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Month: December 2008

  • December 16, 2008

    Hurrah for work benefits!

    I’m ecstatic!

    Got a cheque today for $390 for my glasses from work. They cost me 474, which means they were virtualy free…..relatively! They cost me less than $100 out of pocket, which is basically free.
    Not sure why they cut me a cheque rather than just direct depositing it…it’s not like they don’t have my details.

    I still can’t quite believe I got reimbursed at all….let alone to such a large percentage (I’m sure I read there was a $150 limit somewhere…

    So I’m gonna use $100 to pay our water bill, $30 for my Christmas present (finally decided to splash out and get me that awesome makeupcase….$30 from almost $200. I waited a bit long, there was a pink version for $20 earlier, but whatever). Then the rest goes into savings, as it’s looking pretty low. After the almost $500 I paid for my glasses, plus $350 for the boy’s present, and the $400 I lent him for clutch repairs, and I haven’t been paid yet for my four freelance articles…….

    As if I needed a reason to love my company right now..
    And this is why I want to be in a job with great benefits. As my mum says it’s better to start out in a large business, get contacts, get experience, get benefits, progress up the ladder, then later on move to a smaller more intimate place where you can really shine with your invaluable experience in a smaller team.

    If teh boy ends up officially resigning from his non-job he’ll lose his free health insurance, so I will probably go see the Southern Cross rep at work (she comes in once a month) and see about getting coverage through work. If it’s reasonable then I would probably go with that. (But first, gotta sort contents insurance, which I’ll probably do after the new year now.) If it’s cheap, say a few bucks a week (I have NO IDEA how much basic coverage might cost, so talking out my arse here) I’d jump on it. Not so much for me, but the boy, who’s much more prone to injury at work, has a bad back and may need dental work soon. It’s a great thing to have if possible, as big medical bills aren’t something we can afford right now.

  • December 15, 2008

    Getting ahead

    Suze Orman raises some interesting points in Young, Fabulous and Broke.

    She reckons it’s your job to support your boss and make them look great – your time will come once you’ve helped establish their strong position, become indispensable, and endeared yourself to them.

    And I agree, you gotta put in the hard yards before expecting anything in return. Aside from that, I am
    not so sure, but i guess if you can prove yourself to be invaluable to your company you’re in a very strong position. Volunteer for extra projects, overtime, and do whatever you may be asked even if not in your job description.

    That’s stuff I do by nature anyway, but I think it’s even more relevant in this “economic climate” if you intend to hold onto your job. I’m hoping late next year my efforts will be rewarded. I’ve done two night shifts this past fortnight, after never having done any in a year and a half. I don’t know if it’s hurt my chances, me working upstairs half the time, but it’s been an invaluable experience I wouldn’t give up for anything. Much as I bitch about its down sides, and feeling out of place in my chain store clothing and ‘expensive’ $50 dress compared to their immaculately tailored outfits, I never would have scored such an amazing opportunity if I hadn’t got my foot in the door with Online.

  • December 15, 2008

    A day in court

    Relief is mine. And I have almost no faith left in our police force.

    Suffice it to say that the boy is free and clear and I should fucking well think so.

    I think it’s woefully inadequate that police spend their time prosecuting people for minor traffic charges while major issues are left alone. This morning I watched as they convicted a guy for pulling up the handbrake of a car, while it was barely moving, so he could get out and away from some less than savoury people.

    Over to our problem. Anyway, after the boy requested a Section 106 as I said, he got awarded that and discharged without conviction. Thank God! After seeing the way they treated the first guy, and given this was more serious, I was feeling pretty hopeless. That and the police prosecutors we had seemed like complete wankers. The Connecticut Bail Bonds Group New Britain offers affordable bail bonds, while simultaneously providing the people of Connecticut with 24 hour bail bonds services. We know how overbearing the bail bond and legal process can be, which is exactly why we strive to make our services smooth and reliable. A good decision in this trying time is to seek legal ways to regain your freedom, one such way is to ensure that the bail condition that has been set for your case is met as soon as possible. Meeting the bail condition early will guarantee you ample time that can be spent with your loved ones prior to the set court dates. You can easily find out that this bail bonds in New Haven says  Securing your bail is also essential to your case, allowing you better access to planning your defense with your attorneys ahead of court dates.

    Not only did they completely fail to do their job, their case fell apart when their witness didn’t show. In their original file they failed to question the boy, despite him being one of the two main parties, and his sister, a witness. The cop helped the other party to sort out their insurance. It was never mentioned in the file that they were insured. The other party said they were doing 40k /h. My ass. They were speeding and didn’t want to admit it. Given that the cops that night told the boy to just go on home and he didn’t need to worry, the issue of them speeding was not noted either by him or his sister. And of course, the cops weren’t witnesses, they only turned up after. Not much of a case without the witness (lying bitch that she was, but I guess we all cover our asses when the chips are down). I bet they were none too happy once the judge delivered his verdict and chastised them for doing such a poor job on this.

    It could have been dragged out another six months given the dispute of key facts. But the cops went over their file statement with Twink and corrected most of it (seeing that very little of it was actually accurate). Given that he was well spoken, polite, knew how to utilise the basics of proper English, and well dressed (relatively) and knew enough to request a 106, he got it.

