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

copperycat

Hi I saw this thread on Martin's weekly email and couldn't resist a peek, even though I should be working! I've been reading through the thread for about half an hour and am so pleased that there are others just like me out there

I work from home as a self employed bookkeeper and live halfway up a mountain with two children, a dog, a cat, 2 goldfish and my two beautiful pigs. In a former life I used to be an auditor, but after taking time off to have my children, I just couldn't face going back to work in an office so had to think what else I could do. I would like to have done a degree in quilting and set up a cottage industry but I could see that was going to take too much time, so I thought - stick with what you know - and hence freelance bookkeeping. I enjoy working on my own from home - its very flexible as my husband works away during the week and I can fit my work round school, housework etc. Usually go and visit clients one day a week so have some adult human contact!

Look forward to reading everyones exploits and hopefully joining in with a few of my own. Better go and do some work - have got 5 VAT returns to do!

TTFN

Horace

Hi Downshifter

Tesco Direct sell some relatively cheap ones - I have a Hewlett Packard inkjet printer, copier and scanner (can't remember how much I paid for it though:rolleyes: ). Also see if you can join your local Freecycle as you may be able to pick up one through there for free.

If the charity are getting you down with their gripes and backbiting then its best to move onto something else as they are only dragging you down and when you offer something constructive even subtly it is getting chucked back - life is too short to waste on these hobbyists.

sammy115

Quentin wrote: »

Not free. £125 + VAT after the trial, or £199 + VAT if you want final accounts too.

The cash book is free forever and is what most sole traders would need.

There is no reason why anyone on here would need to purchase the 'final accounts' they are really only for accountants doing statutory accounts for companies...and should only be used in a professional capacity.

VT transaction is free at the moment and once you have downloaded it it is on your pc. I can only think that you would need to purchase the product if you wanted to take advantage of updates or the support but its not rocket science and is easy enough to use.

newjustine

downshifter wrote: »

On another tack, how do you get hold of decent office kit? I badly need a scanner/printer/photocopier but can't afford one at all. I have an all-in-one cheap thingie, but as I have to copy or scan great long journal articles, which might include detailed charts etc, it's completely inadequate. I certainly couldn't afford new, does anyone have a source for reconditioned or second-hand stuff?

Thanks.

Have you tried Freecycle? If it's bigger office kit you want, you might be in luck as it's difficult to sell second-hand as advances in technology bring us ever smaller and cheaper gadgets. Freecycle is usually a Yahoo! group - there's one in every area or large town/city. It might not be instant - they usually ask for you to 'gift' something before requesting to take something offered. There are other websites like this one - not sure where you're located, so do some googling. Good luck!

downshifter

Thanks to people for suggesting Freecycle, I actually do belong to a couple of groups and already use it for personal stuff, didn't think that I'd be able to get more valuable office things from them, however it's a great idea, I'll revisit.

Thanks again for reminding me.

vote4thegoat

HI

It's great to find a lot of like minded people! I'm self employed too and have been beating myself up for a couple of years now over my procrastination - I thought it was just me being a lazy mare, but having browsed a bit it seems that its just a side effect of working by yourself day in day out... talking to the pets for inspiration....

I too get terribly distracted by the internet (no kidding you say!)

tyllwyd

downshifter wrote: »

... I certainly couldn't afford new, does anyone have a source for reconditioned or second-hand stuff?

You could try dabs - I am looking for a mono laser printer myself, and for one of the models they had reconditioned ones for sale for a few pounds less. And I did get a second hand printer on ebay last time, but I knew I was taking a chance with my money. To be honest, I'm not convinced that second hand/reconditioned is the way to go for things like printers - in my experience they have a limited life. I'd rather go for the basic level from a decent make like hp.

vote4thegoat

There used to be a company in Merseyside called Tier one (or tier 1 ) who did reconditioned equipment including computers and printers

I don't know if they are still around but its worth a google...

beanachroiteir

Hi, I'm new to all this posting comments business but am a committed money-saver.
I work from home now, having set up my own wee business in October when my maternity leave came to an end and I couldn't face returning to work and having to send my precious wee babba into the world of childcare - it's not for everyone! I've been really lucky in getting a couple of core projects to ensure a regular income and have lots of work put my way through word of mouth - I live on the Isle of Skye and, as a Gaelic speaker, have a door into a world that others don't. We also have a croft with cows and sheep - that has proved to be another bonus - those doors have both brought in a lot of work! I do book-keeping, paperwork, websites, brochure, poster etc design and enjoy it all. I can't believe I get paid to sit at the computer and design! I used to do Phoenix cards too but have given it up as the return wasn't worth the time I put in.
Obviously I have to work around the baby (who is now a year old) which can be difficult but if I get 15 hours of work a week done, I'm happy enough. The key is to be organised! And I'm good at that. I never let paperwork pile up - a weekly session sorting through it takes no time at all really.
I have what I think is a fair bit of debt, £3K, from what I call my Previous Life - before I was married and was a full-time loan parent (with my older son who is 12!) and full-time student! Trying desperately to pay it off but don't qualify for any cheaps card deals - it's a bit of a nightmare! But I'm getting there slowly but surely...
Anyway, just wanted to join in and say "hi"!

vote4thegoat

they are!

tier1online.com