things you think are pork chops and that jar of stir fry sauce that you've had for a year? Most of what we have in our cupboards is daft stuff you use once and then forget
• Apply for the savings account *today*
• Start one of your food tasks as soon as you read this...

Now that I am done re-framing your goals, I'm off to copy 4000 files between two networked drives. Joy :eek:

tattycath

edinburgher wrote: »

Helloooooooo PB and well done on starting up a diary again :T

I have come with words of enthusiasm, nonsense and solutionising

The 'response to PB's list list'

• Don't beat yourself up if you can't apply for 2 jobs a day, I can go weeks without finding a job that I think I can apply for
• Instead of listing x items a day, why not set yourself a target to write up *all* of them and then stagger the postings at your future leisure?
• Instead of writing an inventory of what's in your cupboard/freezer, why not target two items a day and either use them up, or start them? So, those two things you think are pork chops and that jar of stir fry sauce that you've had for a year? Most of what we have in our cupboards is daft stuff you use once and then forget
• Apply for the savings account *today*
• Start one of your food tasks as soon as you read this...

Now that I am done re-framing your goals, I'm off to copy 4000 files between two networked drives. Joy :eek:

You make a lot of sense Edinburgher.
You are cordially invited to pop over to my thread and try and make some sense of my mad ramblings.

PositiveBalance

edinburgher wrote: »

Helloooooooo PB and well done on starting up a diary again :T

I have come with words of enthusiasm, nonsense and solutionising

Thank you for the wise suggestions...I'll have a good think about them.


Here's what I've done so far...

1. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif][STRIKE]Email landlord about locks.[/STRIKE][/FONT]
2. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ring Person1 and Person2 r.e. where to look for jobs. (Can't be done until tonight)[/FONT]
3. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Text Person3 r.e. her contact for getting a job. (Can't be done until tonight)[/FONT]
4. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Apply for 2 jobs[/FONT]
5. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif][STRIKE]Make loaf of bread[/STRIKE][/FONT]
6. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif][STRIKE]Bake blueberry muffins[/STRIKE][/FONT]
7. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Make orange drizzle cake/muffins[/FONT]
8. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]List 5 Ebay etc. items[/FONT]
9. [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Watch film and send back to DVD company. (being done as I type - need to make the evening post)[/FONT]

*Places blueberry muffins on kitchen table and watches the ensuing rumpus* I don't think these are the best I've ever made, but hopefully the Baking with Oranges will turn out tastier! Enjoy!

DedicatedDFW

*settles down on comfy sofa with a cuppa and muffin - eyes up wine wondering when it'll be ready*

Hey PB :j

So glad you've got a new diary

And that locks are hopefully getting sorted out

Ed speaks some wise words - i was going to suggest the same thing photo and write up 5 items in word then you are ready to list on FLW 5 is a good amount to aim for - not too many that you can't be bothered as its overwhelming and not too few that it hardly seems worth it I often find i'll carry on past 5 anyway if i've set that as the target but if not then there's still that sense of achievement :T

Sorry, no advice re. savings a/cs - Ed or GG may be the ones there i always see lots of posts about good interest accounts - if only i had some money to put in them i might remember what they are *le sigh* :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rumpus is also a great word :T

I have dulu subscribed mon ami you can always join us on jwils thread for a bay of e challenge if you want - TC is there and jwil and i think next month they are aiming for 100 listings :eek: i need to decide my target as i can't imagine the kitchen will yield much bayable x

Hope you've had a good productive day x

PositiveBalance

edinburgher wrote: »

Helloooooooo PB and well done on starting up a diary again :T

*Shuffles embarrassedly* Well, y'know, this thread squatting was starting to get a bit embarrassing. And I know you didn't mean anything by getting seven baby fish and your wife pregnant at the same time, but I reckoned that it was getting a bit full on your thread and that it would probably be better that I finally got my own place. You're always welcome to pop by, of course...

edinburgher wrote: »

I have come with words of enthusiasm, nonsense and solutionising

The 'response to PB's list list'

• Don't beat yourself up if you can't apply for 2 jobs a day, I can go weeks without finding a job that I think I can apply for

Good in theory, but you have one at the moment, I don't I think the benefits people are going to be mean to me. I don't know what gave me that impression. It must have been the horrible expressions and nasty tones when I finally popped in to make enquiries about JSA. Still, so long as I apply for *something* I think it will be OK and productive, so that's good. Good tip! :T

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Instead of listing x items a day, why not set yourself a target to write up *all* of them and then stagger the postings at your future leisure?

