Queen Bee fighting for her Hive!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Thank you everyone for the support. The meeting wasn't as bad as I feared. The week prior I had agreed to extend my probation period just to give me a bit extra breathing space because of the lock down situation. My home life is complicated in normal circumstances let alone in the lock down and its really affecting my worry factor even more. The official letter of the meeting they sent me basically said the outcome of the meeting could mean dismissal and I basically took this as red that I was going to be sacked. I have tried so hard to get into the job I am and I am really worried I am going to lose it and fear how this will affected my head. So with my heart pumping, 1hr sleep etc I had the meeting and in the end all it was, was to formally agree the working pattern for the next 4 weeks of my extended probation period. Had I understood this in advance of the meeting I wouldn't have reacted the way I did. I know employers have to follow procedure but why couldn't this have been made clear in the first place. A good friend of mine who has had her fair share of mental health problems said I should probably speak to them about it but I am extremely reluctant to do so. I do however think I should get some counselling when I can to work through the source of my worries as reacting like this isn't healthy at all. I want to say I am happier with the working pattern I have agreed, it gives me a bit more opportunity to still work my full time hours but instead of working 5 days a week I am working 6 with two half days in the week to focus on the kids. We've agreed which days are half days and my ex H will have the kids more during the week so that I can concentrate on the work. I am fortunate we are still good friends and I get on well with his partner who will help looking after the kids when I need to work. Her role has been furloughed so has the time.  

On a brighter note, the combined balance transfers from two cards went through yesterday so now I have one credit card with a big bill of £5555 which I will be paying off over 26 months. The balance transfer rate was 1% so was too good not to take up the opportunity. I still have a second card with a balance transfer of £1900 but that is to be paid over roughly 9 months. My goal is to aim to clear the two cards in the time periods. Personally I think the 26 month card is doable but the 9 month one I think it will be difficult to achieve. I don't want to put all my salary into my debts and be left with no breathing space. In the past I have been very tight on myself and I think in a way this has caused me so much stress from the pressure that its not worth it. I think its better to take a bit of a hit and space it out longer so I am going to watch this space. With the lock down I am using this to my advantage where I can but spending more in other areas such as food shopping and activities for the kids to do at home which I suspect many families are doing.

So this weekend my plans are to tackle a bit of cleaning especially the bathrooms. I am trying out different methods of cleaning the loo with vinegar and bicarb as I don't like just chucking bleach down there all the time. I was meant to be travelling next week on the coach and trains to visit the grandparents well these plans are cancelled and I need to apply for refunds. I am sceptical whether I will actually see any of the funds but hey ho. I have the composter to build and a lovely booklet all about composting to catch up on and come up with some activities with the kids. Home schooling has been pretty hit and miss due to focusing on work.  

Hope everyone has a nice weekend at home, the weather is meant to be gorgeous so maybe home picnics for everyone? 

Drawingaline

Glad the meeting outcome was better than you feared. I think we are all stupidly over anxious atm, don't be so hard on yourself. I am struggling to sleep, and I know the hubby and the girl are too, lack of fresh air isn't helping (our outside space is not large) alongside stress.

Hower you know if this reaction is part of a bigger picture to do with your mental health, if you feel some counselling once we are less restricted will help then definitely factor that in. 

Baileys_Babe

@clarissa62 How much money a month do you have for paying cards 1 and 2?
Would it be possible to pay a smaller amount to card 1, ensuring you pay at least the minimum,  so you pay a higher proportion to the 2nd card (£1900) to clear it in 9 months?
After card 2 is cleared all the money can pay off card 1.

beanielou

Glad things went better than you thought.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Baileys_Babe said:

@clarissa62 How much money a month do you have for paying cards 1 and 2?
Would it be possible to pay a smaller amount to card 1, ensuring you pay at least the minimum,  so you pay a higher proportion to the 2nd card (£1900) to clear it in 9 months?
After card 2 is cleared all the money can pay off card 1.

Hi Baileys Babe - That is an interesting suggestion which i'll look into. As long as the debt goes Im not too fixed about which card is paid first I just want rid of the debt noose. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello, I have had a reasonably good weekend. I built my new composter but not yet started making compost. I need to get myself a source of 'brown' waste. My lovely friend also signed some legal paperwork which needed to be done so that will be popped into the post tomorrow morning. My first task yesterday was to sort out the refund on train and bus tickets - total amount was a good £48 which I hope will go back into the credit card. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

I just wanted to post some budget wins. So like many of us here I am definitely making the most of the short term reduced spends in travel etc and so on Monday I am pleased to report I paid my credit card in full for the second month so I am no longer paying interest! Only two months before I was typically paying £15 per month in interest on my credit card so this is a good win! I have put £100 into a regular saver and my ISA is starting to re-coup its loses from a mid March. My saving 1p a day challenge has flatlined as I normally put £10 a week into this but I haven't had the hard cash to do so but aim to put this right this week. Tomorrow I need to do some food shopping but only to buy bits not a big shop. This weekend me and my partner are planning to have our own mini bbq just the two of us so this will be nice so I need to get stuff for that. I am 6 days away from new credit card month too so there will be no serious spends between now and then. 

Baileys_Babe

Well done on paying the credit card in full

Drawingaline

Well done! My wins are paying a third of my council tax bill in one go 😂 brings the monthly payments right down, and I hate paying it monthly anyway. I always liked the years we have been able to pay it in one go up front (far too few for me). 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Happy Saturday everyone and happy Easter, 

I am struggling a bit with the board factor at the moment. I'm usually juggling many eggs and now finding in lock down the number of eggs has reduced and so I am here where I am. So far in lock down I have been getting to grips more with the garden and got the veggie patch going and am learning all about composting! On Thursday I discovered my local supermarket did not have any straw (pet isle) and so Friday lunchtime used my hour exercise to get some straw from a well known pet shop. Not that I have any pets mind you but through my compost research (ie You Tube) that straw is very good brown waste. Anyway on Friday I got the composter up and running so fingers crossed it works! I have caught up on TV shows on Iplayer, dug out my old knitting and on round 2 of practice. Round 1 was just a bit too many holes. Im going to attempt some easter crafting later and still need to get the sewing machine up and running. I have been avoiding it tbh as I struggled last time. Right I better crack on as today is a work from home day. I have my tasks ready to do and so better get on with it.