Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

julicorn

Hey newgirly, I've only just caught up with your diary. So sorry to hear about your business

newgirly

Not really Alex, we diversified a few years ago into that when dh took over and do thesis binding which kept us afloat, but that's down 44% this year. We are not comeptative enough to focus on printing due to the overheads.

There are a few ways we could shrink right down again, but it's whether it's worth the risk to get in more debt and the stress on dh taking in more work as the staff can't be kept on. I think it's probably the lesser of two evils to stop, although he feels a big sense of failure, it might be a relief to do a 9-5 job with no responsibility and worry.

I should add nobody at work sees him as a failure, he kept it going for a further ten years after his best friend and boss died of a brain tumour, he won business person of the year award,, had lunch with the queen, purchased the building and has enabled me to bring up the family whilst he's done most of the work, and we have nearly cleared our mortgage. I have told him this but he still feels rubbish of course!

Moneyfordreams

The work life balance is a winner.... working for someone else , without the responsibility of bringing in enough clients :T:T:T

however I expect it would take sometime to flip into that mindset. As for feeling a sense failure, you have pointed out all of the positives..... sometimes is just the progression of the world

The stress relief my husband felt when it was all over was amazing, and the paid holidays

AlexLK

The thesis binding will be down because a lot of students only have to submit electronically. Way of the world really sums this one up, I think.

From what I can tell your husband was not really in this as a businessperson rather he took on the company because he didn!!!8217;t want it to close? I get the impression that business isn!!!8217;t really what he wants to do from some of the things you have said over time but the activity of the business and keeping his friends / colleagues in work is?

gallygirl

Sorry the business is closing NG, as others have said it's no reflection on your hubby's hard work or skills, merely a changing world. For example, there are not many gas light manufacturers still in business! How lovely that hobby has been offered work already - a reflection on how highly he and his work ethic are held :T. Also really positive on the possible unit sale . All more positive than just 24 hours ago :T.

I second the comments on how hubby will have the pressure taken for him - he might even start sleeping at night!

themadvix

Sounds like things are moving on in a positive way NG - you have options at least. I'd agreed with MFD and GG that while it might take a while to get used to, the relief from the stress of being responsible for so much/so many people will be huge for your DH.

Totally get you not wanting to work for someone else though! If it's possible, would the printing in the summerhouse be enough of a top up to what your DH might earn that you'd be able to do that (and potentially start up something else on the side)?

newgirly

Hi mfd's , it's good to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel and it worked out ok for you both in the end

Hi Alex, you are right, dh's previous boss was a workaholic and the business was his life, he found it impossible to delegate and micro managed everything. Therefore dh was thrown in he deep end from basically managing the shop floor to running the company when his boss collapsed one day and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He's had to teach himself really, with severe dyslexia it has been a challenge!

Hi GG, hope you are well you are right, things are already looking up from a few days ago, I'm hoping that trying to stay positive is bringing us good vibes

Hi vix, unsure about the situation with the printers still, if we have to pay anyway it would certainly be preferable to keep them.

Well today has been exhausting,we went to London to have a chat with a customer who set up a company a couple of years ago, he rented space in our factory for a while and promised us lots of work of which we got a little and then he outsourced to rest. Basically he's setting up another company in Kent and has suggested a plan to move us there and our staff work for him as well as us whilst we still pay the wages, but we should have more work. It all sounded rather sketchy as we expected, but end result is he needs staff and offered dh a job (which he doesn't want) so we put forward our assistant manager who seems keen :T none of the others want to work for them/ can travel that far. but its a start at sorting them all out

We have a meeting with another large customer who may want to buy the business and building early next week, no idea how this will go. Had a valuation today and conservative estimate is double what we paid three years ago, it all helps pay the bills at the end

Other good news is there is movement with the boys looking for work :j perhaps the thought of penniless parents has guilt tripped them from their x boxes to Job sites :rotfl: 2 applications so far today for ds2 and Dd is knows of a job near her for ds1 and he's going to apply tomorrow. Dd has also offered to take a full time permenant job to help us out bless her - very sweet but over my dead body!

newgirly

Ps. Thank you so much to everyone for the support and kind words as well as offers of help, it really has helped me to keep positive, what a lovely bunch of friends you all are

CathT

Haven't been on this forum much this week and have just seen your news newgirly. Sorry to hear of the business closure but glad to also read you have had some positive news.

greent

Sorry to hear the news, ng (haven't been online - was at Woburn CP) - am glad things are sounding more positive than initially and DH seems to have a few possible job offers - which is great. Not sure how old he is - but being an employee may be a much better way of life than the stress and super long hours we've heard about - now that your children are all technically adults it might be nice for him to slow down a bit and perhaps you two spend more time together?


On a lighter note, the Sunspan house and a bit more about it (and more pics) is here: https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/art-deco-essex-house-virtually-unchanged-since-the-1930s-up-for-auction-a122796.html

xx