Teetering on the brink

Cherryfudge

Well done to your DD! Insurance is scarily expensive: my husband reckons people should buy old classic cars as that reduces the cost.

I think it's worth looking at changing to the 0% card - some of the money you are now paying in interest could then be paying down the debt.

EatingBeans

New 0% card acquired. Now I just need to work out the best way to shuffle the balance to take best use of it. 

Still no word on the job application front. I was talking to a colleague yesterday though (who has just come to work with the team I am in) and it appears the role is expected to replace her manager. We are all matrix managed so it can get quite complicated trying to work out where new roles will fit but it would seem I am quite a good fit if that is true. Not only would I end up managing someone who I am now currently supporting anyway so would actually understand her work - she id doing what I was doing until I went off sick - but the project her manager (who has now left), was delivering is the very project I was part of for over a year before joining my current team. I was the only person who was there throughout the whole discovery phase, so I fully understand that project already - and I enjoyed it, which helps. So now there is a tiny glimmer of hope that I might actually be in with a chance. The only chink in my new found confidence about getting the role is that it turns out that the guy who took over on that project from me has also applied. He is a nice guy and he is good at what he does, so I think he has a good shot too, but then they would lose continuity and would have to replace him. So, I guess we will see. The grapevine tells me four people applied (it is an internal job only) but I cannot think of anyone who might be a better fit than us two if that is the project they need someone to take over. 🤞

EatingBeans

Well, I now want to die inside when I think about my finances, but I now own a van for me and the dogs and can finally go places again. I was really struggling to find a roadworthy vehicle for the money I was willing to pay but I finally got one (the guy is moving to Spain today so was desperate to sell), and after a massive headache with the paperwork and payment portals that refused to work, it is now confirmed as in my name, taxed and insured. 💪

Poor dd1 though, despite being 18 and only passing her driving test on Monday, she had to drive the 80 miles there and about 100miles back (it was gone 11pm at night when she took the wrong turn and ended up taking us miles off course). She did amazingly well though tootling along in the dark at 60ish mph on the motorway, crawling along when we hit standing traffic and navigating completely unknown town and city centres thanks to road closures. Nothing like being thrown in the deep end! 😬 I am so proud. 

Now I just need to pay for dd2’s birthday treat and I can go back to eating beans to pay for it all! Honestly, I thought I had already covered her birthday but she is really down atm as her friends are away so there is nothing currently planned for on the day, and she already knows I have bought her a phone so there is no surprise to open. So, time to find her something small to unwrap and possible a trip to the beach or something. Being off college for so long with literally nothing to do and no friends around until September is really getting to her. Since I am off work next week it would do us both good to get away (although adding anything to the credit card is adding to the stress so if it was just for me I wouldn’t be going). But now we have lots of space for all the stuff and I deliberately chose a vehicle while is cheap on fuel, camping seems like the obvious choice for a change of scene pick-me-up. Just need to find a super, super cheap basic campsite.

Cherryfudge

Happy new van! I think it will represent more freedom for you and the dogs, and hopefully for the girls too. Well done to DD1 for the mammoth drive (all good experience) and happy birthday to DD2. Is there perhaps somewhere she can work over the summer, even fruit picking to get her out and about and give her some spending money?

EatingBeans

Thanks @Cherryfudge 😁

dd2 has been trying to get a job for months bless her but she’s never had a job before so has zero experience and no reference so she is finding it very difficult. Tbh, I think the whole thing is getting her really down as she is desperate to be able to earn a bit of money and knows I can’t really afford to keep giving stuff to her even if she is earning it through helping me. I am hoping that now I have the van and can just throw the dogs in and go places, dd2 will join me and we can all go for nice walks together - the fresh air will do us all good. 

Cherryfudge

That sounds like a good way to entertain yourselves - this has been a lovely few months for getting out of doors and just being (apart from the days when it was too hot, but hey! People pay for that heat abroad). Could DD perhaps volunteer somewhere? Charity shop? Animal rescue? Or even get paid dog walking or babysitting? Those show initiative and she may be able to wrangle a reference from them. We had a 17 y.o. volunteer with us at a church activity and they were fab, teenage help is so valuable in circumstances like that.

EatingBeans

Yeah, I have been trying to encourage volunteering but she seems a bit too depressed to get out and find something atm. She does volunteer for Parkrun at the weekend but the thought of finding somewhere else just seems too overwhelming for her atm. I am hoping once we’ve got up and out a bit more she will perk up a bit and it will feel a bit easier. Right now, just getting up and dressed seems a bit difficult. 😕