Join in if you are self-employed and work from home

moneymabel

Well done Horace-let us know when kicks are needed! Actually I could do with one, I have done quite a lot this week, I have the website finished, had a practice set up for the wedding fair, got back into the wedding shop that used to sell my jewellery but changed hands,made lots of jewellery for said wedding shop, updated my blog (Bit about favours-inspired by your link to the BHF favours Horace so thanks!) and updated twitter and hotfrog......BUT I really need to get out and about and deliver some postcard/flyers that I've had done to the local area-trouble is its been peeing down all week and I can't get the motivation to actually go outside!

TCM_3

Hi everyone - hoping someone will be able to keep me right here.....
Will cut a long story short, we give out give vouchers for prizes for local shows or as a raffle prize enabling people to come in a pick what they want and hopefully spend more money when they're in! On these particular vouchers, we always put an expiry date of 6 months. Anyone who buys a voucher for someone has no expiry date put on it that way it never runs out and we can also keep a track of how many come back to us from prizes or sponsership.
Had a lady in today who tried to spend a voucher that expired in December last year which was clearly marked on it. I refused to honour the voucher as it was 8 months out of date and she got very ratty etc and told me that I was obliged to honour it as it was still the same business etc etc. I stood my ground and said no, this was given out by ourselves as a prize and had to be used within the specified time.

Am I right?

moneymabel

If the date was on it I don't see how she could have a leg to stand on really. Prob just trying it on.grrrrrrrr!

Horace

Of course you are not obliged to honour it if it has an expiry date on it - silly woman was chancing her arm. There was no way that I would try and use a voucher that had expired.

Last night my wooden dining chair that cost me 50p started to give up the ghost so I was determined to buy a new chair today and hopped on the bus to selly oak to Delta Pi which is a stationers because I had noticed they had a sale of office chairs:cool: I tried a few chairs before I settled on one which is a nice shade of dark lilac with arms and has a gas strut and 3 levers for me to play with - they said they could deliver and delivery would be £5 (good job as I wouldnt have been able to get it on the bus:rotfl:) so on Monday I will be having a shiny new chair - it still cost me £134.99 inc the delivery but it will last me for years and years.:cool: I also joined their loyalty club (silly assistant stamped my sheet but forgot to give it to me and I wasnt about to rummage on the counter for it as she had piled stuff on top of it:rolleyes:) Already I got a couple of freebies in the form of some peeloff edging strips and some sparkly stickers - the loyalty sheet gives me £25 to spend on anything I want and I get invites to free events - next Saturday they are running a crafting day. I decided against an account because they would want a minimum spend of £50 a month which is way too much for me.

I need to move some money about too plus I have a horrid thought that I have exceeded the credit limit on my visa card which my bank have set at £2000 which isnt anything nearly enough - but I get some money next week so the card will be paid in full, all cards will be paid off including my virgin 0% as that deal expires this month:rolleyes:

I need to update my blog as well - I need to find something to chat about and may include the broken chair and the hammering and banging trying to fix it:rotfl:

Mabel - you sound as though you are doing really well - I may have a chat with you nearer the time of my own wedding fair as I may wish to purchase something and offer it as a prize on my stand. I had thought about giving away a complete wedding plan but that is a far too much money to give away when I dont have a client yet. In fact, I may use one or two of the free Waterstones vouchers that I have to buy a book of vows or something useful like that that I can also have as a prize.

mizmir

Thanks for a really inspiring thread. I am part-time self employed while holding down a day job but my dream/plan long term is to build this into a viable business so that I can do it full-time.

My self employed business is as a dog trainer/behaviourist - I run evening classes, weekend workshops and work one-to-one with clients whose dogs have problems. I love this work but I am also realistic about the level of income that is possible from it and especially with my current debts I can't afford to do this full time.

However at my paid work I am currently doing some training in management coaching which is brilliant and I am starting to see this as another potential area for self employed work. We will see. The advantage is I can gain qualifications and experience in my current job and see what happens later.

So - although I am not fully self employed yet - I hope I can hang out on this thread and pick up ideas and inspiration from you all.

moneymabel

Hi Mizmir... I have this collie that...oh sorry back on topic :-)I am also part time self employed and employed. Your business sounds fascinating it must be hard work but I bet its enjoyable. Sounds great if you can pick up qualifications from your current job and use them to set up on your own-good luck! Which would you rather do-the management or the dogs? or could you do both?

Horace

Welcome Mizmir - of course you can hang around, you are partly self employed. You must have the patience of a saint to train the dogs or is it their handlers that need training too?

Getting qualifications in your day job will also help - management training is good as is life coaching both can be lucrative.

I have found it to be quite isolating at times working from home and not seeing anybody or speaking to anybody for that matter for days at a time - hopefully it won't stay like this for ever We gee each other up on here and nag each other from time to time when the need arises. It was thanks to the folks on here that I eventually sent off my remaining assignments to get my Diploma in Professional Wedding Planning - if I hadnt been nagged to death then the assignments would still be sitting here:eek:

I have noticed that my level of debt has crept up because I have tried to do everything myself because the banks aren't lending - so whilst the debt creeps up I am becoming more frugal and I am hoping that as a lot of my expenses are business ones that I have had to pay myself then I am hoping that the lovely tax man takes pity on me and gives me a generous allowance:D

moneymabel

Ho Horace-sorry missed your last post. I'm doing a prize draw at the wedding fair to win £50 of jewellery (obviously not going to cost me £50 as thats retail price)
Let me know nearer the time and we'll sort something out. Perhaps if you just pay cost price of materials and I could send you some postcard flyers to hand out for me? Anyway-we'll sort out something.

Horace

Thanks Mabel - that's a deal:D

moneymabel

No prob-let me know when you need anything, just been thining about it-a pair of earrings and a garter charm or similar might be best as bracelets/necklaces might not fit the person that wins...ooh or I do a nice set of pendant/earrings with a teardrop pearl on, that would fit anyone and suit any colour scheme....Anyway-can you tell I'm putting off cooking the tea?!...