Countdown from £28k...

warby68

Glad you got the all clear.
I'm with you on the bonuses that feel more like an insult. 
Do the budget before it runs away with you.  You knew you were only just clear of the debt and didn't have time to save up much before you moved.
Maybe even work back and tot up the booze and takeaway spends for the deterrent effect. If you've stretched it a bit on your setting up costs and possibly the initial blowouts, perhaps pay yourself (or your CC) back over 2 months rather than have a scrimping month straight away and getting fed up. You still have the car as reserve when you're ready to get rid.

vixx_123

I'm also public sector. We got an extra day off at Christmas for all our hard work. I've also applied for one of those bonus schemes for an employee when they did well on a piece of analysis. Overall, public sector pay is sig higher than private sector. I think what you'd also find with private is that the pay distribution is very skewed...I'm shocked what my husband's employees earn! Plus it's all kept very secretive, which is at a detriment to certain people. 

enthusiasticsaver

I worked for the local government for 20 years and we got nothing as a bonus.  When I worked in banking we got a  reasonable one either in cash or shares.  My DH used to get really good bonuses as an electronics engineer for a large multi national german company. 

Good you don't have corona but I would maybe urge you to watch the spending before it starts getting out of hand again.  On the plus side you can afford to clear the Amex and hopefully when the car is sold you will get an emergency buffer but in the meantime cutting back on the alcohol for a month or so will save you money and help your health.  As you say probably most of the household stuff was needed so going forward it should not be as bad next month.  No sign of pubs etc opening for a month or two so you can use that time to build your savings up again. 

gymgirl11

Glad you don't have the virus! That must be a bit of relief in itself and feel like a bit of anxiety has lifted  

purplehippo276

Phew, good news on the all clear Ryan!  

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

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.

Glad someone understands I mean...my previous department the bonus was like £200 a year after tax and none of my other departments did bonuses full stop, though in BEIS (department for business, energy, innovation and skills) a bigger chunk of the salary is bonus, slightly lower basic (minimally less) but £6k bonus...

I don't think public sector worry about tax in the same way as it'd just be a transfer payment from one department to another with an admin burden attached, so there is in agreement in place. The reason I mentioned vouchers is because they do pay bonuses in vouchers. When my boss told me a higher amount I opted for cash but in future I'll ask for vouchers...always handy as can use them for christmas/birthdays etc.

lantanna said:

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.

Yeah, I also worked in private sector previously but at one of the Big 4 accountancy firms. Hours were horrendous but also seasonal (generally quieter in the summer - though we uncovered a fraud at one client so that didn't pan out), money wasn't worth it in the short-term but had bonuses and also lots of events with free bars, Christmas and end of busy season parties with no expense spared etc. I do regret leaving in hindsight. Depending on area hours weren't too bad and I'd be earning more than I am now plus bonus on top and could've moved into an in house role for more money and better hours... This job hasn't been far off of lawyer/investment banker hours but for a third of the money at the grade I'm at Though if I did switch I'd have those years of working the hours for less until I qualified... I can imagine the issues with working for smaller businesses though... Also depends where you are, if I didn't work in London my pay would be more or less the same and relatively high compared to lawyers etc. in the regions. But in London it's really out of skew, hasn't kept pace at all...

Sarahwithlove said:

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. 

Yeah, good idea...have had a few other unexpected expenses this month, like flights etc. for my mates stag do in May. Plus the bloody toilet seat...

alt80 said:

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. 

Yeah, it's just annoying as you know it's not your boss' fault or even really their boss', hands are tied. Do think the head of the department is bloody inept though...

Good point re: hiring a car! Don't know why I didn't consider that in all honesty...£100 for a weekend more than likely and not sitting on a slowly depreciating asset I don't need that is costing me money each month...

ryanm8655

warby68 said:

Glad you got the all clear.
I'm with you on the bonuses that feel more like an insult. 
Do the budget before it runs away with you.  You knew you were only just clear of the debt and didn't have time to save up much before you moved.
Maybe even work back and tot up the booze and takeaway spends for the deterrent effect. If you've stretched it a bit on your setting up costs and possibly the initial blowouts, perhaps pay yourself (or your CC) back over 2 months rather than have a scrimping month straight away and getting fed up. You still have the car as reserve when you're ready to get rid.

