Millionaire Challenge

lessonlearned

You're up bright and early.:rotfl:

The early bird catches all the best worms I hear...;).

Thanks for the link, will definitely take a butchers at that one.

Good luck with the car boot sale, it's a great day for it. You're braver than me I'm waiting until at least early May before I start car booting again.:rotfl::rotfl:

I toured round our local charity shops the other day - looking for bargains....Found some nice clothes (for myself not for sale) but didn't do too well on the bric a brac front.

I think charity shops are getting canny.

One shop had some Port Merion mugs - £20 each!!!! I heard a lady querying the price. The assistant said "Oh we know the value of things here, they are collectors items." Sounds like she's been watching too many antique programmes on the tele.:rotfl:

Mind you the charity shop (Scope) that I used to work in kept a Millers Guide on hand hand, and we did keep a separate pile which we used to take to be valued if we weren't sure.

We even had one of those "jeweller's eye glass" things so we could check out the jewellery and silverware etc for hallmarks.

I've not done much this last couple of weeks, but I'm doing ok with chasing up owed money, refunds etc. Another £50 refund this week, not much but "mony a mickle maks a muckle" as they say north of the border.
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I need to sit down and sort out my tax stuff within the next week or so. I estimate I'm due a refund of approx £2K. Definitely worth a couple of days trawling through my paperwork.:D

OH had a major chest infection and then a fall, so I've been a bit pre-occupied with him. He's ok - for now but obviously it threw me for a while and I didn't get much done.

Anyway it's a gorgeous day so time to get cracking.

Have a good week - make lots of money.

tinktay84

Hi Everyone!

Cant remember where I was up to but interesting to read about the whole 'negative attitudes to money' totally agree with everyone saying it seems to be a sin to do well. For some reason ive spent my life talking things down and been a bit ashamed of earning money or getting nice things. not any more!!!

YoungBusinessman

With Zopa you can lend out at £10 multiples I'm sure it is....so if you get two or three non payers out of say 50, you only lose £20 or £30 and not all your money...unless you choose to throw in £5k and give it to one person....

THEMONEYSPIDER_2

Well yesterday turned out to be a lovely sunny day, really enjoyed the hustle a bustle at the carboot.

LL: I love Charity shop hunts, but like you say its become very hard.
Unfortunately people don't donate like they use to, they tend to try and sell it themselves, carbooting , ebaying and facebooking it before they consider send it to charity. Even Clothes are now getting weighed in for pennies, instead of donated Most charity shops near me are struggling to get any decent stock, and unfortunatly when they do get anything decent in, it then gets over priced. It doesn't stop my urge to going looking though

We aren't that far from each other, the closest Carboot i go to up your way is Brinsley on a Thursday and Saturday, although these haven't yet started up again for this year.

You say you don't do fairs and carboots until the better weather, do you sell online? Its very rare for me to sell at a fair or carboot, i actually prefer to be buying more than selling at a carboot, i get itchy feet stuck behind a stall and want to go for a mooch :rotfl:

I had dreams of opening my own old fashioned Curiosity/ junk shop one day, but the cost and overheads killed that idea, its just not the same running a online shop, but it looks like thats the way the world has gone. Im not that computer savvy which throws a spanner in the works, so i'm spending a lot of my time trying to learn how to master the basic's, gathering info and hopefully, come the new Tax year i'll be trading online with my very own online Curiousity shop .
I'm currently selling Lots of personal items to raise funds, i read a article the other day which stopped me in my tracks. Usually when i have a clear out and raise funds i'll treat myself with the proceeds, the article was stating the obvious, Save as much cash as possible, because you never now when you'll have an oppitunity and need to get your hands on some quick cash, so rather than 'treat' myself to another pair of boots / coat / whatever that i don't really need, its all going in my quick cash reserve :money:

Re; Negative attitudes to money, The only real life Millionaires i have actually known have all been very modest and understated people, and definately didn't / don't flash the cash. Walking past them in the street you wouldn't bat an eyelid. I have also known many who Appear to have it all, flash cars, designer clothes multiple holidays a year, yet it had all been supplied by credit.

I don't think it would apply to people on this thread, but i think in general in this country most people don't get inspired by theirs peers and friends doing really well for themselves they get bitter, an prime example was the backlash against Martin when he sold this site for 84 million, Good on him i say!!

tinktay84

Exactly moneyspider! I would never flash the cash and said even if we diid get the magic million I would still keep my little citroen c1. what people dont know they cant be jealous of. I was told by a relative who works in property that a friend of his had a veyr nice house that he couldnt get insurance on...as he had been the target of 3 raids in less than a year.....!!

