Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

Savvy_sewing

I have emailed the housing association and asked if they would consider my being able to work from home if I closed the shop, and also how would I go about permission to build a shed or summer house etc. I mentioned that the neighbour's have a conservatory, a double garage workshop and several wooden structures too, so believe that there is presedence ( not sure I spelt that right), however I might as well find out now rather than later if it is possible or not.
I will speak to the accountants about the viability of the business and see about getting it valued, then I will talk to the landlord about the lease options sooner rather then later.

I need to have all the facts before I decide

Feral_Moon

Mooloo, you don't need planning permission to erect a summerhouse, especially in the size of garden you have. My daughter has a slightly smaller garden than you but has erected a 4m x 3m summerhouse, along with an 8' x 12' shed and 6' x 8' greenhouse. And there's still plenty of garden space left.

I would double check with them regarding running a business from home. It's not usually a problem unless it will impact upon or interfere with neighbours enjoyment of their own property... such as excessive noise, unsociable hours, alteration of premises etc. Which none of these would apply to you. There's probably more but I'm sure the council can advise you.

Do whatever is best for you and your family. You no longer have the pressure from a certain area, which, with hindsight, was as damaging as it was enlightening. I think now you need to take a step back and revaluate your goals but also your family commitments and work out a solution which balances your life.

I wish you well x

Savvy_sewing

I need proper uninterrupted sleep!
I went to bed at 10pm and woke at least 3 times for the loo. Too many cups of tea, sitting writing my thoughts in my diary and on here.
My brain will just not switch off as it flits from one thing to another trying to come up with solutions, reasons and how too do things.
Yes the ex is on my mind, but not in a I'm going to mope about it, not in an I regret anything, just because of the habit and associating things.
I know I am floundering because I have temporarily lost my routine and my reasons for things. I have left my self pondering on all aspects of my life and it is doubly difficult to settle down my wonderlust. I have never been anywhere so long in my life, and I am restless.
my dreams are thwarted by my lack of money and that is my fault as I have always helped others before myself really.
I am used to making my money stretch.
But I have left my future wide open as I don't have a decent pension, neither did I put claims on my ex husbands pensions etc. I am on my own.
I don't see my children being supportive of me in my old age, and so I am left wondering about all aspects and reasons for my life at the moment.
Not in a woa is me way, but more in a what do I need to do now? In a how am I going to make life better for us, how can I fill the gap in funds later?
I always had a dream that I would retire to the warmer climates of the Mediterranean or Portugal, I would like to have had the funds to go sooner rather than later, but as time slips by and life got in the way I realise that I have managed to make it practically impossible to fulfill my dreams and now that I am also my Mum's first port of call, my dream feels impossible.
I am the type of person who must have a goal a reason to be or to do or I flounder that is why I am questioning my business and my life and my financial situation at the moment.
my problem is I don't know how to move forward without a good reason to.
Sorry if my ramblings are going round in circles- that's how my brain is going at the moment and why I feel so exhausted.

Savvy_sewing

Going to be one of those days!
My guardianship funds have not been paid into the bank so I am rather fed up, as the after school club needs paying and the car is on Empty!
Sods Law

Savvy_Sue

dktreesea wrote: »

If you want to run your business from home, I think it might be an idea to check with the council or housing association first. Our housing associations don't allow home based businesses! I was really surprised to hear this, but it does kind of make sense, public liability wise. That was enough to change my plans re buying one of their flats. Plus, people can be mean. One of my DDs friends runs a small business from her council flat, just running parties for children, and one of her neighbours reported her to the council. They told her she wasn't allowed to run her business from home.

When I used to work for a Housing Association, I believe that permission to run a business would not be unreasonably refused: there wasn't a blanket ban, but there were restrictions.

Feral_Moon wrote: »

I would double check with them regarding running a business from home. It's not usually a problem unless it will impact upon or interfere with neighbours enjoyment of their own property... such as excessive noise, unsociable hours, alteration of premises etc. Which none of these would apply to you. There's probably more but I'm sure the council can advise you.

Actually one of the things which could lead to refusal is having visitors to your home, either for fittings or for dropping or and picking up work. Certainly if there is a parking issue which would be aggravated by multiple visitors, or if the number of additional visitors seems (to others) to be a 'nuisance', that can cause problems.

Our HA was fairly pragmatic. Want to repair cars at home? No way, no how, never. Want to park a single company van on your drive? No problem, even if your nit-picking neighbours complain.

I'd say Mooloo is somewhere in between if clients are coming to the house. Plus of course insurance is essential!

whiteguineapig

would it be cheaper (and warmer) to use the spare bedroom as a sewing room?

Feral_Moon

If you do get a summerhouse I'd advise you to insulate it properly. I have one which I installed approx 8 years ago with the intention of it being my private retreat, away from the household and immediate neighbours. But, it turned out to be too hot in the height of summer and too cold mid-winter, unless I used heaters.

As a result, it is now just another storage place from where I moved clutter out of the house that I couldn't bare to part with. Most of it could be skipped or sold in a car boot or online. But I just don't have the motivation to clear it out. Buried amongst all the clutter is a lovely oak sofa bed that I used relax on, or use for overnight guests.

I just don't want you to fall into the same trap by moving all your sewing "clutter" in there but then not have enough room to work in.

Savvy_sewing

I tried to use the spare room before, and it's only just 7' x 6' so I could sew in it, but very small to store anything and my big machines would have to go as would not get them up the stairs.
I have insurance and had it here before it would be easy to change the address.
I am not sure how many visitors I would get, but they would be able to park on my drive, ( if the doctors patients didn't block it).

I may have to start from in doors as the insulated summerhouses start at around £8,500 with electrics etc.
I would need a loan for one, ( if I can get one), but it should pay for itself in a year or so).
At the moment I am just checking the options out.
I am still in two minds as I do love my shop, and it would depend on the new tenancy costs as well.
If I was to sell the business then I would need to think of a different job as I would be competing with my shop.
Although depending on whether it has a decent value or not it could give me enough funds for a few months to look for something to do. However I didn't really want to do anything else so I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face.

I am about to go back Now to do a fitting as lady couldn't make opening hours.
When I get back I will be aiming for a soak in the bath and bed!
Today has been a struggle to say the least.
Staff came in with a nasty cough. Not thrilled as my brother stayed away so we didn't get it, and she's just exposed me to it!
Last thing I need is to get it, or give it to mum just before we go to Cyprus

LKRDN_Morgan

I think the Summer house sounds like an amazing idea. I can only imagine how nice it would be to take all of 10 seconds to walk from home to work!

Slinky

I think you need to be realistic about selling your 'business', when you would need to sell it to somebody with sewing skills as otherwise there is no business. What's stopping them just setting up their own business without paying you a premium for it? It's hard when the owner IS the business to realise a value from it. I have the same issue with my own business.