Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Monday, June 07, 2010
Woohoo
My mortgage has just transferred from fixed rate to variable - resulting in a saving of £262 per month! For at least the next 3 months, and hopefully longer. Hurrah!!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Guilt
I am feeling very bad that my boy, who asks for practically nothing, has posted the following on his facebook account...
No bowling tomorrow :-(
Why? Because I don't have the £5 to pay for him to go.
No bowling tomorrow :-(
Why? Because I don't have the £5 to pay for him to go.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Fear
I have just been so frightened I can't tell you! I'm still quite tearful about it and am not sure I can even relay this coherently - definitely not in any way to give it justice.
My car wouldnt start yesterday - sure its nothing more than too cold weather, the too short journeys and a too old battery, but either way it means that I had no car yesterday, and as I couldn't get a hold of my dad I had no working car today either. As a result, I am at home today - working away on my laptop, when a large white van pulls up outside and a man knocks on the door. My initial expectation is that it might be a parcel - having recently ordered some new M&S undies - but on opening the door it becomes apparent that it is a bailiff! Now, I know I have a catalogue debt which I have been paying off, but is outstanding, and is currently at about £150, so I'm expecting it to be him and I'm expecting to not let him in.
However, he says its for a parking fine from January 2009 and that he has come to take my car!!! Seriously, I remember getting a parking ticket in the council car park that I park in, which I have a permit for, which I was going to ring and get cancelled but never did - and as I hadn't heard anything I assumed it had gone away, or that someone had realised when issuing the permits that I could park there legally. I had literally heard nothing - until today, when a bailiff is telling me I need to pay £380 or have my car towed away.
I don't have £380 lying around my house, or even in a credit or debit account, and although he was very pleasant, he wouldnt let me sort it and then pay later - it was now or the car. I tell you, I have rarely been so upset in my life. I can't imagine not having a car - I can't imagine how I would cope with work, life, everything - and even though I should probably not have ignored the ticket, its hard to imagine a year later, after hearing nothing, you can just have your car towed away!!! He said they don't usually knock, they just hook it up and tow it.
In the end I had to ring my mum, to see if she would pay it, in floods of tears, which I don't think my mum has ever heard from me (well, not since I was a child!!) because I couldn't think what to do and I was just so scared! Apparently they had written to my previous address, but as I only recently changed my address with the DVLA nothing had come here. He initially said that I had had a letter here 2 weeks ago, but I know I didn't, and later when he checked again the letter was only posted 2nd class yesterday to my current address, so as he knew I hadnt had first letter he let me pay the £123 instead of towing my car.
So he has gone, the bailiff stuff has finished - I am going to ring the council and see if I can reclaim on the basis I have a permit for that car park in the first place, though I doubt I will get anywhere. In fact, it is probably better to write, as I'm sure thats what they will tell me to do anyway.
It might sound like nothing, just a bit of money and all sorted now - but it has really shaken me up - just feeling so powerless and frustrated, and I hate having to be in a position to rely on other people, especially when it comes to money. I really, really need to get myself more financially stable this year - I hate that I'm not, and I know I don't help the situation. I just hope the year gets better than its been so far!
My car wouldnt start yesterday - sure its nothing more than too cold weather, the too short journeys and a too old battery, but either way it means that I had no car yesterday, and as I couldn't get a hold of my dad I had no working car today either. As a result, I am at home today - working away on my laptop, when a large white van pulls up outside and a man knocks on the door. My initial expectation is that it might be a parcel - having recently ordered some new M&S undies - but on opening the door it becomes apparent that it is a bailiff! Now, I know I have a catalogue debt which I have been paying off, but is outstanding, and is currently at about £150, so I'm expecting it to be him and I'm expecting to not let him in.
However, he says its for a parking fine from January 2009 and that he has come to take my car!!! Seriously, I remember getting a parking ticket in the council car park that I park in, which I have a permit for, which I was going to ring and get cancelled but never did - and as I hadn't heard anything I assumed it had gone away, or that someone had realised when issuing the permits that I could park there legally. I had literally heard nothing - until today, when a bailiff is telling me I need to pay £380 or have my car towed away.
