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fantasy_dreams

Amber_Sunshine wrote: »

Hello everybody.

I occasionally look at this forum because I like to see how well people are doing with paying off their debts and how they manage to achieve it (okay, I´m nosy ...) and came across this thread. I´m self-employed and although I never thought of myself as being in debt, I finally realised, who am I kidding? I have an overdraft of approximately £350 and owe £1,900 to my mum.

I'll gradually work my way through these 122 pages, but wanted to introduce myself and my situation. I live in Spain, and for many reasons freelancing is the best way of working for me.

• My main income at the moment is working on adult chatlines (technically freelance although working for a company). This just about covers rent and bills, but nothing more.
• I also do occasional copy-editing for an academic publisher - this pays well and I've built up a good reputation with them, but the work is irregular.
• I also have qualifications in Indian head massage and reflexology. For various reasons, I haven't practised it but am now thinking of doing so at home or mobile.

The chatline job is good for regular income, but let's face it, you don't get rich working for someone else. So I'm trying to come up with other ideas to generate further income. I've thought of doing tarot/psychic readings by email, and Avon. I'm just not sure how to get myself noticed in the vastness of the Internet, and am also getting to grips with a lack of confidence in myself.

So my aim is to increase my income considerably and pay off my debts. I'm prioritising the overdraft (just paid 110 off it which feels like a start!), but would like to start paying my mum off as soon as possible, and start saving as well.

Anyway, that's me!

Hi Amber

I was thinking about doing those chatlines for a while. How do you cope with it ? I thought it would be easy money, but the more I imagined myself doing it, the more I got put off. I am glad to hear though that you are managing to pay quite a lot of household bills with this job. Maybe I should look into it again...

Cheers
FD

Amber_Sunshine

Hi FD,

Well one thing's for sure, it's not an easy job! We work darn hard for our money, and to pull in a decent income you have to be logged on a lot of hours. You have to be very broad-minded, and some days you get really fed up ... however, it's work from home, often flexible hours, and some callers are really nice. I'd recommend you have a look at some of the pages on 'A saucy new job' thread in 'Up your income'. Maybe you could try it for a while and see how you get on?

Mudbath

Monkey - my first account year ran from September to April because I wanted to follow the tax year too. I didn't have any problems with that. Don't remember what boxes I ticked though - sorry!

All clients are cancelling because of the weather but are booking in for later this month. Children's school is closed so it's worked out perfectly.

Hope you're not getting too cold xx

moneymabel

Hi all-think I might have found something to buy on ebay to sell on-just waiting for an answer to a question from the seller. This place is going to look like Del boys flat very soon! Getting my website updated this week with a new jewellery set so thats ready for 2010.
i am now 95% sure that i will be handing in my notice end of the month.....I think lol

Rockingsurfer

Moneymabel: I'm a bookkeeper not a tax specialist but there is no reason why your first year cannot be from your 1st day of trading until 5th April. If you use something like Sage and your accounts are monthly then to 31st March is also OK.

There can be good tax reasons why you might want a tax year and a trading year to be different, however if your affairs are straightforward finishing your trading period at the end of the tax year and avoiding the dreaded 'overlap' is probably the best advice. Overlap is in interesting scam devised by HMRC to ensure you pay tax twice on the same income

If in doubt pay an accountant, he will find you at least as much in tax savings as you will pay him in fees. Provided of course your books are not a carrier bag full of receipts and it will take an age at £50-£60 per hour to sort them or that you are so financially 'clued-up' that you have identified all the opportunities for tax saving.

RS

nzmegs

Aaaargh - the kids have had the last two days off school and just got a message to say from school to say that it will be closed again tomorrow. I live in walking distance and have no trouble getting there. The school is blaming the fact they have 6-8 inches of snow in the car park. yes I agree that is difficult - but why not use the time constructively over the last two days and shovel it....

I am lucky I work from home - but I expect many people will be expecting to head back to work tomorrow. it is very frustrating. I love my kids - but they have only been back at school for two days since the xmas hols. we can't have this every year - we need to learn to cope better.

