Flying solo

birdsfoottrefoil

Oh no, sounds like you’re having a rubbish time. It’s not great dealing with sickly animals when you’re not feeling well. Hope you’re all feeling better soon!!

twiggy86

Thanks @birdsfoottrefoil - thankfully she wasn't sick again! 

Had a lovely walk down the beach last night with bf and pooch! Didn't walk too far as bf was feeling rubbish but think the sea air did us both some good. Plus pooch apparently loves the beach!!! Yesterday was a NSD for me... although bf bought us chips on the way back from the beach! 

Working from home again today to keep my germs out of the office - plus bf arranged from someone to come and collect some slabs and even managed to get them to offer us £50! I will split it with him as he arranged it all (and I didn't pay for the slabs in the first place!) Hoping the people turn up - and turn up properly equipped to move them as they as SUPER heavy, which is why I hadn't done anything about them! My share will go towards a CC payment I think. 

Today's little list...

• Not wash my hair this morning as will need to do it after netball!!!
• Update spreadsheet 
• Make CC overpayment (using a pot I've decided is unnecessary and currently has £8 sat in it)
• Lunch from stores 
• Order something online via TCB
• Write small shopping list 
• Shop to list this afternoon 
• Small dinner from stores 
• Park for free at netball (debating not playing but don't want to miss another week so will just dose myself up beforehand!) 

twiggy86

Couple of "interesting" updates/ thoughts... 

I had a recruiter/ resourcer message me via LinkedIn saying they wanted to discuss an opening that I may be good for. Well I've had similar messages in the past but never been interested, however at this point in time it sparked something in me. I'm not saying I want this role, but maybe I'm open to change. I absolutely adore my bosses, and I am 100% certain I will never be so well looked after in another job BUT I have been finding the work a bit unfulfilling this year as we've been very quiet and I've been waiting for it to pick up again... still waiting for that to happen and how long do I give it?! So I have messaged the person to say I'd be open for a chat as it doesn't hurt to have a conversation! Also, I know I am underpaid for my experience - but that is part of working for a smaller company which doesn't have the pockets to pay me what other firms potentially would. I have always been happy with my job and as I said, I have exceptional bosses so I get a lot from them in other ways. But given my renewed want of clearing my debts, extra income would certainly be helpful! 

Secondly, my neighbours have just accepted an offer on their house! It was up for £390k but not sure what they accepted. The house is basically the same layout as mine, save they have a small extension on the back (and they don't have an "indoor shed"!). However, given that my mortgage is under £70k, it's always good to realise just how much equity I have in this place! 

I don't think I'm quite at the point of saying I want a new job and house today though!!! Just opening the conversation in one area is quite enough!!! 

twiggy86

Well despite not feeling great, I got player of the match last night at netball!!! And we won by two goals, but it was close game the whole time so could have gone either way! Feeling better today and and had a productive morning! I'm meant to be working but work is quiet, so when I say "productive" I mean around the house! 

I'm working form home again today (although bf has taken pooch to work so it seems quiet without her) so I decided to get out and cut the grass whilst it was dry out there - although didn't do the strimming as bf struggled with it last time as the strimmer kept jamming (or something!). I then filled the car with a load of stuff and took it all to the tip, so the garden is so much clearer now! I've tidied around the top end of the garden, but decided to wait for bf before I rearrange the furniture - want to move a storage box but may break it if I just drag it! 

Don't have too may plans for the weekend. My friend booked for us to do an escape room tomorrow evening as my birthday treat so 4 of us are doing that, then I think we plan to grab a bite to eat. Also want to actually finish sorting and cleaning bf's flat as looks like he'll have tenants moving in at the beginning of October! So that's exciting! 

On to today's little list:

• Cut grass
• Sort out garden
• Tip run 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Load of washing on 30 degree quick wash 
• Hang washing on airer
• Lunch and dinner from stores 
• Pop to shop for milk - didn't get any yesterday as didn't realise it was so low (working from home this week means I've used more than usual!)

Sarahwithlove

Never hurts to be open to another job. You may find another good company but with better pay. Also how long do you stay in a role where you feel unfulfilled? Will there ever be a chance of promotion where you are? 

twiggy86

You're right @Sarahwithlove - I realised I've been feeling unfulfilled for quite some time as business has been slow. so I don't have much client engagement or big projects/ negotiations to "get my teeth into". It's a micro business (i.e. there's only 3 of us!), so no chance of "promotion" just a payrise... but given that it's slow that is probably unlikely. Anyway I have an informal chat booked tomorrow for 1pm. 

Weekend was good but fairly quiet, as neither me or bf were feeling 100%. Although now I've written that I've realised we actually did quite a bit! Went out for a drink Friday, more clearing at his flat and then escape room (friend had paid for as a birthday present) and a drink in town Saturday and then yesterday my parents came round for a coffee and he took me to lunch for an early birthday meal ! I've updated my spreadsheet and still have over £100 left in my personal spends pot though as bf has been very generous! 

I did use my share of the money from the slabs to make another CC payment, so that's another £25 ticked off! HSBC card balance now stands at £465 with under a month until my interest free period expires! Will continue chipping away at it with any extras I can find - hoping to finish the month with money left in my personal spends and grocery budget that I will be able to throw at it! 

