Gaileys scary diary

gailey_2

I thourght after reading everyone elses diary keeping my own would motivate me as not kept a diary since I was a kid.

As a money saving newbie but been lurking and reading for last 2 years but due to huge change in personal life quitting fulltime job last month as once nursury fees and commute costs paid was only earning 450 net.

So have reduced toddler to 1half days in nursury as shes happy and will be 3 in feb so will get help then plus hubby does vouchers in work they take 160 from salary and give 243 voucher.Its one benfit we are taking advantage of as 80 quid saving.

I have checked the entitled to website as currently getting child benefit only maybe entitled to child tax credit on £10 a week as hubby earns loads so will apply for that.

I have decided to set up own business well 2 actually one involves making thinsga d selling online/ebay the other involves being acloth nappy agent commision based..

At the moment currently surviving on final salary money which luckily included bonus and 2weeks hols but got taxed loads.

I did estimate I needed £440 to start up my businesses

£100 for nappy kit- if i sell £500 in 1st month get that back)could be a chalalnge involves loads of demos and consultations.

£50 business mobile(been looking round found something cheaper

£200 website- Is chepest I can find as no where near techical to set it up myself.

£40 materials approx guess

£50 sewing machine but looking round think i need to up my budget seen really nice one for £200! Please note im begginer to sewing so need something idiotprooif with enough stictches as my quality of work needs to be high.

If i spent this would take it up to £590!

So far have set up new email for business, new ebay id and Have purchased a domain name for £10.

Next week the plan is contact inland revenue about tax, set up basic business account with barclays as I bank with them and then set up paypal sellers account too.

The big things are machine, materials and website.

I am exited about own business as always wanted one but seems scary as no regular income like before so big risk but will be nice to be own boss and spend time with my child.

Ideally wanted 2-3montsh of money each month for me to live on and enough to start up business without debt!

So I set myself huge challange of making £1200 by selling on ebay and carboots.

I made £50 at last weeks carboot and spent 10 but only on essentials things we needed and got potential bargain to sell on at profit on ebay.

I also sold a pram for £240 but gave money to hubby as his car tax is due.

Sold 10quid of kids clothes yesterday

So still got along way to go.

I have 4prams to sell which hopefully shoudl raise £500, sounds awful bit of a pramaholic but I have brought on to sell at profit loads of times its good money if you know what sells.

All remaining stuff is clothes, dvds,toys,books, home so not huge value so joined the ebay challange to sell 700 items at £1 each.
Problem is tiem wnat to make £1200 in next month or 2, yep sounds mad I know then hope by end of october both businesses bring me in decent income.My mam and sister donating their rubbish too so will sell that next week, not many carboots left until end of season.

I worked out I need to earn 400 a month to live on to cover my outgoings simlar to old take home pay, potentially 120 in tax credit/cb would need to earn £280 from both businesses, will probably run out of stuff to sell by then.

Did consider doing the live on 4 grand a year challange but prob too late now as that would be 330 and could save the rest.

I am going to try and save and maybe start sealed pot, £2 club and 20p club.

I have also joined the no spend days which said 8 a month maybe bit optimistic but like the idea,

Luckiliy my scooter insurance and tax is paid up until next year so even with rising petrol not doing huge milage so commute costs currently low.

Where we struggle is on food budget as keep overspending so I have joined the august grocety challange on old styleas we set 200 for family of 2 adults, 1 child no pets.

Grocery money comes out of hubbys income but im frequently doing top ups which is what pushes us way over we cancelled milkman few months ago to save money but going in shop for milk and spend more.

Now at home have started cooking more from scatch, shopping round more and making own bread

As for clothes budget , toddler needs new winter clothes so selling off her old ones to fund it, have brought some bargains off ebay and sales.
Im ok but did buy new dress 15quid in sale for my mams wedding next week but need cheap shoes and handbag to match may look at carboot sale tommorow.
Hubby desperatly needs new clothes as they dont fit or tatty usually get him stuff from tu sainsbury range plus its his birthday this month so more expense!

I have done some surveys, entered some comps did want to enter 400 a month to increase my chances of winning as could sell prizes and may give free bingo a go as matched betting looks bit complex.

So I have a plan, just have to hope it alll works!
Must admit I am worried about money but doing everything I can.
I just ned to raise my target to help with start up and tide me over until businesses start earning.

I am really annoyed with myself as said @new year would start saving for christmas and I dident wish i had as wouldent be so stressy about this christmas.