Haha, my boss recounted when she first took over the team and she was left with a summer student and new grad, basically had to get up at 6am every morning for months and sit in costa before work doing all the modelling herself...said the bonus didn't even cover the cost of the coffee

Agreed re: budget. Hopefully I'll have time to do that tomorrow night and fair point re: lack of savings. I was half expecting to have to put some stuff on a 0% card IIRC, so I guess it's not been too bad though there have been some needless spends...agree re: adding those up to make it real...

I can afford to pay the card back, it's all good. Without doing the sums properly I should still have about £1800 or so left for variable spends (groceries would be included in variable) but will sit down and work all of that out. Then I'll start working to a weekly budget for groceries and other variables to get that savings pot rebuilt. Allocate a time each weekend to run through the figures (Friday nights would be good as will stop me getting bored and deciding to drink loads). My credit card bill isn't due until 27th and is based on the balance on the 13th of the month, so could pay off my weekly budget so that I can't overspend without thinking. I'll allocate a portion of the budget to potential house spends I've forgotten too...Really £100/week for groceries should be enough when not allowed out (allowing for a bit more on booze and the odd takeaway coffee/croissant when on a stroll within that budget), especially now I've got the essentials in...

Other thing I forgot is I have about £100 in cash in my wallet that I can't pay into the bank or spend

vixx_123 said:

I'm also public sector. We got an extra day off at Christmas for all our hard work. I've also applied for one of those bonus schemes for an employee when they did well on a piece of analysis. Overall, public sector pay is sig higher than private sector. I think what you'd also find with private is that the pay distribution is very skewed...I'm shocked what my husband's employees earn! Plus it's all kept very secretive, which is at a detriment to certain people. 

That reminds me actually, I took two weeks off over christmas without using any flexitime. Though when I was private sector the office was just closed for Christmas and didn't need to take it as holiday. I think the public vs private sector pay depends on the industry and also location, definitely not higher in London vs other industries I could've gone into (or the industry I was in previously). Get that my pay is probably better than most equivalent private sector roles if considering the whole nation. And I know SMEs often don't pay well for similar level of jobs vs larger organisations.

enthusiasticsaver said:

I worked for the local government for 20 years and we got nothing as a bonus.  When I worked in banking we got a  reasonable one either in cash or shares.  My DH used to get really good bonuses as an electronics engineer for a large multi national german company. 

Good you don't have corona but I would maybe urge you to watch the spending before it starts getting out of hand again.  On the plus side you can afford to clear the Amex and hopefully when the car is sold you will get an emergency buffer but in the meantime cutting back on the alcohol for a month or so will save you money and help your health.  As you say probably most of the household stuff was needed so going forward it should not be as bad next month.  No sign of pubs etc opening for a month or two so you can use that time to build your savings up again. 

Yeah, get other roles don't have bonuses at all but I still don't think that makes sense and is one of the issues with private sector...doesn't provide the right incentives and hinders productivity on the whole.

Agreed on the spending. Will definitely cut down on the boozing and get focussed on the finances again.

Thanks all!

Been a manic day and still need to do some more work this evening ideally but half tempted to leave it until tomorrow now. Do like the pressure of being busy, does give me a bit of a buzz and in the current climate is a welcome distraction. Not sure I'd like it so much when I actually had things I wanted to do after work though

Linens arrived so hopefully that will lead to a better night's sleep. The throw and cushion are a bit of a brighter orange than anticipated, also a bit more modern than they looked in the pictures online (ribbed orange bits with a thin grey stripe between each ribbed bit - does look better than it sounds) but actually think will work quite well as the grey stripe matches the grey duvet cover set. Place mats and coasters arrived, also a bit brighter orange than they looked but will do the job and were only cheap...

Can't wait for the weekend and a decent and alcohol free sleep to recharge the batteries properly...

Can't really be bothered to head out for a stroll now...knackered...but probably should for the mental health. Kinda want to make dinner and then go to bed

ryanm8655

gymgirl11 said:

Glad you don't have the virus! That must be a bit of relief in itself and feel like a bit of anxiety has lifted  

Definitely :-)

Sarahwithlove

The walk will help you sleep better 

ryanm8655

Sarahwithlove said:

The walk will help you sleep better 

Yeah, told mate I will as well. I know I'll come back feeling better for it and a good kind of tired.