I don't have £380 lying around my house, or even in a credit or debit account, and although he was very pleasant, he wouldnt let me sort it and then pay later - it was now or the car. I tell you, I have rarely been so upset in my life. I can't imagine not having a car - I can't imagine how I would cope with work, life, everything - and even though I should probably not have ignored the ticket, its hard to imagine a year later, after hearing nothing, you can just have your car towed away!!! He said they don't usually knock, they just hook it up and tow it.
In the end I had to ring my mum, to see if she would pay it, in floods of tears, which I don't think my mum has ever heard from me (well, not since I was a child!!) because I couldn't think what to do and I was just so scared! Apparently they had written to my previous address, but as I only recently changed my address with the DVLA nothing had come here. He initially said that I had had a letter here 2 weeks ago, but I know I didn't, and later when he checked again the letter was only posted 2nd class yesterday to my current address, so as he knew I hadnt had first letter he let me pay the £123 instead of towing my car.
So he has gone, the bailiff stuff has finished - I am going to ring the council and see if I can reclaim on the basis I have a permit for that car park in the first place, though I doubt I will get anywhere. In fact, it is probably better to write, as I'm sure thats what they will tell me to do anyway.
It might sound like nothing, just a bit of money and all sorted now - but it has really shaken me up - just feeling so powerless and frustrated, and I hate having to be in a position to rely on other people, especially when it comes to money. I really, really need to get myself more financially stable this year - I hate that I'm not, and I know I don't help the situation. I just hope the year gets better than its been so far!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Bitter sweet
This evening, unprompted:
Y - "I might be getting my Christmas bonus soon"
Me - "What Christmas bonus"
Y - "For EMA"
Me - Oh right, didn't realise you got a Christmas bonus
Y - Yeah, £100 I think
Me - Oh, okay
Y - So if you're really strapped, then you can use that
I'm proud that he's such a good and thoughtful boy, but also guilty that at 16 he should even have to worry about whether I can make ends meet! My kids shouldn't have to be party to that.
Y - "I might be getting my Christmas bonus soon"
Me - "What Christmas bonus"
Y - "For EMA"
Me - Oh right, didn't realise you got a Christmas bonus
Y - Yeah, £100 I think
Me - Oh, okay
Y - So if you're really strapped, then you can use that
I'm proud that he's such a good and thoughtful boy, but also guilty that at 16 he should even have to worry about whether I can make ends meet! My kids shouldn't have to be party to that.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Lady luck
If I ever needed to rely on Lady Luck, it's now. I soooo need to win the lottery tonight - even just a grand would see me right! I'm overdrawn (as in over my overdraft!) on 2 of my bank accounts - which gives them licence to screw me with bank charges, making the situation worse - my credit cards are at their limit, I'm just about to write a cheque for X and Y's bowling which I pray won't get cashed straight away, or will bounce or charge me again, and I have access to £10 in cash until Thursday - which I need to spend on ensuring the kids get fed this week!
I really, really need a windfall somehow.
I really, really need a windfall somehow.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Drunken bum
I apologise for any rambling posts over the weekend - I managed to get myself pissed, by myself, on 3 glasses of 15% dessert wine on Friday night and didn't get to bed until 2am, followed by my birthday pyjama party on Saturday, where accompanied by Lily, Disco, Suze and Jamie I proceeded to drink much more wine before falling into bed approximately 4am. In fact, as I'm typing this I can see the huge bags under my eyes reflected in the monitor!
So, to catch up briefly, had a night out to a Northern Soul and Funk night the Friday before last, where much stupid dancing was done, alongside laughing with the girls, and catching up with some old faces I haven't seen in a long time, which is always nice. So that, combined with this weekend of late nights, plus plans for a party Saturday night, followed by a night out next Friday, my social life is looking up but my pockets are looking emptier and my face is looking tireder. Never mind, I suppose I should make the most of the offers while they come.
Money has not been helped by the fact that Christmas is fast rolling round, which I absolutely love, and after 4 years, finally doesn't feel marred by the DM situation. I am having the family to me this year, for the first time, so there will be Little Sis and hubby staying Christmas Eve again, which was lovely last year, and then we will be joined by my Mum and Littlest Brother on Christmas Day - where hopefully my Mum will make sure we manage to eat an edible Christmas dinner!! For the first time ever, I think, I am really organised this year - nearly all my presents are bought, some of them wrapped, and I even have my food ordered online for delivery on 22nd December! I am feeling very smug about it all - though have to admit it's more need than planning, as I just don't have the disposable income to leave it all to the last minute like I usually do.
