Staring it in the eye

C.W

My local Tesco express had cat food pouches for 12p! Discontinued line. I picked up 14 which saves me a small fortune. I worked out I have 17 left from previous lot, plus 12 my stepdad bought. (43)

Cat budget is £21.94
>48 pouches for £10 (plenty to stock up with for next month too)
>30L antibac litter £11.94

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

Good plan! Probably not a fail-proof test though. I've never heard of kids getting hyper from scones or ice cream, but don't think they're recommended either.

No, but because they're full of fat. Pickled onions aren't full of fat either. Eat them to your heart's content - or at least until the EU declares the air quality to be a disaster...

C.W wrote: »

They appear to be the kind of management who don't consider anything until the last minute. I'm pretty sure managers are supposed to plan in advance, or at least employ people who plan for them.

Doesn't matter how sure you are, if you see managers like that, they're very rare. I could give you numerous examples, but I won't...

C.W wrote: »

Not pretend everything's fine until it's not.

That's business as usual. Then panic. Then blame.

C.W wrote: »

Because I've been so vocal though, it's never considered my fault these days.

:T:T:T

C.W wrote: »

A lot of people call the phone near me or bob down to visit to see if I'm "still sane", or just generally make sure I'm OK/express their own frustration. Pretty sweet really.

That is pretty good. Shows that what you're doing and what you're trying to do, is appreciated.

C.W wrote: »

haha. Interesting image.I don't think he's used to someone talking over him (in a non-confrontational manner). Most usually just sit/stand and listen to him. I'm not disrespectful, so I hope it's not sounding like that. But I'm am prone to questioning things or making my views known as best as I'm able.

That's not being disrespectful, raising problems is actually doing managers (those that do things) a favour. Would you rather be told about the 2"x4" - or find out about it when is smacks you round the head?

I prefer to be told...

C.W wrote: »

Exactly. Their plans sound like great ones but it sounds like an "ideal world" setting where they're not really making the right decisions or don't have the resources for it. The fact that they say the budget didn't cover certain hours over the summer and some people didn't get their overtime pay because of it... and now they're talking about taking on at least three new staff in run up to our quietest period but haven't even sorted out what wage they can offer the new starters... Not sure how that works.

Don't worry. The power of wishful thinking moves mountains. It does.

Honest...

C.W wrote: »

That's what I've been on. I think it's in a pretty awkward place as far as transport links go, as the routes by train are a dead end as I'd just have to jump on the bus I can get nearer to my home after getting off the train. I think I can deal with the hour journey to and from work,

Well it won't be forever. I moved closer to work after a year.

C.W wrote: »

I'd just have to budget an extra £5 a month for travel. The route's only 30 minutes in the car but I doubt I'll be paid enough to cover the extra expense of running a car...

Wait and find out.

Speculation is easy to do, but rarely fully accurate.

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

FIXED INCOME: £880 (19 sept - 20 oct)

Monthly spend
Home £287.69
*£250 board paid
*£37.69 phone - Why am I paying this much when I have no !!!!!! to talk to??

Ooo...that's a long sweary word...

So why are you paying that much phone? It take it that it's a mobile?

C.W

Madness, I tell you, madness.

Budget completely blown by getting poorly. Was only this cold/flu bug that's been going around but almost wiped me out. And medicine is expensive! This also meant the whole 'no sugar' thing failed because everything has high sugar content. Since when is sugar medicinal?? !!!!!!.

What's kept me afloat is getting £40 for some ex-kit items (Ann Summers) but that's pretty much run out now. Don't think I'll make £40 before next Monday, if not I'll have to drop out of the aerial class for a week.

In other news, I got the new job! Still not received my official job offer paperwork yet but a far better opportunity and money is better too. Leave this job 27 Oct.

@ZTD: It is a mobile. It's something to do with the terms on their internet usage. It's only something like 250mb and clearly that doesn't cover much time at all. Whenever I go on, it's considered 'browsing' or messaging as I don't have any apps, but I tend to go on quite frequently if I'm expecting an email (like arranging interviews). Plus the people I do talk to seem to refuse to use their mobile for texting. :mad:

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

Madness, I tell you, madness.

Budget completely blown by getting poorly. Was only this cold/flu bug that's been going around but almost wiped me out. And medicine is expensive! This also meant the whole 'no sugar' thing failed because everything has high sugar content. Since when is sugar medicinal?? !!!!!!.

Sugar is medicinal in a number of ways, as indeed is alcohol... :beer:

You do need to keep your energy levels high during illness - that's why many people lose weight when they're ill.

Hope you're feeling better now.

C.W wrote: »

In other news, I got the new job! Still not received my official job offer paperwork yet but a far better opportunity and money is better too. Leave this job 27 Oct.

:T

That is good news.

C.W wrote: »

@ZTD: It is a mobile. It's something to do with the terms on their internet usage. It's only something like 250mb and clearly that doesn't cover much time at all. Whenever I go on, it's considered 'browsing' or messaging as I don't have any apps, but I tend to go on quite frequently if I'm expecting an email (like arranging interviews). Plus the people I do talk to seem to refuse to use their mobile for texting. :mad:

Change if you can. Giffgaff for example have some unlimited data packages. Look on here in the mobiles bit and see if one suits.

