Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull wrote: »

I know exactly how the 'little cry' feels, HH. It took me AGES of driving to the same area as my parents, and knowing they would never be there again, before the journey could be accomplished without tears. And then I just had to 'see' my father driving a car, or the back of my Mum's head on a street and I'd get choked again. I'm sorry that doesn't help at all, but at least you know others understand. It will get better eventually, but there will always be a tender area.

Thank you Elizabeth it does help actually. I still feel upset today after going there yesterday. I've been trying really hard to adjust to my new life without my mum, but going to the supermarket where we had coffee and shopped every week has reminded me of how much I've lost . But it helps to know that other people feel the same.

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull wrote: »

I belong to three clubs which account for ~30 of the cards. Also we still exchange cards with people we met on holiday in the 70's - once I start it's never me who stops !
I send all mine first class because the test posting I do for the Royal Mail (shh I'm not supposed to say I do it!) pays in first class stamps, and occasionally Love2Shop vouchers. I hadn't realized stamps are such a horrendous amount these days.

I know exactly how the 'little cry' feels, HH. It took me AGES of driving to the same area as my parents, and knowing they would never be there again, before the journey could be accomplished without tears. And then I just had to 'see' my father driving a car, or the back of my Mum's head on a street and I'd get choked again. I'm sorry that doesn't help at all, but at least you know others understand. It will get better eventually, but there will always be a tender area.

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I used to take part in the 'secret' assignments that you whispered about;). That's until my cover was possibly blown and I was sacked from the panel:mad:. I was really upset about it as I'd done it for years, enjoyed it and found the 'payment' really useful. There are so few opportunities for making extra money in rural areas:(


The problem was my honesty, in hindsight I should have kept quiet and carried on regardless but one day I received one of those polybags from Royal Mail with a 'sorry, your letter was accidentally damaged in transit' kind of letter. Enclosed was a mailing from another participant on the panel, including the transponder:eek:. The contents were intact but the brown mailing envelope was split and everything had come out. I let the survey company know because it seemed important that they should be told that their envelopes are flimsy. Several previous other ones arrived looking very worse for wear especially along the seams/edges as I think the automatic sorting machinery roughs them up a bit:eek:. They don't always stick down properly either(I always added a bit of Sellotape to mine as some envelopes have partly opened up in the past on their way to me). They immediately phoned me asking me to send everything back and said they'd regretfully removed me from the panel as they could not be sure if RM (my local sorting office and postman mainly) were now aware I was participating in the research. As you know, it all has to be very top secret.


I do think that someone locally realised I was watching them though as ever since then our postman, a grumpy individual at best, has been all sweetness and light. He can't do enough for me. I appreciate getting VIP treatment from him:j. Long may it continue, even though I haven't been a panellist for a couple of years now:rotfl:

That's a shame you couldn't do it any more Carboot. I've applied to do it and they said they'd get back to me when something was available, but I haven't heard anything yet. Maybe there are lots of people already doing it in my area.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I'm not sure what to do today. I need to finish cleaning DS3's room for when he comes home, as there's one corner behind his desk and his shelves still to clean. Apart from that I have no plans .

If we get paid I could go Christmas shopping, but we may not. I also need to buy DS3 a pillow before he comes home, as his was so stained that I threw it away, but I need to wait until we get paid.

I could go for a walk in the park which would be free, but it looks rainy at the moment. My phone has run out of credit so I could go out and top it up at an ATM.

The one thing I can't do is stay in as that will make me feel miserable.

[Deleted User]

I know what you mean about having several options of things to do but for one reason or another none of them appeal:(. At least you have DS's homecoming to look forward to and making his room extra nice for him will be a positive step for you even if none of your other plans come to fruition today.


I really hope you get paid very soon. It must be awful when you're left in limbo like this after DH has produced the work that these people commissioned. Could you write something into an agreement for the work that payment must be within a certain number of days? I'm not sure how these things work never having run a business myself:o. I expect if such a strategy was possible you'd have done it already.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you Carboot. Based on past experience I don't think they would pay any sooner no matter what we put in the contract . Bigger companies can be even worse than small companies for paying slowly. The council takes two months to pay on average. Sometimes smaller companies pay instantly, but that's rare. One largish company still hasn't paid us and it's six weeks since we invoiced and we've reminded them twice, and they only owe us £100 .

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Thank you Carboot. Based on past experience I don't think they would pay any sooner no matter what we put in the contract . Bigger companies can be even worse than small companies for paying slowly. The council takes two months to pay on average. Sometimes smaller companies pay instantly, but that's rare. One largish company still hasn't paid us and it's six weeks since we invoiced and we've reminded them twice, and they only owe us £100 .

I see. Not right though is it? I bet these people who are so slow to pay you are the ones who'd be quickest to give grief if the situation was reversed and you owed them money

HairyHandofDartmoor

No it's not right but it's reality . Our best payers are in situations when we insist on payment before we start work. I'm thinking we may have have to do that more often.

Anyway, I must go and clean DS3's room or it will never get done!

WannabeFree

Hope the payments come in HH

Have a good day

x

jwil

Hope you get paid soon.

CBC - that's funny because last year I reported several items that were arriving damaged and/or opened, and they didn't kick me off the panel, I was expecting them to!

[Deleted User]

jwil wrote: »

Hope you get paid soon.

CBC - that's funny because last year I reported several items that were arriving damaged and/or opened, and they didn't kick me off the panel, I was expecting them to!

Good, I'm pleased they kept you on:T:beer:

I was very upset, quite hurt actually, to get the sack as I'd done it for years and never did a single thing to give them cause to question my efficiency and honesty. In fact, as well as the payment stamps and vouchers, I've received several 'thank you' gifts from them over the years (that I know weren't just the standard extra goodies like diaries and commemorative sets of stamps that they gave out to everyone).


I even applied in OH's name after the dust settled (we're not married and have different surnames) fully intending to do the surveys in his name as he wasn't interested in doing them and he said I could. They didn't accept (him) me and said this address was registered with them as being 'known' to RM as being involved with the survey panel and would skew the integrity of the results:mad:.