Debt free by 40 -- 19 Months and counting

mizmir

Wow fantastic! What a great opportunity - and definitely a great thing to get back into your reflexology as well. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to make the best use of all your skills to move you towards your goals.

StressedSteph

mfmaybe wrote: »

I think you are absolutely, 100%, making the right choice.

There are a myriad of reasons why I feel that way, but I won't go onto my feminist soapbox you will be glad to hear :rotfl:. But even just from a practical, debt-repaying perspective it's a great plan. £20ph is not to be sniffed at (though remember you might have to pay tax) and I suspect is a lot more lucrative than the crafts. That said, I don't think you should give that up, mainly because it can fit so well around other responsibilities, so you are really on a positive path now.:T

What I would say, though, is keep some of the money for yourself. You allocate your husband a fun budget don't you? What about you? You've had to turn down some opportunities recently and one thing I know from reading other diaries, is that a complete embargo on "treats" doesn't lead to long term success. So spoil yourself once in a while :j

Hi hun,


Thanks for posting.
I know I am going to work REALLY hard to get this off the ground, but I do have past form, in trying stuff and failing


Both hubby and I get £20 each per week for FUN. Really can't afford it some weeks so if I have built up abit then I miss out on mine. I have learnt that lesson though, being too strict just makes you feel too sorry for yourself and then the budget gets destroyed

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hi Steph,


Your doing really well and your posts are so positive these days... well done on the latest money making idea, I'm sure it will be a success..

I have sent you an email with regards to a possible order, but I know your very busy at the moment so don't worry if you can't fit it in to the timescale..

Keep going those debts are looking positively tiny now... they will be gone before you know it..


Puzz. x

Thanks so much Puzzcat, I have replied.


xx

First_Trouble wrote: »

I have a question to ask you all.

I have been listening to the Dave Ramsey show a lot lately and he is always saying about finding ways to boost your income. My husband is currently doing an extra 2 days worth of overtime at his work because I can't really get overtime where I work I want to do a few things at home that can bring in some extra cash. Could also make xmas and birthday presents too!

I work full time so it needs to be something that I can work around this. We also rent so I cannot set up a business in my home due to breaching my tenancy agreement. So I have to keep it within the realm of hobbyist.

I did textiles at school so I know how to sow and how to use a sewing machine although do not currently own one. I am also quite happy to learn a new skill like knitting or jewellery making. Unsure what the initial outlay would be, if I would require any insurances or make inland revenue aware?
I am running myself in circles trying to think of what I can do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi First Trouble,


Weill I do exactly what you have just described. I just started by searching through crafts in Pinterest, to look for items that I thought I could make.


Start up a FB page and an Etsy shop from that and it is amazing how many orders you get.


The main problem I have is pricing. My hourly rate is pretty disgusting, but if I tried to charge how much it REALLY costs to make then I would never get any orders.


I see it as its making money in my free times, so its extra money, even if it is ALOT of work. I do enjoy it most of the time as well, which is a bonus.


You will never know until you try, and I can see looking through my FB page how I have evolved and gotten ALOT better since I first started last September. Some of my early stuff was terrible. I am learning all the time, but its what you have to do to earn some money.


Get that sewing machine out and give it a try. share you page with all your friends, some will be super stars and will buy your first items, which will then give you some practice and they can also leave positive Reviews for you on your page which will encourage new buyers.


Good Luck. Let me know what you name your craft business when you set it up and I will pop over and give you a Like. xxx

StressedSteph

mizmir wrote: »

Wow fantastic! What a great opportunity - and definitely a great thing to get back into your reflexology as well. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to make the best use of all your skills to move you towards your goals.

Hi Mizmir,


I do feel like I am constantly juggling the different parts of my life at the moment.


On one hand I have hubby moaning that I can't find a way to bring in a 2nd income, but then when I do spend time on the crafts etc, he monas because there is weeds in the polytunnel and extra jobs are no getting done.


I think the work at home alone (6.5 acres ) is enough to keep me busy full time, but I have tried to explain to him that it doesn't actively pay us any money. At the moment we desperately need every penny we can find.


So I am constantly trying to do a little bit of everything, house, gardening, school PTA, kids, crafts, Aaargh Its hard.


Ok my moan over xxx

StressedSteph

Hi all,


Eugh been a horrible weekend so far.


Hubby has finished his long standing building contract on Friday and he does have three more small contracts to do, but those will probably only work out to be the next 6 -8 weeks :eek:.
He will probably have something else turn up during this time, it often does, but its the not knowing.


I think because of this worry in his mind, he has been taking it out on me. .
He was snappy and moody all day yesterday and the first words out of his mouth this morning was that "I have not been doing anything!!". He picked on the garden as an area that has been abandoned. But frankly between keeping the house going and doing my sewing jobs and the kids I haven't really had enough time.


