Small Steps To A Bigger, Brighter Future

MuffinTops

Hello Lil,

I'm waiting to have a little more time before really getting my teeth into a new business. I don't think it's allowed to promote stuff like that on here so can't go into too much detail. It isn't a sit at home type business though. It'll be out and about a lot as I think I need that as I get a little too used to my own company!

How long do those quotes last? Would they still be valid if you did something now?

There are a few great craft people on here who have very inspirational diaries. If you'd like I'll give you links so you can have a read through. One I'm just a lurker on but the stuff she does is amazing and always has something on the go. Then she posts pictures up. The other also posts pictures but I'm more interactive with her as she just has this writing style that makes you want to chat to her.

Both of those diaries make me want to knit and crochet and do other fantastically crafty and creative.

But definitely go for it. You've got nothing to lose. Just weigh up the costs of eBay as I think they may end up with more than you do. Try to use eBay as a jumping board into your own business. There are places you can get really cheap business cards to add in with the eBay purchase as well as ready made cheap websites that look good enough to show your wares (that's all I've done with my site and I'm so happy with it). Then you'll direct people who like your stuff to your own site that you get full profit from.

Sorry, I get carried away. You know where I am if you want a chat.

x

MuffinTops

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Well, I went into M&S yesterday to see the coats and try them on. I found a beautiful cashmere coat that I loved. Not the one I'd originally seen online (or would have looked twice at on the site) but the perfect one for me. I tried on a few sizes, decided on the one I wanted and then ....... put it back on the rack and came into work to check if I could get it through Quidco!!!! I could, with a 5% promotional cashback!

But then I thought that as I need boots too maybe I should wait and get them both together. Not as an impulse by so I'll have a think about it. Currently I wear trainers wtih my dresses which looks so slummy so boots definitely needed for winter. Bank account can cope with that purchase too so I left the coat in my online shopping basket.

Later in the day M&S emailed me with a 20% voucher for an online purchase! That made buying boots a much easier decision. So I stopped in M&S again this morning trying the boots on and found a lovely pair! Put them back on their stand and came in to work to order them. So with the 20% voucher and cashback the boots are costing £10!

All being picked up in my local store on Sunday to save on delivery costs too! I'm very happy with that as they're really good quality items for a great price. It does mean that today is definitely not going to be an NSD though!

Very happy it's Friday today. Works is still very difficult at the moment so I'm hoping for it not to bother me as much when I reduce my days. Just politics at work and other silliness that really gets me down. So, including today I just have 3 more full working Fridays left. Oh that's just fantastic.

Have a great day everyone! x

gallygirl

Sounds bargainous MT :T:T:T

MuffinTops

Thanks Gallygirl. Your post has just really made me smile! Bargainous is a great word.

MuffinTops

The weekend was pretty frugal. On Saturday I was taken out for a chocolate themed afternoon tea. It was a gift a friend had received who had invited me along as the +1 which was lovely. Great food, lovely cakes and all free!

Yesterday was a wash out as I felt so lousy. I woke in the night with a terrible headache that just didn't shift. I also felt a bit dizzy and sick so just rested all day in the warm. Probably a massive sugar shock from Saturday!

I'm still not feeling 100% today, but definitely well enough to be in work. Hopefully will just pick up more as the day goes on.

I ordered the really cheap BHS hamper on Friday (£23 for the Thorntons festive hamper). After reading the thread over the weekend I was nervous it would be cancelled, but have now had my despatch email so it's confirmed now, which is a relief. Will pick that up this week.

Hoping for a very frugal week. Am out on Wednesday but that's all. I get paid on Friday, although that doesn't make a huge difference other than it draws a line under November's budget.

Thursday is sealed pot counting! Very excited about that as I've managed to put around £200 in it over the last 2 months based on the NSD challenge. I started throwing money into the pot at the beginning of the year and have worked hard on getting money in it, so very intrigued on what's in there.

Have a great week everyone x

Erme

MuffinTops wrote: »

Hi Erme,

Can you give yourself a time cut off for the caffeine to help with your sleeping but not meaning a complete withdrawal from it?

My exercising and everything is just not happening. I can't get my head on right! I do belong to a proper gym but again, no progress in that area.

