Hi, Please can anyone help? SOA and current situation

rhubarbarella

OK, so another update. I feel utterly worn out today and can't really think very clearly, I seem to be running out of steam.
My partner seems a little better today, he hasn't talked about suicide all day which is a huge relief.

My Mum has now paid for a years pre payment certificate for my prescriptions, backdated so I can get a refund on the last lot (I got a special reciept)

We spoke to the landlord today and he has agreed (subject to his wife agreeing) to giving us 3 months grace on the rent - we will then pay this back over the following 2 years. Rent is £815/month, so we'll get 3 months without paying, and then pay an extra £100/month for 24 months after, assuming we're still going, which gives us some breathng space to see where we are at. He said he really believes in us and the business and wants us to succeed and thinks we will if we can get through this period. He has also said we can rent out one of the rooms (we have a reception, a treatment room and a room currently used for consultations when we have clients, he said we can rent this out, he doesn't mind and is leaving that to us). So I have put signs in the post office and a couple of other places, plus the shop window, offering to rent out the room for £50/week plus a contribution towards electric and rates etc. I will charge more if they want my partner to also take bookings for them etc, depending on what kind of business they are running, so fingers crossed someone will show an interest.

Tomorrow we will change my partners bank accounts and talk to the bank about the possibilty of either going interest only for a while on the mortgage or taking a payment holiday. Also still hoping to go to the drop-in service.

I spoke to the council and apparently due to my health conditions if my OH went bankrupt and it forced a sale on the house I would have what they call a priority, which is where they have to rehouse me within 13 weeks of me being made homeless, if the tenancy was in my name. I wouldn't have a say in where they rehoused me, but it would be somewhere within the same city (i don't care really, it is just nice to know I won't be homeless). The only thing is, for this reason I have been told not to put my name on the list until we know what is happeneing as because after the 13 weeks you go on the "normal" waiting list, currently over 10 years. But this is valuable info to have.

er, think thats actually all I have achieved today. My head is reeling. I need to recalculate figures to see where this leaves us, and whether the business can still continue with the temporary reduced costs.

Oh, I also found out that I can apply for "permitted work" on my benefits, and do 16 hours a week with their permission, so in theory could go to work with my partner a few hours a week to help him (the idea was that in the long run I would be able to work with/for him as he understands my health and the limits upon me). This will reduce some of the pressure on him, and I can keep a closer eye on the accounts etc

Like I say, I am exhausted today and not thinking very straight so not sure where this leaves us at present, need to crunch some numbers later on if the brain fog lifts.

If the bank agree to a payment holiday or interest only for a while I need to see if we can actually survive.

Oh, also, another business owner friend nearby who runs a salon has said she would let my OH work from her salon ona freelance basis if we go under.

So things seem a bit brighter today. I realised also I do not want to die, I want to fight this and live, its only money, and relatively even being bankrupt in this country still makes me richer than, oh, about 5 billion of the rest of the world! (and other cliches haha)

Like I say, I haven't crucnhed the new numbers yet. Still want to go to the drop-in tomorrow and find out where we are at.

My partner broke down last night and said I was being amazing and that he felt he had let me down by taking away my security. I told him not to be stupid, as long as we have each other we will manage. Sorry to be soppy, but I would rather be living in a box under a bridge and have him than be rich and be without him. I told him this and he cried, bless him.

I was so expecting the worse when we spoke to the landlord but he was so nice about everything, he said he wants us to succeed and is sure we will if we have time.
I said to him that I know nothign about business and he said that I know more than about 90% of the country do, and that being honest with him is best as he can try to help us out, and that it is not in his interests for us to go under.

So, thats today.

Tomorrow brings (hopefully) the drop-in service for debt advice, boiler service, new bank account and hopefully reduced mortgage payments.

Whatever happens, I know feel that we can get through this time, and what we learn will stand us in good stead for the future.

Thank you so much for the kind words everyone has given, and the help and support.

Please, any further advice, messages, ideas etc are more than welcome. You people are keeping me going. Thank you. I love you all!!

Sorry for the length of my posts

RAS

Well done to both of you.

Can I suggest that you think about whether you could rent that second room on a sessional basis? Someone I know has a "healing centre" for the sake of words, where various practitioners book the same day slot each week. The rooms can be set up for different therapies depending on needs. It oerates upto 12 hours a day. She lives nearby and comes in just to lock up some days.

If he does not have any sort of couch, people may still be OK for some therapies.

theoretica

It sounds like you have really accomplished a lot. Congratulations! I am not surprised you are feeling exhausted!

rhubarbarella

Ok, just to add, I have just got off the phone, I have asked a friend of a friend who is a Dr in a nearby city if he would be interested in doing botox, fillers etc from the shop (we have relevent license but not qualified ourselves) and we take a chunk of the money and take booking etc he already does it from his practice so he may be interested and is going to think on it and get back to me, also already had interest from someone else who just qualified as massuese who may rent the second room for 2 days/week.
Still don't know if this is enough to survive, but I do feel that if it al fails now I know I have done everything possible to make it work. I didn't know I had it in me. In a bizarre way, despite the utter hell, it has kind of boosted my confidence - I have found somethign in me I did not know existed.
I felt so utterly helpless and beyond hope just a few days ago - when I look at my first post compared to how I feel now the difference is incredible to me.
We are still deep in the proverbial you know what, but we are fighting. And that must count for something?

