A fresh start

Karmacat

Hi Seaxwyn - sorry you got turned down for that card. I know your present 6.9% isn't bad, especially compared to Hypno's 24.9% horror, but still ... you're entitled to a moan or two on your own diary! Its horrible getting down to it again, isn't it? I have energy now, but this isn't *really* how I want to spend it. One good thing is that there's an eco-house open weekend next weekend, all free of course, so that'll be quite interesting. All those renovations cost, but I'm hoping there's something, at least, thats cheap.

Seaxwyn

Thanks Hypno. No offence about the 'flippant' comment - I was thinking of you as I wrote that post anyway and hoped you wouldn't be offended by my moan about the 6.9% - I know you've put up valiantly with much worse.

I am going to suggest to OH that he gives me the passwords to his current account so I can keep an eye on it online. He will resent it as he fiercely guards his independence, but he has shown he can't be trusted to manage his money.

I am spending a sunny Saturday listing books on Amazon. A kind neighbour has given me four boxes of books to sell. to sell. Unfortunately they are all popular titles, not the kind that go well on Amazon, but they are in mint condition. Anyone have any experience of selling books on ebay?

hypno06

I've not ever sold books on ebay - I use either Amazon or car boots.....

But, a couple of people on MSE were talking about selling "bundles" of books either by author or genre as being more attractive - eg 4 Marian Keyes or 5 horror books.......perhaps that might work on ebay, but you will have to watch out on the postage.

OH doesn't even know his own passwords - I set everything up for him :rolleyes:

buddiebabe

Hey Seaxwyn glad to see you back.

I sell books on ebay but again its a bit hit and miss. The only thing i will say is if you are going to list them get them on asap as they are going to make you sell them with free postage so as long as you get them on just now and start them at 99p or less you will be able to list them for free and may sell them before the free postage farce commences!!!

Have a good day listing im just getting ready for work

Buddiebabe x

Pont

Hi Seaxwyn - just read through your post.

I know it's too late for the suit now but a little tip is to try on clothes in the various shops then look for the same item on Ebay ('cos you're an Ebay expert now!!). You'll be surprised how often this works.

Is your OH a college lecturer? If he's involved in English/maths etc perhaps he could advertise as a private tutor. I do quite a bit of private tutoring and it can be quite busy, particulary at exam times. If he's involved with photography why not try taking photographs at local events and selling them on to local newspapers. Or perhaps getting involved with school photography (big bucks there!) as he probably already has a CRB check.

Good luck.

hypno06

Ooh, just had a thought.....(dangerous I know)

On the "up your income" board, there was a thread about OU tutors too - I seriously looked into it but can't give it the time it would deserve, but there were load of tutor vacancies which are largely done online, marking, etc......and the money is not bad considering you are largely home based.

Perhaps OH could have a look at doing one or two modules of that - some are only 6 months long, but they would all help.

You can go to the OU website and get details of all the courses that have vacancies - and you can even go on a waiting list i think for any that are full, but that you are interested in tutoring - I guess they have a fairly high tutor turnover.

Seaxwyn

Thanks all! Hypno, how I wish I had an OH like yours - mine won't even let me see his bank statements. But I will try to persuade him that letting me help will make him more in control of his money, not less.

Thanks for the teaching tips, and photography - grea idea. I'll look into those.

I got a suit in Dorothy Perkins, it feels cheap and nasty but it will do. I've never dared buy clothes on ebay as I never know what size I am. eg I ended up buying a size 10 jacket and size 12 short-length trousers, but often I could be a size 12 jacket or regular length trousers. I wish sizes were more standard.

Thanks for the tips on ebay. Buddiebabe, do you know when the postal rate thing changes?

hypno06

The link for the ou stuff is here
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1745097

Re my OH - he won't even open bank statements, so I have the opposite to you really - my OH has his head firmly in the sand, but not in a "I'm protective of my finances" way, but in a "I don't want to know" sort of way, so it all falls to me anyway.

My OH firmly believes in the "money fairies" I reckon :rolleyes:

Seaxwyn

Mine doesn't open his bank statements - he just won't let me do it. But never mind, we have to live with them as they are. My OH was quite heroic on holiday, keeping the campfire burning and producing delicious meals for ever increasing numbers of people on our Robinson Crusoe style home-made cooking stove.

hypno06

I think I have just beaten mine into submission over the years :rotfl:

Mine would be on campfire duty too - its a bloke thing!