Go for Broke
My work with the Alternative Education groups is done on a self-employed basis. Every month I have to raise three separate invoices (one for each of the centres where I work) charging them for my hours worked. I’ve no idea why they pay me this much (three times the hourly rate that I get for the other, fractional job I have)… but they do!
Anyway, the pay for one of the centres has been landing in my bank exactly on time each month. This is for the job that’s in the west area of the county. For the other two, which are both in the central area, I haven’t had any remittance since the start of the academic year in September. Because the invoices are paid a month in arrears, this didn’t really become noticeable until last month and I know I was a bit late in submitting my invoice, so I took no notice. Actually, it seemed a good way to save so I’d have double ding for Christmas.
Except it didn’t arrive. Nobody’s fault really, just a comedy of situations. In one of the centres, the admin lady had been off sick for almost all the term and the co-ordinator of the scheme was new and didn’t know the system. Therefore that invoice just didn’t get passed for payment. In the other centre, the admin lady, who also works sometimes as a youth worker, broke her ankle whilst ice-skating with young people. Then the co-ordinator there went off sick with stress too! Result, exactly the same as the other centre, invoices have not been passed for payment.
What is it with my county council? They’re killing them off (metaphorically) like flies!
In the finance office, the admin guy was new; he didn’t know the invoices were due in, so didn’t think to query their non-arrival. Needless to say, everyone is now off on leave until well into the New Year.
I will get the money… just not this side of Christmas. So my choices are:
1, Christmas with very few presents for son
2, Christmas with no special food and slightly less fewer presents for son
3, Christmas on a credit card – not sure this is an option as I never use my credit card and I think it’s out of date. I was supposed to transfer my details to an air miles card, but because I don’t use the card, I didn’t.
4, Christmas on an overdraft.
I seriously hate Christmas.
If I recall correctly, your son is of an age he might appreciate waiting until after Christmas on the condition he get to pick a couple gifts! Bottom line is: he’ll understand.
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Shit, Roof, that sucks! If you know how long it’s likely to take after Christmas to get the money, then probably the overdraft route would be the one to take. Alternatively, Newzlady’s approach of having the presents in Jan would work. Son is old enough to accept that, I think. Still sucks though. Bastards!
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Overdrafts are definitely cheaper than credit cards. But maybe delaying the more costly presents until the january sales is the best option.
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RYN: It’s the kind of thing you can buy in advance and stash for the following year. Check it out on iwantoneofthose.com. Or just type iwoot into Google, then search for lifetimer. It’s cool – and much smaller than it looks on the website.
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Actually, here you go: http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/searchSite.do?Query=lifetimer&x=0&y=0
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Ugh! We are so tight for Christmas, it is very sad. One good thing about it is that you will be in keeping with the spirit of the season.
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Oohhh…I feel your pain. The overdraft is probably the most cost effective way to go.
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RYN: I dropped 2 words.
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Oh, not good! And there’s not reallhy even anyone you can get angry at to ease your feelings, is there!
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