Not only is Christmas impacting, but maintenance from Y's dad has stopped completely, and for the foreseeable future as he has just been diagnosed with Schizophrenia at the grand old age of 40, and been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. I've had to tell Y, who is always backward at coming forward at the best of times, which has been awful, and we're just trying to make it a normality - because I'm assuming this is likely to be an ongoing issue that needs to become part of his life, and mine by default. I'm also trying to ignore the paranoia about how such things run in the family, and take faith in the fact that there is no other mental illness in his family and that they believe this has been brought on by long term alcohol dependency, which hopefully my Y will avoid! On top of that, my poor boy has A Level exams in January, in at least 3 of his 4 subjects, and he is struggling with that - so I guess the next month or two are not going to be easy going!
On the bright side, I am off for nearly a fortnight over Christmas, and I just can't wait!!
So, to catch up briefly, had a night out to a Northern Soul and Funk night the Friday before last, where much stupid dancing was done, alongside laughing with the girls, and catching up with some old faces I haven't seen in a long time, which is always nice. So that, combined with this weekend of late nights, plus plans for a party Saturday night, followed by a night out next Friday, my social life is looking up but my pockets are looking emptier and my face is looking tireder. Never mind, I suppose I should make the most of the offers while they come.
Money has not been helped by the fact that Christmas is fast rolling round, which I absolutely love, and after 4 years, finally doesn't feel marred by the DM situation. I am having the family to me this year, for the first time, so there will be Little Sis and hubby staying Christmas Eve again, which was lovely last year, and then we will be joined by my Mum and Littlest Brother on Christmas Day - where hopefully my Mum will make sure we manage to eat an edible Christmas dinner!! For the first time ever, I think, I am really organised this year - nearly all my presents are bought, some of them wrapped, and I even have my food ordered online for delivery on 22nd December! I am feeling very smug about it all - though have to admit it's more need than planning, as I just don't have the disposable income to leave it all to the last minute like I usually do.
Not only is Christmas impacting, but maintenance from Y's dad has stopped completely, and for the foreseeable future as he has just been diagnosed with Schizophrenia at the grand old age of 40, and been sectioned under the Mental Health Act. I've had to tell Y, who is always backward at coming forward at the best of times, which has been awful, and we're just trying to make it a normality - because I'm assuming this is likely to be an ongoing issue that needs to become part of his life, and mine by default. I'm also trying to ignore the paranoia about how such things run in the family, and take faith in the fact that there is no other mental illness in his family and that they believe this has been brought on by long term alcohol dependency, which hopefully my Y will avoid! On top of that, my poor boy has A Level exams in January, in at least 3 of his 4 subjects, and he is struggling with that - so I guess the next month or two are not going to be easy going!
On the bright side, I am off for nearly a fortnight over Christmas, and I just can't wait!!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Drowning
I am so struggling for money right now that it feels like I'm drowning. A never ending cycle of thinking I have sorted things only for something else to come up. I'm so frustrated by it all, and starting to get really, really worried that I'm going to end up drowning in it all.
I need a windfall, just a small one, and bloody quick!
I need a windfall, just a small one, and bloody quick!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Monday, November 12, 2007
Getting sorted
It may be a bit early for new year's resolutions, but one of the things I am determined to do next year is to buy a house - or at least be in the best position I possibly can be!
There is no possible way that I can afford to buy by myself in the current housing climate, and as no rich knight in shining armour appears to be on the horizon, my best option is "affordable housing" (a paradox if ever I've heard one!) - or shared ownership as it's traditionally called. To buy a new 3 bed house in my area, I'm looking at around £140-£150k, around a £70k mortgate and the remaining 50% in rent. At a rough guess this is likely to cost me, in total, around £650 month.
Before I can go down this route though, I need to:
1. Repair my horrific (though not so bad as it was) credit history
2. Save around £2000 for legal/moving costs
Being absolutely hopeless with money, neither of these is an easy task, but I have been working on the first and this is a much more acheivable target than saving - particularly as money always "seems to burn a hole in my pocket" (to quote my parents!). However, I have just taken a big step towards the second, by applying for (and being accepted!) an Alliance & Leicester Premier Savings Account. This is a fixed term account, which means that I can't withdraw any money at all from this account until a year after my first payment. Perfect!! So, as of 2nd December 2008, at a rate of £250 month saving and 12% interest, I shall be the proud owner of £3195 in savings, and well on my way to my very own (half share) house!