Yeah I was down to 4 a day when I was well...it's not that hard and tea the rest of the time

Exercise wise I've now been to the induction and met this fab personal trainer who will sort me out with the basics (I hope for free) when more well. If I could afford him right now I would pay for him as he seems to have a real handle on mental health.... Once I start getting up just before 9 I'll text him and get this mini thingy done. Gym is so nice and never full (even at peak times) and I have everything I need though the air was so nice I was so tempted to go jogging at 6 this am LOL

MuffinTops wrote: »

Hello Lil,

I'm waiting to have a little more time before really getting my teeth into a new business. I don't think it's allowed to promote stuff like that on here so can't go into too much detail. It isn't a sit at home type business though. It'll be out and about a lot as I think I need that as I get a little too used to my own company!

How long do those quotes last? Would they still be valid if you did something now?

There are a few great craft people on here who have very inspirational diaries. If you'd like I'll give you links so you can have a read through. One I'm just a lurker on but the stuff she does is amazing and always has something on the go. Then she posts pictures up. The other also posts pictures but I'm more interactive with her as she just has this writing style that makes you want to chat to her.

Both of those diaries make me want to knit and crochet and do other fantastically crafty and creative.

But definitely go for it. You've got nothing to lose. Just weigh up the costs of eBay as I think they may end up with more than you do. Try to use eBay as a jumping board into your own business. There are places you can get really cheap business cards to add in with the eBay purchase as well as ready made cheap websites that look good enough to show your wares (that's all I've done with my site and I'm so happy with it). Then you'll direct people who like your stuff to your own site that you get full profit from.

Sorry, I get carried away. You know where I am if you want a chat.

x

I craft. I volunteer at a charity shop (I love it there :A...in fact they have to send me home when tired cos I don't want to leave ) and make stuff for there. I also make all my own New year cards (about 50 at least) and send those out every year with calendars (that I buy) and a round robin. It costs me a small fortune when you think the calendars are about 70p each and then there's a few posh calendars I buy for abroad. But it's so worth it!!!! And these folk that get them (some of which I just know from facebook and like politics) so appreciate them

E

MuffinTops

Hi Erme,

Great news on the fab personal trainer. He sounds perfect if he understands mental health too! Hopefully he's given you a great plan to work on which will get your fitness where you want it.

I have a vision of you being picked up and lead out of the charity shop at the end of your day. . It's lovely you enjoy being there so much though. That's a major bonus.

MuffinTops

Payday was Friday and today is when the DD's started shooting through my account. The mortgage DD was paid, so I made my overpayment and am now on a £59K mortgage. Very happy to be on a new starting number that only requires 1 hand to count to (the 5, not the 59 - I wasn't inbred!!!! ).

Christmas preparations are all on track and should be finished by the end of this week.

On Saturday I arranged to meet a friend outside Harrods. Unfortunately the day didn't go that well with her, but London looked lovely. The weather was pretty perfect and as we ventured around Knightsbridge, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly and Charing Cross area it all looked so amazing. I felt really lucky having London practically on my doorstep this weekend. I need to venture there more often on trips out because even though it was really busy and things weren't going well with my friend, it was just so nice to be there.

The problems on Saturday were that my friend got herself very drunk at lunch (an hour after we met) and her whole demeanour is quite difficult to deal with when she's like that. Probably emphasised more as I don't drink at all.

I felt rubbish again yesterday but I did manage to get my decorations down from the loft without being attacked by the mystical creature that my imagination has created a home for up there !!!!! I didn't feel like putting the decorations up so just put the boxes of things everywhere the contents will go. I'll do that tomorrow night as today is quite a busy one.

My shop and scan is still up to date and receipts were posted. It was difficult to get a photograph of the M&S online receipt, but I think I managed it. I assume they'll ask for a resend if they're not happy with it. All the text was clear and it showed the important information they generally ask for.

So now it's the countdown to the big day. This year's big day for me is actually 20th December as I'm going away for Christmas so I need to make sure everything is done by then. :cool:

Ooh, on a separate and personal note, I'm really drawn to scents with honey in. I've seen that Jo Malone do one, so will wander past their Royal Exchange store on my way to the station tonight for a smell and test to see if I like it. If anyone reading this knows of a nice quality scent with honey tones then please let me know about it.

Right, I need my lunch now!

Have a great day everyone. x

Erme

How are you muffin tops? Are you also awol from MSE like Miggy is? Hope you are well..

Miss you

E

MuffinTops

I'm still here Erme. Just a lot quieter as nothing much is going on MSE wise other than ticking over. I come on when I have something specific to say which a very wise MSE'er helped me decide on. Before that I was writing way too much and way too often and she very nicely pointed that out for me to see. .