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

Nanny.Ogg_3

Does anyone else ever get the feeling that their business would run a lot better without those pesky customers getting in the way?? :rotfl:

Nowt as flaky as folk, eh?

Would tell you the story, but I'd worry that the customer might recognise themselves as they're also a small business owner, and I'd HATE it if they saw this thread. :eek:

ani_26

Wordsmith wrote: »

Nohope. I am so glad to see you posting again. Thank you for posting on my diary, too - I will respond properly on there when I get a moment. I am sorry you are still so down. I have a mixture of self-employment and employment. The employment is only at minimum wage, but it is regular; it also means I get to meet people so I don't become isolated. If I had to choose between the two, though, I would choose self-employment. I am hopeless at working for someone else. My ideal would be to make things and sell them - so I can be entirely self-contained. Most of my freelance work still involves having a "boss" of some description. Unfortunately, though, I am the least creative, domestic and "handy" person on the planet so the thought of making a living in this way is laughable. Have you thought of becoming self-employed now? I know financially it would be difficult to take the plunge at the moment, but you could be planning and researching for it, which would give you something to aim towards. What are you skills? Do they lend themselves to self-employment? Please do stay with us - pm me if you prefer.


Have a good day, everyone.

Thanks Wordsmith.

Maybe i succeeded in confusing people again.

I AM self employed, right now. I have been, for around 25 years. No mean feat in itself, i guess. Its just the economic climate of today. The first thing any client is going to cut costs with, is research. Thats why i'm now seriously considering any job, which provides me with a stable income, even cleaning loos. I'm desperate. A hard call to make. I have alot of work coming in, in a months time, but how do i survive until then? With my car tax and insurance due in march, before i've done and been reimbursed for this work. A sticky one. I've had 3 days work this week. Last day today, and then another week before my next job. Then paid, who knows when? Even though i'm freelance, most of my work,too, is controlled by a ' boss ' . Although not my boss, they definitely control my income. An easy thing to do, when you live in a million pound plus house, and drive an expensive mercedes. Considering i did my weekly shop yesterday. 47p on a loaf of bread, which i'm expecting to last me the rest of the week, now, ( or until some pay goes into my account). Toast for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, toast for tea. Maybe i should start a company. 100 useful things to do with bread. Bread origami, workshops! This is the way it is again. I scraped 47 pence together to but a loaf of bread, and the evening before i spent the last of any ' real ' money i had, to put £20 worth of petrol in my car, as it was almost empty. A huge decision, whether to spend the money i had, on an irreversible decision. After all, only my car, can drink the petrol. But whats done, is done. It was cheap -ER at £125.9 per litre, so i thought, go for it. At least i can get to work, if needs be, for now. Not that £20 will go very far. A quarter of a tank - ish...............

Hmm, as i'm writing this, one more days work has just come in. This is the way it is.


Its interesting hearing from those starting their own business. I would never say don't do it. After all, i definitely advocate being your own boss. I'm just controlled too much by my ' intermediary '. But i have lots of contacts this way.,

I suppose i'm ' on the way down ' in s/e, as opposed to being ' on the way up ', and thats whats difficult to live with, which applies to all areas of my life. Wordsmith, i have left my pm box full, so no one can pm me, nor can i pm them. I rarely pm, anyway. If anyone wants to say anything to me, they can say it publicly, likewise from my side. That way no one can minsinterpret words i've used, ( or not used, for that matter ).

I'm off on a ramble, best stop.


Nohope x

Amatheya81

Hi Guys,

Hope you're all fine and dandy today, I'm still pawly. Stuck in bed feeling poo but at least the headaches gone so I can entertin myself. I might even get my Etsy store up and running latter when my head is a little less fluffy.

Nanny Ogg - I know the feeling... I ran a custom corset making company a few years ago but gave it up because I was fed up of customers who wanted something for nothing or who changed their minds at the last minute and wanted me to make something completely different. They didn't seem to understand all the planning that goes into making a garment like that and it just sucked all the fun out of it. Oh well, I'm much happier doodling anyway. Hope your pesky customer stops being a pain.

Wordsmith

Morning all.

Good to hear from new people. Nanny.Ogg - that is precisely how I feel about clients. When I was teaching, it was how I felt about students as well. In my case, I feel this says rather more about me than "them" though"!

Hi, Pauline. What do you do? I knew I was in trouble years ago when I got excited about going out for a loaf of bread. I tried to overcome this by renting an office in a block with other single offices for a while. That was good, but of course there was the extra expense ...

Nohope - sorry, I didn't appreciate that you were self-employed at the moment. Could your skills be turned in a different direction so that you could offer more/different services?

My to do list for today:
[STRIKE]
Check emails
Check client's emails
Do client's admin
Phone accountant for client
Continue proofreading urgent book
Update client's web site - DO THIS NOW, OR ELSE ...
Hand out pensions
Survey sites
[/STRIKE]Do some shop accounts if any time available - no time available

louise_1981

Nohope, I was thinking the same as wordsmith, could you not diversfy in the industry that you are in or use other skills to go into a different industy.

Horace

Hi all (including newbies too numerous to mention).

Sorry I wasnt around yesterday although I did poke my nose in. I had a day away from the office yesterday, I had a mystery shop to do, I needed some new hiking paraphernalia so went with the intention of looking and ended up spending but I did make some huge savings and because the sales assistant couldnt be bothered putting 10 items through the till bunged in one pair of trousers for free:j and then I had my hair appointment which is a real treat so by the time I got home I was pretty much pooped.

