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

Cheery_Daff

Probably not much use for tomorrow Ruby, but can you ask to pay by cheque rather than direct debit? It might mess up your system! But in this case you'd have been able to wait until 30th. No idea re tomorrow, sorry, unless you know anyone who can do an immediate transfer to your bank?

Soon you'll be out of this altogether :j you're doing all the right things, and they WILL come to fruition :T Just keep an eye on that pesky bank account, they misbehave as soon as you turn your back.... :rotfl:

And don't you worry about moaning, that's what we're all here for xx

RubySewSew

I have experimented with not paying by Direct Debit but paying by cheque but it doesn't work for me - I am so disorganised! The system should work all things being equal as all of my Direct Debits come from account which is only used for Direct Debits and nothing else. The problem this month is that with the boiler and the car I've had to borrow from my Direct Debit account in order to pay for food. And as ever, cash flow is a complete nightmare. Bring on working for myself and controlling my own cash flow!

Things will shift soon *sigh*. Just feeling slightly despondent because usually by this time of year I know what I'm getting everybody for Christmas and have half finished my shopping. This year I can't even plan because I have no idea what my budget might be. And I haven't got any time to sew! I've said it before, I don't mind being broke when I have time but I can't stand working this hard to still be this broke! And this tired! *bigger sigh*

Right, no more complaining. Boyfriend took me out for lunch today and friend taking me out for dinner tomorrow. And friends coming over for drinks and shopping on Friday. So, all things considered life ain't bad. I do wish the housework fairies would pay a visit though

RubySewSew

Trying really hard to stay positive. Drinks party last night was not a financial success. Settled on nibbles of potato wedges with nacho topping, mulled wine and/or mulled apple and ginger for drinks in order to provide but keep costs down. Mini shop came to £28 which I had to split between 2 accounts as it was the last of my money. Had a confirmed guest list of about 15 but ended up with only 4 guests. 2 bought. I am not good at selling to my friends. Insisted on taking £10 less from one friend as I owe her money for circus. Everyone brought wine and I sent everybody back with wine! Overall I sold £30 worth of stuff which covered my costs for the evening!

Trying to be upbeat and positive. Have relisted wii in local classified ads. Will list heavy Jamie items on facebook and local ads and send details to all those who couldn't make it but wanted to. Need to find another £62 in orders to cover my postage costs for Jamie stuff. Think that will actually put me in minus rather than positive because don't think I can access commission if it's under £10.

I feel like I am doing everything I can and getting nowhere. I am having to take a massive leap of faith and hand in my notice on Tuesday even though I do not have a firm job offer. And no clients booked yet for January! In fairness, with the last one I haven't had the time to do enough about it but have a plan with another self employed friend to do some marketing together. And I'm also not too worried as people tend to wait until after Christmas to book antenatal classes.

What more can I do? I need to find the money to replenish my bills account (£200), big grocery shop (realistically £100) and pay for car tax (£105) and some petrol (£40). Before I even begin to think about Christmas. I desperately want to implement new budget come January but unless I get charges refunded from banks it won't be possible as I'll still be firefighting.

And I am having some funny anxiety dreams! Last night I dreamt that the chickens drowned in mud because I hadn't cleaned them out and dreamt that I got caught up in a play/party/all nighter kind of thing and forgot to go to a class I had arranged and all of the clients saw me out and knew that I'd forgotten. Oh and there was a gig on the pier and a firefighter drowned. Couldn't see the relevance of that but bearing in mind my last comment that actually seems quite pertinent now!!

Plan to make the most of today. Am meeting a friend and going for a walk and to the park (will take hot choc in my new flask). Am going to make bread and cakes and soup. Will let the boyfriend buy meat for tomorrow. Should be able to get through the weekend with a relatively low spend. And at least I can use the £30 from last night to give the boys their pocket money.

The mulled apple and ginger is delicious by the way and a great non-alcoholic Christmas drink.
You need:
apple juice
ginger cordial or non-alcoholic ginger wine
pour equal measures into a pan (or to taste) and warm through.

