All change, All change

savingwannabe

That's where I am supposed to save for xmas. It had £60 in it at the start of the month. Sad isn't it? Still no more big spends for me as I am going to save now.

Well done on the car passing the MOT. I gave my M&S vouchers to my parents and they loved them! Happy spending.

SmarterNotHarder

Ah I see. Well it's still £60.00 more than there was before, and if you need to dip into it, then at least it's there in the first place!

I'm at the weird stage of trying to make a budget where I'm trying to spend as little as possible, but don't want to "allow" spends on things I need. Which is stupid as the minute the redundancy happens that's going to get even worse.

It's not like making a debt busting budget where you work out the least you could cope with in a given situation once all the "Must pays" are gone. That in a way feels easier. (Easier to come up with, not easier to implement if that makes sense?) How do I do it?

savingwannabe

How about starting with a statement of affairs?

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

It might give you something to play with when everything is written down you can plan a strategy.

SmarterNotHarder

Ah yes I swear I've done one of those before. Thank you for the reminder. I'll do it once I've finished moving money around so I can account for any pitiful interest that has been paid to me too


Oh and I have replaced one pair of shoes. Some black suede boring old court shoes, but they are new, and they fit and the suede isn't ruined, and nor are the heels! It's amazing. I didn't wait for the giftcard because I got 20% off, and it would have cost me more to wait. Not bad for £20

savingwannabe

Hooray for bargains. Well done. :beer:

SmarterNotHarder

Thank you It just feels like time is moving too fast and too slowly all at once.

I nearly did something stupis today. I went out for lunch with some friends (planned) and we'd gone to a restaurant on a retail park. After they left I fanicied streching my legs, so took a wander round the huge Tesco there. and I found myself picking up random things that seemed "nice" but I didn't really need (like notebooks, of which I already have a huge stash), and toiletries (same) and a few other things. Luckily I came to my senses and put it all back!

I'm also trying to not buy food that isn't "real food" and nearly slipped up there too - crisps this time. It's not a diet as such, and If I want a single bag of crisps that's ok, it's just buyhing multipacks is a terrible idea! And as I was putting everything back, I realised how many groceries aren't "real food". There are ailes upon aisles of cakes, biscuits, crisps, plastic cheese, sugary soft drinks, you name it. It just made me really sad for some reason.

Meh.

SmarterNotHarder

I need help. I'm not in debt - well I have £800 on a 0% card that's being paid off at £50pcm, my original deal ends at the end of this month, but I transferred the balance to another of my cards that had a 0% balance transfer deal on. I also have significant savings, but they are earmarked for that house deposit, so I don't want to use them.

As detailed above, I got made redundant, got paid my redundancy, went traveling. It was amazing.

I have been back for nearly 6 months. I live in a UC area, but I don't qualify for means tested benefits. I have been in receipt of JSA (Contributions based) which is due to end at the end of this month.

I had all these amazing plans about looking for work and finding something I loved blah blah blah. In reality, I've been stuck.

I live with my parents. My dad is retired, mum has got a few years left because they messed around with the retirement ages.

As "rent" I've taken over most of the housework etc and parents are more than happy with that. I know I'm really lucky, I paid them proper board when I was working and a more when dad didn't have an income for a year before he got his pension as he found it difficult to get a job due to his age. Please don't think I'm sponging off them.

I don't really know why I'm pouring all this out to you guys, but I'm really struggling. I recently had a blood test because I've been feeling really tired and lethargic for a while, even though I'm not working and thought it was my iron levels. It turns out I have an underactive thyroid, and the results seem to indicate its gone on for ages, and I didn't recognise the symptoms as being an illness, and just put it down to being personal failure.

Now I'm scared. I've never been out of education/employment/actively traveling for this long before. I'm worried about how to explain it to new employers. But this means that I'm facing a massive block anytime I even try to apply for anything. I've lost any confidence in my abilities as an employee, and if I can't convince myself I'm good enough for a job, how am I going to convince an employer?

I can't even do a SOA because after the 1st June I won't have any income at all. I don't have regular outgoings either apart from the above credit card. I could pay it off all at once from my buffer fund, but I feel better having that there.

I think I just needed a rant. Feel free to ignore.

savingwannabe

Welcome back. How can we ignore that? OMG.

Firstly, being diagnosed with a thyroid condition is quite traumatic and it will take time to be sorted all of this will contribute to your lack of confidence. You need to off load and remember this is the current part of your life and you will have a looooooong and happy life even if you are upset now. If you feel you need counselling/life coach then you need to find one through your dr.

Usually a life coach is available to staff who are being made redundant. Can you access them/any resources from your own workplace even though you left a while ago? They help you to make decisions.

Or can you chat to friends who also had the same thing happen to them from your old job? They may be able to offer advice and their own experiences.

Can you claim benefits?

I would work on your CV and send it out to anyone who might be hiring. I don't think travelling is anything to hide. It can be used as an aide to a job as you are going to be much more motivated than any other new staff as you have just had an amazing time travelling and any new employer will like that.

Hang in there SmarterNotHarder, this is a worrysome time but there is so much light still to come.

SmarterNotHarder

Hi.


Sorry Savingwannabe,I had somehow missed your response. Thank you for being so kind.


I don't know about a llife coach but someone telling me what to do sounds good right now! Mental health provisions in my area are at the bare bones, and I don't fancy my chances even if I thought it would help.

My workplace did have a company come in and help with CVs/Interview techniques etc at the point we were being made redundant, but that was about 18 months ago. They wouldn't be able to extend that service to now. We had 12 months to use it, but I went travelling and I wasn't able to postpone the usage.

I was only entitled to 6 motnhs JSA (contributions based). I'm not entitled to any more because of my savings and other benefits are means tested. That is due to come to an end.

I'm not worried about accounting for the time I was travelling, it's the 6 months since I've been back that's bothering me.

Thank you so much for your reply.

Skint_yet_Again

Hello again SmarterNotHarder, it sounds like you had an amazing time travelling. Have you registered with any temp agencies or thought about doing any volunteering which you mentioned before ? I don't think 6 months is too big a gap these days but if it continues it will be more noticeable.

I think you may need to visit your dr too. Thyroid problems are very debilitating and you may also be struggling with depression.

I know you don't want to use your savings but you may need to if you continue to have no income. I'm glad your parents are understanding about your situation and are supportive. That's what families do for one another and I am sure they appreciated your support in the past. You don't come across as sponging off them so don't worry about what anyone else may think. Are there any support groups in your area for your condition ? Good luck you can turn this around x