Caz counts it down

cazmanian_minx

Well, I made it to the heady heights of 18 orders to go and I think the decision is made - once I've got the business overdraft paid back, I'm going to shut the bead shop. End of an era and all that and yes, I'm a bit sad about it, but I'm also extremely proud that I started and ran a small business for over nine years (it'll probably be closer to ten by the time the debt's gone) in an economic climate where most small businesses close in less than three.

What am I going to do next? No idea, but at least I've got the typing to keep a little bit of cash flowing in while I have a think.

Earnings so far this week:

Sunday
£12.00 - proofreading

Monday
£21.60 - transcription
£24.68 - 10% of bead shop bankings

So I'm not off to a great start and my cash on hand took a hit after I discovered that my dog had managed to kill a neighbour's chicken when she escaped from the car last Wednesday and was out of sight for two minutes while I ran for a lead :(:(:(:(:(:( I went down to see the neighbour to check that it was the same day she escaped that the chicken was killed (I only found out after speaking to another neighbour today who said he'd asked her if she knew of anyone with a black spaniel around here) and it was, so I apologised profusely and offered to replace the chicken. He was actually very nice about it, really appreciated that I'd gone down and owned up, and they were picking up three new chickens tomorrow (they lost two to the fox over winter), so I've paid for one of them and everyone is happy. He says he's going to build them a run - at the moment they're free-ranging around the village, which I wasn't aware of. If I'd known there were loose birds in that direction I'd have gone straight after the dog rather than going into the house to get a lead first. Still feel bad about it, because it's my fault, but I've done everything I can to put it right at least.

DebtFree2012

Morning Caz

As a chicken owner it comes with the territory that if you let them roam, they are open to the elements. That's that now, nothing more you can do.

As for the DF question some days gone by, sorry, just catching up - yes I have plans for that day as it'll be a long time coming! I'm not sure what they are yet however it will be day one of the next phase of my life, meaning I can start to think about getting somewhere with land for the horses and that is my (adult) life's ambition. It will be a HUGE relief.

Congrats on making a decision re the bead shop - I know it will have been hard for you. Have fun thinking about what the next project will be and here's to paying the OD off quickly xx

wonabeedebtfree

Hi,
I have been a long time lurker on your diary. I have really want things to work out for you.
Have you looked at all the avenues for selling your product? What about making a few things and selling them off as finished products? Maybe craft markets? You said that you are on facebook..what about expanding that element of the business that people can buy from you there? Another way is to direct people to your own site.

With ebay are you stuck to selling your product at the same price everywhere else or can you offer a discount for loyal customers? What about a membership fee(£20 per year??) to your loyal customers and you could send them emails once a month with new products you are selling. Maybe give a small discount if they buy over a certain amount per year to these people.

I want to set one up with wool and buttons and just dont know where to start.

I have a question starting from a different angle.

My husband has a business sole trader(construction) and he has been offered a credit card but over here(ireland) you have to set up a dd with the bank and pay it off every month so it is basically a 35day debit card if you know what I mean.

I spoke to the bank manager yesterday and he said that if he did not have the money in time for the credit card payment he could offer an overdraft at 8%.

I think he should have a credit card that he can pay when he gets paid and pay the interest when he wants to pay it. What do you think?

He could get a personal credit card but the rates are between 13-17%. He has one personal credit card at the moment but there is balance on it of 3k which he is paying down. This card is now closed as Danske bank is leaving the Republic of Ireland so all balances are changed to a loan. He has not signed the form to change to a loan so it on a better rate as it is now.

He has a job that would need materials of about 20k but he does not have the funds. What do you think? It is nice to have a second opinion. You seem very clued up on what you have to earn per day etc.

JustAboutThere

cazmanian_minx wrote: »

So I'm not off to a great start and my cash on hand took a hit after I discovered that my dog had managed to kill a neighbour's chicken when she escaped from the car last Wednesday and was out of sight for two minutes while I ran for a lead :(:(:(:(:(:( I went down to see the neighbour to check that it was the same day she escaped that the chicken was killed (I only found out after speaking to another neighbour today who said he'd asked her if she knew of anyone with a black spaniel around here) and it was, so I apologised profusely and offered to replace the chicken. He was actually very nice about it, really appreciated that I'd gone down and owned up, and they were picking up three new chickens tomorrow (they lost two to the fox over winter), so I've paid for one of them and everyone is happy. He says he's going to build them a run - at the moment they're free-ranging around the village, which I wasn't aware of. If I'd known there were loose birds in that direction I'd have gone straight after the dog rather than going into the house to get a lead first. Still feel bad about it, because it's my fault, but I've done everything I can to put it right at least.

Yikes! But dogs will be dogs . . . you've owned up and done all you can to rectify and, as you said, you wouldn't have left your dog alone if you'd known there were free roaming chickens about the place.

My sister almost got caught out. Years ago I was visiting her and she and her husband lived in a small country town.

