WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

MrCrimeFiction

Sounds like your doing great. You must be so proud. Keep it up and you'll be on the millionaire thread shortly... :-)

WantToBeSE

Haha, I wish!


I am really struggling financially this week. I get my tax credits next week, so that will make things a little easier until the clients are invoiced and have paid me.


The end of another busy week, have paid my employee and am going to go food shopping. Looking forward to the weekend off! NO plans, no money to do anything, just going to chillax...and MAYBE paint the blinkin' kitchen!

WantToBeSE

Morning All


Wow, all the saving people seem to have gone quiet, I hope everyone is OK?


So, I have jiggled clients around to ensure that from now on I don't work on Mondays. It makes my life a lot easier, as I have 1 day a week to do admin and other related things. Like this morning, I went into town and bought a new duster head, some products and went to check out a shop that actually refills the products we use. I found a hidden gem, the shop really isn't well advertised enough as it was full of stuff I need like buckets, mops, dusters, hoover bags etc.
The lady said that I could open a business account with them if I wanted to. I'll look into that in a months time when I have run out of everything I already have.


I am working on the first batch of Invoicing! Obviously I did invoicing when I was a sole trader without the business or employee, for my private clients, but this is on a much bigger scale. The previous owner has been helpful and given me the layout and explanation of how she normally does it, which is very handy! I will send those invoices out on the 1st October.


I was a bit miserable about my lack of savings yesterday after writing down all the financials. Basically I will only be left with £400 for the month after paying all of my outgoings and my personal bills and paying back the credit card. And that £400 has to be used to pay my employee!


However, I know that in the long term this is worth it. Building up a business always requires sacrifice and money is almost always tight for the first few months (and longer!).


I am just aware that my savings are at £0 and Christmas is coming up, plus having no savings after battling through debt repayments for the past 5 years makes me MISERABLE!


Thoughts/opinions/comments welcomed! (as long as they are nice )

Eco_Miser

I'd look into opening that business account before you need it, since the shop owner may want to run some credit checks before letting you walk out of the shop with goods you haven't paid for.

On the bright side, although your savings are £0, you have paid your personal and business outgoings AND paid back the credit card, AND have enough to pay your employee. That sounds to me like you're breaking even, which is good for a brand-new business. Next month you won't be buying as much stuff, an you may have more clients, so you'll actually show a small profit, which you'll be able to save.

Meanwhile, well done on getting this far.

atush

I had to spend over 200 quid on a ferry ticket last WE tos end my son to the UK for Uni.

So, we always have a nice pub lunch or two while there (leisure spend budget) but I did use my tesco points to buy cheap petrol (they dont have a station here) and I also did a weekly shop at Aldi and Lidl as we dont have those either. So I tried to be MSE lol.

So I have cheap food in my fridge/cupboards, and a full tank of cheap petrol. Should last me at least 6 weeks. (Petrol not food).

Eldest son has come back from holiday. He is cooking exotic gourmet food. So he either picked up a taste for it there (montenegro) or he has picked up a GF somewhere lol.

He bought Filo Pastry! Saffron! Never thought I'd see the day.

WantToBeSE

Evenin' All


Well, I have just sent my 1st lot of business invoices! Oh I cant wait until I actually see some MONEY in my account! Granted, I cant spend it, but it'll still be nice to see it!


EM- my credit score isn't too bad these days. I now have a credit builder CC so am hoping to improve it further. but good idea about opening the account before I need it.
Thanks for the encouragement too, I feel like the past week has been a bit of a 'downer' because I have just felt so skint. its been over a month now since I was last paid any money (apart from Tax credits which have been my life line this month, to pay some bills) and just felt a bit miserable. But now I have invoiced the clients I feel a bit better.


atush- if I remember rightly, you live on an island? It sounds like you tried to make the journey as MSE as possible, and succeeded by the sounds of it! Make the most of your sons enthusiasm, get him to cook you something yummy and exotic!


Off to bed now as I have been working since 8am and am dead on my feet.


Night All!


P.S. Has anyone heard anything from Cathy or Jo, they have both gone a bit quiet- I hope they are not falling off the money saving wagon!

WantToBeSE

My 1st client has paid already It feels GREAT to get that first payment, I am super excited!! It was only £36 (its a new client, so we only started cleaning for her last week), but still!!


I treated us to pizza for dinner tonight. 2 pizzas and 2 'sides' for £6 from Tesco Oh, and a £2.50 pack of 4 lager Last of the big spenders, LOL!

Eco_Miser

Cathy last posted 28 August, and her last activity recorded was on 6 September. Don't know what that was though.

And congratulations on getting paid so quickly.

atush

Great news about your first payment, and yes, spending almost 10 quid for dinner and beer makes you a big spender lol.

Yeah, at first I thought Cathy was in her allotment as the weather has been so great. Not sure where she is?

WantToBeSE

Afternoon All (double smile!)


I am in a GOOD MOOD! The reason being, its FRIDAY! And also, another few clients have paid me, plus I have just picked up and extra 2 hours a week work.


If things carry on this way (and hopefully they will), I will have to employ a 2nd person in the New Year.


I have paid everything that I need to pay, and am going to be doing my food shopping this afternoon.
I really want to go to the butchers, but its a 30min journey away and I will be there on Tuesday next week anyway.


If I am lucky (and tight!) I may be able to save £100 this month...we'll see! It's my birthday on Monday so I have asked my mum and sister for cash I'll either save it or buy myself a new piece of clothing. Not sure yet.


Wont have to buy a bottle of wine to celebrate, as todays client has bought me a bottle of red and some flowers, how kind of her! It was a present from herself and her mum (who I also clean for). They are my favourite clients and I really enjoy chatting to them whilst cleaning, they are always so appreciative.


I am so tired! most evenings and weekends (as well as days, obviously) have been full with admin and business type stuff. But I have been working extra hard this week so that I can keep this weekend free for my lovely boys. They may be 14 and 10, but they still need their Mummy And I feel like an awful parent at the moment as I have been working so much. My 14 year old has the day off school today and told me "you work too much Mum, chill out this afternoon" which I think was code for "I want you to come home straight after work and spend some time with me".


Not winning any 'Best Mum' award over here, and feeling pretty darn guilty about it.