From Trash to Cash: the river overflows

Eyesparky

Hi everyone. Very long time since I have been around these parts but just thought I would pop in and say well done to everyone who has kept at it and achieved so much. Hope there are still a few people knocking around capable of giving a kick up the backside when procrastination takes hold, as I am finally waking back up to the joys of making a little extra money and having fun along the way. Just sorting myself out and starting the crazy sorting and clear out that accompanies these things, with the aim to be well in the swing of things again for a real push next year. What crazy targets are people planning for 2011? Whatever they are, I am sure it will be exciting trying to achieve them .

jo70mo

Hey Eyesparky I remember you from the original thread. Its really nice to "see" you again. how are you doing? This thread was really busy until recently when it has gone really quiet. It may pick up again though. its been fantastic so far though.
Not sure of plans for 2011 yet but sure it will be equally crazy.lol.
Thanks for popping in to see us. Often wondered how you were getting on.
Jo x

mambury

Hay all.... sorry I;ve been AWOL but I've been busy and doing a lot of thinking (I know, I know, dangerous!!)
The job is going well, I can see me getting bored ( I am the kind of person that needs mental stimulation and shop work really doesn't give that, more on that later!!) but it is really nice not being mum and talking to people. The money's not great (£6 p/h) but beggars can't be choosers. I have managed to pick up 5/6 extra shifts as my friend has very kindly offered to have DD for a few hours between nursery ending and school finishing, and in return I am looking after her boys for a few mornings in the school holidays (everyone is happy!!).
I have decided to close PM as I have been putting myself under pressure with it (and ebay putting on the pressure too!) and I was finding that the house, kids and life in general was suffering. I am making the same money working 10 hours a week (in a job that I can leave and forget when I am not there) as I was working 20 hours plus on PM. I still have lots of stock to get rid of but that will be worked on this week....
As far as the boredom goes, I have decided to save up some money and do some sort of college course, probably in the evenings as childcare is a but of a bind and the nearest college is 25 miles away from me. Not sure what to do at the moment, I quite fancy getting creative again and putting the sewing machine to good use as we now have the space for me to have it out rather than stuck under the bed. If not, then I think it will have to be something to exercise my brain as I feel it going to mush!

So now the next question to answer will be the challenge.......

Thinking about it all, I think getting the job is me part way there! But I think I get too wrapped up in stuff and end up letting other things suffer. So my thinking is to spend my time getting extra shifts (but not too many!) and really working on the household budget, putting away all the savings. I will probably do a little ebay, maybe going to the auctions and selling bits but not much more than that.

With some of the money made from selling off PM stock I will buy a chicken coop and a wormery. Part of my new plans is to reduce our food bill by growing/producing as much food as possible.

Christmas is nearly sorted for gifts (mostly home-made or bought in the sales!!) but now I need to start planning for food as I really don't want to spend a lot, but the inlaws really go over the top each year. I would ask SIL to bring some food but shes not a cook (frozen chips and chicken nuggets are speciality!!) so I would rather do it myself knowing what goes into it. So far my thinking is a big chicken or beef rather than a turkey (no one really likes turkey but they eat it because its traditiion - pah!), a joint of honey roast ham (home roasted!), lots of veg and something nice for me (veggie!). Rather than doing a christmas pudding I thought about Christmas pudding icecream (I have an icecream maker that doesn't really get used - oops!) as I can do this well in advance, some mince pies (pre made and frozen raw), a few snacky bits, a tin or two of chocs and I think that should be it.

I did mention I fancy getting creative again so I might spend some time making decs, table settings etc.

OOh, I do need some plates as none of mine match!! And some wine glasses (pop into asda at the weekend before work me thinks)

I am going to tighten the proverbial belt as much as I can get away with the save the difference on my monthly budgets.... Hopefully the family won't notice! Not sure how much I can tighten though as we are pretty frugal anyway.

I will keep posting here if that's okay with you lot. I have missed you all

Elle7

Hi everyone It's good to see people back

Mambury, it sounds like everything has worked out for you! I'm glad the shop work is good, and you sound very organized. A college course sounds good too, I think without mine my brain would disintegrate more then it already has!

I need a few more months before Christmas, I'm not ready at all. Got a few birthdays in November, then OH's is Christmas day, which is always complex. Not sure where we will spend it, either...there will probably be arguments over that soon enough. I've got no idea what to get him...