I prefer to use my money foor holidays, spending time with family general having fun. Yes you need some kind of investment but a flash car or mansion is a bit OTT for my taste. Dont get me wrong, if someone said here have this aston martin I wouldnt turn them down haha! I just know that when we got out citroen, it was the closest we have ever come to a brand new car (3 yrs old) and within a week someone had put a key down our paintwork front to back...It has a private plate (I know I know privae late on what is essentially a go kart) so my husband thinks its someone who knows us as it was parked between 2 luxury cars that were untouched

THEMONEYSPIDER_2

I once spent a whole day sanding down and glossing our front door, i did a right proper job and it looked lovely, emerald green it was, i nipped out to the shops and within 10 mins, someone has gouged 4 long lines right from the top to the bottom of the door with what i suspected to be a key

I'm just back from the P.O and some bloke with his missus and brood of kids in tow, has had a go at me.
I was walking out the shop and pulling the door behind me not realising that he was following me out, i heard him say "Thanks for that, you stuck up cow" i hadn't realise until i heard him that he was coming out, so i reopen the door, apologisingly said i'm sorry i didn't know you were behind me, and added, even so there was no need for name calling, to which he then replied "well don't bother next time, i'll get the door myself!" i think he must of thought i wouldn't dare say anything back. All very strange behaviour in my book

I follow quite a few American lifestyle and fitness coaches on facebook, one in particular just oozes positivity in everything she does, she's really big on her own personal development and paying it forward. I believe in surrounding yourself with positive people and you get positive results. The guy at the shop at one time would of upset me, i now realise it him who has the problem not me : HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE

lessonlearned

THEMONEYSPIDER wrote: »

I follow quite a few American lifestyle and fitness coaches on facebook, one in particular just oozes positivity in everything she does, she's really big on her own personal development and paying it forward. I believe in surrounding yourself with positive people and you get positive results. The guy at the shop at one time would of upset me, i now realise it him who has the problem not me : HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE

That's the spirit:T

Like you I love the positivity, optimism and energy that some of these coaches give out..

And I so agree about surrounding yourself with positive role models and avoiding the doom-mongerers and naysayers.

Here's a bit about how I learned to be so positive and optimistic.

I've had some great teachers both real teachers at school, but also bosses, colleagues, friends, parents of friends who took me under their wing....

I've had loads of excellent role models and mentors and I've learned from them all.

But the best teacher I ever had was the job from hell.

I used to have probably one of the worst jobs in the world, no salary - commission only. It involved cold calling - knocking on peoples' doors - trying to flog life insurance:rotfl::rotfl:

What a life lesson that turned out to be. OMG the rudeness of some people is truly unbelievable.:eek::eek:

I fought back the tears on more than one occasion. My boss, a very successul self made man, taught me to treat it like a game and how to handle rude, obnoxious, negative, nasty people and not let them drag me down to their level. He'd tell me "Just be polite back and keep smiling" - because it infuriates them....

When someone was truly obnoxious I learned to console myself that ok I was doing a lousy job in all weathers but I was doing it to better myself - whilst they were just sitting around on their backsides going nowhere. That what I was doing was temporary until I could find something better - whilst they would just sit there wallowing in their misery and their lives would never get any better. I was going home to my nice 4 bed detached house, in a good area with one of the best schools in the county for my kids - whilst they were content with the worst schools for their kids who in their turn would end up either on the dole or in some dead end job.

I would go home, have a nice hot bath and then settle down to enjoy my family.

That job, as awful as it was, opened doors for me and led to a fantastic job. That same boss who had encouraged me and supported me gave me a glowing reference and told the HR department who were dithering about "my suitability" that they would be insane to turn me down.:rotfl:

That year or so spent door-knocking and cold calling taught me some very valuable life lessons. How to deal with people, good and bad, nice and nasty. It gave me the skills to become a very successful sales negotiator. Sorry don't mean to sound immodest here but it's true. That year, whilst hard going, was one of the best training programmes anyone could ever devise.

Re the keying of cars and front doors, yes we've had that. I don't know what makes people so nasty - jealousy perhaps.....a feeling of hopelessness. Whatever it is - it isn't pretty is it.

