Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home

MillQueen

@thanks @ellenvan 🙂❤️

MillQueen

Thank you @ArtyJ931, I agree that things tend to work out for the best in the end. It was an internal promotion, so I think best I can do is clap for whoever got it and not be resentful in the background. There won’t be another role for many years here, as better roles only become available when someone retires, dies, goes off with stress etc, and then there’s a scrum with everyone fighting over it and everyone left annoyed that they aren’t valued enough to get a better role.

We’ll all be going through that for a while now. I have applied for a job with a different company, as I was feeling very demoralised last week after a team meeting that became a fight. I already had a CV and documents prepared from applying for this one, so I just threw in the other application to see what happened. But I don’t think it’s a realistic prospect even if I got it, as it would involve moving hundreds of miles and selling my house which isn’t sellable or rentable for various reasons, and I do/did like my current workplace. It might be a matter of just sucking it up and continuing on. If I can re-find my happiness in what I do and focus on that. Maybe try a bit less hard and focus on what I can earn outside if less tired.

@Blackcats, I will have a look at the website, thank you 🌺

ArtyJ931

Ah, bummer if it's an internal promotion. Meh.

jwil

Sorry to hear about the job

MillQueen

Thanks @jwil.

I have got a feedback meeting next week and I am keeping an open mind. They did seem to be genuine in the nice comments they made, it just evidently wasn't my time. The problem is that it's unlikely to ever be my time there. So it's the eternal question of whether to stay somewhere that's good in many ways but offers no hope of progression, only more unpaid opportunities to "work towards" a better role that's likely never coming.

MillQueen

Today I've had a no spend day. I worked from home, which saved about £7 or £8 in petrol and I ate things I already had. I earned about £50 in self-employed work by working on a project this evening. I did some laundry in between work tasks and I had a shower and tidied a few things away. Felt a bit more human.

I've had a big bill for gas and electric, as my smart meter seems to be only sending the data intermittently and they have suddenly sent me a bill for £800. As I was already in debt on my account, I now owe £1,200 on there. I've upped my monthly payment a bit to their suggested amount and I'm not going to think about it. It's just going to have to stay in the minus for the foreseeable future and if I end up a bit richer I'll chip away at it.

I've switched the heating off now anyway and won't put it on again at all until maybe October (or until it gets too cold to manage without it), so that should gradually take care of some of the debt, as the payments will keep going towards it at the same level. I'll use my nice electric heated pad and a few blankets.

With half of the month left, I need to try to get away with spending as little money as possible. I have two birthday presents to buy this week and I will need to put petrol in the car once or twice, but aside from that I'm going to be as spend-free as possible. The only exception is that if I walk into town I am allowed a tiramisu latte (which is unlikely because I'm struggling with energy to go anywhere except work, so it's a good thing if I do and that will be a good way to try to make myself go). I have some library books to return to avoid a fine. If I am able to work from home on Thursday I can go on my lunch break, or the weekend if not.

Hope you're all ok. Here's an affirmation for you: "I am a money magnet and abundance flows to me".

MillQueen

I've made an investment tracker spreadsheet and a sheet of what my debt reduction will look like if I continue to go at a snail's pace versus if I manage to earn more from self-employment and get the lodgers.

I realised I haven't made all that many small purchases in a while. The money-mindedness is creeping out of here and into the rest of my life, where I am now being very careful about not buying excess items.

It's quite nice in a way, because I also don't enjoy clutter or buying pointless stuff. I have emails to answer and tasks to do, but I am am more pulled towards reading a bit of my finance book and falling asleep.

MillQueen

Had quite a stressful day at work, as I’m in that phase where my love of it has dipped after losing out on the internal role. You know when everything just sounds like BS because you’re a bit resentful and disappointed? I’ve wasted some money on having food from McDonald’s. I’m going to have to make a list of free things I can do to feel happier that don’t involve spending. Or cheap things I can eat that don’t involve cooking. Preferably more nutritious too.

I think I’m going to devote next month to surviving and being a bit money neutral rather than aggressive debt busting. I don’t have the same enthusiasm I started the year with. In other news, I’ve got an interview at the other job I applied for (the one on the other side of the country). Not sure what to do yet. It’s for a higher level managerial one (same role as the one I missed out on, but at a different organisation). The pay isn’t as good and I’ve always liked the place I work, though I’m less sure about that now.

in_need_of_direction

if you factor in travel time, how does the hourly rate compare?

Dakota_Rose

Great that you’ve been shortlisted - you clearly have the relevant skills to keep getting to interview. I think you mentioned that this would involve relocating though. Is this something that’s realistic for you in the short term?