WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

JoJoC

Hi WTBSE, how are you? How are your levels of motivation?

I wish I could think of something to say to bring back the savings spark for you.

Instead, I bring you a small update that I managed to put another £40 into my savings today, just about to go and update my total.

Went swimming this morning with my husband and son again which was great.

Trying to have a think about Christmas and budgeting. I know it's early but want to make sure I know what I need save and what bargains to look for.

WantToBeSE

Morning!


Thanks for your support Jo, its really appreciated


Been to the gym this morning and had a lovely workout. Feeling great now that those endorphins are pumping.


I have lost 1 of my clients, which means I am about £40 a week down ouch! I knew it was about to happen, as their house has been up for sale for a while an they told me they were moving away. Their house has now sold, so they are moving.
I'll leave my card and details with them to pass onto the new owners I think, you never know!


Savings wise- not a lot more to say really. I should be able to put away another £300 next week when I get paid.


My children are continuing to eat me out of house and home, no change there!
Looking forward to a quiet and relaxing weekend.

JoJoC

That's a shame about your client WTBSE, you're right though, all you can do is leave a card and hope they give you a recommendation. Are you doing anything to actively look for new clients?

Glad the gym is making you feel pumped! My husband has put on quite a bit of weight since giving up smoking almost two years ago so we're biting the bullet and starting slimming world next week. I'm doing it with him for support and for general healthiness. I'm sure could comfortably lose a few pounds

Well, we've spent a small fortune in the last fortnight. I don't feel guilty though, we have had a fab time off and I saved what I needed to save so it's all good.

Got my nieces birthday party this afternoon then dinner with friends tonight and a quiet day tomorrow getting ready to go back to work on Monday.

Was just thinking, if you can afford to scrape another £20 on top of your £300 for savings, you'll make it into four figures! That's got to be a boost, surely? Xx

WantToBeSE

Yes you are right Jo, definitely a boost!


I shaved another £20 off the food shopping this week (I always budget for £100 a week, especially during the holidays!) so we are off to the cinema to watch 'Guardians of the Galaxy' this afternoon.


I am going to do the same re the food budget next week if possible and reach that £1000 mark!

JoJoC

It must be hard with two growing boys to keep your shopping bill down. It's not the same, but my wee boy who's only 20 months eats fruit like it's going out of fashion so I used to spend £20+ per week on fruit alone. Then I started shopping at Aldi and my spend was cut right down. Still spend quite a bit but it makes all the difference getting some bargains!

It would be amazing if you can shave some off and reach £1k. I'm sure it'll boost you

We had a busy and expensive day yesterday and back to work tomorrow. I'm actually quite looking forward to getting back into our routine.

Today will consist of putting some baby stuff up our MIL'S loft then doing the food shopping and getting organised for work.

We're watching the road race right now and spotting all the places we know on the route

WantToBeSE

Morning!


This morning I have been to the gym and had a great workout.


I have a list of things to do:


-recycling
-clean bathroom
-wash windows
-make bread rolls
-make choc chip biscuits
-attempt to make tortillas
-make Tarka Dahl for dinner- EDIT, I cant do this as I have to soak the split peas overnight. Spag bol instead for dinner tonight then!


So quite a bit of cooking/baking today. Its been ages since I had a day of baking, so I am looking forward to it. Need to ,look up the recipes again and pop to Tesco and get any ingredients that I am missing.


But that should be the only spend today.


Have a good day everyone!

atush

Have you thought of putting up a card/Adv in your gym for new clients?

WantToBeSE

Hi atush.


I had thought about it, but they don't allow adverts (apart from theirs, obviously) at the gym.
I think I may advertise at the local Farm/hardware shop, vets, supermarkets etc. First of all I will have to wait and see what the agency woman says about the possibility of me taking over the agency.


I have 2 main concerns about it:


1- my house isn't big enough to store everything I need, plus I'd need an office to do the paperwork etc.


2-I cant afford to train the staff! Before letting them loose on the clients houses, I need to know that they are up to a good standard. Which means training them at my house.


3-I cant afford to buy everything from the Agency (like hoovers, mops, clothes etc). There is so much of it, and as I said above, I have nowhere to store it. My house really is TINY, and the garden has no room for a shed (which is what I WAS thinking of using the store stuff).






Everything really depends on what happens when we sit down and discuss everything.

atush

Well there are small business loans and credit unions but I get your gist.

Another option is to get the current owner to finance you in that you pay them for the business in interest/captial replacements until you have run it profitably enough on your own to get a business loan

Can't beleive your gym doesn't allow it- mine does. But yes, put your card a note where you can?

Any sign of Cathy anywhere?

WantToBeSE

I m thinking about just asking her for her list of clients, plus the ones on her waiting list (she has offered this before) and then start from scratch by myself.
So I would still have to hire someone, but maybe not until after Christmas time.


There is 1 way that I have come up with that helps the cost of training someone. I could take them with me to some of my current clients.


So, 1 of my current clients has me for 4 hours a week, twice a week. (4 hrs on tues and 4 hrs on Thurs). She has asked before if she can have 2 people come for 2 hours instead, but that hasn't been possible. If I train up a member of staff at her house, she gets what she wants (2 people for 2 hours) and I don't have to pay so much towards training.


The client pays £12 p/h at the moment (which I will keep in place if/when I take over) and I would pay the new staff £8 p/h.


The main starting costs right in the beginning would be 2 new hoovers (£150 each) and a set of cloths x2 (£3.60 x2) a new mop and bucket (£10) plus about £100 for the actual cleaning products (cheaper to buy in bulk).


Its all worth thinking about, and better to get it out of my head than to keep it in my head so it keeps me awake at night!


no, no sign of Cathy yet, I hope she is OK. I am sure she'll come back when she is ready