Now, I'm off to write a PPI claim letter!
PS. If you decide to follow me and want to open an account, please let me know via email, and then we can both get an extra £40!
There is no possible way that I can afford to buy by myself in the current housing climate, and as no rich knight in shining armour appears to be on the horizon, my best option is "affordable housing" (a paradox if ever I've heard one!) - or shared ownership as it's traditionally called. To buy a new 3 bed house in my area, I'm looking at around £140-£150k, around a £70k mortgate and the remaining 50% in rent. At a rough guess this is likely to cost me, in total, around £650 month.
Before I can go down this route though, I need to:
1. Repair my horrific (though not so bad as it was) credit history
2. Save around £2000 for legal/moving costs
Being absolutely hopeless with money, neither of these is an easy task, but I have been working on the first and this is a much more acheivable target than saving - particularly as money always "seems to burn a hole in my pocket" (to quote my parents!). However, I have just taken a big step towards the second, by applying for (and being accepted!) an Alliance & Leicester Premier Savings Account. This is a fixed term account, which means that I can't withdraw any money at all from this account until a year after my first payment. Perfect!! So, as of 2nd December 2008, at a rate of £250 month saving and 12% interest, I shall be the proud owner of £3195 in savings, and well on my way to my very own (half share) house!
Now, I'm off to write a PPI claim letter!
PS. If you decide to follow me and want to open an account, please let me know via email, and then we can both get an extra £40!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Hormones
Damn those menstrual hormones!!
I was sneakily checking my bank online at work today and realised that a £5 charity DD had bounced (yes times are hard at present) as I had forgotten about it and not transferred the money in to cover it. That may be bad enough, but the bank (Natwest if you're interested) had charged me £38 on the spot for the pleasure - thus resulting in an unauthorised overdraft of £36! No notice or anything! What the fuck!!
So, I rang "customer service", somewhat irate to calmly but firmly complain about the bastardness of said bank and action, only to find about three minutes into the conversation that I was bloody crying! Jeez, the embarrassment. Fortunately, there was nobody else in my office at the time so I didn't have to a) face them, b) let them know how poor exactly I am, c) pretend everything was okay so as not to feel guilty when faced with colleagues embarrassed on my behalf!
Got the charge taken off though!
I was sneakily checking my bank online at work today and realised that a £5 charity DD had bounced (yes times are hard at present) as I had forgotten about it and not transferred the money in to cover it. That may be bad enough, but the bank (Natwest if you're interested) had charged me £38 on the spot for the pleasure - thus resulting in an unauthorised overdraft of £36! No notice or anything! What the fuck!!
So, I rang "customer service", somewhat irate to calmly but firmly complain about the bastardness of said bank and action, only to find about three minutes into the conversation that I was bloody crying! Jeez, the embarrassment. Fortunately, there was nobody else in my office at the time so I didn't have to a) face them, b) let them know how poor exactly I am, c) pretend everything was okay so as not to feel guilty when faced with colleagues embarrassed on my behalf!
Got the charge taken off though!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Mixed
Bit of a low start to the day this morning after a brief conversation with X about DM, which quite unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes. Silly I know, but despite the emotional shut down I'm managing fairly successfully, occasionally it creeps out. Fortunately the rest of the day was really busy at work, so left me with no time to dwell.
Should really be out for a few drinks for Lena's birthday tonight, and had fully planned to go, but by the time I was home from work, cooked dinner, sorted X for bed and then had a bath, it was nearly 9pm, and I just can't really be bothered now. Plus I have about £3 in my purse and no petrol to drive the few miles to The Nun. I will make it up to her when I see her next.
Early start tomorrow morning, as I'm off to London (again) to do a presentation for work, I seem to have been all over the place with work just lately! I must say, I do love it, and if I didn't have such difficulties trying to sort the kids out then more travelling with work would be ideal, particularly if it involved overnight stays! I'm sure my time will come though.
Should really be out for a few drinks for Lena's birthday tonight, and had fully planned to go, but by the time I was home from work, cooked dinner, sorted X for bed and then had a bath, it was nearly 9pm, and I just can't really be bothered now. Plus I have about £3 in my purse and no petrol to drive the few miles to The Nun. I will make it up to her when I see her next.