Double good tip! :T :T I need to find a box to put it into. (I have lots, but they are full of Other Stuff, much of which probably should go the way of the Bay of E. :rotfl:) I only listed one thing yesterday and I wrote up the description for another yesterday but didn't put it on as there were lots and lots already and they didn't seem to be going anywhere. I will try to get a group together and do it more efficiently.

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Instead of writing an inventory of what's in your cupboard/freezer, why not target two items a day and either use them up, or start them? So, those two things you think are pork chops and that jar of stir fry sauce that you've had for a year? Most of what we have in our cupboards is daft stuff you use once and then forget

That's not a bad idea, either. I have a really large bag of frozen fruit in my freezer (it's years old) that could become smoothies. That would free up desperately-needed space as well. And I have SO many frozen sausages! I have all the veg in for a batch of minestrone soup as well, but not sure how much space I will have to freeze it. I'll start today.

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Apply for the savings account *today*

And what would you recommend, oh dear Ed?! Nationwide still the best?

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Start one of your food tasks as soon as you read this...

Done! I think trying to bake two cake things yesterday was a bit optimistic. I'll do another one today/tomorrow.

edinburgher wrote: »

Now that I am done re-framing your goals, I'm off to copy 4000 files between two networked drives. Joy :eek:

:rotfl: I can see why dropping by here was preferable!

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

*settles down on comfy sofa with a cuppa and muffin - eyes up wine wondering when it'll be ready*

Hey PB :j

So glad you've got a new diary

And that locks are hopefully getting sorted out

Ed speaks some wise words - i was going to suggest the same thing photo and write up 5 items in word then you are ready to list on FLW 5 is a good amount to aim for - not too many that you can't be bothered as its overwhelming and not too few that it hardly seems worth it I often find i'll carry on past 5 anyway if i've set that as the target but if not then there's still that sense of achievement :T

Sorry, no advice re. savings a/cs - Ed or GG may be the ones there i always see lots of posts about good interest accounts - if only i had some money to put in them i might remember what they are *le sigh* :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rumpus is also a great word :T

I have dulu subscribed mon ami you can always join us on jwils thread for a bay of e challenge if you want - TC is there and jwil and i think next month they are aiming for 100 listings :eek: i need to decide my target as i can't imagine the kitchen will yield much bayable x

Hope you've had a good productive day x

PositiveBalance

edinburgher wrote: »

Helloooooooo PB and well done on starting up a diary again :T

*Shuffles embarrassedly* Well, y'know, this thread squatting was starting to get a bit embarrassing. And I know you didn't mean anything by getting seven baby fish and your wife pregnant at the same time, but I reckoned that it was getting a bit full on your thread and that it would probably be better that I finally got my own place. You're always welcome to pop by, of course...

edinburgher wrote: »

I have come with words of enthusiasm, nonsense and solutionising

The 'response to PB's list list'

• Don't beat yourself up if you can't apply for 2 jobs a day, I can go weeks without finding a job that I think I can apply for

Good in theory, but you have one at the moment, I don't I think the benefits people are going to be mean to me. I don't know what gave me that impression. It must have been the horrible expressions and nasty tones when I finally popped in to make enquiries about JSA. Still, so long as I apply for *something* I think it will be OK and productive, so that's good. Good tip! :T

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Instead of listing x items a day, why not set yourself a target to write up *all* of them and then stagger the postings at your future leisure?

Double good tip! :T :T I need to find a box to put it into. (I have lots, but they are full of Other Stuff, much of which probably should go the way of the Bay of E. :rotfl:) I only listed one thing yesterday and I wrote up the description for another yesterday but didn't put it on as there were lots and lots already and they didn't seem to be going anywhere. I will try to get a group together and do it more efficiently.

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Instead of writing an inventory of what's in your cupboard/freezer, why not target two items a day and either use them up, or start them? So, those two things you think are pork chops and that jar of stir fry sauce that you've had for a year? Most of what we have in our cupboards is daft stuff you use once and then forget

That's not a bad idea, either. I have a really large bag of frozen fruit in my freezer (it's years old) that could become smoothies. That would free up desperately-needed space as well. And I have SO many frozen sausages! I have all the veg in for a batch of minestrone soup as well, but not sure how much space I will have to freeze it. I'll start today.

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Apply for the savings account *today*

And what would you recommend, oh dear Ed?! Nationwide still the best?

• edinburgher wrote: »

  Start one of your food tasks as soon as you read this...

Done! I think trying to bake two cake things yesterday was a bit optimistic. I'll do another one today/tomorrow.

edinburgher wrote: »

Now that I am done re-framing your goals, I'm off to copy 4000 files between two networked drives. Joy :eek:

:rotfl: I can see why dropping by here was preferable!