In new year im going to start saving for xmas 2009 would prefer to save with stamps and giftcards rather than cash especilaly stamps as get £2 free evry 50 quid

Was hoping to get bank charges back but thats on hold.

When i was in work hubby paid bills, rent and my income brought daughter clothes, anything else she needed, my mob fone, credit card, bike costs , top up food plus anything else usullay buy clothes for us all.
Would like to still be able to do this as hubbys not got much once bills are paid, we have recently switched all our suppliers and owngrdaed virgin to cheaper broadband, would change but bt line more expense.

My new monthly income is as follows

£400

£180 nursury-2days per week
£50 phone(mobile contract)will try and keep it lower
£30 regular payment to barclaycard balance £600
£100 misc=25 a week
£40 spare as contigency or anything toddler needs

Its very tight never budgeted quiet so strictly before so will be a challange.
But will be great to live within my means and pay off debt/not incur anymore.

My total debt £3600 whenever i get any spare will kept paying, most of its overdraft with kust one credit card.

Im trying not to worry too much im sure once business up and running I keep saving will pay it off would love to be debt free by next xmas.

Whats killing us at the moment is hubbys car has cost £1200 3 months on repairs and car tax which sadly has gone on hubbys credit card was doing ok up until then.I have given him money from pram sale for tax so that helps.

But energy, petrol prices keep rising, we hoping rent wont go up anytime soon and foods rising so doing our best to cut back and attempt to save guess everyones in same boat.

We currently have 10quid of savings and would love to own but cant afford it need to clear the debts first.

Hope everyone does not think im too crazy!:j

In the words od Del boy this time next year I could be a millionaire!
Or maybe thats wishful thinking!

One big thing I love about mse is the huge figures seem less scary and I have
seen people pay off tiny amounts here and there then its like huge deduction to their signature that even small amounts add up and make a difference..

Have spent 25 a month already this month on day 2!:rolleyes:

gailey

hypno06

Well, you seem to be thinking of all the right things so def a good start!

Good luck and I am sure that you will get everything you need to get the business up and running!

gailey_2

Thanks hypno thats sounds positive coming from you as you seem to have done loads and paid off huge amounts.

Hubby thinks the competion bits insane, hes skeptical but wants it to work out.

Hes always having a chuckle at me rummaging carboot section, reduced section or charity shops as daughter loves books, so do I when I find the time.

I also like to save coupons and points which he finds odd.
My whole evry saving counts no matter how small goes on deaf ears.
Sometimes would like to send him shopping for his own and daughters clothes os he sees how expensive and difficult it can be.

Never realised how pricey kids were until we had one we mut have been rich before! But we frittered it away on rubbish!

Im quite thrifty with daughters clothes get her 2nd hand gap, monsoon, next, debenhmas and monsoon off ebay.
Also rummage the sales and designer outlets too.as well as getting cheaper clothes in h&m and sainsburys.

My last job was business dress so selling off most of those clothes which were ebay bagains in the first place.

Will try and restrain myself from buying too much at carboot sale 2 morrow and focus on selling.

Need to start the mammoth listing this week on ebay!

Will keep udating how I do.

gailey_2

Ahh bad day selling as harbour festival on in city centre and weather was dicey but no rain during carboot thank god!

Very slow day, after admission fees only made £20,spent about 7 and put the rest in my new vw beetle money box brought for 40p! only another £1990 to go!

Missed out on some bargains will have to list this week on ebay and take remaining stuff plus my mam /sisters next week if weathers good but its the baloon festival so might be quiet again only 8left now before end of season!

Hubby works some sundays so cant do them all sadly, ebays quiet too.
Im not sure if its worth buying [EMAIL="stuff@carboot"]stuff@carboot[/EMAIL] and selling on ebay for profit?

gailey

yukkibear

Hi gailey, I'm usually a lurker rather than a poster, but wanted to say good luck with your challenge and your businesses. I would love to give up work and start a business to spend more time with my baby, but sadly we can't afford the risk, especially with this economic climate.
You may inspire me one day lol. I'll be following this with interest

gailey_2

Slow progress today had 2 surveys sent me , one from valued opinions done at least 3 and realise I have no reward points not sure why? Just entries into prized draw?

Then one from lightspeed worth £1.10 but answered first few questions before it said sorry you not suitable so bit gutted.

On the plus side did my first no spend day for this month as not been out.
Been taking hypnos lead on decluttering and sorting out things to sell, still unsure how im going to reach my target and complete mad ebay challange of listing 700 items!Not even sure if I have 700, may have to buy to sell at next carboot sale.

