Kate1979's quest to become MF!

BaillieRiley

Sounds like a plan Kate!!

BR x

earthgirl

Great news on the tutoring Kate! Glad oh liked his presents.

kate1979

Afternoon fellow MFW's, hope you've all had a good week. I have been busy fielding calls from hopeful tutees, all my available sessions are full up but I'm trying to see if I can add a couple more. It's a balancing act between wanting to maximise tutoring sessions but not putting myself or my family under too much stress. I will discuss with DH later if I can fit another session in, although I am waiting to hear from one of his friends to see if her daughter wants to carry on tutoring, so once I know that then I can plan a bit better.

At the moment I have 4 sessions per week, increasing to 5 in the first week of February. We always said 5 would be the maximum I would do, but demand is so high that I feel I should try to squeeze a couple more in. As it is, if DH's friends DD wants to start up again then I will be up to 6.

Just looked at bank balance - not quite as much as I thought in there due to DH's birthday. However, I'm on track I think to get £100 in the OP pot by the end of the month.

Last weeks targets ... well, not really met. So I guess I'll carry some of them over.

1) Cancel the magazine subscription Done!
2) Get CD's onto Music Magpie. Not done.
3) Finish outfit for friend's baby then start on with small projects again. Still to finish outfit, I should be done tonight. However, I have the small problem of a rapidly decreasing ball of wool, I really don't think there will be enough. I had enough by weight but not by yardage apparently. It was older wool as well so I'll have to get more off the internet.
4) 15 mins decluttering every day (I live in hope!) :o No. Not even close.

So it'll be:

1) Confirm whether previous student wants tutoring and try and squeeze in an extra student.
2) CD's onto MM.
3) Start up small projects again.
4) 3 decluttering sessions. Maybe if I list it like this I'll do better.

I did find a couple of things that could go on Ebay, so I'll try and get them on there tonight after finishing my tutoring work.

I'm hoping next week to report what my first OP will be!

Take care all

kate1979

First OP today! Grand total of £50, a little less than I had hoped for, my target is £100 for each month. But we've had a few extra bills this month and it's taken a while for my tutoring to pick back up again with new students. Next month is looking more promising, with at least 5 students per week and probably up to 6 soon. Also no big bills (touch wood) and no council tax.

So I'm hoping for £150 at least next month to get me back on target. But it's a start and at least it doesn't say £0 in my sig any more!

kate1979

Had a few rough days - there's been a bad cold going round and whilst usually I would power on through, this one has knocked me for 6. And with two little ones, both also suffering, getting a rest has been difficult! I feel much better now, although my eyes are hurting from the sinus pressure, but my first coffee of the day has helped!

So getting back on the MF track, and I have a few items ready to ebay. My MusicMagpie box is still cluttering up the bedroom but I will hopefully get round to it this weekend. I have 4 hours tutoring this week, my fifth student starts next week. My Mum is also coming to visit for a couple of days so it's busy busy busy round here! I'm looking forward to the help and adult company around the house during the day!

The outfit for friend's baby has been finished so I will get back onto the crafty items - I have had a few ideas whilst pootling around on Pinterest. Off out to the library in a bit with DS and DD, and I'm wondering how I can detour into the nearest craft shop! Not many good ones near us though, not as far as I know anyway.

Targets for the week:
1) Bank all of tutoring money (it's my birthday on Wednesday and I already have some birthday money so shouldn't need to keep any tutoring money aside for little spends).
2) More crafty knitting and get started on new ideas.
3) Try to tidy up properly in the evening so I don't spend the day moaning about the mess!
4) Be easy on myself and recover properly from cold - I'm prone to chest infections and had pleurisy last year after one so I need to try and avoid that!
5) Keep plodding on with potty training DS so nappy spending is reduced. He is very happy to go on the potty or toilet but does not tell us when he needs to go. We need to get him into proper pants and not pull-ups, just trying to find a few days when we can stay home. So my plan is to get sorted for next week and try it then, or maybe the week after when DH is on half term!

Off to the library now, take care all

Pearla*Merle

Aww, hope your cold disappears quick! Such a nuisance when these things come along and get in the way!

Anyway, I've just stumbled across your diary and noticed you'd mentioned looking for activities you could do with the kids. I was about to introduce you to pinterest but I see you're already there! I adore pinterest, so addictive! I've got a few great finds on there, I'll PM you some links so you can have a gander.

One of my favourites is 32 Things To Make With A Cardboard Box. My mum once found an amazing book called 1001 Things To Do With Your Kids. I think this is it, but I'm not altogether sure... but no doubt there are other books like that around, the library might have some? Or you could try getting them to order it? There's a follow up book called 1001 More Things To Do With Your Kids, which looks fairly cheap on Amazonia right now.

Good luck with the mortgage overpayments! x

abouttimetoo

Hi Kate and a belated welcome to the board :hello:

Well done on your first OP, it feels good doesn't it; I remember the first OP that I made was £50 too and it felt like I'd kept a promise to myself in making it and that it was my first tangible step to MFW committments.

Glad you are feeling a little better now, bad enough to be ill but so much worse with the little ones too

Well done on your students passing their exams, it must be a good feeling for you too

I'm a bit of a Groupon fan (and you can use Topcash on it too) and often seen reduced vouchers for play groups, adventurelands etc - just a though for cheap things for you to do with your little ones and I've seen some of them include drinks and a snack too

Regards
ATT

kate1979

Pearla thanks for the links, I shall have a good check in a minute! We have plenty of cardboard boxes around so that sounds great! Tomorrow is looking like it'll be cold and rainy again so it'll be baking, which DS adores and DD likes because she gets to 'quality control' the mixture :rotfl:. I'll get some ideas from your suggestions too, looking forward to a rainy day now.

I've not been on Pinterest for long but it certainly is addictive.

Thanks for your kind message ATT, I know what you mean about that first payment. Before I was wondering if I'd really stick to it, but I'm on my way now. Thanks for the Groupon advice, I've never really looked on there before.

Tutoring went well tonight, it was for an A* grade student, so we were working on the really tricky maths - my idea of fun :j! I also have a gifted and talented student who wants to do some off curricular investigation work on Friday which I'm really looking forward to.

Night night all

coldcazzie

Hi Kate, just read your diary so far, it's nice to see another SAHM :wave:

Congrats on your first official op! I wish I could make tiny ones like you can but I have to save mine up til they are over £500

Hope your cold shifts soon - I've got flu at the moment, and I'm really struggling to "power through" unless I'm dosed up to the eyeballs on painkillers. It makes life really difficult.

Looking forward to reading more of your diary

kate1979

Thanks Caz. Hope your flu shifts soon x