Wednesday 8th April what small DFW things will you do today?

craftingmad

Hello,


I'm new to posting on this thread but I always read it and want to thank you all for your inspiration.
I always try and do lots of little bits each day and you can find todays list on my thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5172509


Every little counts


Bob - I'm so sorry about your slow day. I'm a crafter and recently have been selling hardly anything at craft fairs etc. Its horrible and so unfair Keep your chin up and know it's not you I think that taking your son in sounds a great idea


Thank you all for inspiring me and good luck with your lists

Bobarella

FatVonD wrote: »

Bob, if you think it's going to be slow anyway could you not take your son in with you to save on the childcare?

Thanks FVD but I couldn't do it to him. I don't think it's fair to expect a 6 year old to sit on his own for hours, especially if it is so nice outside. He'd be ok for a little while on the tablet but 6 hours which is how long my day is just wouldn't be fair. Also I could potentially get busy and then I'd have that to deal with plus a bored child under foot. Apologies to poo poo your well offered suggestion.

Bobarella

Dawn - the main culprit is my insurer only I thought my broker, who I directed my original letter of complaint to, we're my insurer. They sold me the policy and dealt with the claim. It was them that turned me away at the first juncture. As far as I'm concerned my complaint is all about them. It wasn't until December that the ombudsman suddenly said oh, they aren't the insurer only the broker. It's their name on my employers liability certificate.
The ombudsman has now decided two things. 1. They feel some of my complaint should be directed towards the broker. But 2. The main insurer has cocked up too. So I think it's a horrible complicated barrel of tangled ends. The ombudsman isn't keeping me informed though & there is a lot at stake.

When all this began a year ago in May, had my insurer acted promptly months of misery and essentially the end of a popular small business could have been avoided.

Jo Jo -to answer your point. We used to do a lot for kids in the hols. But I think being London folk many of them want to go to Dorset, Cornwall etc in the breaks and I have always found things quiet in the school hols. 90% of my customer base is parents with primary age kids and under 5s. Why I didn't think about the fact that my business would be brought to its knees about 4 times a year is a real oversight.

Crafting mad - Thanks a lot.

Guys - at the risk of being all dramatic I am seriously considering a break. I feel like I can't stop writing negative things and I don't want to hijack the thread this way. Maybe I should take a few days off?

twiggy86

Bob - if this thread helps you in anyway at all DO NOT GO ANYWHERE!!!!

milliemummy

Bob, I think its the school holidays ...was really quiet here yesterday. This morning has been quite busy, but trailed off this afternoon . Guess a lot of people are away or doing things with their children. It'll pick up again next week when things are back to normal. But I do know how disheartening and worrying it can be. Shop next door have had a quiet time over easter as well.

List for today...

B/L/D from stores
Walk up and down to work
Hoover
Continue decluttering later
Check one poll etc
Check bank
Find some things to eBay
Post parcel out.

Nice, sunny day today.

Have a good rest of the day:-)

foxgloves

Hi Frugalistas,
Gorgeous sunshine. Haven't done much money saving, but have only spent £1-50, so it could have been worse.
*Finished the last of this week's laundry on cheap night tariff & all of it has dried outside on the line.
*Free fitness delivering election leaflets.
*Made a pie with the leftover beef from Sunday. Looks big enough to last 2 days, as long as Mr f doesn't burst in through the door looking like he could eat a scabby horse.
*Watered broad beans. November sowing, which means we should be picking them early May. They're all flowering, anyway.
*Potted on heaps more baby plants.
*Made tomorrow's packed lunch.
Hope to manage a better list tomorrow,
F x