NoHope - I sympathise with you, I am considering applying for a temporary job - I was on LinkedIn today and saw this job being advertised in one of the groups that I am on. Something to do with marketing, sponsorship and telesales and the job is full time for 2-3 months. Can you diversify into something else as the others have suggested? Are you on LinkedIn at all? If you are then start using your contacts on there and using their contacts too - groups also have jobs advertised too.

Today has been fairly hellish because my claim for housing benefit has been suspended yet again because of my apparent failure not to provide my receipts:mad: I rang the chap who sent the letter but he had given me their daft call centre number so they didnt have a clue who he was so I decided to be devious. I rang the main council number (listened to their various messages..press 1 for this, 2 for that and eventually I came to press 6 for general enquiries), I was then kept in a queue but eventually got to speak to someone so I asked if they could put me through to this chap - I got through to his office and asked to speak directly to him needless to say he was rather shocked that I had managed to get through his security cordon (I am sure they use the callcentre so they are not bothered with calls). I gave him a piece of my mind about the callcentre and the neighbourhood office and about using accountants and that it was not a legal requirement for me to have audited accounts...sigh. The upshot is, I have to now send him a copy of last year's accounts and the invoice from my old accountant as well as details of my NI Exemption Certificate and then my housing benefit can be reinstated. Hence I need a job that will allow me to pay my rent without having to rely on benefit.

I admit that I hate having customers that want something for nothing which is why I no longer plan weddings.

I registered for a one day trade show in Leeds in March and then I had to think how to get there, I have decided to go up on the Wednesday (the day before) and come back on the Friday. I contacted a friend who is a travel agent and her prices were way over what I could get. She quoted me £135 for the hotel room and £65 return on the train - I go online and book the train journey as 2 single tickets for £39 (my seats are prebooked and I get help at the station because I cannot cope with stairs and carry a bag at the same time) and booked with the hotel directly so the room is £52 a night which is a huge difference. I usually go to Event UK but it has been cancelled this year and this is the only show that I can get to this year.

Jobs for tomorrow: Do the membership packs and get the nomination forms from the treasurer, find out list of charities to vote for at the meeting on Tuesday.
Make appointments for my time in Leeds (may as well kill several birds with one stone:rotfl:)
Tidy my office - it is a tip.
Look for a job that pays money.
Make calls to potential suppliers.

ani_26

Louise, I love your signature. I've always maintained, theres too much to do outside the house, in the big wide world, to waste your time inside the house. Whatever happened to the old me?

I'm already well established in the industry i work in, there is'nt much scope to diversify, there. Although i don't work in the industry i took my ' formal ' training. I'm a musician by trade, but i really don't want to go down the teaching route. Been there, done that, worn the t shirt, and all that, so to speak. This is probably the crossroads in my life, where i should pick myself up, dust myself down, and ask, what next? I just can't find the motivation at the moment. I feel i'm in a time warp, and theres no escape, but theres only one person who can create my destiny. I just don't have the energy, anymore. I'm an empty shell. With my urgent need to earn money, its easier, at the moment, to step back onto the treadmill, i'd rather get off. But i don't see any future happiness if i continue like this. In fact, i don't envisage any future, at all.

I have vague ramblings in my head, of things i might like to do, but i can't even muster the enthusiasm to think about those. On the other hand, i've always been a get up and go, type person, if anyone had the courage to go and do anything they wanted, it was me.When people say to me, how did you do that? i could'nt do that, my reply is always, of course you can. Just go and do it. Anyone can do anything they want, if they set their mind to it. Theres no such word as can't. Try telling myself this often enough, and i might actually start to believe it again.

ani_26

HI Horace,

I was writing, the same time as you. No. i'll have a look at that link, thanks.

At least you've just made me laugh - look for a job that pays money, lol - preferably, in my case, within a year of completion of work!!

louise_1981

An empty shell is always ready to be filled.

You just need to decide how to fill it.

I have to say I felt like an empty shell last year, but luckily I have family around me to make sure my shell isn't crushed. Have that support is vital, do you not have friends or family, just to off load to, I know I feel better for talking to some one.

Have you thought of going to business links? they are for new and established businesses I am sure you would get some advice there.

Plus teaching is always a strong place to fall back on, especially music. Could you not advertise private tuition? even if it is just for a bit while you get sorted.

Also if you are that skint, maybe see what benefits are out there to support you.

The sig was aimed at my EX MIL, she thought I should have been cleaning etc after working 8-6. Personally I prefer dust. However, I will not be telling my potential customers that I am mid setting up a cleaning abd pet sitting business

ani_26

That made me smile.

You sound like someone else i was talking to, a couple of weeks ago. Get myself out there and do some music teaching. I don't have the confidence, when i can do my other job, with my eyes shut. Plus, i've pawned my fiddle, ( for next to nothing ). How stupid was that, but needs must, and i'm not going to get it back just yet.

I've enquired about working tax credits, but i can't apply until the end of the tax year, as i earnt just over the threshold, for the previous tax year. Plus i'm around £200 in arrears with my NI, thanks to some mess up with HMRC / OR, freezing my ni payments when i went bankrupt. Neither seems to know how it came about, but i have'nt paid ni for most of the year, except when i was on esa.Somewhere along the line, ( before april ), i've got to catch up with my payments.