Am listing loads for thur as half price listing, 3 days ends sunday night which is good.Hopefully doing another carboot sunday.

I have heard back from sewing company and they have assured me the sewing machine I like is perfect for me and are throwing in free accesory kit with enough cottons and scissors to start up without spending extra, the free kits worth £115 so well pleased will be purchasing tommorow!
Have decided as its for business and need to be up and running asap will put it on credit card and pay off next month!Will be working hard to source cheap fabric and need to save to set up website. Still got so much to do!

Weathers been rubbish here, hoping to take daughter out tommorow to farm and take few parcels to postoffice.

We runnin out of food again am trying to love off what we got and not go foodshopping until 15th hubbys pay day as pent far too much in july.
Will bake some more bread tommorow too.

gailey_2

Cant sleep so thourght i would see whos up. Am worrying about stuff.

I got send another valued opinions survey which im not eligable for so no luck there.

Tried to register for foxy free bingo but it kept saying page not found!

Have been naughty and purchased a rare outfit for a bargain price of us ebay, never brought from usa before hope its ok, exchange not too bad.
I have a theory when it comes to clothes buying and handbags/shoes too.

total cost/ no of times worn = price per wear.
The challange for me is to get it down to really low price, 1 p is hard might ahve achieved it with few cardies.

Most of my clothes and daughters clothes brought 2nd hand off ebay so got better chance of getting lower price per wear and getting values worth.

Have been thinking about all the things I need to sell and am worried as reckon everything may reach 700-800 best price and wanted to raise 1200.

Am not too concerned about buying machine on credit as until i get it cant start earning.

Will apply for family tax credit this week.

Am confused what to do about bank charges so may ask bank board.

Not sure if work still owe me anything.

Im trying to stay positive!

Its half price listing day so need to pull my finger out and list the higher value items.

Wanted cheap hols this year and considering camping in september but not 100%sure campings right for us but lured by idea of cheap break.

At least ebay purchase after midnight so dident break my no spend day!

Its scary having no regular income, might try blackberry picking this week.

And making jam!

gailey

gailey_2

Right feel more positive today.

I have made lovley bread and had defrosted mushroom soup for lunch, yummy!

Done some tidying and some washing.

Finally ordered my sewing machine shoudl arrive tommorow, wil get my ssister to give me lessons sat before she goes back to sunny spain.
Need to get making as soon as possible as can start listing next week then and get some income.
Still hoping weather will be nice enough for carboot sunday.
Will be listing tonight and tommorow so can take advantage of half price listing day thursday.

Its raining her bad so taking daughter to soft play this afternoon will try not to spend too much

gailey_2

Right have spent more money this afternoon on craft stuff, paints playdough from elc came to £32! The reason got it is this is daughters first week at nursury part time so need to occupy her on home days as she gets so bored and weathers been rubbish so cant always do outdoor activities.

Other than that I was very good went in phone shop to look at pay as you go phones and then went in john lewis to browse fabric.

Been worry about tax as somone said i need to pay 2years tax in one go which seems steep, anyone know why this is?

I really need to sell my prams this week to help for the business, buy hubbys birthday present and keep me going for september, ideally october.

I did want to buy a book but was out of stock, dident buy any mags and brought minimal food as needed milk and yogurts.

Decided to get cheap paint and repaint as house looking tatty gettin us down, toddlers managed to kick a hole in a cupboard door.
Beige carpet driving us mad, desperartly need rug doctor.

Have 2 go post office tmmorow and tidy house up.
Got hectic week, trying not to get stressed.

scooterwife

You don't need to buy playdough, you can make it at home and it keeps for weeks if you keep it in an airtight box in the fridge.
Recipe here on the Under5s website. We make this at my pre-school and it'll (usually) keep for a week just in a carrier bag. Really easy to make.
http://www.underfives.co.uk/playdo.html#playdo%20recipe

Paints I can't help with, but for glueing and making things keep boxes and tubs from around the house - if you don't like them with writing on, open them up carefully and sellotape them back inside out, or for tubes cover them in printer paper first. or try using margarine carton lids.

Keep a box somewhere and in it put all kinds of interesting wrapping paper, ribbon, material, buttons, zips, corrugated card, sequins, birthday/xmas cards etc. Then when you want to glue, give her the box to sort through, a couple of boxes to glue them on some PVA or Pritt Stick and you're away.

Grandparents can usually help with 'stuff' to put in this type of box as well.

scooterwife

You can add food colouring to recipe as well. And knead in things like glitter.