I can truthfully say I've never felt envy of anyone's success. I prefer to see their success as a sign that yes I can do it too.

Some of the most successful people I have ever met have all been self-made and have hauled themselves up by their bootstraps.

Yes I've known a few who were born with silver spoons in their mouths, but I've never begrudged them either. They got lucky that's all.

Although from a very modest background I won a scholarship to a very posh grammar school and I was probably the poorest girl in my year:rotfl: There were some seriously rich little daddies girls at my school but I never begrudged them their wealthy backgrounds.

Instead I visited their beautiful homes, rode their ponies and sat down to delicious meals and thought to myself - I would like some of this.:D

For an ex council house girl I've done ok.

Whilst I sat at their tables I watched them eat and learned good table manners, I learned how to be the perfect witty and charming house-guest, I learned to appreciate beautiful houses, paintings and furniture.

I copied my friend's mothers and learned how to be a gracious hostess. This was to prove invaluable in later years when I had to entertain my husband's bosses and work colleagues which helped him race up the corporate ladder.

I regard the time spent at the homes of childhood rich friends as my "finishing school". Apart from which I had masses of fun into the bargain.

Instead of feeling angry and resentful about my modest background and being jealous of those who were clearly richer ad more successful than my own dear parents I just watched and learned and vowed to myself that I would be successful too .

My lovely parents worked hard all their lives but they were their own worst enemies, allowing their cynicism and negativity to rule their lives.

Now I could have let my humble beginnings sour me and become embittered, nasty, bad mannered and ungracious but for some reason I didn't.

I looked around me, saw there was a better life out there and determined to get some of it for myself and then of course, later for my family too.

I was like a sponge - just soaking up knowledge and learning from the rich and successful. I learned from anyone who was prepared to spare me the time to teach me. And when they were too busy I just watched and learned anyway.

And those people who are rude, obnoxious and vile, well I learn from them too. I learn how not to be like them. And of course, avoid them like the plague.....

So yes Happy Monday.

As my old boss would say "Stay positive and keep smiling".

lessonlearned

Moneyspider - You were asking about whether I had done much trading on line. Not really - just a bit of Ebay. I just did mainly clothing and a few textiles, things that were easy to post.

I would love a "Curiosity Shop" too. I've looked at retail shops but as you say they are a bit expensive. I do think it's nice to have some kind of display space though.

I was thinking about trying to find a property that would give me enough space to have a small onsite gallery/display space - converting some old outbuildings perhaps.

I know a couple of people who have done that. Combine that with an on-line presence and the odd antique fair or car boot and you could cover quite a few bases.

If you are doing regular car boots you could take business cards with you and perhaps a folder of photos of larger items.

Do you live near Heanor. They have an antiques centre there where you rent space and you can leave your items there (all safely displayed in glass cases). They take a commission of course but at least you don't have to be there to sell. I think it's just called Heanor Antiques Centre, they are online too. I'm sure there must be other places that do this.

Most of my stock is bric-a-brac rather than proper antiques. Anything that might be worth a bit I usually just send to auction, making sure that I do put a reserve on.

The reason I'm waiting until May is because I'm "nesh" as we say round here - don't like being cold. Hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer then. 5-00 am starts on a winter's morning don't appeal very much.:o

Like you I used to treat myself when I'd done a clear out. Now l follow Rich Dad, Poor Dad's advice and now "pay" myself with the money raised. Instead of spending my ill-gotten gains I now invest or save it so that when I spot a really good deal I know I have some cash reserves to hand.

gothrockchic1

Hi everyone I hope you are all well.

My net worth is £1217 plus £10 in Zopa.

Not a lot but not bad for someone who became debt free 8 months ago! :j

lessonlearned

Hi Rock Chick

That's great news, well done - quite an achievement. A nice little figure to start building on......

It does feel good doesn't it when you finally become debt free.

I need to sit down and work out this month's gains. I've had quite a few cheques for various refunds and bits and bobs and I think I've been quite conservative with my spending too.

Will need to do a tot up.

Well now that Stage 1 of the master plan is just about complete next week sees the start of Stage 2. Get my parents moved into sheltered accommodation.

I've booked EA's for valuations for their cottage, booked a viewing on a possible apartment for them, and booked a solicitor's appointment to complete the POA's etc.

I'm aiming to get my parent's move out of the way and get them nicely settled and comfortable within the next few months so that when my investments mature in July I will be in position to really get cracking on my own plans.

It's starting to get exciting.......