We'd taken their very dippy German Shepherd out for a walk, along the track she'd used the day before. All quiet, rural and no-one else about, so dog is off the lead. As we come around the corner, the dog starts barking and running towards some cows which hadn't been in the same field the day before. My sister is horrified and gets dog back on lead ASAP and looks around, hoping that no-one had seen.

Me, not being a dog owner, didn't think it was much more than 'dog barks at cow' until she explained to me that it would be considered 'cattle worrying' and the dog could have been taken and put down. It didn't help that her husband was one of the local cops (only three in the town, one for each shift), so he had to be seen as setting an example and all that.

Luckily, no-one was around and dog lived to a ripe old, stupid age.

Sorry to hear that the bead shop days are numbered, but you've given it a good try.

cazmanian_minx

wonabeedebtfree wrote: »

Hi,
I have been a long time lurker on your diary. I have really want things to work out for you.
Have you looked at all the avenues for selling your product? What about making a few things and selling them off as finished products? Maybe craft markets? You said that you are on facebook..what about expanding that element of the business that people can buy from you there? Another way is to direct people to your own site.

With ebay are you stuck to selling your product at the same price everywhere else or can you offer a discount for loyal customers? What about a membership fee(£20 per year??) to your loyal customers and you could send them emails once a month with new products you are selling. Maybe give a small discount if they buy over a certain amount per year to these people.

I want to set one up with wool and buttons and just dont know where to start.

I have a question starting from a different angle.

My husband has a business sole trader(construction) and he has been offered a credit card but over here(ireland) you have to set up a dd with the bank and pay it off every month so it is basically a 35day debit card if you know what I mean.

I spoke to the bank manager yesterday and he said that if he did not have the money in time for the credit card payment he could offer an overdraft at 8%.

I think he should have a credit card that he can pay when he gets paid and pay the interest when he wants to pay it. What do you think?

He could get a personal credit card but the rates are between 13-17%. He has one personal credit card at the moment but there is balance on it of 3k which he is paying down. This card is now closed as Danske bank is leaving the Republic of Ireland so all balances are changed to a loan. He has not signed the form to change to a loan so it on a better rate as it is now.

He has a job that would need materials of about 20k but he does not have the funds. What do you think? It is nice to have a second opinion. You seem very clued up on what you have to earn per day etc.

Hiya To be honest, I've tried most of those things already. I can't do craft markets, there simply aren't any within 100 miles of here, except at Christmas.

I think I'd probably get into all sorts of trouble with MSE if I attempted to offer advice about what your husband should do regarding his credit cards - my opinion would be that he should try and avoid spending on them altogether, I wish I had! With regards to the 20k of materials, could he arrange stage payments with the customer? Something like 25% of the whole payment in advance (to buy the materials with), 25% when he starts the job, 25% when the work's half complete and the final 25% when the job is done?

JustAboutThere wrote: »

Yikes! But dogs will be dogs . . . you've owned up and done all you can to rectify and, as you said, you wouldn't have left your dog alone if you'd known there were free roaming chickens about the place.

My sister almost got caught out. Years ago I was visiting her and she and her husband lived in a small country town.

We'd taken their very dippy German Shepherd out for a walk, along the track she'd used the day before. All quiet, rural and no-one else about, so dog is off the lead. As we come around the corner, the dog starts barking and running towards some cows which hadn't been in the same field the day before. My sister is horrified and gets dog back on lead ASAP and looks around, hoping that no-one had seen.

Me, not being a dog owner, didn't think it was much more than 'dog barks at cow' until she explained to me that it would be considered 'cattle worrying' and the dog could have been taken and put down. It didn't help that her husband was one of the local cops (only three in the town, one for each shift), so he had to be seen as setting an example and all that.

Luckily, no-one was around and dog lived to a ripe old, stupid age.

Sorry to hear that the bead shop days are numbered, but you've given it a good try.

That's part of the reason I'm glad that the two cows up the road have gone to the next village down (long story, but the lady whose croft it was died recently so her partner has taken them to his place) - Jura is small enough to wriggle through the gaps underneath the stock fencing and John has been known to use excessive force in the past if he sees a loose dog in the field, even if it was nowhere near the cows.

The news today is that for some unknown reason sales have picked up a bit and I've taken over £200-worth of orders in the last 24 hours. I have no idea why, but I'm not complaining. Today's tally so far is:

£28.05 - transcription
£18.94 - 10% of bead shop bankings

I'm now waiting to see if I get any proofreading tonight. Mr Minx is away down south for two nights, as he has a meeting in Warrington tomorrow, so I've got some peace and quiet to get it done in if I do. He's back on Thursday night and then off to the bothy in the forest with a mate on Friday night, ready to go out shooting at dawn on Saturday morning. Dawn, at the moment, being 3.30am according to the local cuckoo, who decided that was quite enough of a lie-in for the village at that time this morning :mad::mad::mad: I shall be glad when the little blighter gets loved up and stops making a racket at all hours!