    Had they continued with the fabricated charge of loss of traction and spinning out of control, that would have been huge fines, loss of licence, demerits and reparations of 80% to the other party.

    That is something we would have fought tooth and nail; something patently ridiculous, untrue, and lazy work by the police.

    As the judge said, there was a lot of negligence on the part of the attending cops and it was not their place to get involved with the insurance claims, which I assume is why the insurance factor was never mentioned in the paperwork. But I have to admit they did us a favour in this respect, as they put it through as an accident of “no one’s fault”. Which is good, very good, as he wasn’t insured yet at that time. And trust me, if it comes down to insurance company vs. individual, you are screwed. They will get their money out of you, even if you don’t have it, even if it’s not your fault, anything so they’re not left with the bill.

    Meanwhile I reckon I could write a whole column on the freaks we saw this morning. It’s a great place to people watch, if you can tolerate it! Court sucks, frankly. It is full of lowlifes, the scum of the earth. Make an effort! You get unwashed, unshaven, smelly people in totally inappropriate clothing – hoods, short shorts, basketball shoes, whatever, usually with an attitude problem. Let’s face it, court is about presentation. The image you project, much like in any other situation, affects the outcome. Scrub up a little and you’ll stand out from the crowd as the standards are so low.

  • December 14, 2008

    I’m a useless drunk

    martini

    I don’t drink wine. I don’t drink beer, for that matter. I find both beverages foul and disgusting, and consequently they rarely,if ever pass my lips.

    I like a good spirit; a nice liqueur or a fine bourbon/whiskey. (Or a cheap RTD; you know, whatever.) Not that I’ve been drinking much at all this year, not even so much for the fact that I can’t afford it but I just don’t feel it anymore.

    I drink for the taste as much as anything, and I won’t drink crap just because it’s there/cheap/free/pink. (Beetroot aside, what’s pink that DOESN’T taste good?) Of course, this often means I’m out of luck at formal functions, or that I have to BYO instead of sponging off others as wine is the choice of tipple (girls) or beer (boys) at most gatherings.

    I will never be a wino. I’ll never be part of a girly gaggle who drink five bottles of sav in one night while watching Love Actually or Dirty Dancing. I can’t stand the stuff! I can probably choke down a glass of super dry chard if it comes to it, but I really don’t understand the female fascination with wine. Acquired taste or not, I can’t imagine what it would take for me to come to like it.

    It probably doesn’t help that alcohol was put up there with P and heroin by my oh-so-protective parents and I never got to spend my teen years in a drunken stupour in people’s basements/gardens/smelly flats.

    It’s probably also why I don’t drink and eat – I find drinking with dinner strange. I don’ t like mixing the tastes. I’ve never had a glass of wine with dinner…apart from my very first work do, when I had some white wine with my pasta and pizza at Ginas. Result? I snuck off to throw up in the bathroom. Got home, had a hot chocolate, puked again. Twice? Possibly, my memory is fuzzy. Never again.

    I’ve tried to learn to drink beer. It works out better than wine, but not by much. Too nasty to drink fast enough, resulting in your drink turning lukewarm halfway through. Then it’s a mission to struggle to empty it. And by the time I’ve had two I physically can’t drink anymore without feeling like I’m going to burst…I just can’t fit that much liquid inside me.

    When I enter the workforce for good something is gonna have to happen. Work drinks will not work for me. Not when I go beet red after half a beer/wine/spirit, and turn radioactive after one. It’s just not cool. With friends, you can delete the photos and they’re used to laughing at your gradual colour change (well, most of them, some just won’t let it go after all these years). But at work? When you’re meant to retain some semblance of dignity and professionalism, and convince people of your competency….I know I would judge me, and think “she can’t handle herself”, and that would spill over into my opinion of me as a worker or colleague.

    Maybe one day the dreaded flush will leave me, but somehow I doubt it. No, it’s hardwired into me, intertwined with the genes for neuroticism and perpetual lateness. I’ll just have to become a professional abstainer and do all my drinking in private.

  • December 14, 2008

    Veggos

    I haven’t been to Revive in about a month. Last time I went I used my two for one vouchers and bought a couple of hotpot meals. They went straight into the fridge at work and became my lunch for the next two days. While they were pretty yummy, and filled me right up, within a couple of hours I was hungry again! Now, I go to Revive when I have vouchers because they taste good (usually and are full of veggies making them downright darn healthy – and I must confess this is often the only hit of greens I get, really, in a busy week.

    I am trying…going to sit down with the boy and plan out some meals including fresh summer salads this week. But with everything so haywire and stressful, food shopping falls far down the list of priorities.

    Anyway, I haven’t been back to Revive since. I’m willing to pay more for good and healthful food, but not if it doesn’t keep me going. If my tummy starts to rumble before 3pm, it’s not worth it. I’ll go and buy greasy $6 fried rice from the food court. I’m young, and hungry, and on a budget, so quantity wins over quality for now.

  • December 12, 2008

    What did the postman bring?