Still one advantage is that i owe the school £138 for my sons residential school trip. It was supposed to be paid tomorrow. They will have to wait till Monday now and I have a little while longer to work out where it is coming from...

I am looking at my tax return this week too. I worked out my income for the period from when I started until April last year was just £800 as I was employed at the same time. I didn't really have any expenses tho apart from utilities. So mine should be very simple to complete and fingers crossed I won't have much to pay. We will be working on my husbands too which is slightly more complicated but not impossible. yes I expect we miss out some of the rebates we could get if we got an accountant to look at it - but self assesments are pretty straightfrward so i prefer to do it myself.

I found a book last year which detailed all the expenses you can claim and the self assesment rules. it was helpful.

My other half is still away. I am missing him like mad - but i have a special surprise for him over the weekend. I won't let on now - just in case he is checking my posts, but I am going to be in the serious good books by the end of Sunday! being apart does have the advantage that you realise what you are missing. Even the kids are really missing him too. especially my daughter who keeps getting into our bed and cuddling up to his pillow - sweet...

Horace

Hi all

Had a chat with my accountant yesterday to see how she is progressing with my self assessment because I had a reminder letter from the HMRC - she is sorting out today and will be meeting with me next week.

I was on the 4N forum yesterday (I spend a lot of time there these days) and answered a post about using an answering service. I dared to say that I hadnt used one but was intending to do so which resulted in a call from the peeps that manage the helpdesk for 4N, jolly nice peeps if you ask me. Then someone messaged me to tell me to use a different firm because she gets a commission and then this firm recommended by said woman start a war almost and think that I should use them - I am waiting to see what information I get from the original peeps that contacted me. I have been put off this other lot because of the commission aspect and the fact that they don't seem to be as professional as the others. It may sound petty but I want to be sure that my calls are handled professionally and so far I havent seen evidence that that will happen with this 2nd firm. It may be that I use neither of them.:rolleyes:

I got a B for my assignment and was told that I hadnt answered the question - I know that I did but it seems that menus etc were needed and now I am thinking that I will have to submit everything by post from now on.

GreyhoundAngel

Hi Guys n Gals,

Gosh, where is everyone ?.... found this thread waaaaaaydown on page 6

Just completed my first lot of assignments for the new year Weather made it quite challenging to say the least, as I've been covering quite a wide area. Main roads weren't too bad, but some of the smaller roads have been in pretty bad shape :rolleyes: - this is kinda where I'm pleased I opted for the 4x4 wagon, though even that had a couple of "moments" :eek:

Anyhows ... hope everyone is okay & doing well so far

Off to catch up on some threads, catch ya'll later !!

G:A xx

jpwhittle

afternoon all, was just going to ask were everyone is? must be struggling in all the snow.
I got an email the other day offering me 4 wedding fayres at £40 each, i cant do the first 2 but i can do 2 in march i just have to hope they will accept a delayed payment again, would be so easy to get a loan right now, but im resisting if this all pays of i can be so proud of myself. Got first fair on 31st january and thought id offer a discount if people buy on the day. I have no idea were the people that emailed me got my details from as its a local paper that emailed, but im excited that im starting to get recognised.
Next thing i need as well is to sort out some leaflets as its something i cant quite afford yet, i think i could make my own but wouldnt want something cheap looking. will aim for them next.
Hope everyone else is having a productive time and getting on well with things.

coffeetwosugars

Hi all, I joined the forum yesterday after finally pulling my head of the sand. I work from home, am a mum to an 18 month old, and have started a new business within the last 12 months. One business provides legal secretarial services, the other is an online wedding accessories boutique. The money spent trying to get the brand/business recognised in the past 12 months has contributed hugely to my 35k debt, but I really hope things will pick up this year.

The legal side of things has dipped dreadfully in the last year, I'm getting a third or less of the work I did have, and have lost 2 clients due to the downturn.

I'm looking forward to reading through this thread and seeing how everyone else is coping!