Early start tomorrow morning, as I'm off to London (again) to do a presentation for work, I seem to have been all over the place with work just lately! I must say, I do love it, and if I didn't have such difficulties trying to sort the kids out then more travelling with work would be ideal, particularly if it involved overnight stays! I'm sure my time will come though.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Glum
Can't seem to shift this glum mood at the moment. I don't feel sad really, just flat. And a bit low. That's not to say that I'm miserable, because whilst I'm busy I'm quite laughy and jokey. It's just when I stop I can't seem to motivate myself really. Everything just seems dull, and I can't really put my finger on why.
I think money is a lot of it. I've been struggling to catch up since Vegas, especially with X and Y's birthdays within 7 weeks of each other, not to mention a bastard £200 bank charges (again!) in the last two months, and only £50 total maintenance from X's dad since April. Thought I had pretty much caught up, apart from 2 months of catalogue charges (about £240), and my after school bill (probably about £180), and then found out today I actually owe after school club (£360!). And I just don't know where I'm going to get that money unless Y goes without his Nintendo Wii, which I can't really do as I've promised him it now. It's just so disheartening to be scrabbling all the time. I just can't seem to get myself straight to stay that way.
I just feel worn out at the moment. And tonight my upper right arm is really achy, like I pulled a muscle, which is not awfully painful, just annoying. Can't even be bothered to go out for a few beers. Just seems a bit pointless at the moment.
On a more positive note, I got a fabulous cut and blow dry (think Posh Spice) today for just £10. It really needed doing but I couldn't afford it so was planning on waiting until next month, then a work mate gave me this voucher so decided to make the most of it, and am very pleased with it. Will at least feel a little professional next week.
I think money is a lot of it. I've been struggling to catch up since Vegas, especially with X and Y's birthdays within 7 weeks of each other, not to mention a bastard £200 bank charges (again!) in the last two months, and only £50 total maintenance from X's dad since April. Thought I had pretty much caught up, apart from 2 months of catalogue charges (about £240), and my after school bill (probably about £180), and then found out today I actually owe after school club (£360!). And I just don't know where I'm going to get that money unless Y goes without his Nintendo Wii, which I can't really do as I've promised him it now. It's just so disheartening to be scrabbling all the time. I just can't seem to get myself straight to stay that way.
I just feel worn out at the moment. And tonight my upper right arm is really achy, like I pulled a muscle, which is not awfully painful, just annoying. Can't even be bothered to go out for a few beers. Just seems a bit pointless at the moment.
On a more positive note, I got a fabulous cut and blow dry (think Posh Spice) today for just £10. It really needed doing but I couldn't afford it so was planning on waiting until next month, then a work mate gave me this voucher so decided to make the most of it, and am very pleased with it. Will at least feel a little professional next week.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Home
I'm "working" from home today, as X is a bit under the weather and I fortunately had 'protected time' in my diary today.
So far today, I have made a trip to the bank, done a bit of freezer shopping at Iceland, read a few work related articles, made a few phonecalls, renewed my family credit, and sorted out my letter to reclaim my bank charges (£1731.50 without interest!!). Both of the latter will hopefully result in some extra funds of some sort, because just a day after payday I am already wondering how I am going to get through the month, (especially with no money from X's dad for the last three months, and Y's birthday in 3 weeks!!), although I'm not holding my breath for anything particularly speedy! (if at all)
Anyway, money moaning over, I'm off to do some pointless net surfing whilst trying to ignore the washing up and hoovering, before dinner and then a governors meeting at 7pm.
Ooh, wonder if I'll see Deputy Head...?!
So far today, I have made a trip to the bank, done a bit of freezer shopping at Iceland, read a few work related articles, made a few phonecalls, renewed my family credit, and sorted out my letter to reclaim my bank charges (£1731.50 without interest!!). Both of the latter will hopefully result in some extra funds of some sort, because just a day after payday I am already wondering how I am going to get through the month, (especially with no money from X's dad for the last three months, and Y's birthday in 3 weeks!!), although I'm not holding my breath for anything particularly speedy! (if at all)
Anyway, money moaning over, I'm off to do some pointless net surfing whilst trying to ignore the washing up and hoovering, before dinner and then a governors meeting at 7pm.
