Road To Financial Recovery

13thlegion

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82053692#Comment_82053692

In my experience the starter emergency fund was initially there to back up incomplete sinking funds. E.g. I wasn't far into my journey when my car needed some work that the car pot couldn't totally cover. Now it's a very comforting safety blanket knowing it is there. I suppose what I'm saying is in practice the "need to take money from other pots to fund the emergency" is more likely to be take money from the emergency pot to support other pots. Because if you can think of a scenario where the other pots need to be raided you could always set up another pot for that scenario 🤣. Pots are addictive.

Rhyddid2026

My emergency fund is for if I lost my job, or more likely left suddenly in a fit of rage 😂 it's enough to cover my essential bills.

FootyFanDan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82055820#Comment_82055820

Haha me leaving in a fit of rage seems the more likely option right now too 😂

im often left wondering is it normal for ppl just to put up with a job they don’t like/enjoy

FootyFanDan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82055579#Comment_82055579

I think I’d just end up using what I had in any of my pots to cover anything that’s a real emergency so I suppose which pot it sits in matters not lol

daisy_1571

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82055844#Comment_82055844

I think for some people its perfectly normal to leave jobs as they didn't like a manager, didn't like how they were asked to do something etc. I used to see them when I was taking claims in job centres and unemployment benefit offices back in the day. I sort of admired their bravado but that life wasn't for me.

People who value a secure base behind themselves either stay, or decide to lessen their focus on work to give themselves a bit head room to start seriously applying for other jobs. That was more my style and luckily mr daisy.

We've both had extended years of literally dragging ourselves into jobs telling ourselves we were doing it for the money as the mortgage needed to be paid, then semi recover at the weekend to do it all again the following week.

I used to have a picture of my cat sleeping in the sun taped inside my locker and id stroke it telling myself I was doing another day for her, so she had food, a sunny windowsill to sleep on. That got me through another day. By my fingernails at times in certain jobs.

Being in civil service at least I could keep an eye on other government jobs and move on every few years, usually with same salary (once I had to mark time for a while until that departments scales caught up with what I was on), always with same holiday entitlement and still paying into same pension of course. Great for a while till that job got unbearable 😫 😆 but for a while in the new place I always felt you had 'novelty value' and it was easier to get a promotion while you could use examples from a recent previous job. I felt the new department took the examples more seriously than the old department who likely said to themselves 'yes but thats just part of your job', disregarded them and gave the job to someone from another department who looked exotic 😆.

My only advice is stick in, it will either get better or worse in which case your body might be like mine and after running on adrenaline for so long i got an inner ear infection that had me off work for about 8 weeks and I recovered enough energy to look at the ogd vacancies and ended up getting out of my worst job. Now I live frugaly on the pension and am grateful to my previous selves for continuing to work 30 years through some awful times

FootyFanDan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056053#Comment_82056053

I think you are totally right, I used to always think about having a successful career and trying to be the best version of me I can. I have always been pretty open to training opportunities and learning stuff, even helping train others but in the long run all it seems to have meant is I end up with more work and coz I suck at telling people no I just get overloaded. I now see work as a bearable thing I need to do, enjoying it sadly doesn't come into the equation. It is now about getting the best package I can for my time, what I do need to try do better is switch off. I do think at some point there is going to come a crunch point, I remain hopeful of a better future in this job but we shall see.

I do really like the idea of the picture in locker type thing so when the going gets tough you can see your reason. I swore I would do this. I know it might sound a bit daft but I had bought a souvenir in Salou and also a postcard that I would have on my desk and when times are tough I can see these and remember that my work does pay for my family to have experience. I do think we are very fortunate (although the amount of whinging I do you wouldn't think it 🤣)

FootyFanDan

Ah Friday at last. A mixed week has been had, some very tough conversations and pretty much me saying enough is enough. The levels of work stress isn't sustainable, I do have a meeting next week…surely if everything is urgent how the hell can you operate like that haha.

We went to cinema last night and also had a family meal out which was lovely. This weekend we are planning to do not very much other than trying to create some space in living room.

daisy_1571

What is this 'career' of which you speak 🤔 ? 😂 🤣 I only had 'jobs' 😆

however I honestly admire those that did want to stick in and have a career. I had jobs i enjoyed very much, I always tried to do a good job using my time and effort as best I could on the tasks I did (even when I was stressed out my head due to overwhelming overwork), i tried never to be a difficult staff member or work colleague, tried to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, etc etc etc but I wouldn't have gone in if they'd stopped paying me, put it that way.

I always think you sound like a great colleague and staff member as you constantly strive to try your best but for your own sanity and health im glad you are focusing more effort on job stays at job, home life is home life. Definitely keep that salou postcard on your desk. These little things can sometimes be huge things.

ArtyJ931

being in a job I hate or even dislike or are unhappy in is an absolute no for me. I work to live and don’t feel defined by my job so I’ve never been particularly ambitious.

last time I changed job I wrote down non negotiables which for me were the kind of employer, pay, pension, hybrid. Beyond that I applied for anything I fancied. I wouldn’t ever stay in a job that made me really miserable - I’d just get a new one.

edit- and goes without saying manageable levels of stress. (Low). I’d rather be bored than stressed.

Dakota_Rose

I’m sorry to hear that it’s been such a tough week. Really good that you’ve spoken out though, especially as it’s a fairly new position - you need to set your boundaries early.

I can really relate though. Ending up in well-paid positions can leave you feeling stuck. You ask yourself how else will I earn the same or similar salary if I leave. After so long in a career field, it’s hard to think what else you would do.

Enjoy your weekend. It sounds like you’ve started it off with some lovely family time.