Getting back on track for 2013 and beyond

kerri_dfw

Ooh NewLeaf what a fantastic idea, I made one to go in a bag I made as a custom item for a christmas present. I hadn't thought of making lanyard type ones though I even have some of the lobster clips

kerri_dfw

Well something seems to have changed in my head. I've just withdrawn the money from PPal from this weekends listings and I intend on paying it straight to the credit card. I had been thinking of using this money to buy the stock for my haberdashery shop, but being £2k+ in debt seems that it should be the priority first I think. Although I did buy 50 2nd class large letter stamps yesterday, but I figured these are to be used for fleabay items so not too bad.

I was speaking to the OH about the fleabay stuff, I didn't realise he had a fleabay account as well. So we're going to fleabay stuff on both our accounts. Although he's never sold anything on his before so I think he might be limited at first I have 32 more things I can list this month and I jolly well intend on listing those today for ending on Sunday. Then Sunday I'll get on and list 50 more items for March. I'm cross that when you relist an item it uses you quota, I'm going to end up with this stuff stuck here for ages before I can get rid of it all.

Ho. Hum! Well I have £119 that can go towards the cc and I'm just awaiting the statement to find out how much interest they're going to charge me this month, I bet it's going to be hideous I haven't even worked out our budget for this coming month, I think things are going to be tight again. Although it is only a 4 week month and not a 5 week month so that's something.

I'm in desperate need of a haircut, I don't think I've had one since September. I can see all my split ends, but I refuse to pay for one and I'll just make do. If the worse comes to the worse I'll just try to cut off the split ends myself.

Right, best work out my expenses and put those through as I keep forgetting those too!!! Grrr.

kerri_dfw

Well the statement I've been waiting for has finally come through Credit card interest was less than £100 this month, thank goodness for that! I have just under £2k left to pay off the credit card and I'm really hoping the fleabaying will help increase the amount we can pay off. I've got at least 10 handbags to be sold this month. I'm going to list another 100 items on Sunday when the new free listing for the month quota comes into play. Then when the free listing weekend rolls in I shall just change the listings that haven't sold to be £1 each and try to flog them again through the forms winner, winner, chicken dinner as my OH would say....funny phrase for a veggie!

I went onto the craft forum I am a member of this evening, and the ladies think my starting a haberdashery is a good idea. Although, now I need to put in an order so I can start my shop! I am going to setup a website for £4.99 a month and I've put in place to cancel my other website hosting when the renewal comes. I'll switch my craft items to the £4.99 site as current hosting want to charge me £20+ now!!!

I've worked out cash-wise we only need £1200, so anything I get paid over that this month will all go onto the credit card. Petrol, food (other than farmers market), will all go on the card. I should hopefully be able to pay £1000+ onto the card this month, and the amount we spend on it won't be nearly that much.

Next month the OHs student loan comes in, so we'll use that to pay off the remainder of the credit card. For the first time in my adult life I'll actually be in the black! That'll be really weird. Then it's batten down the hatches time for saving for a house. That'll be really, really weird. Although, what is actually going to happen is we're going to save up a pot of money and that is going to be used to pay off the OHs debt he had before he was a student, then to pay off his OD. Then we can start to save for a house.

The prospect of being debt free feels quite weird. I don't know why. Even weirder is that I am going to be debt free, AND I'm going to have a small business all of my own. I guess that's where the next marathon will come in. I have to setup my business and remain in the black....really scary!

kerri_dfw

Well it's been an interesting week...my laptop hard drive failed so I had to go all the way to Reading for a new one, only to find that because I'm switching to Linux I could have had it delivered to my home instead of work and fitted it myself!!! Although, I was completely clueless about how to fit it, so I'm glad the man did it instead.
Linux is running well and I've put virtual windows on...which means I can now have PhotoShop yay \o/ this is great news as I hadn't been able to edit photos properly on my laptop thus far.

