Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

Savvy_sewing

Yesterday DGD went to school reasonably well for a change. We learnt that the petition we signed to keep her teacher on. He was due to leave at the end of term, but we rallied round and even though we were told it wouldn't do any good, we turned the decision around, and even better he's going to teach our kids next year as well. Yippee some continuity at last.
I walked as usual too and from work. Goings ok, coming back was a rush as I was interrupted and late leaving.
I managed to bank £220 from Fri/sat take. Before I opened the shop. I spent most of the day on paperwork, HMRC tax renewals etc. Sorted an anannomilie in my accounting files. ( my current account was under Merchant accounts), and saw a rep about buttons, and ribbons etc.
It was 2.15 before I sewed the first stitch, but I sewed until 4.50 and managed to do £120 worth of sewing. I worked through the easy repairs and the trousers. That helps me to move many more jobs through the system even though I get interruptions serving in the shop.
I had some donated cushion pads just after closing, and while receiving them someone came in and bought elastic and buttons. Around £6 odd extra in the till.
I was very tired though, and went to bed at 8.30. Couldn't keep my eyes open to watch the sewing bee!

dktreesea

Yes, thank goodness you chose a business which is needed in the town. Having said that, Mooloo, don't underestimate all your efforts it took to get your business up and running. Starting from scratch is a long haul compared to buying an existing business, and it's great you have got it to be profitable and paying you something within two years of opening.


We've had a large gift shop close here a few months ago. It had been around for all the time we have been here, so at least ten years. We seem to have moved away culturally from buying knick knacks and ornaments for each other as little thank you gifts.


Even toys. I can remember growing up going to the toy shop every week and our parents would buy us something. Stuff like lego, clothes for dolls, toy soldiers, bit and pieces for the train set. Nowadays we have much smaller houses - we certainly couldn't set up a train set anywhere in our flat - and children seem to just want technology. Ipads, I-phones, headphones. The only thing that seems similar is that they are music mad, which is what we were growing up. Our local toys-r-us moved into a different store at the retail park last year, less than half the size of the other store.


There's a cooking shop up here, but it's main function seems to be running and selling its cooking courses. I can't imagine they would have much passing trade. Good quality frying pans, but the days when I was willing to spend £56 on a frying pan are long gone.


In one of the shopping centres the print and framing store moved out of its shop into the centre part, i.e. a permanent stall, but even that has now gone. Not sure what his neighbours will make of it, but he has now organised his garage to do all the framing, still has his online presence, and accepts people at the house Wednesdays and Saturday mornings only, by appointment. His rent would have been quite expensive in that shopping centre because they are one of the ones that take a percentage of turnover and charge advertising levies as well as rent.

dktreesea

Not sure about the plan to cut eating out on Fridays, especially if it is a time when you see one or more of your friends, as opposed to just going out because you don't feel like cooking. My current motto around my business is make time to do the things I enjoy that aren't business related....and get some sleep :-)

Savvy_sewing

I'm fighting tiredness all the time at the moment. So I realise the decision to close for a week next month is a good one.
I am sewing a lot, turning round about 50 jobs in a week at the moment. Each day I'm doing between £120-£160 a day at the moment.
I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow off. Even though I have housework and builders tomorrow. I'd like to just chill but I will just have to pace myself at the moment.
I'm going to bed early.
I'm taking my time in the mornings, as best I can, and not worrying too much about the mess in the house. I will do it when I have the energy and stop when I don't.
I'm focussing on my savings, the emergency fund challenge and the savings for the car at the moment, that's why I'm thinking of reducing Friday evenings out. But only short term.
DGD has gone to tea round my friends that we usually go to the pub with. So I've had fried potatoes and eggs for my tea. Using up cold potatoes left over from Sunday.
I'm planning to redo the menu plans using up what I can as I seem to have bulging cupboards but never know what to cook these days. If I focus on using up things etc, then perhaps a bit more funds can go into the pots.

dktreesea

I hope you have a nice day off. Builders are dusty. Might be an idea to delay the housework until they have finished.....

Feral_Moon

On the scheme of using up things, yesterday I made meatballs in a red wine & onion gravy (delicious) and served with mash & green veg. When I was clearing up this morning I noticed there was mash left in the pan, alongside a solitary meatball in this luxurious gravy.

Many people would have just scraped it into the bin. But not I, this then became an extra meal for lunch today ����

Savvy_sewing

I shall have to start sorting upstairs, dust or no dust as I don't have enough energy to wait until the evenings. My first task is to declutter as the room has become a dumping ground.
On the use up side of things, I used to be very good at it, but ironically time strapped and unorganised meant I'd started throwing things out from the fridge as I had forgotten to eat them up. Seemed to have lost my use up mentality. Time to drag it back, not because I'm struggling financially, but because I am wanting to save faster for a replacement car.
I did have a thought that if I am needed to take dgd2 etc then perhaps I could get Biggest on the car insurance, and visa versa, and swap cars when needed. I shall investigate the costs.
Meanwhile I'm saving as much as I can over the next two months.
I had a strange night, waking loads. Idiots popping horns in the early hours didn't help.
Time to wake up DGD and do the school run etc.

*Robin*

Mooloo wrote: »

I did have a thought that if I am needed to take dgd2 etc then perhaps I could get Biggest on the car insurance, and visa versa, and swap cars when needed. I shall investigate the costs.

'Morning Mooloo, wouldn't it be a good idea to be put on Biggest's insurance now, then if there's an emergency before you replace your car you could always use hers (especially if helping her by looking after her children)?

Savvy_sewing

In an emergency I'm probably too far away from her. I'm 13 miles away. I'd be better off getting a taxi or an ambulance. But finding out about being added and its costs etc can certainly be done sooner rather than later. (If I am to be needed).

Feral_Moon

Mooloo wrote: »

In an emergency I'm probably too far away from her. I'm 13 miles away. I'd be better off getting a taxi or an ambulance. But finding out about being added and its costs etc can certainly be done sooner rather than later. (If I am to be needed).

Chances are it will actually reduce her premium if she adds you to the policy. I'm on all my children's insurance policies for that very reason. Although, having said that, doing it mid-policy rather than at renewal will likely incur an admin charge which can be as much as £60 depending who you're insured with.