Determined this is my last debt diary

starnac

I can't believe DS is 5!!! Where does the time go??? Glad he had a nice birthday and it didn't break the bank for you either. It's so easy to go overboard on kids parties and get sucked into the one up anthill that some parents seem to have going!!

Birdie85

Glad Max had a good birthday (although how can he be 5?!?!?) I don't think you can go wrong with cheap and cheerful parties for littlies, party games are the best!

Glad the frame was well received! I get so warm and fuzzy thinking about all of these happy little frames all over the place! I'm a bit put-out TBH as one of my friends asked me if she could raid my craft stash for some boyish bits... I didn't think anything of it until she asked if I could pick up a frame for her the next time I got a load and that the craft stuff she wanted to get from me was to make her own frame for a Christening gift for a friend of hers! I have rather pettily not mentioned that I now have a car boot full of frames nor have I invited her around for the big stash raiding as I'm not happy about providing her with all the tools to rip me off!

starnac

That's not on Birdie. It's one thing to try and make her own frame but to actually ask you to provide the bits :eek: that's properly cheeky. I wouldn't mention it either. If she does mention it again just gently remind her that as you are a business now all your "craft bits" are stock and need to be accounted for in your stock take. Fake some boredom too "it's such a pain to have to keep track of every little bit but that's what happens I suppose" etc etc

Birdie85

Good suggestion Star! I genuinely do need to start keeping track of my spends and suchlike and counting my stock and what have you so it's not totally lying! I wouldn't mind but she makes jewellery and got me into it whilst we were on maternity leave together but I've still bought bits from her in a show of support when I could have just asked to raid her stash and make it myself...

clearmydebts

What a cheeky so and so. Your frames are so reasonable Birdie. I would be really annoyed with her. I think Star gave great advice there. I'd be majorly p*ddled off too.

starnac

Birdie85 wrote: »

Good suggestion Star! I genuinely do need to start keeping track of my spends and suchlike and counting my stock and what have you so it's not totally lying!

Learnt the hard way. I've had people ask me for "the leftovers" of fabric after I've made them something so that they can make a bag/shawl/cape/tie etc to match. With the added comments "So and so can make it cheaper" Well of course they can if I give you the fabric for free!! It is annoying. And if you have bought bits off her to support her then she should respect that and support you. She should know what it's like!

You also need to make sure you are not undercharging for your frames too Birdie so keeping track of what you spend/use is a good way to know how much each frame costs you.

Birdie85

Ooh that's cheeky and annoying Star! People don't seem to value skill, do they? It's all about getting something as cheap as possible! It's why I only charge what I do, I'd rather get several orders at the current price than charge more and risk people think I'm overcharging and not getting any orders. I'm never going to earn a living with things as they are though!

I need to have a good clear out and stock take/valuation but I've got such a big stash it's quite a daunting prospect!

clearmydebts

Hi all,

Long weekend for us here. OH is now of until Wednesday!!! My Mam is minding the kids tomorrow while myself and OH go and look around furniture shops. She did offer to mind them one of the evenings but we are trying so hard to save money and both of us really love going to furniture shops. House geeks!!!

Myself and OH went to view a house yesterday. It is in bits (all cosmetic) but we love it. We are arranging to go for a second viewing next week. It is within our budget and is 4 bed which is lovely as we tend to have quite a few guests. So fingers crossed we get approved for the amount we need.

So I have been listing clothes hell for leather on a local selling sites. Today I have made approx €90 so am happy with that. I am going to go hell for leather to clear that BOI credit card. Need to write down my goals somewhere for it:

March - reduce from 4813 to 4273
April - reduce from 4237 to 2849 (if OH gets all the overtime he is expecting)
May - reduce from 2849 to 2349
June - reduce from 2349 to 1595
July - reduce from 1595 to 811
August - reduce from 811 to O

I'm going to do my utmost to smash this before August if I can. Then I will be just left with the Virgin card, which I will try to get rid of after we buy a house.

clearmydebts

Well I am so proud of myself today. I had a Next VIP slot and I bought nothing, for the first time in years. I am so pleased I am sticking to this shopping ban.

Have tried to view the house a second time but they are useless at getting back to us. Kind of suits us though as we can't apply for a mortgage until the end of the month anyway so delays are good.

OH is paid next week so once again we are at the time of the month for counting the days down again. OH is doing quite a bit of overtime in March and April so we are hoping to make a good dent in the Bank of Ireland credit card.

I am working on Saturday and OH is working on Sunday so a very quiet weekend planned

starnac

Hi CMD. Looks like you've got a good plan for getting rid of the BOI card.

Good luck with the second viewing. If you can drag it out into middle of next week it will be perfect for applying for a mortgage if you want it too x