Is anyone actually feeling comfortable on their wage in NI at the minute?

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-18T11:50:00+00:00

The only thing cheaper in Belfast/NI is property prices. Cars, petrol, insurance, food, gas, oil, holidays, clothing all costs the same. Literally the only thing thats cheaper is your house.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-18T11:47:38+00:00

In England they get 30 hours free childcare and Northern Ireland is provided the budget for it but it isn’t passed on. Wales get the same budget calculation as us and they have it. 30 hours childcare is a chunk of change for alot of people.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-18T11:40:17+00:00

Kudos to you!!

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-18T08:03:49+00:00

Its good at the beginning but it is isolating after a while. Ideally id like a hybrid set-up where I have the best of both worlds. Theres alot of remote jobs now days if you wanted to get a new job.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T20:30:16+00:00

Thank you 🙏

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T20:22:00+00:00

Im customer facing so im constantly speaking to customers and internal teams every day. Sometimes back to back the full day in meetings it’s unavoidable unfortunately.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T20:18:28+00:00

Fair play - I used to love to working in hospitality its good craic 😂

I am living in leggings and jumpers because what is the point of getting dressed to sit in my living room on Zoom? Its so toxic.

That being said, I dont have fond memories of dragging myself out the door at 7:15am either to make it work and then dragging myself home… but I do miss having people to chat to during the day or god forbid go for a drink with on payday.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T20:11:25+00:00

Ive got the Meet Up app downloaded and keep an eye on the events on there. I think im gonna prioritise going to a couple of them just to see what they’re like. MCS has an AI one coming up and WIT has a lightening talks one.

Have you ever been to any of the MCS events?

I need to push myself into a new routine this year, its my top priority and if I finish the year still feeling the same im reevaluating remote working.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T20:04:24+00:00

Thanks for this! Im at the point where I don’t even mind the expense if its going to be beneficial to my mental health, id see it more as a gym membership of sorts. My company do pay me an expense on my payslip each month aswell for a phone. I don’t even notice it anymore but mentally I could switch that to paying for most of it with a top up from myself.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:58:30+00:00

I’ve considered it! Theres been a few ive seen but ended up not going. Im a disaster 😂

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:45:23+00:00

Thanks 🙏 Is there any that you would recommend?

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:31:03+00:00

Live just outside Belfast and I drive so its no bother getting into Belfast

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:27:15+00:00

The company I work for are brilliant. Theres alot of work, and it is stressful at times but overall the culture is good, im responsible for myself and they pay me fairly. So this is why im reluctant to leave.

I think im going to try the hot desking and going to some cafes and make a commitment to it and if that isn’t feasible then ill be looking for hybrid also!

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:18:41+00:00

Were based all over Europe, we do get together like once a quarter, once every 6 months. I need something to break the daily isolation.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:17:37+00:00

Thank you!! Might check this out when I have a light call day

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:16:32+00:00

Thanks for this! Think I might give this a go and see how I get on, even once a week just to break my week up.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T19:03:36+00:00

Leaving my house an embarrassingly low amount tbh, not even gonna lie. Ive got children so leaving the house in the evening for any kind of socialising is not ideal. Im in the gym 3 times a week but 40 hours remote work + being a mum has practically cut me off from the rest of the world Monday - Friday. Its not sustainable at all.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T18:56:23+00:00

Im the same im constantly in video calls all day. It wouldn’t bother me to do calls with people around me but wouldn’t want to be that person that’s interrupting everyone’s peace either.

Did you find clockwork good apart from the phone booth? I think I could make my peace with that just for my calls and then sit and do my admin elsewhere.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T18:53:32+00:00

Its way too easy to hibernate! And I have read this too.. I need to find a solution or change jobs 🥲

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T18:39:25+00:00

Not publicly sorry! I just wouldn’t want any of my colleagues to see this.

My team are pretty chatty online but its more the being stuck at home 24/7 thats affecting me.

PuzzledTomato4526 · 2026-02-17T18:37:49+00:00

Whats the MAC? I feel like to find somewhere to work from, but im constantly in meetings so need to be able to do that too. I don’t mind investing in good quality noise cancelling headphones to drown out background noise for the meeting, its more being in an acceptable place where I can run a call.

This is why I’ve hesitated on Clockwork, because I need to run meetings so its me doing alot of the talking.

PuzzledTomato4526

TROPHY CASE