Ooh, wonder if I'll see Deputy Head...?!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Possibilities
I don't know what it is about the first signs of Spring, but to me they are more than a glimpse of sunny days just around the corner, but additionally signify the promise of possibilities; possibilities for the spring time, possibilities for summer, possibilities for the year, possibilities for a lifetime.
Nature begins to shed the vestiges of winter and open herself up to change and growth, and all around people begin to do the same. They seem to walk taller and smile wider on beautiful Spring days, and as the trees begin their tentative steps towards coverings of blossom, people, conversely, begin to lose the trappings of winter, both physically and mentally. As the clothes decrease, (albeit tentatively in the unpredictable British climate), positivity seems to increase, leading to the beginnings of a metaphorical and literal new season.
Today I am positively blooming! (Blooming awful my Dad would say!). I like the idea of possibilities...
Back on land, I have just booked (and paid for) my first 2 nights accommodation in Vegas - fabulous mate ATM is putting me up with her and hubby (no threesome comments please!!) for the remaining 6 nights. So, flights are booked, accommodation is sorted, and I am ready to rock and roll. Or, as my confirmation email so jauntily stated... "You're on your way to Vegas, baby!".
I'm also fantastically pleased that as well as funding my entire Vegas trip out of this months salary, I have also managed to pay all my bills, and poor as I am, I don't owe anybody a penny! Well, I suppose £450 to credit card companies and £150 of an overdraft, but that's par for the course to be honest! (Although thinking about it, it would usually be £700 to credit card companies, now reduced due to one bastard company dropping my limit by £250, so yay for bastard credit card companies!).
Just a passport to renew now...
Nature begins to shed the vestiges of winter and open herself up to change and growth, and all around people begin to do the same. They seem to walk taller and smile wider on beautiful Spring days, and as the trees begin their tentative steps towards coverings of blossom, people, conversely, begin to lose the trappings of winter, both physically and mentally. As the clothes decrease, (albeit tentatively in the unpredictable British climate), positivity seems to increase, leading to the beginnings of a metaphorical and literal new season.
Today I am positively blooming! (Blooming awful my Dad would say!). I like the idea of possibilities...
Back on land, I have just booked (and paid for) my first 2 nights accommodation in Vegas - fabulous mate ATM is putting me up with her and hubby (no threesome comments please!!) for the remaining 6 nights. So, flights are booked, accommodation is sorted, and I am ready to rock and roll. Or, as my confirmation email so jauntily stated... "You're on your way to Vegas, baby!".
I'm also fantastically pleased that as well as funding my entire Vegas trip out of this months salary, I have also managed to pay all my bills, and poor as I am, I don't owe anybody a penny! Well, I suppose £450 to credit card companies and £150 of an overdraft, but that's par for the course to be honest! (Although thinking about it, it would usually be £700 to credit card companies, now reduced due to one bastard company dropping my limit by £250, so yay for bastard credit card companies!).
Just a passport to renew now...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Ins and outs, ups and downs...
Today has been a random old day! So, in keeping with it's spirit, this will be a random old post...
Tickets now booked for Vegas - yay!
Debit card now debited - not so yay!
Morning spent at work in a massage parlour chatting to sex workers and hearing people having sex - most amusing!
Ability to work on boring strategy and budgets in the afternoon after excitement of morning - most lacking!
Bills paid - rubbish!
Discovery council tax is paid for the year and no payment due this month - fabulous!
Telephone call from bastard company to inform me I am eligible for 50% off outstanding balance on old and much annoying loan - wonderful timing!
Having to clear the remainder 50% balance in full in March to qualify for said discount - typical timing!
Children already in bed and asleep - bliss!
Worry that Y, (who had a very bad bang on the head in PE, has not eaten dinner, has a headache and wanted to go to bed at 7pm), has a fatal head injury - awful!
Just another day...
Tickets now booked for Vegas - yay!
Debit card now debited - not so yay!
Morning spent at work in a massage parlour chatting to sex workers and hearing people having sex - most amusing!
Ability to work on boring strategy and budgets in the afternoon after excitement of morning - most lacking!
Bills paid - rubbish!
Discovery council tax is paid for the year and no payment due this month - fabulous!
Telephone call from bastard company to inform me I am eligible for 50% off outstanding balance on old and much annoying loan - wonderful timing!
Having to clear the remainder 50% balance in full in March to qualify for said discount - typical timing!