foxgloves

Bobarella - Now it's time to take 2 minutes to listen to Foxgloves!! We like to hear from you. I know I don't read your posts & just hear negativity & ranting. I hear a person who dearly wants to be able to rebuild her business, with all the little successes AND big worries which that entails. So if you want a break from posting, have one, but only if you want to, not because you think you've turned into Mrs. Moan!
Still listening to Foxgloves? Good! I agree with previous comments that your very slow trade is almost certainly a result of the school holidays having altered people's routines & the warm weather has probably lured them into outside activities rather than shopping. Agree it's probably not worth putting on family-based offers if the trend is for Londoners to hot-foot it out of the city at holiday times, but maybe there are other groups of people who could potentially fill the gap. In future holidays, could you do a little offer for everyone who brings a grandparent in for a drink & a cake? Or a special morning when over 70s can have a tiny freebie or discount if they buy something? You probably do similar things already. Would you consider a Knit & Natter type of regular morning? I'd really love it if one of our local indie coffee shops did that. The only groups of that type round here seem to be very old ladies, at their houses, but it's quite trendy to have these groups in coffee shops, pubs now. My sister used to go to one (she's in W7) & they seemed to get through a lot of coffee & cakes!
I'm sorry that the insurance claim has just been such a drag. It's not good enough. The ombudsperson seems very slow too. I don't know what to suggest. Don't give up with it though. If you are owed money, somebody must pay up. I can understand how soul-sapping this is for you, though. Could you threaten them by saying you intend to contact 'Watchdog' or the 'Guardian' money problem page? It's surprising how many recalcitrant firms suddenly 'rediscover the correct paperwork' when they think they will be named & shamed.
I hope things pick up for the rest of the week, as the holidays come to an end & people get back to normal. If we lived anywhere near you, we would pop in for a big fat cake, but we don't, so can only post this cheer-up & say hope tomorrow & Fri are better.
F x

DawnW

Foxgloves is right of course Bob. And none of us want you to go

I really hope things pick up for you soon, and you manage to find other clients who aren't affected by the school holidays.

Bobarella

Thank you all, I actually feel very tearful reading your kind replies. I am also glad you dont think my rantings too much. I think its the sheer frustration driving it.
Targeting other groups is something I am actively trying, so you are absolutely right Foxgloves & Dawn. I have a deal going with a local tutoring company who are interested in taking some after school hours, which they'd pay me for, but as they are a new business themselves, we are sort of struggling to fill the sessions we are advertising, but that is one thing on the cards.
I suspect that as we do pick up birthdays will come back online as well, I always found I'd have maybe 3 or 4 birthday bookings a month, which are all extra revenue, its private hire out of hours, but often you get a massive group buying lots of hot drinks, as its essentially a captive audience. Nothing booked as yet though.
I have been discussing with a few local artists a combined exhibition, with either exclusive view evenings or a talk with the artist evenings, but again nothing absolutely 100% in the net yet.
We are very close to a local pub that do all those sort of groups very well, one called stitch & b@tch is very popular, they do yoga, kids sessions, over 50s etc. So thats hard. And we are known for being a kids place which is always going to put some people off.
I think we are also in a very transitional stage. I am getting a lot of push back from prior customers asking, when are you going to be doing this or that again, & I just cant commit at present, things like daily bakery deliveries are so far down my list of affordables, but of course customers see it as being less than they had before so that has put a few noses out of joint.
Essentially I have decided that I want to run the place as a cafe & a space for use. I have a lot of ideas about supper clubs, letting tiny start ups take over the kitchen at weekends, which would add variety to my repetoire & bring in new blood, but Im just in the hard place which is I have no funds to run with anything that is a big cost, & having started off fairly well seeing things building up, I have just felt very scared & sad to be in this position again.
If the insurance paid me what they owe me I'd be feeling so much more comfortable, but as it is, I have no idea what they are doing so have to support myself. The thought of being in this position for long is scary.

Anyway, I feel a bit calmer than earlier, but I guess thats what 6 hours on your own with no one to talk to, & lots of stress & worry does to your brain. I definately miss having colleagues, even if I was the boss, people like the silly woman yesterday would have given us a right laugh.

I promise to try and be more cheerful. And thanks again for being nice about everything, it is much appreciated.

Bob

1HANNAH

Glad you are going to be staying around Bob xxx You have so much going on xxx