What's your cautionary tale?

[BrightInMyNorthernSky]

Having just got through the most stressful week ever due to a nightmare situation of my own making, I thought I would share a previous and current cautionary tale.

1. Always remember to change the address on your V5 and not just your license. I didn't. DH got caught speeding twice on the same day on the same stretch of road (33 in a 30) in my car. Both fines went to old address. Didn't answer them, obvs. The whole sorry mess played out without me being aware and by the time it all caught up with me it was had been banned from driving for six months and fined £2k - five months earlier! So had been driving while banned for five months!!!

Genius!

I’ve never had four living grandparents, should I just hand my notice in now and chalk the past 18 years of working up as a fun experiment? 😂

thank you!

She just didn't turn up for work and turned off her phone etc - we were worried about her and went to her house etc, but no she just didn't turn up, had not another job or something i guess.

She breached her contract, and caused a loss to the company (the extra temp costs) so that's why it was found in our favour. It was a really shitty thing to do.

We've had other people who have spoken to us and asked to be released early and we generally agree - but her shittiness was another level!

If you are suffering from work related stress due to a toxic workplace, find another job. Don't take out a grievance or try to confront the person/people who are making your life a misery. Move on, draw a line underneath the crap job and remember some people simply aren't very nice.

My advice: don't be so naive as to think what you or your date thinks about these issues will be the same in 10, 20, or 30 years' time.

Don't put anything in a work email that you wouldn't be happy for your boss to read.

They mean it when they say don’t run on escalators.

Don’t assume anyone at work is your friend, even work friends. And always join the union.

Yup, I wouldn’t bother doing a grievance and entering into a ‘he said she said’ spat. Save it all for the exit interview instead!

The longer you stay in a toxic work environment the more it gradually wears down your self esteem. You won’t realise how down it was making you until you change jobs. You have to leave ASAP.

Thats why you create fictional ones.....

Always always have an escape fund. If you have a locker at work use it to store a pre paid credit card inside a locked cash box.

A bit disappointed by all these people casually lying about loved ones' dying! Just to say. I know I'm not alone.

I can't imagine being in a relationship where I needed to hide a pre paid credit card.

But I do have my own savings that my DH knows about....

Dont mistake eliquid for eye drops.
Ouch (Me)
Don't mistake immac for toothpaste (DF)
Don't polish your handbag with shoe polish ahead of a job interview then get on the hot sweaty tube in summer.
You'll arrive at the interview looking like you've rifled through a coal bucket (dsis)
Dont skive off work and go to Wimbledon. You may be sat under the score board (dmum)

@IwaslostinFrance Don't mistake deep heat for tooth paste either!! It took me about a week to get the taste out of my mouth.

Never agree to be a guarantor on a rental contract unless it's someone you'd be willing to pay the rent for anyway - like your child! Never do it for a friend there's a chance you'll end up with a huge ongoing expense and they won't be your friend anymore.

If using a builder budget for at least 10-15% above their original quote it will almost certainly be more than they tell you

If using a rail card check that it's not expired

I took it as a joke, not serious advice.

Same here. These days I put the sieve and another pot in a really obvious place so I don't forget and tip the stock down the sink.

Wear sun cream. Yes, even in the UK. Yes, even when it's cloudy. If you enjoy ripping the entire top layer of your face off and having skin cancer scares for the next forty years, then by all means don't use it.

Don't go on any journey with a baby without packing a change of clothes for yourself as well. Yes, the bottom half too.

high five ✋🏽

I think she means so that you don't give yourself away attending too many workday funerals...

Don’t agree to do something you’re not sure about after you’ve had a drink

If you give money for birthdays/christmas to a child other than your own, make 100% sure that money will be saved for said child and not spent by the parent to pay off their own mortgage. If in doubt, open a bank account for the child yourself and save in that.

Don’t think you’re immune to being lovebombed just because you’ve heard of the concept - be wary of charming men who say all the right things.

You can sign up for an alert / reminder for this and your MOT.

I signed up after we drove round in an untaxed car for 5 months.

But the financially stronger partner may not want to get married as they want to protect their assets. Both viewpoints are valid.

Always carry a photocopy of your passport in a separate bag. Remember to write your phone number in your passport in case someone wants to return it to you.

Learned that with a lost passport in Spain.