A diary about debt, dilemmas and a dog

doingitanyway

Take care.

SnuggleBuggles

Take baby steps forward. Sending you lots of love and hugs xx

AnnieG

So, a new year, the M&S job has been and gone.. I still have 1 payday to come but will have netted about £650 from it. It's sitting in a savings account ready to go towards my self paid salary at the end of January. I will have enough money to get me to the end of February but will then be completely cleaned out and if there's still no job I'll be living in my overdraft.
I have an interview on Friday for a job in China, great job and very generous salary but having been at home with the dog for the last 4 months it's going to break my heart to leave him. Yep, back to that dilemma.
I've been doing well with budgeting, which is unlike me but needs must when the devil drives! I'm trying to eat mostly plant based as it's cheap and have been batch cooking. I also have several items from M&S in the freezer.. I couldn't resist the combination of yellow stickers plus 20% discount, so I've got quite a lot of quiche to get through.
I have been putting it off but I think tomorrow I will have to make an appointment to apply for Universal Credit. I'm not looking forward to it but think I'll have to bite the bullet.
I've also changed energy supplier and moved to a sim only contract on my phone. I think the council have over charged me for council tax and didn't apply the single person discount when I came back from overseas so am waiting for them to come back to me.
I don't think there's anywhere else I can make savings at the moment but will shop around for cheaper pet insurance when it's up for renewal next month.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to carry these good habits forward if, when I eventually get a job.

AnnieG

I think this week is going to disappear without any job progress being made. I've applied for a couple of things but don't expect to hear anything from them, companies and recruiters don't seem to bother replying any more.
I've managed a couple of NSDs this week, yesterday and today.
I have this interview for China on Friday... I just don't know what to think, but I suppose I can cross that bridge if and when I get to it.
I've been trying to focus on weight loss and fitness, I need to obsess about something other than how I managed to make such a mess of the last year and stressing about having no job.
I found a voluntary organisation offering counselling locally and have done a self referral, I could really do with having someone objective to talk to, I'm finding life incredibly challenging right now

beanielou

Hopefully things will improve soon.

AnnieG

Thanks BeanieLou, I hope so too.
Almost a NSD today... I did buy a Twix and a can of Diet Coke though. Other than that, I went for a walk, then started Couch to 5k (at week 4, I'm impatient like that) and also went to visit a friend and her new baby.

Tomorrow I have the interview for the job in China and my Universal Credit appointment, so an unusual Friday!

No plans for the weekend other than exercising and not spending any money. I know that this will get very tedious soon so am making the most of my enthusiasm whilst it lasts.

AnnieG

I applied for Universal Credit today which was a thoroughly depressing experience. I'm very thankful that I've still got cash in my bank as even if I am approved by the mythical 'decision maker' I won't get paid anything until 16 February. I won't rant but it seems absurd.

The interview for the job in China went very well so there's a lot to think about there,

I'm refusing to count my chickens but I might have found some temp work, I saw an advert for a 4 week temporary position as an HR Advisor. The salary's about £20k less than I'd be looking at for a permanent job but it might tide me over for a month or so. I spoke to the agency who seemed very postitve and it's an organisation I'd like to work for so fingers are firmly crossed.
In the meantime, I'm regretting signing up to a booze free weekend, I could sink a glass of wine right now.

maggiem

Pleased to read interview went well and fingers crossed for HR temp post - I was assuming if the China job came through it might still take some time before leaving so a temp post would be great. Good luck

beanielou

Hope all goes as you wish

Lucifa73

Glad to hear the job prospects are looking up. Hopefully things are turning around for you now. x