Changing habits, wanting freedom

jvr

Oooops been a bit absent again!


Thanks for the messages - and you will find Misty, that I get most of my wisdom from Honey Bear!


I've not really done an SOA as switched everything to the cheapest deals so my 'bills' are not very high, biggest expense is OH's phone bill but that's fair enough with family in SA...... my problem is def day to day spending and FOOD!


OH was complaining that all his clothes were so old, so I gave him the remaining M&S vouchers from switching bank and the £25 I got from work, we went last week and he got some nice bits and then we went to the food hall..... told him to go look for yellow sticker items and can you believe it... he got SO into it and some fab bargains mostly put in the freezer... bill from £100 was only £13 once I used the vouchers
So May should be our last really tricky month moneywise as the dog needs spayed (£220) and we have the cottage for sisters wedding to pay for. Anything left will repay the overdraft and keep up minimum payments on the cc.
Interview is Monday and thankfully work will pay for the train to the other office down South (£97) need to finish my presentation urgently!
Otherwise things are pretty quiet and I'm just waiting for pay day on Friday, also just heard that need to send latest pay slip and then mortgage should be organised. They have put a higher estimate of the value of the house than the original bank we looked at applying to

jvr

Absent again.


Interview went really well and then heard yesterday I didn't get the job... someone else internally got it who was always going to get it. But apparently I should feel really positive that I was a close second. Not feeling too positive infact feel really lost.
What do I do now? I love the organisation I work for but I'm bored in my job and get paid nothing. We also want to think about trying for children so if I leave that screws with that due to maternity pay. Do I stay and hope something else comes up or do I leave and risk the maternity pay and that another organisation wont give me the positives this one does.
Bleugh just want to curl up in a ball today

Honey_Bear

Bummer. Sorry to hear you missed out on the job. I don't know what to suggest other than to keep an eye out for vacancies in other organisations that you think you'd like to work for. I think the hardest part of that decision is that you love the organisation that you're currently with, and it's very hard to find that kind of relationship with another employer straight away. Is there anyone in the current set up who you can talk this through with because I've no doubt they won't want to lose you? Also, if you're looking for an extended role, there may be plans afoot that you don't know about that might lead to them needing your additional skills that aren't being used at the moment, hence the boredom.

SpekySquarehead

Hey JVR - I echo what Honey Bear says, some really sound advice. Hope you're feeling a bit more positive now.

jvr

Thank you for the messages, I read them but was still busy sulking! Don't worry I am over myself now....
Quick update... my sisters wedding at the weekend was amazing! Feeling glum yesterday as it was all over! The weekend before had my friends hen do in a cottage with the ex friend and left feeling very confused as for the first time since the fall out I actually missed her....


Money


Erm...... so confession time! Drastically overspent! Because of paying for car insurance and then putting an extra £500 of overspends on the overdraft I am basically back to my starting point. I need to get my head in gear so I am going to start posting more regularly detailing my spends and hoping this puts me off getting the card out! Realised that always run out to soon so going to try give small allowance on my pay day (21st) and more on OH's pay day on 1st and see if can do better that way.
Other things to consider......... dog ate OH's passport so will need a trip to the embassy in London. Cousins wedding in July which will be a b&b stay. will turn the trip to London for passport into a little night away and we can stay with my lovely friend which will save us money and make it all feel less of a chore!
Today
Bought a lighter (yes I am still smoking)
Got breakfast and lunch with me and dinner will be on work as I am working till 9pm tonight for an event but no other spends needed.

jvr

Forgot to add re job........... so absolutely gutted and still not 100% sure what I want to do. I really like the organisation and if we want to try for kids I would get maternity pay and flexible working afterwards..... but I am quite bored and my pay is terrible....
But.... if I moved I would only get statutory m pay and most organisations are not as flexible as this one is its a difficult decision so for now staying put see what comes up and keep an eye out if anything special comes up elsewhere

jvr

So couple extra spends yesterday £1.60 on crisps and chocolate. Mainly due to not having enough lunch with me but since i got a free dinner i am sure it evened out.
Got my bike out to cycle to work this morning but was so exhausted from working late last night i got the bus... £4 i didnt need to spend but since i cycle 90% of the time i try not to feel guilty about that.
Today need to buy lunch as no time to prep last night, but managed to bring some brekkie in and a snack, plus pitta bread so just need to grab something to go with that. Counting down till pay day on friday!!!

jvr

Very few spends last few days but messed up with some stuff coming out of my account and so been charged. My own stupid fault but onwards and upwards. Just been paid so sent all the money to various accounts and going attempt to keep on track this month with my spreadsheet. We have various extra things coming up over the next couple of months so sent money to savings to try cover that. CC stands at 4,467 and still have overdraft, just had to put 350 on that for remortgage but should get that back once all goes through - fingers crossed!
Got told yesterday got 1325 pay rise which should kick in next pay day every bit helps!!
Tonight have a friends leaving meal as she moves home to Estonia - will prob just not drink to keep spends low, she knows im skint to should be okay.
Car had issue but fixed for 65, OH's passport still needs to be replace, wedding in July, dog needs to still go get spayed and our kitchen floor is desperatly needing replaced.
Feel a bit like im clinging on by the skin of my teeth
Also just realised paying some interest on cc that i didnt know about, must keep more on top of things!!


. Going to start weekly internet shop as think going to the supermarket is a bit of a downfall!
- this week has been more bus fares and lunch than normal but next week will be back to cycling and bringing food, going to attempt no spends monday - friday and see how i do feel like if can get through this month and actually stick to it can start to turn this situation around.

jvr

Been off ill for the last two days still feeling very rough but back in work.
Last friday was both lovely and sad knowing my friend is leaving but we have a tv and vac from her the dinner was delicious but having looked at the menu and thought it was a good price I was a bit shocked to arrive and realise what i thought were mains were infact tapas so a bit more spendy than i had hoped for.


Had a builder over to look at our sloping kitchen floor - he is a family friend now so i knew would get a very fair price. it is about 30mm lower in one corner. He has given us great price for leveling and then we just need to choose tile or lino. We want tile but it will depend on cost.

SpekySquarehead

Morning JVR, hope you're feeling a bit better today.

Gotta love tapas but it can prove to be a bit expensive when you add on lots of dishes.