Now, tell me this. Today Mr Minx, completely unprompted, offered to take over paying the whole of the mortgage until I get back on an even keel financially. He did it willingly, freely, with absolutely no hint of resentment - and I still can't bring myself to accept his offer. I suppose I want to maintain some semblance of this being an equal partnership. I've promised him I'll let him know if I start to struggle and, to be fair, that could be as soon as next month but I feel really bad about not being able to pay half.

Right, enough nattering. I have a list as long as several arms to get through. I think I'm just going to make myself a list here of all the outdoor jobs I need to get through (not all immediately, this is a list for the summer, basically) while I've got them in my head...

1. [strike]Fence off the third field below the field shelters to rest the grass.[/strike]
2. Take the wheelbarrow around the fenced off area.
3. Spread rotted manure on the resting fields.
4. Spray the docks and thistles in the resting fields.
5. Snap all the new bracken growth.
6. Re-pot the tomato bushes.
7. Weed the garden.
8. Plant the rest of the hedging plants.
9. Scrub the rubber matting in the shelters.
10. Take the rest of the hay bales from the trailer to the hay shed.
11. Re-stain the hay shed.
12. Re-stain Merlin's field shelter
13. Re-stain Finn's field shelter.
14. Rebuild the dyke walls.
15. Keep the vegetable beds weed-free.

I think that's about it....

gallygirl

Look at it another way Caz - if you are working less you have more time to run the house (and garden, and break bras ) so Mr Minx will have less to do. That is invaluable :T. Accept his offer with the good grace it was offered.

JustAboutThere

Why not accept Mr. Minx's offer - even if its on a month by month basis. If you're able to pay your share, do so. If not, the offer is there.

cazmanian_minx

gallygirl wrote: »

Look at it another way Caz - if you are working less you have more time to run the house (and garden, and break bras ) so Mr Minx will have less to do. That is invaluable :T. Accept his offer with the good grace it was offered.

Very true, I'll think about it

For any eBay sellers reading, I think I may have worked out why my sales took a sudden boost - yesterday afternoon, a neutral that I got last month disappeared from the '1 month' column, meaning I now have no neutral or negative feedback in the past month. eBay has stated that the Cassini search rewards sellers who provide excellent customer service and neutrals and negatives are one of the easiest ways for them to assess that. If sales keep coming in, then I think I've found the solution.

wonabeedebtfree

I think I'd probably get into all sorts of trouble with MSE if I attempted to offer advice about what your husband should do regarding his credit cards - my opinion would be that he should try and avoid spending on them altogether, I wish I had! With regards to the 20k of materials, could he arrange stage payments with the customer? Something like 25% of the whole payment in advance (to buy the materials with), 25% when he starts the job, 25% when the work's half complete and the final 25% when the job is done?


Over here credit in impossible with suppliers. Most of them got stung with the market fell down and recession hit here. My husband was stung for 40k and he still had to pay the suppliers and his workers!! That was a very bad year for us. The materials are very expensive and the suppliers will only offer dd so they will take it out of the account..that is if you have it in the first place!

He has spoken to the customer and he is getting paid in sections but he has to invoice the last day of the month and supposedly get paid a week later. That would mean we would have to manage for the month until he got paid.

Problem is last month he invoiced then on the 28th of the month and did not get paid until 10th so maybe hubby can keep on at the contractor to get paid sooner and not leave it a week over. I will have to hassle him also.

I think what he is trying to do is say do a small section of work and then walk away until he gets paid and then go back and do a small bit etc. This is a 3month job but it could go on longer if he has to do it this way.

Mr Minx is brilliant that he has offered to help to ease the pressure off you. Isn't that what love is about? You share between you what you have?

EssexHebridean

Oh Caz, I really do entirely get your issues around the mortgage payment thing. About 4 years ago we had a complete turnaround in our finances - for years I'd been the higher earner - initially by a lot, then with the gap gradually closing, until MrEH passed me and positions were reversed. over that time we'd gone from me paying a higher proportion of the bills, to splitting it evenly. Then I had to change jobs - long story, probably kicking about on here somewhere, but anyway, I did, and my income was initially more than halved overnight. I was determined that I *had* to carry on paying my share - which I still saw as half. Eventually MrEH sat me down and explained that it really bothered him that I was struggling, worrying myself sick, and not having a penny to myself, and then reminded me that when HE was earning very little, I hadmade damned sure that not only did he pay what was fair - ie a smaller share - but that I also always made sure he had personal spending money too. Made a lot of sense that. We rejigged things, and now although I put in a smaller amount to joint finances, it's a fair proportion in relation to my income.

Question - if YOUR situation was reversed, a) How much would you feel that Mr Minx *should* pay, and b) Would you be happy if he was struggling to make ends meet and still insisting on paying half? No need to answer either of those - just food for thought, or feel free to ignore, whichever suits.