Please do keep commenting, as I said before, it is you guys that have given me this strength to go on.

theoretica

Are you able to also offer ear piercing? I am wondering if you could add the selling point of not using those gun things...

rhubarbarella

me again...Hi...

I just did a hypothetical new SOA, where I kept the same the things that can't currently be changed, or not right away (2 phone contracts, water and electric etc, car), reduced the presents to show monthly not yearly (and cut back somewhat), reduced groceries, halved cigarette costs etc, and entered instead the proposed 3 months grace on the rent and interest only mortgage payments....
I also added a hypothetical income for my partner of £600 (I imagined £200/month for renting space out at shop, £200 for the botox/fillers that the friend of a friend is considering, and £200 for clients for my partner...I know, I know this is all pulled from the air numbers but I wanted to see what difference it would make)
Unfortunately, even with all this, there would still be a deficit of over £500/month...plus the rent would still have to be paid afterwards (24 months of £930 instead of £815) and the mortgage would not be going down, we'd only be keeping the interest at bay, so the repayments after would be higher)

So I am actually still not sure what to do for the best. I was really hoping that when I rejigged the numbers it would somehow mean we'd be at least breaking even, even on the temporary reduced payments, so that we'd have chance to make the business work. And of course, the numbers are just made up suppositions, assuming that the Dr friend agreed and we got people in straight awaym that we got a couple of clients and that the available room was taken up right away.

Oh, thats a bit depressing really. Poo.
I haven't told my partner this yet, don't want to upset him again. Today I managed to get him to eat a pork sandwich (which, unfortunately cost me £2.20, but he suddenly said "I could maybe eat a pork sarnie", so I went out in the rain and found a sandwich shop, its virtually all he had eaten in 3 days). He also ate 5 grapes, a milky coffee with sugar, and 5 bites of a ready meal. This is the most he has eaten in almost a week. Sorry to bore you with his dietary habits. But basically, I don't want to upset him again now by telling hm the numbers still do not work.

Are we still facing bankruptcy after all?
Hoping I can still get us to the drop-in centre in the morning. I will let you know how it goes.

I think I m moving beyond stressed and tired into utterly numb.

PS how do I get rid of that spam post?

rhubarbarella

theoretica wrote: »

Are you able to also offer ear piercing? I am wondering if you could add the selling point of not using those gun things...

Hmm, possibly. I know he has a full skin piercing and colouring certificate and registration and insurance. Not sure if he has the kit at present but it is something to look into. To be honest most people want them doing with a gun - crazy fools that they are, needles are much better.

SimIsOnTheUp

Hiya Rhubarbarella,

Just wanted to tell you, that you are an inspiration, and one amazing Lady! You have helped me see my debts in a much more positive light. As you say it is only money

Big Hugs to both you and your partner. I feel for you both. Depression is one horrible b*gger to deal with. Sorry to read about your illness too. I also struggle with food intolerance, and it really gets me down at times.

You will both get through this.

Off to bed now to try and get some sleep.

Night night,

Sim x

dancingfairy

Hi - a couple of thoughts from me:
1) are you entitled to any more benefits? surely you should be should be getting more help? I don't know if you can submit the business figures to the council to prove the business is not making any money? I thought you could also claim jsa or something while setting up a business?
2) have you tried speaking to businessdebtline? also might be worth speaking to businesslink and ask at the council whether there is any help for small businesses.
3) I'm not sure what your husbands busines is but is there anyway he can work part time to get a bit of cash and work in the business part time?
4) if all else fails I would check what benefits you would be entitled to if you wound up the business - not that I'm suggesting you do but it might give you an indication of what the situation would be?
Good Luck
df

tangyfog

Ok here some extra ideas that I had...I used to go to place call
the college of psychic studies and I was on a course about healing work. and the biggest problem the students have was they all wanted to start their own business but could not commit to kitting out and leasing out a full treatment centre. So if you contact the college and let them know you have a treatment centre as such then they may be able let their students know about your available rooms.

http://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/

On the numbers side of things If the healer charged £60 for 1 hours and you charge the healer £25 per hour slot then if they have 2 appointments per day then you would get £50 if you book every day
Mon to Friday so say 20 days then that would be £1000 a month.

For one treatment room. base on 2 appointment a day.

Also the therapist/healer will be able to generate their own leads and should bring more business to you and if you can advertise or speak to the college you should have more people using your treatment room.

using facebook is not going to bring in enough customer as I use it my self and most of my business come from word of mouth and local trade, and networking. i.e. one customer tell another and bring more in.

Im pretty sure there are load of reiki healer etc who would love to use the treatment rooms. look at website and forum for alternative healers and you should have plenty of takers.

The people ath ladbroke grove healing centre use this exact business model for keeping going and it was really successful.

Reiki healing is really popular and so many people are learning it and want to recieve healing.

It worth looking into.

If something does work, dont just get stuck on one idea be flexible in business, so may you could be come qualified as a reiki healer. Its relatively easy to do and time wise a few day is all that is required.

You could bring in customer 3 ways, other healers, youself as a healer and your ear peicing business.

If worth looking into I did part 1 and 2 for less than £300. after that you would be ok to do the healer for customer yourself. Again something to look into. I did my course at the college of light. Again no selling it but
you giving your some advice that might be of some use.

Something think laterally help in business, it never about going in a straight line!


Hope that helps!