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

Amatheya81

Hi Wordsmith, I'm getting there. Looking forwards to being well for the weekend so that I can catch up on my to do list and put paint down on my new Geisha. I feel like I've been saying that forever!
Good luck with your to do list, that's a bit of a mamoth one

Wordsmith

Morning all. I did bits from all of my to-do list yesterday, but didn't finish everything, so I am continuing with it today. I have limited time, though, as I become a shop girl from noon till 8 o'clock tonight, then have to lock up and cash off the till and things. And it's pensions day, so I will be up and down from my seat all morning. It is a glorious day out there - a walk on the Burren with the dog would be soooo much better than pensions and VAT and emails. Still, I have work, so mustn't complain. And I have just remembered another book is coming for proofreading - and guess what? - it is urgent. What a surprise. Hey, ho, enjoy your day, everyone.

Another positive is that my sonic rodent deterrent has arrived so hopefully I can deafen the bugg@rs so they leave the cavity behind the plasterboard three inches behind my pillow and I can finally get some sleep.

Amatheya81

Wordsmith wrote: »

Another positive is that my sonic rodent deterrent has arrived so hopefully I can deafen the bugg@rs so they leave the cavity behind the plasterboard three inches behind my pillow and I can finally get some sleep.

lol, I often wonder if Peanut (the rat) would like to do the same thing to me when he's trying to sleep while I'm watching TV! :rotfl:

So I'm finally feeling better (so in truely typical style now I have tooth ache) and I managed to get my graphics prepared yesterday. I've decided on a price for my cards. So I can start working on my to do list with less lethargy this weekend

To do

- Update website adding a card shop
- Start up a Etsy shop
- Frame my harp painting
- Complete my new Geisha painting
- Start a portable portfolio
- Update my accounts
- Set up an account on a online gallery
- If I get chance order some art note cards to add to my ratz ones
- Write a marketing plan

I also dropped in the gallery yesturday and got talked into helping with a community art project for Easter and I've been pencilled in to display around June/July time so I will need to create some more work to display and hopefully sell I've got a few ideas based on some source photos I've taken so I'd better stop being lazy and get on with it! :j

Horace

Hi gang

Job is going well, I started late on Friday because I was out networking..my boss knew because he is my chauffeur. I spent Friday ordering some new chairs and sorting out filing.

Went to Worcester on Saturday - got the train and found that the one I had planned to catch had been cancelled but I could get a different one at Moor Street Station so had to trot over there. Met some folks I had met before and some new ones. We had a jolly time despite the weather being overcast and cold..I treated myself to a bottle of Perry and then discovered it was 7.4% so much stronger than beer..I was a bit tipsy and then we went on a bit of a pub crawl so I had another glass of perry at the next place - I asked if I could have a sample first (it is that kind of pub) and to be honest I would have been happy with the sample but ordered half a pint..this one was slightly sweeter and 6.7% so by the time we left I had started to feel a little queasy.

Saw my parents yesterday, it was good to catch up and the visit didnt go too badly, although I had to have a talk with my dad so I explained what I was doing and why I don't really want folks to know where I live (it is so I can get my life back in order without being hassled). He is looking thinner and mum doesnt look well either - it seems the rheumatic fever she had as a child has impacted on her heart so it doesn't function properly. I had to smile though because mum asked me what I planned to do with the house after they had died..I said that I would live in it, I would be mad not to. The house is in my name anyway and it makes sense to live in it, it is mortgage free, has a large garden (big enough for a formal garden and a veg plot) it has parking for two cars and a garage (it is not a grand house just a 3 bed semi but it has a third of an acre of garden at the back - the biggest garden in the street). The pair of them breathed a sigh of relief and dad said that he was pleased that I wanted to live in it because they could now spend a bit more money on it, if I had planned to sell then they would change their updating and spending plans (not that it needs updating as it was only decorated 2 years' ago and has an extension too).