Yesterday I learned that I can scan in my fabrics, this has already saved me hours of taking photos on my camera, uploading and editing them. I've got about 70 fabrics to list as fat quarters on my new online shop.

I've signed up for an online craft fair and intend to launch my haberdashery on the 16th March when it starts. I've already got interest from other crafters for the things I've said I'm going to sell, so I'm hoping I'll make a few pennies. What's really nice is people are saying if I can stock the things they normally buy on fleabay then they would rather get me to supply them than get them from there Sooo I already have some customers lined up yay.

Unfortunately though fleabay has had to stall. They won't let me list anymore branded items (R1ver I5land etc) for 30 days, so I'll have to wait until the end of the month to list anymore. I've got lots ending today and I have more ending next week. I even took the time to list an old monitor that we bought on there and hope to sell it back for around the same price.

Money-wise, we're currently putting all leftover cash onto the credit card, and using the credit card like a debit card. This is in the hope that the interest will reduce. We've already managed to reduce the interest by about £50 from last month. All proceeds from fleabay sales this week will also go on the card

I've decided this month I'm not going to take my weekly spend amount. Instead of going climbing I'm going to focus all my energy on getting this new business started up. This will not only save us money, but it should start earning us money which can't be a bad thing.

The flat is a complete mess at the moment, I've moved my office into the living room instead of the bedroom. So not only do I have all the junk that was shoved under my desk now in plain sight, but the living room has boxes everywhere. This will never do, and after I've made a logo today and edited the photos I scanned last night I shall be sorting it out pronto! We have more than enough storage space for it all anyway.

Spending wise: this week we need to buy food shopping, we're not going to have takeaway instead I'm going to cook lemon rice when feeling lazy as it's yummy and I love it. I do need to get a mothers day present, but it looks like I might be working overtime in Bmth next weekend for a client so my travel will be paid and I can expense a takeaway to share with the family. I will double check this with my manager first, but as they won't be paying hotel costs I'm sure it'll be fine.

Right, best crack the whip

kerri_dfw

We're going to free cinema tonight

I've just setup my online shop for my haberdashery as well, although I need to finish listing all the stock...who knew I'd managed to collect over 60 different designer fabrics...oops!!!

brizzledfw

All these great plans for your online shop..sounds really fab:D

And being debt free..ooh..that IS good kerri. I suppose I had better stop spending and get a shimmy onto my DFD too!

kerri_dfw

Thanks Brizzled. My online shop is now live but I don't officially open until the 16th. So I have some time to make sure the pictures are good and all the stock is listed. I am being especially good and seeking out all the information about each fabric, so manufacturer, designer, weight, what it's used for, collection, care guide etc...

Just been told I'm working down in Bournemouth Sunday night and Monday night. It should be a really easy job as long as everything goes ok. I'll be there "just in case", which is what I did last year for a few weekends and it's nice and easy money. It also means I'll be down for Mothers Day. So we're not going to tell Mum or my sister and will be a lovely surprise as they don't think I'm coming down as I've had this chest infection for a week now.

Just waiting to hear back from a customer to find out what time to have a meeting today. I'm hoping they cancel as I've said I'm ill, which I am my chest is still bad; my voice has not returned fully; and I keep coughing!

Money-wise, fleabay money has gone back onto the CC, and money from a friend has gone on for some bits I bought her with my wholesale order. I've found somewhere I can buy felt quite cheaply too, and that's going to be my lead product at 30p a sheet just need to phone and make sure they have it for when I go down to my parents.

brizzledfw

Here's to easy money....sounds great and you deserve it x

brizzledfw

:wave: where are you kerri????

Hopefully setting up your shop!!:j

kerri_dfw

Sorry! Yes I was setting up my new shop. It's live and kicking www.fabridashery.co.uk I'm quite excited, I need more buttons and threads and things but it's a start wooohooo

However, I do now need more storage space so I want to go to that swedish place and get some more wall shelve things.

But, I might wait until the business has earnt those shelves! I was all set for going this evening as well, but have come on here and will feel guilty if I do