Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

Karmacat

Thats brilliant, for OH and for the PB, good for you

themadvix

Productive morning so far - two bits of work finished and submitted, invoice sent off (was waiting for a PO), two loads of washing on the line (it's cold, but windy; things are drying nicely) and website proofed by me - have sent the link to my Mum for a final check before publishing.

Fiddled around with some ebay listings - now some of them qualify for fast and free... wonder if that will make a difference? Have a few more bits to investigate and list, but currently incapacitated as giant ginger kitty cat has decided it's cuddles time I'll just have to sit here and read the boards!

Karmacat

Envy you the ginger kittie! And a proof reader within the family, to tell the truth but more the ginger kittie

themadvix

Ginger kitty is lovely KC - unlike his brother he's not a fidget and purrs very loudly!

Productive day continued - 4 more items listed on the bay, freezer inventory done (not quite as much in there as I'd like, but I'm sure we'll manage!). Washing all dry and in, ironing done. Various other bits and pieces sorted out too.

DH has been having a focused go at surveys today - he got up early to do some, bless him. I've managed a few too, so money will continue to trickle in there.

Things to be grateful for today
* Gorgeous sunshine
* Washing line dried
* New work project has already arrived
* Kitty cuddles
* Making plans for Saturday with friends

themadvix

Another productive-ish morning, although less for my benefit. A little bit of work done first thing, and another little (urgent) bit coming up this afternoon, but main focus was getting the Brownie gift aid claim submitted - which I'm pleased to say it is! £250 will be deposited in our account shortly Money for me/money for them, I'm happy either way.

Still haven't quite sorted the cc bill out - forgot to do it last night. Will look tonight (but I've got until the end of the month more or less before it's all due). Business website is now live, so here's hoping that will bring in some new custom.

Was annoyed to discover (due to my terrible maths skills) that I'm about £100 short of the minimum OP this month - the house ins underspend and extra earnings don't yet make the ~£430 I need.... so challenge for the month will be to find this from ebay earnings (and any survey income due). No room to find it in the budget!

Have meal planned to end of next week and not intending to get a veg box then as think we'll be okay/can just top up a few bits from the supermarket. Have budgeted for 1 more this month, plus £20 top up shops (milk, eggs which normally come with veg box; cheese or ham for DH's sandwiches). Plus £15 for haircut on Monday (which I'd forgotten about and have to pay cash for - SIL does it).

Looking ahead, we're going to a wedding over Easter weekend - Friday to Sunday - and have calculated that the cost for our cat sitter will be the same as our hotel room was for two nights (£74)!! She charges double for BHs, which is fair enough, but we'll be asking favours of the parents/BIL to cut this down a bit I think!... I've just had a look and it looks like there are cheaper options out there, but I'm not sure how I feel about getting out of the relationship with our current cat sitter.... Hmm... need to think about that. As a bonus, have found a cat-sitting platform that might offer a good side income!

Another bit of work has just popped, so better get that done!

Karmacat

Rates are quite something, aren't they, for cat sitting - its why I was thinking about it as a side income in retirement. You've set a bit of a light bulb off in my head, actually - after all, I don't have kids, my mum has gone, staying with my sister or my brother is doubtful for many reasons (most of them mine, not theirs) .... I wonder if cat sitting over Christmas would be A Good Wheeze?

themadvix

Definitely KC - when I looked on catinaflat.com someone wanted £105 to stay at mine from Good Friday to Easter Sunday!!! And he didn't do visits, was only interested if he could stay!

Karmacat

Gosh! I'm distracted from all of that by probate and tidying my mum's place to sell it, but thats ... a lot. Thanks for the reminder

try_harder

Wow ,that sounds like a good job for me ,earn money and stroke cats all day ,just purfect ,sorry couldnt resist that

themadvix

I forgot to add that the guy who wanted £105 for sitting in your house was also self-employed, so probably would be working while there - it seems like a pretty awesome way to live (especially as I bet he gets lots of gigs in central London with nice flats!). Ironically, I'm not sure about letting a stranger into my house to feed the cats, but I am considering joining up to offer my services (I guess I might change my mind once I've had a few goes).

Saturday was lovely - met some friends in London for a walk, lunch and a few beers from my favourite brewery in the new bar they've opened. It wasn't cheap, but DH and I were very restrained and explained that things were tight this month. I don't think our friends really understood this, but being SE it's easy to say I've not had much work, ergo not much money. Some of the money for this will come from our 'treat fund' savings, so not desperately worried about the expenditure.

Had a grotty headache all day yesterday (not from the whole pint and a third I had on Saturday!), so didn't do huge amounts. Put some bits from the Brownies on FB to sell and quite a bit went (we had a clear out of Brownie cupboard on Friday), so that's a few pennies in for them. Ebay auction ended for snow globe - £35!! Was very pleased with that Nothing else sold that was finishing yesterday, so have relisted a few bits. £30 after fees has been transferred to the OP fund.

VB money should be paid this week, so that'll be another £14 heading to the OP fund.

Still very little work, but I'm hoping there will be a large project from my main client soon - there usually is at this time of year. Have done other little bits and have been in touch with a couple of agencies I've not worked for for a while. Have chased the debt collectors again this morning about Ukrainians. We'll see what they say.

Having lunch at sister's today and dinner at in-laws' this evening and will get my hair cut whilst there. I have £12, need to find another £3 in cash for SIL. Am to find it down the back of the sofa!

In the meantime, I'd better head over to the PO with all my parcels Have a good day everyone!