I'm flu-ed up at the moment, and feeling really rubbish. Enjoyed having OH back home over the weekend, but he's away again tomorrow for the rest of the week. I get really lonely sat in this room by myself, and I don't eat good alone...still, I'll be okay.

Hope everyone is good

mambury

Hey Elle.... Can you not spend crimbo just to two of you? Let the rest of them argue about it, it's a time for spending time with people you love and want to spend time with, not who you feel you need to! Saying that SIL (a complete PITA) has invited herself over because her parents are staying with us. SHe only lives 5 miles from me but thinks she is staying over for christmas eve.... bloomin not! Her kids go to bed when they want (usually about 9pm even on a school night!) but my two need to go early as they are early risers..... There is no way I am putting up with a manic christmas eve. She even said she was looking forward to not having to do much for christmas day as she is working boxing day (starting at 9pm!!), when I said that I was working all day boxing day she just loked at me and walked away. She thinks the world revolves round her!! Its a shame that the inlaws are coming down really as my neighbours invted us round there for dinner but there will be 10 or 13 of us (not sure on BIL, his partner and her kid yet).

Oh, well, as long as it is all sorted and ready to go I don't mind too much. It will be quite nice going to work for a break from the mayhem!!

Right, off to look at family finances and start listing my bits on ebay!

Elle7

I'd love too, and the last few years we've considered booking a nice hotel room somewhere for a few nights. I might just book it and give it as an early present! I really don't feel like dealing with other people...your SIL sounds like a pain, can't she just come round for a visit sometime on the day rather then expecting you to drop everything? I'd have been so tempted to give her a list of things she can do if she'd said she was looking forward to doing nothing, but I've got an evil streak at times, lol.

I need to start thinking about presents today. I had some stuff planned earlier in the year but most of it was centered around being in Spain, so I'll have to rethink. I'd like to get him something special for Christmas, and something for his birthday, cuz I think he misses out a lot in that sense. Then I've got his parents, my sisters, maybe something token-ish for my parents, puppy and his extended family. Anyone wanna Christmas shop for me? :P

Edit: Does this make sense? If it doesn't I blame the medication, I can't see straight let alone think straight this morning!

mambury

Makes perfect sense!!!

SIL - nah, I shall just add something (alaxtives??) to her dinner *snigger*

Go for it, go somewhere..... !!!!!! everyone else. As for his christmas/ birthday present.... why not give him his birthday present early, on christmas eve.... DD's birthday is new years eve so christmas ends in this house on boxing day... a few 'normal' days and then its her birthday.... inlaws will kick off about the decs being taken down early but balls to them!

Elle7

Hahahaha oh that'd be so funny! Well, I guess she really would be doing nothing Christmas day then :P

He does suffer for his X-mas day birthday, most people forget...Well, I don't know if it's forgetting, or being distracted by the fact that it's Christmas. His relatives forgot to say Happy Birthday to him last year, and I don't think his parents did either, but when they realized they said his presents were joint. Hmm. I'm determined to think of two things to get him, it's a good idea to give him one on Christmas Eve, thank you

I've got a few days to think while he's away, I guess....Problem is, if I see something he'd like and I can afford it, I'll get it him. I like making him happy...Causes problems at this time of year! It's a good idea to take the decs down early for your DD, also means you'll have less to do in January! The decorations never look so pretty then, when it's cold and dark and Christmas has gone. I hate taking them down...I might hunt for a nice hotel we could spend a few nights with Christmas dinner and not be stressed. We left it so late last year we couldn't find anywhere, so I need to learn from it this year!

jo70mo

Hi Mambury and Elle,
Elle christmas away sounds great. go for it!
Mambury sounds like you are starting to get your head round how to proceed. like the idea of a course especially a creative one. glad you are getting sorted hun. missed your chat.
gotta go but prob be back later.
ooh how you getting on with the camper van thing?
One of the members of DHs band used to be involved with glastonbury in some way and is trying to get them to play there but unfortunately its in term time so DH wouldn't be available :-(. That would have been cool. we could have met up in your camper for a brew or a drink.lol.
Jo

Eyesparky

Hi Jo. Doing really well thanks ... "light at the end of the tunnel ..." etc. Hope you are well.

Sounds like a well thought out plan Mambury, hope you find something inspiring to stop your brain turning to mush (let us know the secret if you find it, as mine is pretty liquidised at the moment ). As for Christmas, I haven't even given it a second thought yet. Something simple I think .