Week 2 - There's so much we can do.

Cheery_Daff

moo2moo wrote: »

Theres no cash commitment before you start either.

At my local one you have to buy a share for 5 pence

I'd second this though - we go to our local one every Saturday morning, fab array of stuff, they take craft things too - well worth investigating! :T

Hope you're feeling a little better this morning
xx

EssexHebridean

RubySewSew wrote: »

I think writing is probably the most lucrative and flexible to pursue. I just don't know how to go about finding work. It's always landed in my lap before!

It sounds like you're right (I may have other input, but this is the first thing that jumped out at me!) - Do you still have contacts from when you wrote for magazines etc before? If you're not sure if they are "active" then a simple phonecall should ascertain whether that is the case. Then how about writing a killer article that you feel sure will hit their target market, and then taking your summary paragraph and submitting it to whet their appetites and leave them wanting to read more? There may also be more magazines in the market than there were when you last did this kind of work so it may be worth doing a spreadsheet showing the magazines, contacts etc.

Question: Why the current fear of the sewing machine? When you look coldly at the cause, you may be able to work on a solution.

Karmacat

Hi Ruby, I landed on here after you posted on the matrix. As far as writing goes .... on the Up Your Income board on here, I found a couple of sites where you could bid for work online - you can see the bids other people have put in too. I can't remember the names, but a bit of digging would find them. Good luck.

RubySewSew

Ahhh! First day of half term holiday, picnic packed and only £4.50 to get kids to Worthing. What am I going to do? Have a load more stuff that has bounced this morning to and still waiting on invoice generated a month ago!!

RubySewSew

Thank you lovely people.

Lisa, unfortunately last writing contract ended badly. They saw me as unreliable because I ended up in A&E and then admitted into hospital and didn't manage to contact them from my hospital bed to tell them

Country market sounds like a great idea - will look into it.

I will write that killer article and make a start promoting it.

Today I have had a no spend day (if you overlook bank charges). Decided against Worthing as I thought it would be better to save pennies for swimming tomorrow. Went to the beach instead and then back home for tea and cake. My friend asked to borrow my sewing machine and set it up and guess what?! I had a go! I made the shell of a sock bunny so feeling very pleased with myself. Also, started cutting out an elephant I have been meaning to make for months. And that is something I can carry on in front of the TV. I have been making all afternoon and well into the night. Made a start on a couple of decoupage projects (one spiderman, one tin tin - both ace!). And made some Christmas cards. So feeling a little bit more empowered and motivated. Have collapsed on sofa now and left the house in a bit of a mess but hey, nobody's perfect right? So, now the seal is broken I can get on with my craft projects and Christmas presents. Yippee yippee yippee!.

On a serious note I need to put the breaks on what is going on with my bank accounts. Whilst planning future money making is vital I need to deal with the present situation.

I liked Cheery Daff's Keep, Drop, Pursue headings - I wonder how I can turn these into targets for myself?

RubySewSew

You wouldn't believe it! There's only a country market co-op at the end of my road!

Cheery_Daff

Excellent news Ruby! You're sounding more positive today :T Will pop back in the morning and read properly :T

RubySewSew

The invoice has finally been paid and is in my account! I need to rethink how I'm budgeting. I budget on a monthly basis (because this is how I pay for stuff) yet my income isn't monthly. I get some things regularly each month, some 4 weekly, some on a more ad hoc basis. Very few receipts actually have a regular date. Any ideas how to reorganise things?

Took the kids swimming today. We still get free swimming but it still cost me £6 for adult swim and car park. Had a car picnic and then dropped DS1 at a birthday party - a round trip of 2 hours! Not been feeling that well today - woke up with a headache that wouldn't shift. Tried aspirin and prescription migraine pills but it was still lingering. I know when it's a migraine because I get ravenous - suddenly realised whilst troughing a big old slice of victoria sponge! Had a nap inbetween dropping off and picking up from party. Slept flat out for an hour and woke up feeling dreadful! So feeling a bit rubbish, cold and sofa bound now

I posted on facebook to say I was on the look out for old beano's marvel comics, magazines from the 40's and 50's etc for craft projects etc and an old friend came up trumps an offered to send me a load! Yippee, more making here I come! Also going to look at ways of advertising antenatal one to ones to get email and phone clients. Any ideas gratefully received!

Mags30

Hi Ruby, I haven't been on here for a few days so have loads to catch up on. Cheery has written such lovely posts for you. I'm not feeling very inspired today but I'm thinking the matrix should be able to help with the email/phone antenatal bookings.

I'm wondering is there anything that can be done about the unpaid charges? This really needs to be dealt with because it's going to make your money situation much worse. Perhaps you should check the main debt free board for help with this or start your own thread there.

Cheery_Daff

Hi Ruby, glad to hear you sounding a little more positive about your future projects. Good news on the comics! What projects are you doing with them? I'd love to see! :T

I'm afraid I have no idea about how to go about organising things Sounds like a right old fiasco, one that's guaranteed to get you in a muddle. I suppose the ideal would be if you had built up a few months worth of income, it would be easier to budget, then things would just get added to the bank account as and when they arrived. But that involves building up a few months of income to draw from, so it's hardly a short term solution!

Sorry to hear about your migraine Sounds absolutely rotten

I saw you'd posted on the matrix thing about ante natal clients -good on you! :T Some good ideas on there already, and great that you're going to put some time aside to follow them up! :T Be brave! Sounds like you've got a fabulous 'product' to 'sell' (much as I don't like that language! :rotfl:), and there'll be plenty of people that would love to have you! :T I'm excited for you

Hope you're feeling better tomorrow xx