Today is a new day!

claire0788

PaF, its little stories like that that make me happy I love hearing that there are still wonderful people out there. Good luck for the next few weeks and your targets

MissOptimistic

'What if's' are very good! - and 'What if's' are definitley a step in the right direction. The next step is to turn those 'What If's' into 'when's'
I have no doubt that you will achieve all your sales targets for the week ahead and probably exceed them!
I hope your 'funny foot' does not give you too much gip in this cold weather - hopefully, spring is on its way soon and things will look up in all areas!
Keep going PAF!
Miss O x

honeybear_2

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED wrote: »

Hi honey bear

Please know you haven't caused offence, far from it, and I heed what you say. It is v easy to become over proud, however I am learning to listen to myself and when someone offers to help me I have started to say yes and thank you more. When my neighbour comes home at the same time as me, he and his wife often offer and unloads my car for me of dds things and Kl catalogues etc. It is a huge help and they do it so quickly. However, it is fair to say I do treasure my independence and do not want to impose on anyone more than I need to.

Thank you though, and I hope your mum is doing ok. Stay strong both of you! Take care

That sort of made me want to cry... Not entirely sure why but big hugs, honey

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

An update on how things are going. It's very much a case of action stations here. Im back to feeling positive, however Im aware of areas that need a total overhaul and I feel ready to tackle them bit by bit. Progress in the cold light of day so far has been v good. I haven't incurred a bank charge for some time, my spending is ongoingly being monitored and Im doing so much better at living within a budget. I have one credit card as a reserve, however all my credit card debt is reducing each month. Compared to this time last year, huge steps have been made. So, now is the time to build on that, and start to address my personal life which I feel is interconnected to how I work my business, and deal with my family life with dd. Primarily, areas in need of addressing are: sleep, diet, health, the way I feel about me.

So, proactive action taken so far this week;

I did some tapestry for the first time in years at the weekend. ( I look strange doing this bearing in mind I do it all one handed, but I love it!) Complete rest from work, housework, cooking, just being and enjoying the moment.
I have a feasible plan. Mon, Tues long days working. Weds a sort of day off, taking time out after dd at school to go to Slimmers World which Ive just joined - I siezed the moment and went for it!,followed by the gym. I weigh 11st 6lb, and my target weight for now is 10st 5lb. Thursday, Friday long days working. Weekend, to catch up with paperwork, emails, o/s tel calls, housework, and most important of all time with dd. So, its 2 long days, 1 day off, 2 long days, 2 days off of sorts. The idea is to break things up to really tackle my tiredness issues, and to obtain a more balanced lifestyle.

Really, am thinking that I need to make things happen, to do that I need to feel good about me, feel more confident and able to take on more team building in my work, in addition to the retailing Im doing. Build up my income to a level that far exceeds what I need to pay the bills is my ultimate goal together with true peace of mind. My retailing is superbly organised if I say so myself. At the mo, Im pushing this area more than ever to get the money for the adaption, however, usually I know what to expect, what numbers of books etc to get out. My challenge is to get equally organised and consistent in my team building. At the mo, it is fair to say it is v erratic. I have prospects to contact, and calls to make, I just fit them in as and when I can. I want to get to the stage where I know I can secure say 30 mins a day to do calls, and say speak to at least 25 new prospects a week. Im going to start with just 10 a week, and build up as I go.

Am also making enquiries regarding selling my Linda Jane Smith limited edition prints to a gallery. I have not had any success on ebay thus far and at the beginning of March, the Mackenzie Thorpe pictures I have can be taken for the next planned auction. All monies raised will reduce my debt.

So, the focus is still to raise the £299 needed for the adaption. I will be able to pay my mortgage this month so that is good, finances are v v tight however and Im just keeping my nose to the ground, workng hard and believing the results will come. £400 sales so far this week, with a further £500 at least tom, but hoping its nearer £6/700. Next week, my target is £1750 for the week, Week 3, £1K, Week 4 £1750/2K.

Changing the subject, , I bought 3 chickens from Asda at the weekend for £2 each. An offer too tempting to miss. I can usually get 4 meals from one chicken so 50p a meal is fab. Was so excited about making my money stretch!!!

Thats it for now, a long post, however its good to record all the details to monitor progress made! This diary is a real life saver, and supportive in more ways than I could ever imagine. Im so grateful to this site!

InaPickle

Blummin' heck, PaF - you are on FIRE this week! :T

You are doing fabulously. Seriously, your brain must be whirring at 100mph 24//7 to get through what you have got through. I think you are ace! :cool:

Keep going exactly as you are and you will get there progressively with the team-building etc. Think the tortoise and the hare.

You aren't the only one who benefitted from Asda's £2 chickens: I got two!

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Well done Pickle re the chickens!

Is it from April or next month that we pay our council tax again? Just sorting out the finances for next week and I can't remember!

InaPickle

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED wrote: »

Well done Pickle re the chickens!

Is it from April or next month that we pay our council tax again? Just sorting out the finances for next week and I can't remember!

I think so, but embarrasingly enough, I don't pay any, so I'm not 100%.

I still think you are right, though!

beanielou

Its from April P&F.

POSITIVE_AND_FOCUSED

Thanks BeanieLou. Thats one less thing to fret about this month!

Well, a positive few days, £800 in sales so far, with loads of books to collect from my drops this week as when they were due to be collected on thursday, it was tipping with rain and so many customers had kindly kept the books inside but were not in on the day. I am reminding myself that all the bills are going to be covered that are due on mon. I have my mtge, a credit card payt, a chq to my sis for my nephews birthday, the tv license and my life cover. All will be covered. Then today, we are having our hair cut which in truth could have been delayed. However, it is my mums 70th birthday this year, and next week my sis, brother and our respective children are all having a professional photo done together to give to mum. So, I bought our hair appt forward so we look nice for next week. Then my printer has literally smoked itself a death. Its no more, going to the printer crematoriam, and I have managed to find one for £50 everything inc. My printer has been not working since the beg of Jan, and I organised a new one this week from a small firm up the road as its getting to the point where I need it. I dont want to call them and say can I put it off, they may - or may not - be relying on me to buy it in these recession times, and so I dont want to put it off any longer. So, the sum total is Im penniless today!. Oh yes, I went out last night with a group of mums from school for a chinese. The first time Ive been out without dd in an eve for well over a year I think! That was £20. ( I wonder what Slimming World will say!) So, to prove a point, I can not be extravagant. All these expenditures are luxuries in the scheme of things and look what happens, my finances go all over the place. Oh yes, and Ihad to pay for 2 weeks childcare instead of one because I didn't pay the after school club before half term due to the snow. I am penniless today. We have no money apart from about a £1 in cash.

The good news is I have loads of deliveries outstanding which are happening on Mon. I have already 118 books out to collect on Mon, and I will be putting a further 80 out today while dd is at a birthday party. We have enough food to get by and a lot of things we can do which cost nothing to do like tapestry, go for a walk along the beach, take dd to the park. I also have not used a credit card to keep my head above water - yet - which is quite a novelty so that is v good. Its all cash or from my debit card. Its just proved to me that it is imperatif that I keep a v tight hold on how I spend my money and to realise that at the end of the day all these are one off expenditures. I have come a long way from the days when I started this diary. I still intend to have the £349 to pay for my adaption. I have 4 weeks and 3 days to raise the £299 remaining req. If I can get through this week, I can get through anything. Target sales this coming week, £1750, secretly will be chuffed with £1500, however I am going to really go for it. So, its all to play for. Giving up is not an option!

On that note, need to get dressed and get on with the day!.

beanielou

Keep plodding