I looked into therapy but it's quite expensive so I decided to maybe try journaling or something first. Well I was going to buy a journal until I remembered that last year my friend bought me one when me and ex split up but I never used it! So I have dug that out the drawer and will try to remember to start writing in it and see if it's beneficial! Also, my acro classes start up again this week - really enjoyed them previously and I know I do better when I'm busy/ have my own thing. 

Today's bits and bobs... 

• "Shop from home" for journal 
• Make lunch to take to work 
• Make CC payment 
• Update spreadsheet
• Charge phone at work 
• Signed up for cheap netball game tonight 
• Dinner from stores 
• Check patterns/ materials for crochet birthday present for bf's daughter 

birdsfoottrefoil

That’s really exciting on the job! Well done with netball. Half the dog is feeling better as well. 

On the therapy thing, I do think it’s really good. I don’t know your “why”, but I’ve also found mantra and somatic movement exercises really helpful for intrusive/negative thoughts and general anxiety and feeling down.

twiggy86

Grr - I wrote a post and it disappeared! Trying to remember my waffle!!! 

Thanks @birdsfoottrefoil. I guess my "why" is to help me manage my anxiety - it's worse at a particular time of the month and I guess I just kind of accepted it, however bf mentioned considering counselling. I never thought it was "bad" enough, but why wouldn't I want to feel better in myself if I can?! 

Couple of other bits and bobs for today... 

• Claim a huge 65p from TCB! 
• Note down bill amounts in my phone so that I have the numbers to hand to discuss with bf (probably tomorrow)
• Look into energy fixes as tariff is due to end - current DD is £94 but increasing to £108 next month, however fix is £127 per month! It is one recommended by Martin but that seems a big jump, especially as I have £300 in credit! Will need to decide and get this figure to be able to accurately discuss with bf though! 
• Do some research on company I'm chatting with tomorrow - been a long time since I had an "interview"! Will also ask bf if he has any tips as he works in recruitment
• Decided when I get a chance I'm going to call and try and haggle my broadband cost - I'm out of contract but given that bf is in to his gaming and the speed is really good (apparently!) he would like me to stick with it. However, realised there is no reason why I can't call and try get a better price! Will do it at some point this week when I have a chance
• I cancelled my window cleaner last week - signed up a couple of months ago and have been due two visits and despite getting texts, they haven't actually shown up so I emailed them. Turns out they had my address down wrong - however will still cancel as it will save me £22 every 6 weeks

twiggy86

Netball was cancelled last night due to the rain (as it was an outdoors game) - annoying and why I prefer to play indoors! So just a quiet night at home and bf cooked me dinner using bits in the fridge. Then I started on a new crochet project - should be able to complete using stuff that I had in stash. I did spend £63 on some tickets for an activity for next month for me and bf - he bought tickets for something on Friday, so the cost kind of equaled each other. This does mean that I won't have as much left in my "personal pot" as I thought I might have, but I'm looking forward to the things we booked - plus it's budgeted to be spent on myself, so I shouldn't feel guilty! 

Bf has an interview this morning for a new job - fingers crossed for him! Not sure it's exactly what he wants but would love for them to offer him anyway to give him a confidence boost - even if he doesn't take the job. And I have my informal chat at lunch today - feeling very nervous even though I'm also not sure if it's even for me! It's a fully remote job which I'm not sure suits my personality! 

Today's bits and pieces:

• Make lunch to take to work 
• Take parcel to work so I can print label - sold a t-shirt on Vinted for £3.50! 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Charge phone at work 
• Make a £5 CC payment 
• Load of washing on 30 degree quick cycle 
• Hang washing on airer 
• Dinner from stores

Realised that in the 15 months since me and ex split, I have cleared £5k of debt! I was also looking at my old budget spreadsheets yesterday - most of these are a bit flakey and not fully complete, but it really painted a picture of my debt past. I.e. I made attempts at paying the debts down and would make progress, only for them to jump up again. So my debt at the start of 2021 was £8.5k but then in 2022 it was back up to over £17k!!! I wish the spreadsheet was fully complete to help me identify exactly how it doubled in a year! I really never want to look back and see the number go up again! 

twiggy86

Just updating re "interview"... 

It sounded interesting and would be more money (although exact amount wasn't indicated) and potential to earn bonuses. It is fully remote, but sounds like they have a good structure in place to ensure whilst remote there is still the feeling of a "team". However, I'm not sure they would offer me a job as whilst I am a "commercial lawyer" I am not a "solicitor" - I raised this with her and she needed to take it away to check if this would be a sticking point. She said for me to consider if I am interested in going further with this and if so to send over my CV, at which point she would discuss internally if not being a solicitor is a no-go. However, she did ask about a slightly different role and if I would be interested - I wouldn't be, but I take it as a positive that she liked me if she was thinking about other roles! 

I think it is worthwhile updating my CV (hasn't been done in the 8 1/2 years since I started my current job!) and sending it over to see what happens. But I think it has open my eyes that maybe I should start looking for other possible roles, so it can't be a bad thing to update my CV. Plus side is that bf works in recruitment so I can get his help in what my CV should look like! 

Oh and it sounded like bf's interview went well as he was really positive afterwards! So fingers crossed for him!