Children already in bed and asleep - bliss!
Worry that Y, (who had a very bad bang on the head in PE, has not eaten dinner, has a headache and wanted to go to bed at 7pm), has a fatal head injury - awful!
Just another day...
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Fuck it!
I've made the decision. I'm going to Vegas! Even if it bankrupts me! Well, it shouldn't do that, but it will probably put paid to any chance I have of buying a house this year, which is a bleeder but hey ho. I probably won't get the chance of a fun non-children trip like this again for a long time, and definitely not once I become a slave to an extortionate mortgage!
I reckon I should be able to rustle up about £500 for spending money (maybe more if I'm really really sensible until then), which may not be much but I've been checking out Vegas.com which has a lot of information on free shows, cheap food etc, so I'm going to bite the bullet and just go for it. At the end of the day, I'll be happy to lay in the sunshine and do nothing but read if I have to, so will just have to cut my cloth accordingly.
So that's it! Decision made. All I've got to do now is plan my itinerary... :-)
I reckon I should be able to rustle up about £500 for spending money (maybe more if I'm really really sensible until then), which may not be much but I've been checking out Vegas.com which has a lot of information on free shows, cheap food etc, so I'm going to bite the bullet and just go for it. At the end of the day, I'll be happy to lay in the sunshine and do nothing but read if I have to, so will just have to cut my cloth accordingly.
So that's it! Decision made. All I've got to do now is plan my itinerary... :-)
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Wooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooo!!
Praise be to the Goddess of Mothers!! Thanks to mine (and her ex internet cafe running partner), I am now furnished with yet another second hand pc (while aforementioned partner fixes my old pc, or obtains old hard drive contents. Oh god why did I take and save risque photos of myself on that very same hard drive??!!) , and am back on t'internet!!! YAY!
(In the great scheme of destiny which decrees any small amount of pleasure must be counterbalanced with equal (or more so) amounts of pain; a quick "fuck you" to my bastard credit card company, who after I cleared my £500 limit this month in order to pay for my Vegas flights, sent me a nice letter telling me they had reviewed said credit limit and reduced it to £250. Hence the bouncing of said flights!!! BASTARDS!!)
But lets not dwell eh... (Bastards!!)
Was over in local town last night for a mates birthday, and spent a pleasant evening catching the eye and smiling shyly at a beautiful piece of male totty (built in the style of Pete from Big Brother - except without the shouting of "wankers" every few seconds) in the birthday boys group of friends. Was very pleased to have a few smiles returned, and decided to commence initial enquiries regarding the love god before me. Unfortunately, initial enquiries informed me that he was very much in love with a current partner. A non-female one!! Oh, the waste!!
Declined to go onto funky but studenty alternative club (mainly due to funds and babysitter curfews), and instead opted to spend the remainder of the evening back at local dive in hometown, where we were suitably amused by the variety of weird and wonderful (also not so wonderful) creatures on display!
Have spent today having a duvet day (excepting trip to Sainsbury's for emergency duvet day supplies - read french bread, pate, grapes and doughnuts), catching up on some long lost blogs, and being smug in my parenting skills as both X and Y have behaved impeccably for the whole day!! So, all in all a pretty average but fairly good weekend.
So back to work tomorrow, with a multitude of problems to deal with and tasks to complete, before the next weekend rolls round again - this time with a trip to local theatre for a (hopefully) pleasant and amusing evening of laughs at the comedy night!! Can't wait!
(In the great scheme of destiny which decrees any small amount of pleasure must be counterbalanced with equal (or more so) amounts of pain; a quick "fuck you" to my bastard credit card company, who after I cleared my £500 limit this month in order to pay for my Vegas flights, sent me a nice letter telling me they had reviewed said credit limit and reduced it to £250. Hence the bouncing of said flights!!! BASTARDS!!)
But lets not dwell eh... (Bastards!!)
Was over in local town last night for a mates birthday, and spent a pleasant evening catching the eye and smiling shyly at a beautiful piece of male totty (built in the style of Pete from Big Brother - except without the shouting of "wankers" every few seconds) in the birthday boys group of friends. Was very pleased to have a few smiles returned, and decided to commence initial enquiries regarding the love god before me. Unfortunately, initial enquiries informed me that he was very much in love with a current partner. A non-female one!! Oh, the waste!!