You're right when you say 250MB per month isn't much - it's about a third of a uncompressed CD per month. It would take almost 2 years to transfer a DVD...

C.W

ZTD wrote: »

Sugar is medicinal in a number of ways, as indeed is alcohol... :beer:

I was hoping you'd say that haha

ZTD wrote: »

You do need to keep your energy levels high during illness - that's why many people lose weight when they're ill.

Hope you're feeling better now.

Yes, thank you. The cough is lingering but almost completely gone now.

ZTD wrote: »

Change if you can. Giffgaff for example have some unlimited data packages. Look on here in the mobiles bit and see if one suits.

You're right when you say 250MB per month isn't much - it's about a third of a uncompressed CD per month. It would take almost 2 years to transfer a DVD...

I did look into it but I can't even change my contract with them until May or June next year. I know I won't stay with them though when I can change it as their plans have just gotten worse and always seem to have problems with their online service and payment system.

No idea what other payment plan etc to go for next, will definitely be doing my research before then. I've heard there's no such thing as 'unlimited' though. That typically it's around 2gb.

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

I did look into it but I can't even change my contract with them until May or June next year.

Is it so expensive because you're paying excess charges?

C.W wrote: »

No idea what other payment plan etc to go for next, will definitely be doing my research before then. I've heard there's no such thing as 'unlimited' though. That typically it's around 2gb.

Giffgaff claim it is unlimited, but you just can't tether anything to your phone on their unlimited plans. With their limited one, you can do what you want. Two gig onto a phone is a fair bit anyway.

But, all that will have changed by the time you're set free...

C.W

FIXED INCOME: £840 (20 Oct - 20 Nov)

Monthly spend
Home £ 326.22
*£200 board
*£46.22 phone
*My food bill:
*Cat food & litter:
31 days. Been doing dry food in the mornings as we're all out all day, then wet in the evening. Will be 70 sachets left so just going to pick up one or two boxes of wet food to top up (12-24) and a box of dry to cover for the possible income gap. 1x 10L litter a week seems roughly right with extra to spare. Estimate: £20
*Vet: £none this month
£100 or so for spaying in December though not sure when can do it
Transport & Travel £60
*£13 megarider if not SystemOne (bus pass up to 20/10 - 27/10)
Not sure on start date yet so need to budget £60 travel for SystemOne card, just in case

Debt Repayments £276.34
*PP £176.34 (Paid £4,312.26/£9,000)
*£100 to Mum (£300 outstanding)

ESSENTIALS TOTAL £602.56 (does not inc extra food items)

Savings & Investments £0.00
*Emergency fund/savings ISA £None
Fun & Frolics £Not sure yet
*Socialising budget £Not sure yet
>
*6-week fitness class - I cancelled this term due to outgoings
*Health & Beauty £0
*Clothes £0.00 - Need to pick some up before new job starts
*Big One Offs £0
*Odds & Sods £

>>Mobile phone shattered when I dropped it so will need a new one
>>Haven't got a start date yet as waiting for refs so, worst case scenario, I'm down around £250 in November.

In that case though, there'd be minimal travel costs. Minimal food costs. I won't be returning to the aerial class until I'm back to regular payments from a workplace. And I could suspend payment to Mother for a month as she'd be earning a full time wage by then. These would cover for the £250 deficit.

>>Will need to pick up a small gift for my sister's bday and Mum's bday.
>>Pick up something for a few Crimbo presents to make/buy
>>Buy a few things to actually wear to new job as most of my clothes have gotten to the point where they're ready for scrap.
>>Kitten needs spaying in Dec. Need to find out if anywhere does it on weekends as won't be able to get time off with being new.
>>Possibly arrange basic outing for my bday in Nov. The good thing about having few reliable friends? There's no obligation or massive expenditure.

NON-ESSENTIALS TOTAL £??

OVERALL TOTAL £

C.W

ZTD wrote: »

Is it so expensive because you're paying excess charges?

Pretty much. There's about £5 late payment fee as it was set up based on my old job that paid on a different date and never had enough cash spare by next payday to pay off.

There's then £6.50 charge for every 250mb data and could never work out how much is 250mb. Every time I tried to call to upgrade so I was paying a smaller fee for 2gb, I could never get through. The online system for upgrade didn't work and the text codes weren't recognised.

I've only just managed to change it now as I finally got a message through I could reply 'accept' so next month's charge should be much better but, now the phone is pretty much screwed, I'm looking at other phones/rates.

ZTD wrote: »

Giffgaff claim it is unlimited, but you just can't tether anything to your phone on their unlimited plans. With their limited one, you can do what you want. Two gig onto a phone is a fair bit anyway.

I guy I know keeps recommending Three's unlimited package.

ZTD

C.W wrote: »

I guy I know keeps recommending Three's unlimited package.

Test the reception in your area before committing. They're better than they were, but still not the best.