I took the morning off work today to do some washing and go to the shops - I might need to go back to Tesco as their large jars of Douwe Egberts Pure Gold Coffee is half price at £2.99 (I got 4) I might go back and get more:D

Minutes have been typed, need to sort out the nomination forms, pay an invoice (may wait until I get my new reprinted business cards before paying), might look at my course work again.

Robert_Roberston

ani_26 wrote: »

It IS good to see this thread. A bad place to be. Self employed, freelance, whatever, working from home. Not neccessarily a limited company or business. Especially when you only have your own income to rely on. I want a job where i know i've a fixed amount of money entering my bank account, on a given date. Correction. I NEED a job that pays a fixed amount, on said date.

I probably should'nt be posting on this thread, because, i'm feeling down, to say the least. Cynical. whatever. I'm at rock bottom at the moment. It takes alot of courage to be self employed,freelance, and probably a certain type of person, or character. I don't mean to cliche anyone. But it takes guts, does'nt it? Having your destiny in your own hands? Still, theres not always much you can do about your situation, in this economic climate.

So, myself. I've been self employed / freelance for the majority of my working life. I had a ' proper job ' for an employer, maybe 8 years ago. I stayed for 2 years, and had the best time of my life. The dream job. It really was the dream job. Except i was so good at the job, i earnt a shedload of money for my employer, but felt i was'nt appreciated in return. So i left. I supppose thats the scenario in everyone's working life. You do your job, to earn your employer a shedload of money. Thats the name of the game. No job satisfaction required..

But its the worst its ever been at the start of this year. No work around at all. I can't survive on one or two days work a week. Its not even enough to cover the rent, and keep a roof over my head. I can't claim working tax credit yet, as its taken off last years income, which was just over the threshold by a few hundred pounds. Ridiculous. If thats the case, i should reduce my meagre workload and make sure my income is under the threshold, in future, for the financial return i will potentialy, reap, in beneftits.

I've just spent the last two weeks job seeking, while i wait for the work to come in. Theres little i can do, except wait. I have my contacts, and they know where i am. Every job i've enquired about, has gone. Thats anything, that will provide me with a regular income, to get myself back on my feet again. Anything. I'm not proud. Even cleaning the proverbial loo. I've run out of words, and i'm tempted to delete this post. I've run out of confidence, too

Can't you get tax credits based on an estimate of this year's income if you think that your income this year will be lower than your previous tax years?

Wordsmith

Morning, all. Busy week - but I did take a day off! A proper day off where I went off and did something day-offy.

And it's been a busy week besides. The book I should have proofread starting last Friday didn't materialise because of a problem at the typesetters. I got it Saturday morning instead and had to change my Monday work (didn't worry me too much as it was for the chap who owes me lots of money). Still had to work till midnight on Monday, but got it sent off in the end.

Today it's shop accounts and handing out the pensions and then at midday I become a shop girl until Monday morning. In between times I have to do admin for my training client, and bring the PO admin up to date.

Have a good day and weekend, everyone.

ani_26

Robert_Roberston wrote: »

Can't you get tax credits based on an estimate of this year's income if you think that your income this year will be lower than your previous tax years?

Thats what i was hoping to do, but its so close to the end of the tax year, now, i'll just wait for all my p60's to arrive. Thanks x


Someone has also suggested i may get a tax rebate, as i've been paying my full tax, based on annual income, although in real terms i've probably only worked half a year, last year. It will be easier to establish, when i've my p60's.

donotpassgo_2

Good afternoon all. Last week we received a business census, I have checked that it is the real deal with our accountants and it is. They want to know about the vat, tax we ve paid etc. If we dont return it we will be fined, charming another unpaid exercise.:mad:

little_h_2

Hi, I am partly self-employed and partly a fulltime wageslave but do read this thread from time to time as I work 2 days from home as part of my main job and can definitely relate to needing a good kick up the behind from time to time! :rotfl:

Amatheya I have to say, I am very intrigued by your harp painting - I have only read the last couple of pages lately so if you have mentioned it previously please forgive me! Would love to see/hear more about it as I am a harpist myself

Amatheya81

Hi Little_h, if you have a look at my blog I think it should be on the first or second page