Declined to go onto funky but studenty alternative club (mainly due to funds and babysitter curfews), and instead opted to spend the remainder of the evening back at local dive in hometown, where we were suitably amused by the variety of weird and wonderful (also not so wonderful) creatures on display!
Have spent today having a duvet day (excepting trip to Sainsbury's for emergency duvet day supplies - read french bread, pate, grapes and doughnuts), catching up on some long lost blogs, and being smug in my parenting skills as both X and Y have behaved impeccably for the whole day!! So, all in all a pretty average but fairly good weekend.
So back to work tomorrow, with a multitude of problems to deal with and tasks to complete, before the next weekend rolls round again - this time with a trip to local theatre for a (hopefully) pleasant and amusing evening of laughs at the comedy night!! Can't wait!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Friends - hurrah!
Well after the rant of yesterday, which I sent a shortened version of to my best friend and fellow Vegas tripster ‘Across The Miles’. I got an email from her this morning to say that her and hubby are likely to have a sofabed in their accommodation (they are using timeshare points of his parents for their hotel), and they were going to ask if I wanted it!!! Damn straight I want it, I’d sleep on the floor to save £400!!
So, now I only have to book hotel for Friday and Saturday night, as they don’t arrive until Sunday. How cool is that?! I can’t believe it, I’m well chuffed! I love my friend (oh, and her hubby too I guess)!!
So, now I only have to book hotel for Friday and Saturday night, as they don’t arrive until Sunday. How cool is that?! I can’t believe it, I’m well chuffed! I love my friend (oh, and her hubby too I guess)!!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Pissed off!
I am pissed off!
As you know, I am off to Vegas in May, and as I didn’t have the money to book with all my friends at the beginning of Jan, I eventually booked my flights last week. Now, I was a tad pissed off at the time because the flights had gone up from £463 to £550 by the time I booked them, but nothing too drastic so just accepted it and booked anyway.
I’m due to book accommodation at the end of this month, which was quoted at about £230 last time I checked in January. So, being organised and financially minded today, I thought I would have a quick look so I could be sure exactly what I had to pay out at the end of the month. Horror of bloody horrors I discover it is now going to cost £421!!!! What the fuck!!!
I am so pissed off now! All my fellow Vegas tripsters (considerably better off and more money managed than I am) booked at the beginning of January and got the whole shebang (flights and hotel) for £625. Because I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a spare £600 laying around, it is now going to cost me a total of £971!! That’s a third more than them! (And that’s assuming the hotel doesn’t put its prices up anymore!) I’m having to pay more because I have less money!!
It just doesn’t seem fair to me, and is indicative of how if you have money then you generally have to spend less. If you can afford to buy early you get it cheaper. If you can afford to buy in massive bulk you get it cheaper. If you have money and borrow money you get a better deal. If you live in a nice area you pay less house and car insurance. And even the bloody rich and famous, who have more money than anybody else, end up being given limitless promotional freebies!!
Did I mention I’m pissed off!?!?!
As you know, I am off to Vegas in May, and as I didn’t have the money to book with all my friends at the beginning of Jan, I eventually booked my flights last week. Now, I was a tad pissed off at the time because the flights had gone up from £463 to £550 by the time I booked them, but nothing too drastic so just accepted it and booked anyway.
I’m due to book accommodation at the end of this month, which was quoted at about £230 last time I checked in January. So, being organised and financially minded today, I thought I would have a quick look so I could be sure exactly what I had to pay out at the end of the month. Horror of bloody horrors I discover it is now going to cost £421!!!! What the fuck!!!
I am so pissed off now! All my fellow Vegas tripsters (considerably better off and more money managed than I am) booked at the beginning of January and got the whole shebang (flights and hotel) for £625. Because I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a spare £600 laying around, it is now going to cost me a total of £971!! That’s a third more than them! (And that’s assuming the hotel doesn’t put its prices up anymore!) I’m having to pay more because I have less money!!
It just doesn’t seem fair to me, and is indicative of how if you have money then you generally have to spend less. If you can afford to buy early you get it cheaper. If you can afford to buy in massive bulk you get it cheaper. If you have money and borrow money you get a better deal. If you live in a nice area you pay less house and car insurance. And even the bloody rich and famous, who have more money than anybody else, end up being given limitless promotional freebies!!
Did I mention I’m pissed off!?!?!
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