I found the ginger cordial in ASDA. Or local farm shops. Enjoy!

RubySewSew

Oh man we've had a fox! Fox poo all over the roof of the chicken coop, tarpaulin shredded up and an attempt at tunnelling underneath. Cancel Saturday - today is fox-proofing day!

moo2moo

Why haven't you listed the Wii on Ebay as collection only, cash on collection? You could do the same with the heavy books. You'd make far more that way. You can even bung them on as a Buy-it-Now to guarantee getting what you want for them. Just factor in an additional 10% to cover E-bay fees. You can always list for 10 or even 30 days to guarantee only paying one set of listing fees.

moo2moo

RubySewSew wrote: »

Oh man we've had a fox! Fox poo all over the roof of the chicken coop, tarpaulin shredded up and an attempt at tunnelling underneath. Cancel Saturday - today is fox-proofing day!

Eeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mags30

Did the fox get at the chickens? Hopefully no casualties, that would make me

RubySewSew wrote: »

Had a confirmed guest list of about 15 but ended up with only 4 guests. 2 bought.

Why didn't the guests come? Is it because of the snow? If snow isn't a problem where you live it was probably because they didn't want to buy things. Not in a personal sense that they didn't want to buy your products but possibly because they can't afford luxuries and would have felt bad for not ordering anything.

Do you own many of these Jamie products? I'm not hugely familiar with the range although I have come across it at trade fair type events. If you own some of these products use them in public at every possible opportunity. Bring cake/biscuits to your new job on Jamie plates, use a nice Jamie mug for your tea in the staff-room, use the boxes as containers/storage boxes.....then people might admire them and ask "where did you get those?".

RubySewSew

All this selling stuff is new to me. Have 2 offers on the wii so going to text buyers now I'm having an ebay panic because some of the items I've listed are currently well below their value and ending today. i don't suppose there is much I can do about it now. Just an expensive lesson to learn. I do have quite a lot of Jamie stuff to get rid of. About £400 of display stock (completely unused).

I did have about 15 people confirmed for party on Friday - cancellations because of family illnesses mostly. Can't be helped, I just don't find it a very successful formula. 1 of the guests who didn't buy on Friday has asked for a selection of cards and decorations which is a perfect opportunity to take them in to the staff room at school Might make a few more today so I have a wider selection to take in. Have also had a request for an elephant which I will do as a gift (for a girl who has really helped me out with circus fees and marketing). And people got the chance to see the furniture I'm working on which is by far the most profitable and impressive part of my portfolio and something I can do on commission.

I find myself vacillating between hope and utter desperation! I'm feeling in desperate denial about Christmas. I've never been in this position before where my heart literally sinks at every mention of it. Maybe I can do some Christmas making and planning with the boys today, preparing for the fayres as we go. I have some ideas for cheap and cheerful makes that will hopefully sell well in the school fayres.

Ok, I'm going to take control. I will:
text buyers re wii
stock take and replenish crafts
list some more items on ebay
eat yummy homemade soup and bread prepared yesterday

Will update you later. Any thoughts on how to rescue existing ebay auctions let me know!

NorthernLas

Ruby - Look at closing the auction early - there are always occasions where things get broken. I have actually listed something incorrectly and I think I cancelled that one.

If you want a certain price, look at putting the price that you want as the starting price. OK it might put people off, but you don't have the worry of will it make it, will it not.

Also if you are selling books, put the postage over and above the max you can charge into the minimum price.

When you list on ebay, turbo lister is good as you can set it all up and then upload at 6-7pm this evening (ebays busiest time).

Keep going (hugs to you)

NL

Cheery_Daff

Well done for taking control ad doing some positive things! :T :T Good luck with the craft fairs. I know what you mean about heart sinking at the mention of Christmas - I've got no presents yet, and we're going away in 3 weeks, and I've got a PhD to finish before then too - aarrgghh! Best get cracking instead of running around like headless chicken!

Good ideas about using your Jamie plates etc, and taking the stuff into school - well done! :T