Mooloo's "Making my future, one stitch at a time"?

grandma247

Mooloo I don't know if this will help but I found two sites citizens advice and stepchange. Both deal with budgeting.

It is very hard learning to budget properly and often hard to see why it is a good idea. DH is only just in the last few years seeing how much better life is when the budget is running well and we have been married 42 years. I sometimes think I could write a book about learning to budget because it took me a while to understand it fully.

I wish schools were able to teach it in maths because it would be far more useful to the majority of kids than some of the stuff they teach since many are going to be doing lower paid jobs anyway. Even tradesmen are not well paid unless they are self employed and charge through the nose for jobs done.

jackyann

I have backed Martin's campaign for good financial education in schools. My mother - who was at school eighty years ago (!) was taught budgeting, book-keeping, calculating compound interest on loans & mortgages etc. Seems we have gone backwards!

Savvy_sewing

Tried reaching DS yesterday, on Skype, when I typed I got a reply, when I wanted to video call no reply. So think my suspicion was right, it's her and not him.
I know he's a useless idiot at times, but he would have face to face skyped me, he would have answered me himself.
I don't think he knows what has gone on, although he must know that I gave them the food. It's strange that he didn't thank me. I usually get a Thankyou, and an I love you Mummy! Something isn't right.
I am still struggling tummy wise. Took senokot, last night. So I'm hoping for some relief today. I feel so bloated and uncomfortable. I went to bed at 8 last night. So tired. Think I'm rather run down, and my body is telling me it needs some TLC.
Today I'm doing a tabletop sale/demo so have to gather together all the things I need to sew as well as to sell. Only snag is that I was going to use someone else's table, but she can't come now. My table is big enough to sew, but not to demo on as well!
My Mum is off to France today. A relative is taking her and flying out with her, as she hadn't flown for 28 years. And flying RAF is very different to Ryan Air!
So I have her builders etc to deal with next month, and she will hopefully have a lovely new shower room when she returns, and landscaped back garden too.
I'm having someone look at my front garden today, to see if they can tame it for me. ( husband of one of my sewing ladies).
Here is hoping that he can do something with it all.
I just don't have the time. Or energy.
Yesterday a few people came to collect their things, even more brought jobs in!
I was interrupted so much it basically took me all day to alter a mans jacket! The other sewer also had a few tricky jobs to do, so we didn't feel as if we made very much progress!
There will be two of them there this morning, but the shop shuts at 1pm,
Then tomorrow there will be two of us all day. Friday I will be on my own.
Saturday the receptionist should be back.
I am considering stopping the nearly new side of the business, and possibly going into costume hire, with the help of an old lady, letting me have some of her theatre costumes to help kickstart, and with our remnants, and skills, we could make items to add to the stocks, and I already have the patterns. But it would need a lot of thought, research etc so no major decision has been made yet.
Time I got moving, though I'd like to have a duvet day!!!

grandma247

I find a couple of table spoons of flax/linseeds mixed with my yoghurt helps the tummy problem. You do need to drink plenty if you do this because the seed's outer coating absorbs water and bulks them up. I have also cut out bread which causes me to bloat.
I now eat 2 or 3 pieces of fruit for breakfast and salad or a light veg meal with a bit of cheese or meat
for lunch and a normal tea with just a small portion of potatoes rice or pasta. I feel so much better now and the weight is creeping back down.

Savvy_sewing

Thanks grandma, I had fruit salad for breakfast, and will have a lighter evening meal. As I was out in the field today, I had two sandwiches ( with DGD's crust less bread!). But I must go back to healthier eating and planning again, for health as well as financial.
Didn't make a penny today. But handed out lots of cards and chatted to about 60 or more people about the shop, where it is and what I do. So hopefully it will give us some leads at least.
Twin2 has now gone, so it's back to Cornwall for her. My mum has gone to France.
So feels a bit strange.
Time for a well earned up of tea before we do anythingelse.

Savvy_sewing

Well my tummy is finally settling. But still not 100% right.
Work is still hectically busy! The finished rail is full of work to be collected. Dispite calling, texting etc people seem to be leaving their stuff too long!
If they don't collect soon, I will need a temporary new rail to store them!
Mum arrived safely in France.
Last night I fitted 5 bridesmaids. All of the dresses they had ordered came up huge on them! So some £175 worth of alterations to do.

Savvy_sewing

A day of two halves. The morning a frantic rush of urgent jobs. From the best man at a wedding who's trousers needed to be lengthened as they were half mast ! With only 20 minutes to do it while he collected the groom. ( a supply error from Moss Bros!)
I had a new student with me, who watched in fascination as the urgency seemed to increase, from a zip falling off a bum bag, a hook on a skirt, a dirty pair if work trousers that needed hemming, a pair of jeans split at the crutch, and the trousers, all between 10.30 and 12.30.
Before that two bridesmaids dress fittings.
After that, while sewing a bag that was required, I had two children's sewing lessons.
It's certainly been a day.
I have noticed a lot of my new pupils have attention deficit problems in life, etc, and the Mums are amazed at their reaction to learning to sew. The concentration, the feeling of euphoria when they produce their first stitch samples! I suppose bringing up my twins, and dealing with DGD has been a help.
Time to relax and put my feet up for a little while. Before contemplating the next step.

*Robin*

Mooloo wrote: »

The finished rail is full of work to be collected. Dispite calling, texting etc people seem to be leaving their stuff too long!
If they don't collect soon, I will need a temporary new rail to store them!

..Or a sign in the shop saying that items which are not collected within 48 hours of text message notification that they are ready will attract a storage fee [of £1? £2? per day], unless collection on a specific date has been arranged when the job was left with you, and payment has been made in advance.

..If nothing else, that will pay for a new rail.

Another notice stating that all items for alteration must be clean would not be unreasonable either.

Mooloo apologies that I haven't got back to you yet re cushion covers. A solar panel took precedence, and then several unexpected huge vets' bills, so I'm afraid new covers for the van had to move from my 'needs' to 'desires' list for the time being..

Happily your shop appears to be going from strength to strength without my small input - congratulations on that (and hopefully I'll be able to afford new seat covers later)!

tootallulah

Moo loo. Ignore this if it is nonsense. From just reading here it seems like the part of your business that is really successful is making clothes, home furnishings, alterations and lessons. Would it be wise to put all efforts into this and ditch the up cycling clothes etc ?

My local alterations shop has a notice saying they won't accept soiled clothes for alterations and they take a £5 deposit on every job so at least they have some funds in. Really pleased that your shop is going so well
I Admire your determination.

Savvy_sewing

Yes thinging about loosing the clothing line. We need the space for sewing related work now. The only snag is the lighting there is not very good, so further investment would be needed.
The most lucrative part on the business is definitely the alterations, but the curtain shortening are the money spinner jobs.
Though I enjoy the makes, I don't enjoy the pressure of making to measure, as they really take much longer to do then the hourly rate I had quoted, due to continual interruptions, etc
However I am not doing many of them so I will squeeze it back and try to work off the shop floor more when I get back from holidays.

Robin, I'm there when your ready for your stuff.