Countdown from £28k...

juicyjackieb

I struggle with insomnia and if I know I am not going to sleep I do take an over the counter tablet from Boots. Ideally working on the root cause is the best solution, mine is usually due to a racing mind, it’s easy right now to just feel like a mouse in a wheel just dashing constantly while we wait out Panny-D disappearing and wanting to see behind the curtain of what real normal life might look like in 12 months. It’s the anxiety of it all.

Sadly there is so much we can’t control so you can only focus on what we can. Relaxation, looking after your physical health that will help your mental health. 

Also, if you feel that you may need some support please reach out, sometimes strangers are the best friend you need. The effect of the missing a human connection is deeply felt. 

However, waddling back to what I said about the meds - no prescription needed but I think it’s borderline strength because it’s the only thing that knocks me out - Sleepeaze from Boots. I take an hour before bed and I feel like a tranquillised rhino. You can feel groggy the next morning and please do not use it often, just occasionally. I found exercise and working on giving less f****s about things that are not my problem also help with a mental decluttering. 

Rest up, be well buddy x 

Sarahwithlove

Private sector always pays better in terms of bonuses etc. Public sector the bonus used to be final salary pension scheme and extra days annual leave but now that the pension has changed to average salary not sure its even that much better. Plus a lot of private companies now give 5 weeks annual leave and bank Holidays anyway. If I thought I could get another job that would pay the same I'd move but my role is quite unique so would require a specialised role or a pay cut to retrain. 

ryanm8655

Sarahwithlove said:

Private sector always pays better in terms of bonuses etc. Public sector the bonus used to be final salary pension scheme and extra days annual leave but now that the pension has changed to average salary not sure its even that much better. Plus a lot of private companies now give 5 weeks annual leave and bank Holidays anyway. If I thought I could get another job that would pay the same I'd move but my role is quite unique so would require a specialised role or a pay cut to retrain. 

It’s also supposed to be about work life balance but not the case in central government, at least not in our area. I know mates have it better in other analytical departments though. Average salary pension is a lot better than the private sector offering but the fact they keep bumping up the retirement age, and will likely change the terms again at some point, diminishes that. A London weighting that doesn’t reflect the true cost of living, plus the fact the largest payrise I’ve had in 7/8 years is 2% (other than promotions and most years it was frozen) on a salary that is below private sector anyway...people moan about public sector being inefficient but if they invested more in staff and had a pay and reward scheme that actually incentivised working hard then that might not be the case...it’s also why it’s full of toffs who don’t need the cash and just want to feel important.

With you on the pay cut, I could move to consultancy but if I’m changing I’d rather move in to something new altogether. Trouble is even if I moved into financial services (where I wouldn’t have the 2 years of no pay while training for law), it’d still be a £25/30k pay cut until qualified in 3 years...Should’ve just stayed in financial services...wish I hadn’t cared about my job having meaning back then as it has no meaning in any event

juicyjackieb said:

I struggle with insomnia and if I know I am not going to sleep I do take an over the counter tablet from Boots. Ideally working on the root cause is the best solution, mine is usually due to a racing mind, it’s easy right now to just feel like a mouse in a wheel just dashing constantly while we wait out Panny-D disappearing and wanting to see behind the curtain of what real normal life might look like in 12 months. It’s the anxiety of it all.

Sadly there is so much we can’t control so you can only focus on what we can. Relaxation, looking after your physical health that will help your mental health. 

Also, if you feel that you may need some support please reach out, sometimes strangers are the best friend you need. The effect of the missing a human connection is deeply felt. 

However, waddling back to what I said about the meds - no prescription needed but I think it’s borderline strength because it’s the only thing that knocks me out - Sleepeaze from Boots. I take an hour before bed and I feel like a tranquillised rhino. You can feel groggy the next morning and please do not use it often, just occasionally. I found exercise and working on giving less f****s about things that are not my problem also help with a mental decluttering. 

Rest up, be well buddy x 

Thanks! Will check those tablets out if things don’t improve :-)

Sorry to hear about the insomnia...that must be really tough...I love a good nights sleep...

alt80

That 'bonus' is a joke. Mind, I'm seeing !!!!!! all end of this financial year after the lockdown 1 shutting me down. Actually inclined to not bother in future and keep in retained. Know it doesn't work like that for you, seems like a !!!!!! insult tbh mate.

Reason they won't give you gift vouchers to the value of is they're not tax deductible.

ryanm8655

On the plus side I don't have Corona!

And apologies for the rant! I now I should be grateful to have a job etc. and some bonus is better than none!

Need to do some serious financial planning.

Payday tomorrow but AMEX is basically maxed at a grand and have about £1150 in savings, so I'm almost at net zero. Bonus wasn't as high as I was expecting and I am still paying £220 a month out of my take home to the taxman for the next 2 months. I have had a lot of expenses on household purchases so it is understandable. I was also hoping to have sold my car by now. Need to sit down and do a realistic lockdown budget as I've not sat down and worked anything out properly but my fixed outgoings are higher at the moment as still having to pay car insurance etc. It'll all look healthy again tomorrow but it's an unrealistic picture as lots of it will be going out as soon as rent/bills etc. hit ha.

Everything I've bought has been more or less essential in terms of household items but I haven't been keeping track of the spends at all...just blitzing away...

Going to get out of the flat for a trek later now than I'm cleared...

Lots of thinking on the work front...Our team has gone from 8 to 3 in a month or two. They're not able to fund any of the vacancies because we're overcommitted and the head of analytical services basically ignores the request until he can say yes, so no timescales but it took 6 months to get me in...so basically need to plan what we can and can't do and will just have to tell policy no and complain to the big boss...Boss said this happened before, except even worse and she refuses to do three jobs at once again. Fair enough I think. Feeling a bit more positive as boss is on same page.

lantanna

I’ve worked in both and my honest opinion is the public sector is better unless your lucky enough to get yourself into a job in a private sector business where you are able to get a job at director level. A lot of private sector is family owned businesses which can come with there own set of problems and frustrations.  Lots of people in jobs that they shouldn’t be in just coz they are family, there is also an attitude of they are above the law and can do and treat people how they like and solve all their problems with a pen in the chequebook. The hours I worked in the private sector were brutal in comparison to what I do know for roughly the same pay.

Sarahwithlove

I think a budget would be good and maybe have a spending log if you're going to put it all on Amex so you know how much you have left in each category of your budget. 

alt80

Glad to hear you don't have the 'rona mate. 

No need to apologise re job I'd be angry if I were in your position tbh, they just seem to be taking the !!!!!! on every front bonus and resources. 

Personal finances - need to deal with mine still too mate. Fact you've moved pretty much had to start again and are not in debt, you're doing well imo. Possibly worth thinking about selling the car - if you can get the same as you'd usually get if corona wasn't happening (might do as a lot of people might not be advertising cars for sale but still a demand for them iyswim) and don't need/ want it could just move it on? Think you said you need to go back to pick a car load up for family post lockdown - could ask them to bring to you or hire a car for the day? Just a thought. 

Naomim

Glad your test came back negative.  

I'm sure it's a good idea to update your budget.

Naomim

Onebrokelady

Come and work for the NHS,I got an extra day of annual leave for 2021 and a £20 JL voucher as a thanks for all my hard work 😀