Such an idiot

[madcatladyforever]

I think I must have had some kind of insane mental crisis when I got divorced at 60.

My salary didn't quite cover all my monthly expenses so I left my permanent secure job with guaranteed pension with only 7 years to go before I could retire and went to work for someone on a self employed basis for a lot more money.

It turned out to be horrendous and I was fired after a few months. I can't go into details as it is outing. i should have used that well paid time to pay off all my outstanding credit cards and debts but didn't.

I should have stayed in my part time permanent job and done a day extra on an agency or elsewhere but due to my divorcing irrational state after a long marriage I wasn't thinking straight and just plunged in as there was a lot of pressure from this employer to ditch my permanent job and work there full time.

So I am unemployed and desperate to go bacwards but there are no openings at the old place and I only have enought money to survive for another month, maybe two.

Naturally at 60 I have found it extremely hard to find another opening anywhere.

If I sold my house and downsized I could expect to live in a nasty one bed flat in a rough town and that wouldn't solve my debt problem. My current house is lovely and I'd hate to leave but the mortgage is still payable for the next 7 years.

I have really messed up and have no idea where to go from here. Wishing I'd spoken to someone and taken advice before acting like I did.

Any ideas truly welcome. I worked in the NHS before.

Hi,
Sorry to hear this but I think you took a leap when you needed to and it didn't work out. That can happen to anyone.
It is scary though. For immediate income, can you rent out a spare bedroom or two? Are you owed a tax refund for not working the full year? I applied for mine online and the check arrived within 2 weeks.
Do you have anything to sell on ebay?
Have you checked that your outgoings/direct debits etc are the lowest they can be?
Regarding your debts, I see people on here recommend step change to get repayments frozen in situations like this.
Have you tried NHS bank agencies?
Any work in care homes nearby? Take anything you can temporarily and don't put it on your CV when you apply for a 'real' job that matches your old salary and expectations.
Really good luck OP

@madcatladyforever
Also, have you checked if you can take your work pension early? Take it now but still get whatever work you can.

Sorry, also wondered if you could do medical proofreading from home with your NHS background? You could do it evenings while you look for work in the day.

any thoughts on a lodger?

Comments , Cat Lady ??

Are you sure nowhere would hire you in the nhs again? It’s pretty tough going from public sector to private sector so you’re much better aiming for a job there, do you have any old colleagues who might help you go back to your old place?

Keep checking nhs jobs and apply apply apply! Fwiw I’m half your age and I completely cocked up my career and am now rebuilding it but no point dwelling in the past, there is always a future and always room to move forwards, you will be ok even if you don’t have the job/house/everything you think represents being content.

I literally just walked out of my job one day and I spent three months crying about it now I’ve learnt to live ridiculously frugally and get by and am much more happy. Make sure you claim benefits where possible too to tide you over.

I think that taking any NHS job: healthcare assistant, medical records or admin would be a step in the right direction.

Speak to your lender and see if you can have a payment holiday or go interest only for a bit?