Evasive action! Stop the trench becoming a hole.

KeepOnKnitting

Plans today to get petrol for the car. As it won't come out until tomorrow, I'm going to put it against next month's budget, as there is nothing left in this month's petrol budget. No other planned spends.

I've decided not to go to the work Christmas party this year. I'm just too skint right now, and I'd rather save it for holiday budget. I think it's about £30-40 for the ticket, plus worrying about travel home and extra drinks. Just not worth the money at the moment.

I baked four big potatoes yesterday while I had the oven on for banana bread. Quite a few tubs of chilli, stew and bolognese in the freezer at the moment, so aside from normal top ups of milk and fruit, this week is mostly catered for. I will probably do a batch of something before the week is out just to keep the freezer topped up. 

Sarahwithlove

It doesn't hurt to apply and if you get offered the job you can decide what's best for you then. But something better paid and closer to home sounds good to me. 

KeepOnKnitting

I did not batch cook this week, but bought burgers and frozen chips from aldi instead. Almost the same   

All lunches taken to work. No extra spending as I've been a bit poorly, so mostly sleeping outside of work. 

Just catching up on work admin and housework this morning. Going out to dinner with friends tonight, but will try to stick to a budget and not get carried away. They will understand. 

KeepOnKnitting

Had a lovely evening last night. Ended up with a takeaway and a glass of wine, so that was about perfect. Some petrol to get there and back, but otherwise a thrifty evening.

I've finished and submitted the job application. Will ask to see if I can shadow for an hour or two if I am offered an interview to see what it is like there.

Otherwise a pretty boring weekend, all of Saturday morning was work catch up. Laundry and a bit of a tidy up when I got home today, then the job application. Still more tidying to do tomorrow, but I think I will have an early night tonight.

KeepOnKnitting

I have been AWOL from MSE, but very definitely present for MSEing in real life. Super sensible through the whole of October. Had to book tickets to see family in November, but have done it as cheaply as humanly possible. That journey is going to be miserable, megabussing and arriving at silly o'clock at night, but £60 cheaper than the train! Also had to do car insurance. For the first time in many years I have chosen to pay monthly, as it means I can delay some of the cost until after my planned travel in 2025. Feels backwards, but I actually think it is the right idea.

Have not bought a single work lunch out in October. I did however have a total of four dinners out with others, two actual sit-in meals included! 

Work has been pretty awful, not going to lie. We're really really short staffed, partly through sickness and partly through not recruiting, or when we do recruit it is the wrong people. I'm through to the second round of interviews for the other job. 

Cherryfudge

Well done on the work lunches and getting through to another round of interviews! In fact well done on all the MS stuff, especially when work is putting you under pressure.

The big bus journey sounds a bit daunting, can you plan any ways to make it feel better? Perhaps not coffee as you don't want to arrive hyped up... just awake enough to cope. My suggestions would be a nice playlist, perhaps some podcasts, a flask of hot chocolate, some posh sandwiches, a bit of knitting...

KeepOnKnitting

The big money-saving bus journey was a complete fail and due to transport woes ended up with having to buy extra tickets in both directions, and neither company will refund anything. Sometime I really hate public transport. There were nice bus snacks and even a posh can-cocktail to aid sleep on the way out, but being stuck on the M1 for hours is never going to be pleasant.

Work is still awful, but I was offered the new job. I've accepted, as it would just be crazy not to. There has not been an attempt at a counter-offer, making me feel even more underappreciated and making the decisions to leave easier. 

There will be some tight times in January/February as my pay date will move, meaning I will get 2 weeks money when I would usually get 4 weeks in late Jan. All my bills will come out 1st Feb, and then I will get 6 weeks money in mid Feb. I'm thinking I might just pay my minimum credit card payment on 1st Feb and then pay it in full in mid Feb. 

The staff-bank job have given me an induction day of 20th Jan, so I will do that while I am in between the old and new jobs. Hopefully I can do all my new-starter stuff while I am in the middle, meaning I don't have to take leave from my new job and can save that for when I want it. I am still going to do the overtime, as I really miss that type of work. Plus I can maybe put it towards paying off my student loan. That will be very rewarding.

liselle

Just read all your diary and have to say, you’re a real inspiration! I loved your comment about interviewing a lodger who wasn’t in work or education…so funny, and so true!

Sorry too late now, as I’m aware that you purchased a new ‘phone, but I was looking for a new ‘phone because of storage running out.An adviser at the Phone Shop recommended a Card from Argos which goes next to the SIM card and greatly extends the memory.I chose one with the longest memory.Very reasonably priced and a great success!

KeepOnKnitting

Aww @liselle you are very kind.
That's a good idea about the phone, but to be honest it was a model discontinued in 2017, so apps were starting to fail with it and suchlike and the OS wasn't supported any longer, so it was probably time to upgrade. I spent about £150 on a newer secondhand phone.

Cherryfudge

Congrats on the new job! That's proof you're wanted, despite appreciation not being forthcoming.

I'm sorry the bus journey was so dire.