    Lots of mail today! Well, sort of. My mum dropped off a bunch of shoes. I mentioned to her my unsuccessful hunt for sandals. I’ve appreciated her efforts to help me, emailing me when she spots a pair I might like, and dropping off sandals she picks up cheap. BUT enough is enough! I now have four pairs of sandals that I’ll honestly never wear. Not my style. Too Asian, too middle aged, and too high – all with weird chunky platform style heels.

    A letter from the IRD telling me they’ve written to my employer to change my tax code to SL. I have $1000 taken out, interest free to repay an overdraft the boy ran up last year, which he’s been paying back by AP. Except now it’s being taken out of my paychecks. Wonderful. I guess I’ll cancel that AP. Only thing I’m worried about them is they’ll just keep taking money out after it’s paid off (it nearly is). I don’t trust them! Especially as it’s only $1000, which I assume is pretty unusual for a student – they wouldn’t expect a loan to be paid off so soon so I wouldn’t be surprised if they overlooked this and continued to take their 10% after the loan’s done and dusted. And if you think I’m being unnecessarily paranoid, come on. This is a govt. department!

    Secondly, and much more important. Got into journo! One 2009 goal down! It was a pretty anticlimactic letter. Didn’t even get to the point until halfway down the page. And then came the good bits. $500 for field trip and books (BOOKS??? FOR JOURNO?? WTF???!) Plus the $250 odd that my scholarship doesn’t cover. Ouch. My Visa will be getting a workout. And in fact it expires in Feb so I’ll have to get a new one; must put that in the diary.

    And the best bit? All journalism students must have a current driving licence. Please start taking lessons with a view to getting your full licence by early next year.

    allllrighty. I’m still on my learners. If I get my restricted before uni starts I still cant get my full till 2010.

    Tough cookies. If they have a problem, well, too bad, I’m in and I won’t be leaving the course.

  • December 11, 2008

    Displeasure……warning, rant!

    So Bollard’s called for electricity providers, among other companies, to drop their prices.

    Not likely! We just had our power prices increase last month and I don’t see our company reversing that right now.

    The boy’s car loan rocketed 2% in the course of a few months as interest rates bounced around. Now that the OCR’s fallen to 5%, there’s been absolutely no decrease in his interest rate (I think it was around 7.5 when he first took it out).

    coin

    I’m not impressed with Vodafone. If we had any other options other than Telecom, Id be changing in a jiffy. Not only are they charging to send out paper statements (doesn’t apply; we’re on prepay), they’re charging $1 just to speak to a human CSR. Ha! What a joke. Everyone knows it’s damn near impossible to even get through to a person, let alone charge us for it! You can call their service line on 0800 from a land line phone, but wait – you still need to have that $1 on your cell phone.

    Of course that doesn’t really work when they f* up and don’t roll your Text 2000 over, resulting in you having zero credit because it all went to texting that should have only cost you $10. So when you ring to complain, you’re stuffed, because you can’t afford to speak to them!!!

    And no, topping up is not an option. Don’t even go there. Times are tough, it’s hard enough to top up once a month, let alone any more than that.

    You’ve also just gotta love how they now have $5 IOUs….but charge a 20c fee everytime you use it.
    Now if that doesn’t get your goat what does?

    Now that banks have started charging for basic automated services – how ASB kindly offers to save your bill payee’s info for next time, for a $2 fee – looks like everyone else will be too.

    Come on telecomms competition!

  • December 10, 2008

    Cutting back

    groceries-5_6

    We’ve trimmed so much from our budget that I really don’t think there is anything left. I bring all my own lunches. Trying to make toilet paper and laundry powder last longer, but that’s difficult with three boys (especially as though they don’t do laundry often, but they do heap up the detergent in their loads). I still unfortunately do most of the cleaning and buy all the household type stuff. I don’t foresee that changing until we move or get new flatmates.

    We’re really watching our food budget – can’t do too much as we don’t buy expensive meat or anything; I won’t resort to living off beans, noodles and toast. Not only is it reeeally unhealthy, it won’t help your body function, and I like to enjoy what I eat. That’s important to both of us. We keep our eating out to $10 or less now, I don’t go out, and we basically never buy alcohol (once every couple months probably – although we were naughty and last week was one of those rare times). You know what is healthy though? Speed stacks and nutrients that you would have to eat a lot of fruits for. I Always always get my vitamins from these nutrients and never overdo it because I want to keep a fit and healthy body. If you want to get speed stacks for men or women then you can just go to your local body building store and buy them easily!

    On that note, I really resent having to buy toiletries! You know what I mean, Razors, shaving cream, shampoo, tampons, etc. Last week I bought vitamins (because I definitely need them) and that boosted our bill by almost $10. And of course there’s detergent, washing powder, carpet cleaner, Jif, sponges, toilet paper, etc, etc….it all adds up.

  • December 10, 2008

    One day

    One day I’ll live in a decent place with proper insulation, where it’s not boiling hot and freezing cold in the winter..

    One day I won’t have to live with bums who don’t wipe up their spills or take out their rubbish or vacuum or mop or clean the shower.

    One day I won’t have to leave notes saying “please clean me” on appliances, or “last chance, or i will be confiscating this”.

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