Countdown from £28k...

ryanm8655

Thanks for the congrats! I’ve celebrated by working late, only just going to bed and have a meeting first thing

In the longterm things should settle down, it was an unforeseen circumstance that has led to a ridiculous deadline. My boss is off at the moment but plan to have a word as it is quite ridiculous the deadline I’ve been given because of another team’s incompetence and expectation that I just bend to their will without compromise. This could’ve actually been pushed back and should have been (they’ve made it urgent when it needn’t be), which is the annoying thing. They’re just !!!!!! footing around when actually it would make no odds to rollout of the programme...

In other news I won some headphones on eBay. They’re the generation after mine and, until a couple of months ago, were the latest model. They’re almost new (still have warranty) and got them for just over £100, which is a bargain.

alt80

Should hope it will settle down you certainly wouldn’t catch me working at 1am on someone else’s business or the governments’! 

Brilliant news re the headphones. 

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

Should hope it will settle down you certainly wouldn’t catch me working at 1am on someone else’s business or the governments’! 

Brilliant news re the headphones. 

Have to agree. The policy area is very political and high profile, so will likely always be quite demanding but I’m not paid enough to be working late most evenings. Though I’m trying to change my mindset. I’ve always felt that way about my job and put in the bare minimum to get the job done and it just led to years of being miserable and on cruise control careers wise with no sense of direction. So it’s good to have a bit of drive back. Trying to get into good habits while I figure out the longterm plan. Once I’m established in the role I will be pushing back on these things though. 

Had a feedback session with the law firm I narrowly missed out on final interview for. It was positive, so I’m still considering that option. Basically overall my application was strong, otherwise I wouldn’t be on he reserve list. Apparently I used too many bullet points in the written exercise (An email to a client based on lots of information you’re provided with to answer their questions), plus I missed a basic point about socially responsible drinking (it was a marketing campaign for a hypothetical booze brand - though didn’t quite understand that one as I definitely said the image used needed changing as it promoted irresponsible drinking but perhaps needed to be more direct and link it to the reputation of the organisation). It’s all very subjective and nit picky but that is law and they have to separate candidates somehow! My written application was very strong, was in the 92nd percentile on the mental agility tests (though it seemed they put little weight on those), video interview was good, it all came down to the written exercise. They strongly encouraged me to reapply next year but shall see...if I do have another crack at law then I really should start to think about it now. Already kind of sick of spreadsheets and having to draft pages of analysis for a decision that has already been made, just to tick a box. But there are other directions I can take this career and use this role as a stepping stone, e.g. masters and look to move to into competition economics at a regulator like the CMA of FCA, which would be both more interesting and more lucrative...but for now I just need to settle in here and establish myself.

Two paydays this month on the 28th and 30th. Then bring on the debt clearance...

lantanna

My best advice to you is go for the route that will make you happiest.  Your a long time at work. I spent 6 years in a job I hated but got paid well with hefty bonuses twice a year, still I was miserable. I took a chance and a big pay cut to do something I would enjoy more and it’s paid off after 8 months I got promoted and I’m on track to increase my earnings in the future there. It’s true what they say about finding a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Really positive you have good options for the future and are aware of them.

ryanm8655

Another late night 😫

Thanks for the reply. I agree with that. I do think longterm my future is elsewhere, despite having only just started the job. I’m remembering why I left central government in the first place and went to an NDPB. Analysis is a box ticking exercise rather than actually shaping the policies as it’s meant to...but that’s what happens when you’re working in a highly ideological/politicised area...ministers will do what they want to do regardless...

Another late finish...have been mega screwed over this week. Haven’t worked these hours since I was a grad at a big 4 firm...I’d expect it in law but not as a civil servant. Hopefully this’ll be the last but need to finalise things tomorrow so will no doubt be another late night. 

At least I haven’t had time to think about spending money, do feel like I need a stiff drink though. Hoping I can escape to the gym tomorrow in the day time but probably won’t get a chance...

Payday now 5 and 7 days away respectively...

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Would they let you take the extra hours back in lieu? 

ryanm8655

Thanks for the reply.

I do get flexitime so could claim the time back in theory. The policy sign off has been pushed back to January now so that saved me another late night last night and today I had to pick up my cousins from school, so other than a few emails I finished at 3.

Had a call from the head of the policy team I was doing the work for thanking me for all my effort and hard work, which was nice. Good management as before that I was thinking I’d be reluctant to do it again as it didn’t seem to be appreciated. I think the more chilled day today and that call has put me in a far better place. Tomorrow will be a planning day and getting some admin done. Then on the weekend I’ll relax.

Payday on Monday and Wednesday, can’t wait to get rid of the Barclaycard. 

I’ll have done 3 weeks booze free on Saturday. Amazing how much I save on the little shopping trips when I’m not buying wine or beers... Planning to have a sober October so may have a few drinks on the weekend to unwind.

Work is likely to be busy in the lead up to Christmas as there is a big bill going through but I have time, so with organisation it should be a little easier hours wise. I’ve also got a new grad starting in a few weeks, so will be able to delegate a lot more of the time consuming but less challenging stuff.

On the plus side being busy means less spending and that the months go more quickly.

Haven’t been able to hit the gym so far this week as I’ve just been too busy but hoping to get there tomorrow and will go Saturday and Sunday as well.

Sorry for all the work chat, a bit dull but it’s been a killer week so nice to vent

alt80

Law firms promoting socially responsible drinking was one of the biggest laughs I had this week - I know a fair few solicitors biggest drinkers going lol. No BS like that in property interviews we like a drink aren't ashamed to admit it. Remember my grad job interview was in a pub couple of bottles of wine consumed over lunch. Bit different now tbf but no BS exercises in how to be morally righteous certainly not in my company will leave that to the Rics to deal with.

ryanm8655

Haha yeah. City law is a stressful job that tends to lend itself to a work hard, play hard culture...went to an event at a firm with the inevitable free bar at the end. The lawyers at the form broke into the bar when it closed (was in their office) and got out more Prosecco...

A bit of a random credit score related query...

For some reason my clear score rating has dropped by 58 points. I know it doesn’t really matter but it’s a bit confusing. All that’s happened is I’ve cleared more debt and closed off cards. Credit utilisation will have gone up a bit as a result but it’s not the first time as I’ve been closing cards as I go...a bit of an odd one. My rating with Experian has gone up to excellent at the same time...are they saying they prefer me to be in debt?

Edit: Experian has dropped a few points into good, so must be credit utilisation due to closing down another card (had a high available balance). Shows as 62%, though is lagging behind where I actually am...will go up even more when I clear the Barclays and cancel that. I’d have thought affordability would be more important and the general trend of debt declining rapidly but I guess they aren’t all that sophisticated...either way it’s irrelevant as I won’t be needing any new products anytime soon and by the time I need a mortgage my debt will be long gone...

alt80

Does not surprise me at all lol.

For the credit agencies you're better keeping the cards but them showing under 50% balance - your utilisation will be high if you're cancelling. I have a really decent rating on all of them - no cards right up at the limit, low LTV (home), good payment record etc. doesn't mean you're in amazing financial health if the rating is super high tbf. 

Doubt you'll struggle to get a mortgage though - so long as you've not got recent defaults / CCJs and a deposit you'll find a mortgage. If something is off you'll probably still be able to get one just not at the rate / LTV you'd like. Better on the ladder than renting imo.