Wobbly Jellie looks for balance!

*Jellie*

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hey Jellie
I definitely think crafty cards may be something people would buy- even if its just friends and family to start with I would definitely go for handcrafted things if I could!
Sorry to hear you health hasnt been great, I know it can be awful when health affects your ability to work and I hope you find a balance that feels do-able soon! Interested to hear how the idea of working from home works for you- I think its amazing how money can be saved when it needs to be- and combined wisdom on here should definitely help!!

Happy new year and here's to an MSE 2012

Thanks for your positive words- I'm definitely going to look into selling things. Even if I just make some pocket money so the cards and gifts for people are money neutral this year. As a teacher home tutoring is the other idea I could try.

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

not sure whether it would work in your workplace, but one of the girls I work with makes cards and she has a box of stock covering most common occasions and an honesty box on the table in the staffroom. That method itself doesn't make her a fortune (she covers costs with a little extra added for her time) but she gets tonnes of commissions from it because people know she is crafty and have seen the standard of her work first hand.

That's a good idea. I was thinking of something similar but am worried it could rub some people up the wrong way!!

yukkibear wrote: »

Happy new year x

and to you!

*Jellie*

A very MSE day here. It was a NSD to start the year the way I want to go on ;-)
I've spent most of the day making some storage for crafting materials. I'm really pleased with it even though it is slightly wonky in places (pictures in my other place ;-) ) I was so tempted to go and buy some storage but decided I really wanted to try to find a different solution. I bought 4 pieces of mountboard to use and then used card and glue from my stash to make them.
I'm really proud of this start to 2012!

yukkibear

Storage looks great, very mse. How many pro markers have you got?

I had a nsd yesterday too

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

I would love to see a box of cards for sale in our staff room, so handy for when you forget someone... But probably best to check it out first, teachers are weird people.....!

pavlovs_dog

*Jellie* wrote: »

That's a good idea. I was thinking of something similar but am worried it could rub some people up the wrong way!![/COLOR]

nothing to lose Jellie. If your school staffroom is anything like ours then there's a lot of footfall and a lot of potential customers. One of the PTA mums leaves a phoenix trading book, the book people rep comes in, the 'tat' man (not sure what company he works for but he sells the most random array of stuff, the odd gem but mostly tat hence the name!), someone else does avon. if there's no one already doing it then you're definitely not eating into anyone else's customer base

*Jellie*

yukkibear wrote: »

Storage looks great, very mse. How many pro markers have you got?

Too many to be on MSE . I've not counted but I've got most of them! Today I turned on to Create and Craft while they were showing Flexmarkers and Tria markers at excellent prices. I've been drooling over them for ages and almost asked for some for Christmas but decided there were other things I wanted more then.....anyway I got hubby to turn over while I chanted these are not a necessity in my head and I resisted!!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

Hello,

I would love to see a box of cards for sale in our staff room, so handy for when you forget someone... But probably best to check it out first, teachers are weird people.....!

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

nothing to lose Jellie. If your school staffroom is anything like ours then there's a lot of footfall and a lot of potential customers. One of the PTA mums leaves a phoenix trading book, the book people rep comes in, the 'tat' man (not sure what company he works for but he sells the most random array of stuff, the odd gem but mostly tat hence the name!), someone else does avon. if there's no one already doing it then you're definitely not eating into anyone else's customer base

Nothing to lose- I will at least talk to SMT and the Common Room Committee. If they green light it I will give it a go. The worse that can happen is that I am known as the tat woman!!

A mixed day today. Another NSD. However yesterdays thrifty ways may have majorly backfired. Hubby really didn't like the idea of using clothes dye in the machine after a bad experience many moons ago. I thought he was being a bit OTT since I've used it quite a few times before with no problems and I figured the dye should have improved if anything! Stuff dyed fine, first few sets of coloured clothes seemed fine as did the white duvet covers. As soon as my husband puts in about 6 new white shirts at least one of them comes out with a bit of black dye on them! I'm really gutted. Won't be very MSE if we need to replace a new shirt and possibly part of the washing machine!!

*Jellie*

I forgot to say yesterday that I'm doing my usual storecupboard challenge for January. Basically I aim to live using what we have food wise as much as possible. However, since I am aiming for essential only spending as much as possible I am extending the challenge to include craft and clothes (my major downfalls). So no new craft stash or clothes!

*Jellie*

It was tempting to start a new diary and kill this one!! However I've decided that everyone has ups and downs in life and it wouldn't be much help on MSE if we only posted when everything was running smoothly. So sorry I haven't been up to keeping up with everyone here- I will try and catch up and do better!!

I'm going to cut a long and stressful story short- I struggle quite a lot with health issues and am now going part time. I'm trying to see this as a positive step to allow me to gain a more balanced and healthy life. However, I can't help but be concerned about having less money coming in.

I haven't yet had the guts to update my spreadsheet as we've not been following the plan at all and I'm scared to look! I'm hoping with support from others here I'll have a look soon!!

Strangely enough my aims at the moment are pretty much the same as in January as I need to get back on track.

Long term we'd like to have our mortgage offset in 10 years but that will be even tougher now and we'll need all the support we can get!

DawnW

Your health is the most important thing. Hope going part time works out ok, and you soon feel better x

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

Welcome back, I am sorry that you have been unwell and I hope that you are feeling better and more positive. You have done really well to date and your past thriftiness will stand you in good stead now that you are part time. Health is priceless! Very good luck and nice to hear from you.:j

Squirrel:j