I think his big annoyance is me helping out at school. We have had two big events in the last two months. A Pop-up restaurant and just this last Friday the Summer Fayre.


Although the Summer Fayre only used up 1.1/2 days of my time.


I don't really know what to say to him. I am rubbish at sticking up for myself, but I truly have been constantly busy doing stuff. I know my craft work takes time to produce, it is no get rich quick job. Every penny is hard earnt, but isn't that the case about everything.


I just wish I could solve my childcare issues then I would just go out and get a full time job and then maybe he would give me some respect.


I never sit and watch the tv during the day, in fact I often forget to have lunch.


Just feel really rubbish about myself sometimes. I don't have his earning potential, so any money I make takes a lot of man hours.


REALLY REALLY going to try hard to get my Reflexology and Indian Head Massage job off the ground, that will bring in £20 per hour which maybe will please him. Its got much more earning power than the crafts.


I just feel like I am constantly juggling and often dropping a ball to which he then moans at me. I know he works very hard and it must be worrying being the only wage earner, but I truly don't know what else I can do.


Sorry for the rant. Did'nt have anyone else to speak to xxx

fern44

Hi
don't worry It makes me laugh my OH is just like that you can do every thing and he will hunt down the one thing you have missed !
I think you just need to keep chipping away at this for the moment once you have paid more debt off it will get easier
just go and enjoy yourself tomorrow and then you will feel better about everything

StressedSteph

fern44 wrote: »

Hi
don't worry It makes me laugh my OH is just like that you can do every thing and he will hunt down the one thing you have missed !
I think you just need to keep chipping away at this for the moment once you have paid more debt off it will get easier
just go and enjoy yourself tomorrow and then you will feel better about everything

Thanks for replying Fern.


I just don't seem to ever get it right.
I have swallowed my pride and put an advert onto Facebook asking local friends to keep a look out for anyone looking for a cleaner. I can charge £10 per hour to clean. Would be another angle to get some pennies coming in. xx

dawnybabes

You can only do what you can. Somethimes I think men get PMT xx

Buffythedebtslayer

Steph, you are talented resourceful woman. You have skills and intelligence and are a wonderful mum.


Go now and say that to yourself in the mirror. say it everyday.


Frankly at this moment in time your husband is a prat.


you don't currently have the earning power of him because you are looking after the children.


and these aren't random kids you just found on the street. These are yours and oh......HIS children.


So he can cut you a huge amount of slack. You have a job. In fact you have many jobs. he just has the one.


grrrrrr. Makes me so mad.


Huge congratulations on the course and the lovely friend and being a lovely friend in order to have such a lovely friend


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StressedSteph

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Steph, you are talented resourceful woman. You have skills and intelligence and are a wonderful mum.

Go now and say that to yourself in the mirror. say it everyday.

Frankly at this moment in time your husband is a prat.

you don't currently have the earning power of him because you are looking after the children.

and these aren't random kids you just found on the street. These are yours and oh......HIS children.

So he can cut you a huge amount of slack. You have a job. In fact you have many jobs. he just has the one.

grrrrrr. Makes me so mad.

Huge congratulations on the course and the lovely friend and being a lovely friend in order to have such a lovely friend

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Thank you so much for your reply. Had a real wobble this weekend. Felt quite trapped in my situation, and feel like such a constant failure.


I look forward to get this course done tomorrow and starting to practice the skill so that I can bring in some money.


I think hubby expects me to achieve so much more at home, I will look into stopping helping at the school with the PTA. It isn't constant but occasionally it can take up a lot of my time which cause unnecessary tension at home.


Maybe if I am getting out with my job then I won't need to social interaction helping at school brings me. It can get quite lonely at home all day every day.


Thanks again buffy. I really appreciate you support. xxx

Buffythedebtslayer

you aren't trapped you are getting out of it. each penny, it really does make a difference.


Your husband doesn't have a clue Steph. If you can keep up the school stuff you have to get out and talk to grown ups at some point!


I think before you make any decisions see how the Reflexology and head massages work out. You just brim over with kindness so am sure you are good.


Don't say too much to husband person, if he is going to be a pain in the !!!!. well try to minimalize it.


To be honest I take this approach with mum - which I know is different! but sometimes when people are worried it is easier to let them worry as that is their nature than it is give them something else to take you down about. I know he doesn't mean it and it comes from a stress place rather than a thinking badly of you but it is hard to hear it and deal with it when you are stressed as well.


At the moment you need to focus on your well being. You are doing amazingly. you need to see that. really clearly. clearing a 1000 a month more or less is nothing short of fantastic.


You keep doing what you are doing. it will work out.


and if hubby doesn't shut it I will come punch him on the nose.


XXX