When life sends you lemons..... Well I guess you just knuckle down

Lemon_Tree

Other things I'd forgotten, I switched up some tescos vouchers to get a friend's and family rail card. Its the first time we've used them for anything other than delivery fees, I bought the card tonight because I thought it needed to be posted but turns out it was all done electronically so we could have waited til next Tuesday before Mr LT and the littlies travel. Lesson learned for next year.
I also did some looking up for cheaper cat food, we have a cat with the equivalent of ibs so they have a dry food only sensitive food, I managed to get 4 bags for 40 instead of 15 each from tesco (13 when on offer). It's exactly the same stuff just in German packaging.
I've also been investigating some medical conditions I have, heavens know why I've taken so long to gather the info. It's meant I've had to buy some more vitamin and mineral tablets but if they work I'll stop feeling like the walking dead and they'll be worth it. 
 

Lemon_Tree

Also the powers that be have finally given approval for my team and myself to apply to get our jobs regraded. Five years ago I took a 6k paycut to keep my job in a restructure and my manager and I have always argued my grade was too low. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I've been bitten before, but my manager has said if it's not improved he'll challenge for a market supplement instead. I suspect it will all take some time, public sector for you. 

Sarahwithlove

Good news about cat food. We've started supplementing pouches with dry food and it's made it last so much longer and cat seems happy enough with it. I save my Club card vouchers up in their Christmas scheme as don't get enough really each month to make worth while but £10 in vouchers in November I do notice! 

Good luck with the regrading at work. We requested it two years ago as our jobs have changed so much that we're starting to do jobs that people in other departments get paid more to do. Everytime get told our department is still under review. 🙄 Joy's of public sector. 

Lemon_Tree

Sarah it sucks doesn't it, I've worked out it will take 13 years to get a true pay rise after pay freezes, pay cuts and restricted pay rises. Before the last 2 years'rises it was going to take 15 years! I think I still don't really believe that I will get either a regrade or a supplement. 

Sarahwithlove

Lemon_Tree said:

Sarah it sucks doesn't it, I've worked out it will take 13 years to get a true pay rise after pay freezes, pay cuts and restricted pay rises. Before the last 2 years'rises it was going to take 15 years! I think I still don't really believe that I will get either a regrade or a supplement. 

Yep in private sector if you asked for it to be reviewed it would happen fairly quick but everything is slow to change in public sector. We've been notified that at the moment the unions can't agree on a payrise with the LA for this year so it's not likely to be in place for April but you can bet our household bills will go up by then 🙄

Lemon_Tree

Ah yes, union's negotiating payrises.... They hold up our review every year, yes the back pay is nice but I'd much rather have it straight away, and I wish they would just be realistic, rumour has it ours are asking for 10% this year! why it will never get agreed and will just hold stuff up? 

Sarahwithlove

Lemon_Tree said:

Ah yes, union's negotiating payrises.... They hold up our review every year, yes the back pay is nice but I'd much rather have it straight away, and I wish they would just be realistic, rumour has it ours are asking for 10% this year! why it will never get agreed and will just hold stuff up? 

Yel 10% is what ours has asked for to make up for the reduced pay rises over last few years. They say it will bring it back in line with what it was. I do wonder sometimes whether they go in with ridiculously high to get a more reasonable deal. They also asked for additional annual leave and reduced hours apparently. Think the last time it didn't get paid until end of August pay check and by time they take tax, NI, SL and Pension i got very little myself 🙄

EssexHebridean

Oh that's excellent news about the pay grade appeal thing - well done you and your boss for pushing it forward and let's hope it all works out. 

Great work on the cat food as well! 

jwil

Good luck with the regrading, hope it happens soon!

Lemon_Tree

Thanks everyone, manager has, I think, submitted the first document today so it's a case of fingers crossed.
I need some good news after today's visit to the doctors and the scales at fat club tonight.