Budget Wars - A New Hope (with apologies to George Lucas)

Bobarella

JWPopps wrote: »

Bob, that's amazing! Well done!

Here's a flipside to your feelings: my mum was in a job she loved and excelled in for 18 years when she lived down south. She got made redundant but found another job immediately, in senior management. It meant relocating 150 miles north, to a place she didn't know anyone, still difficult for us as her family to visit.

She was earning big money, but could still only afford a damp little bungalow built on her landlords' garden, because she had debts from before. But she was making it work, getting involved with the community...

...and then she fell out with her immediate boss. She was trying to improve things for others, and in doing so was told she was sacked with no notice as she was costing them too much money. It was written into her contract that they were allowed to do that.

It took her a full year to find a job after that, and now she works in a job she really likes but is massively overqualified for, and it's only part time, plus a huge pay cut. She's gone from owning her own home, having the respect of her colleagues and an active social life to living in her daughter's spare bedroom and working part time while she scrabbles to pay off debts. She doesn't have many friends round here either, they're all 300 miles away.

And do you know something? Slowly, slowly, she's finding ways to be happy again. She's even considering going back SE part time, doing something she used to do ages ago.

Sorry, this is a very long story to get to the point that there is no guarantee you'd be happier or richer if you weren't SE - and you likely wouldn't have such a flexible balance to be able to spend enough time with family...

So give yourself a huge pat on the back for sticking with it!!

:j:beer:

Gosh your Mum has really been through the wringer hasn't she poor woman. She must really be a tough cookie to be still striving for the life she wants to live. And it's amazing that you have been able to give her the stability to rebuild from. Despite the fridge wars:rotfl:
Thanks so much for sharing that story, you do write well.

Bobarella

f0xh0les wrote: »

You support him, he supports you. End of.

I do, and he does it's true. Always so right Foxholes

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

Love to you Bob - I think you're doing a fantastic job. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're not running up loads more debt, and there are things that money can't buy that you get from being SE - like time with the family. It's a real balancing act.
You will work this out, you always do and I have the utmost faith in you xxxx :grouphug:

Cat Thanks for your faith in me, that's such a nice thing to say. I might need a hankie

boxofpaws

Just popping by to subscribe. I haven't read through your diary but it comes highly recommended so will be later on this week

Boxofpaws

Bobarella

boxofpaws wrote: »

Just popping by to subscribe. I haven't read through your diary but it comes highly recommended so will be later on this week

Boxofpaws

Hello BoxofPaws

How nice to have a new visitor

Bob

Bobarella

Morning All

Have the classic dilemma this morning. DD is lying fast asleep on me in bed. Do I
A) stay cuddled up
Gently shift her over and make a break for the kettle/loo?

She doesn't normally do a morning nap.

Decisions decisions

I am feeling a little guilty actually. I received an enquiry last night as a result of my flyering. But it's only for a very short time period of hire. To be honest more trouble than it's worth. I should really be getting back to the person and arranging a view. But....

On other dilemmas. I am very broke right now. But have a £5 Morrison's voucher that I was sent because I reported a damaged item that was a Christmas gift. The supermarket is around an hour's walk away. At the moment the hopper bus fares mean I am able to spend £3 per day if I only take two buses on the school run home, which we couldn't walk as DS is too tired and it's much too far.
So if I go on the bus to the supermarket I will loose my £3 cap for the day. Making it £6 instead. But I get £5 free groceries. Not sure of my maths there. Whereas if we walk, then do the library and park for DD, and then school run I can keep to my budget.

Will consider it later

Bob

apple_muncher

I think the bus fare cap is still set at £4.50 bob?

mummytogirls

Tricky decision about the Mr M's voucher... did you make a decision in the end? Maybe keep that for desperate desperate times?! xx

Bobarella

apple_muncher wrote: »

I think the bus fare cap is still set at £4.50 bob?

Thanks Apple I don't think I ever knew that. I know I was putting a £5 on every few days before and that was doing the job.

Bobarella

mummytogirls wrote: »

Tricky decision about the Mr M's voucher... did you make a decision in the end? Maybe keep that for desperate desperate times?! xx

I did in the end. Utterly bonkers but free shopping! I am actually in fairly empty pocket city this week:eek:

Bobarella

Hi All

Wealth

* Very poor. Still 7 days to get through till payday.

* Walked 8 miles in total today to save what little I had on my oyster card, managed to only take two buses to get my son home from school which only cost £1.50 as the second ride within the hour is free.

* Took my £5 voucher to Morrison's. I'm convinced that shop used to be cheaper. In fact I'm sure it was. No matter. Effectively got a sack of oranges, 6 tomatoes, 350g of cheese, a packet of cream crackers, a multipack of crisps and some sweet popcorn for free. Had to put 90p towards it.

* Found 28p roadkill myself and DS suddenly spotted £2 coins on the way home. I swear that boy has been near a moneyspider this week.

* In good news, I decided to make a meeting with the person mentioned above. I thought to myself you never know where things will lead. And in more exciting news I have a good opportunity to take on another monthly client, so meeting with them tommorow.

* Having overpaid my credit card by almost £200 this month, I may well have to use it to just get us through till next week. I honestly can't remember the last time we were this short. But without sounding defensive I hope, it isn't actually my fault, having expected £400 at the end of this week and a further £200 next week. Shortfall due to cancellation. This doesn't make me feel better and I will hold off doing this for as long as I can but I have two kids to feed, essential travel to fund and an energy bill to pay, the day before payday. None of that is frivolous so note to self, do what's necessary.

* Free activities to entertain DD, a trip to the park on route to Morrison's, which was lovely but cold. Whilst there I ended up noticing a woman's bag left in the middle of the playground, so went round everyone there to find out who it belonged to. Turned out to be someone at the other end of the park, who was aware it was there!!! But said it was because it was a pain to keep moving it round with the child moving equipment. I recommend a back pack (seriously, she is so lucky no one nicked it)
After shopping we went to the library and had 30 mins in there reading, DD is also just starting to show an interest in other small people, and spent a bit of time with a little boy around her age. So funny seeing how universal all the little noises and actions kids of this age use.

Health

* 8 miles walking has knackered me out so must be good for me

* The oranges have been rejected by DS as too bitter, so I am going to ear mark them for home made marmalade, healthy of a sort.

* Have not yet booked dentist.

Organisation

* Before we left this morning, I hoovered the hall, lounge, dining room and kitchen. Tidied up the shoe pile.

* Made my beloved flask up, made a marmite sandwich, took some crisps and bits as after school snacks.

* Wiped the condensation off the windows in DS room, opened all upstairs windows a crack as they all had water on the inside.

* Turned the slip mat over and poured toilet cleaner all over it, this gets it lovely and white again, left it for the day then scrubbed and rinsed when we got home.

* Took 3 items to the charity shop en route to the supermarket.

Think that's it for today!

Bob