Learning to walk before I run

QueenJess

It’s similar for me in the private sector. We get notified of a general salary increase 2 weeks before it gets paid. Could be 0% though as it’s totally discretionary and we just get an email. 

Promotions are very rare and no one told me about mine until it was all signed off by everyone already. I wasn’t aware promotion was an option for me before that. I still didn’t know what that meant money wise until 5 days before the promotion took effect.

edinburgher

The private sector sounds pants, remind me again why I'm expanding my job search to include it?

Had a little grownups only takeaway last night after a fixed term personal spends savings account matured. I'll be using the rest to get Mrs E Christmas presents

Not much moneysaving going on this weekend but I have been pushing for more reasonable spends on Christmas gifts for folks who don't really need a lot spent on them (parents etc.) Going pretty well although will still feel a bit awkward when we go to visit spendy inlaws whose means are a lot more available than ours due to lack of a mortgage and decent pensions. I am sure it will not be held against us. My dad will be 70 this year as well, which means a slightly spendier birthday. It rankles a little, as he has always been shall we say "cost conscious" As well as that, we don't see him very often, unfortunately we have never had much of an adult relationship. Which is sad, but it takes 2 to tango, eh?

On the inlaws front, FIL has booked a trip to Greece for the whole family next May (he will be 70 and Mrs E will be 40). It is all-inclusive and at a hotel that looks really family friendly. I am trying to appreciate it for the incredibly generous gesture that it is without fretting too much about the fact that we will need 3x new passports, airport parking and spending money even for a "free" holiday. Still, only chance we've had to go abroad in several years, last holiday was paid for by the same person! I receive 2 wages in April, so fairly well timed in terms of our financial year, too

Edit: Saddo that I am, have just realised that I will have a chance to be "screened in" to surveys that ask if I've taken a holiday abroad recently next year

LadyWithAPlan

LOVE the fact you seem happier about more surveys than an actual freebie holiday ! So mse!  

Greece is lovely and relatively cheap if it’s not Mykonos or Santorini and the sea is so clear . How fabulous to have a trip like that 
I had a parents big birthday recently and between gifts, paying for dinners, flowers  etc - it was so expensive but at least they reached that birthday and enjoyed being made to feel special . 

I was in Waitr*se yesterday with the 3 cashback apps open only buying what was in the offers  
it’s the small wins that keep us all amused (& richer) 

I think on your wife’s lack of finance interest some people are just that way or have too much on to focus on it … some of us (all with blogs on here!) love the feeling of control even when the numbers look scary and life gets busy - we enjoy wielding the power we do have ! .. but I have had friends and partners who just spend regardless - I actually don’t understand why one doesn’t at least set a monthly budget - 
it’s great you have each other though - you can balance each other out / some of your focus and frugality and get laissez faire 

South_coast

edinburgher said:

The private sector sounds pants, remind me again why I'm expanding my job search to include it?

Because you really, really need a new job!!!

I receive 2 wages in April, so fairly well timed in terms of our financial year, too

If you're in the same job, that is!

beanielou

No need to go overboard for a 70th. 

7 wee minders would be fab. 

edinburgher

A bit of a mental day at work (by which I mean being productive and helpful and having some suggestions taken on board) I'll still be doing some job hunting in the car this evening when DD1 is at her dancing lesson (using my phone before some wag pipes up about my unsual approach to job hunting)

Managed 2 hours of overtime this morning and 2 yesterday, which works out rather neatly at c. £130 before deductions. I also withdrew another fiver from Prolific and have the next one on the way. Nothing from Y Live - was it something I said?

Have picked up a couple of bargain Christmas presents over the last few days for the kids (nothing costing over a tenner, Mrs E even managed to pick up some secondhand toys relating to a TV programme DD2 likes for 30p at the charity shop today).

YNAB up to 23 days.

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, excellent overtime and Christmas bargains there, well done! 😊 I did laugh at you job hunting in the car 😂 although I confess my mind is much cleaner and I was imagining you driving round looking for adverts in shop windows!

edinburgher

@Cheery_Daff - good Lord - I never even thought of that meaning!!! Get ye out of the gutter!!!

Cheery_Daff

edinburgher said:

@Cheery_Daff - good Lord - I never even thought of that meaning!!! Get ye out of the gutter!!!

😱😱😱 Get YOU out of the gutter!! I was literally just thinking of the advert I saw for someone to work part time in the newsagents the other day 😱😱😱

What were you thinking of, Ed? 🤔🤔🤭

Baileys_Babe

I was with Cheery until Ed took his thread into the gutter 😆