Single, six kids and going to be debt free!

Mumoffourkids

So I’ve been to look at the caravan this morning and it seems like it was meant to be. It is only an hours drive from me so not too far for me to tow it home. They had started doing it up as well. The lady and son I am buying it from do crafts and they were going to use it for their crafts but unfortunately they are having to move so can’t take it with them. It is just an ideal caravan and not too much of a project for me to do. They said they would like to see photos of it when I am finished which I will definitely do. I get the feeling that my ten year old daughter may want to help me which would be a lovely project for her to get involved in as well. I picked up the shopping on the way home even though I was early but it saved an extra trip out this afternoon.

I have had another enquiry to make some normal cushion covers so my name is getting out there that I make cushions. Fingers crossed this could be a nice little business for me making cushion covers and then I can make clothes etc to sell when I don’t have any cushion covers to do.

I worked out my budget for the caravan project last night and out of the £2700 I had saved for the house move, I reckon I will need about £1500 which includes a bit for any unforeseen expenses. This also includes petrol going to get it and the actual cost of the caravan which is only £400. So the remainder of the money, I have used to fund the rest of my monthly savings pots and to get ahead in my expenses. I think by the end of July, I should be one month ahead with my bills, food, petrol and general spending, and my rent. This would be brilliant. I also put an extra £500 in my emergency fund so I now have £1000 in there and I can stop funding that for a bit now. The caravan already has a strip light in there and plug sockets so I don’t need to get electrics done, I just need to get a lead to connect it to the mains in my house. I am so excited and just want to get it home and get started but I think that may happen on Friday.

trix-a-belle

Mo4K, the caravan sounds like a great idea! make sure you have an isolator for it when you connect it up from the house so it doesn't knock the whole house, or maybe look at a leisure battery set up with charger, you might have already looked into these
Also good news on the leavers scatter cushions, as your name is getting around I'm sure you will begin to get asked for larger cushions (ie sofa cushions) if so please drop me a message as these come under the fire regulations & i'm happy to talk you through these (i'm an upholsterer)

Mumoffourkids

Thanks you for your message trix-a-belle. That would be great if I do start getting asked for larger cushions and I will definitely drop you a message if I do. Also great idea about the leisure battery and charger. I know the caravan has its own fuse box but I was going to get my friend’s husband to take a look at the electrics for me as he is an electrician just to make sure they are safe. It does seem an ideal caravan and the guy selling it is glad it is going to a loving hom. I have said I will keep him updated, just got to think of a name for her now!

Chrystal

So pleased for you.  It sounds brilliant.

Moneywhizz

You don't let the grass grow under your feet! It all sounds like it is working out even better than you had hoped. Great to be open to seeing things in a different way and then just going for it. I hope it all works out for you, and will be great to have that extra space just for you. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

The caravan idea sounds brilliant and from what you've said already you seem happy in your current home so wish you well with the re jig. I've not read all your diary but from what I've read so far you do amazing. Looking forward to hearing how you get on. 

bd80s

little caravan sounds brilliant, plus you can look it from the inside when you need to escape the kids

Mumoffourkids

Chrystal said:

So pleased for you.  It sounds brilliant.

Thanks Chrystal x
xMoneywhizz said:

You don't let the grass grow under your feet! It all sounds like it is working out even better than you had hoped. Great to be open to seeing things in a different way and then just going for it. I hope it all works out for you, and will be great to have that extra space just for you. 

Thanks moneywhizz. I do tend to get an idea and then go for. I have always wanted a caravan to be honest and I love making things. 

clarissa62 said:

The caravan idea sounds brilliant and from what you've said already you seem happy in your current home so wish you well with the re jig. I've not read all your diary but from what I've read so far you do amazing. Looking forward to hearing how you get on. 

I am happy where I am. There are a few modifications I need to make to the back garden fences so the dog can’t see out, and when my eldest decides to sort her car out, I can then put my car back on the drive and I don’t have to worry about the stupid parking restrictions!

bd80s said:

little caravan sounds brilliant, plus you can look it from the inside when you need to escape the kids

I think I might end up retreating out there more often than not to escape the kids. 

So today has been a bad day. My ten year old decided that she didn’t want to go to school today so locked herself into the downstairs toilet with an old iPad and refused to come out. So i had to tell the school that she wasn’t coming in. Very embarrassing. Her headteacher laughed and said he wouldn’t have her any other way. She has done a tiny bit of work today despite me saying she had to do her work. I did some tidying and then decided to make some cushion covers for my dad. Well that was a mistake as I have put in this zip and unpicked it and put it in again so many times this afternoon, that I am now completely fed up! Normally zips don’t bother me but this zip has really done me in today. Going to leave it for tomorrow and see if there is anything else I can sew today to get my love of sewing back! I finsished another memory cushion last night, so now I am waiting on more uniform to arrive to make the next one.

I also need to think of some products that I am going to sell on an online craft fair. We are all going to showcase five products. I will definitely showcase my memory cushions and my scrunchies, but need to think of some other bits as well. One of the items has to be a new item that I haven’t shown before. I am thinking some clothes but I can’t think at the moment.

Mumoffourkids

Right so I forgot to weigh in yesterday morning, but I did it this morning and I have lost 1lb. Now bearing in mind I haven’t done any exercise and I still had a few treats over the weekend, then I am very happy with that. I have been trying to drink more water and have a habit tracker in my organiser for this. 

I managed to get 10 year old into school today mainly because her friend was going. Unfortunately they are in separate groups because her friend goes to the breakfast club. However, I did ask if my daughter could swap groups and I would be happy to pay for breakfast club a few mornings a week if it meant she could be in the same group as her friend and she is happy. I think it is definitely affecting her mental health being at home all the time and this would help her be happy.

Today is a new day and I start my c25k with my friend later on today. Right off to email headteacher and then take 5 year old to school.

Mumoffourkids

So good news, the ten year old is able to move groups. The headteacher at the school is really good. He has said she is fine to move groups but cannot move back which is fine by us. He has said that keyworker children come first so if the group is full with keyworker children on any day, then my daughter cannot go in. But out of the next two weeks there is only day that this has happened. So all good here on that front. My daughter is happy that she is with her friend, and I am happy that she is happy at school.

Also I did my first c25k run today with my friend. We are determined to try and lose weight and have decided to start running. We ended up spending 48 minutes out today running and walking as we found a good path to run along but then obviously had to walk home again. But all good and as I said to my friend, it doesn’t how fast we run, we are running and walking rather than being sat down!

Still need to think of some products to showcase. But I have now finished two more cushions for my dad today and had another drop off of school uniform for a memory cushion. I have planned my to do list for tomorrow so I am all set. Just got to do some tidying of the downstairs and sweep and then I can go and relax for the night.