Mooloo’s Managing it in 2018

markdebby

Just a thought. I don't think you need permission for a wooden structure as it can be removed at anytime. A bit like a greenhouse.
A big chunk of your intake is paid out to other people. Eg rent and employees but not yourself. I hate to see you so downhearted.
My local dressmaker works from home in a small house. She has wedding dresses everywhere but all the sewing is her own money.
She does not live close to the town but very popular due to word of mouth.
I would also stop doing zips. Time consuming.

supermezzo

Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate here, but I think that you're currently far too over wrought and demoralised to make any sort of decision far beyond what to cook for dinner! I really don't see that making massive changes at the moment in for the best at all.
Yes, when you put £100 onto paper as your 'wages' it sounds dreadful but somehow every month you're putting a roof over your head, feeding you both and running a car as well as paying bills. I absolutely get how hard you're working but I really think you need to look at the positives you're getting (i.e. the things listed above) and not just the admittedly small amount left over.

I'm just not sure that another upheaval is a good idea for you or DGD at the moment, is all.

Just a different point of view.
Take care.

ognum

supermezzo wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate here, but I think that you're currently far too over wrought and demoralised to make any sort of decision far beyond what to cook for dinner! I really don't see that making massive changes at the moment in for the best at all.
Yes, when you put £100 onto paper as your 'wages' it sounds dreadful but somehow every month you're putting a roof over your head, feeding you both and running a car as well as paying bills. I absolutely get how hard you're working but I really think you need to look at the positives you're getting (i.e. the things listed above) and not just the admittedly small amount left over.

I'm just not sure that another upheaval is a good idea for you or DGD at the moment, is all.

Just a different point of view.
Take care.

While I understand what you are saying the amount of time you can pay the bills and run a car on an overdraft is limited.

Sometimes you have to consider the reasons behind why someone is overwrought and demoralised, how long they have been like that and how they can move away from that.

I know Mooloo will not do any of what I have said because I have said it before in a similar situation. When you are in a situation you can!!!8217;t see over the brim of your troubles let alone plan a future.

I am not suggesting Mooloo walks away today just suggesting there are other ways to live a full life and have a full productive future, she is a talented lady and needs to use the talents she has productively.

thorsoak

whiteguineapig wrote: »

Don't shoot me for this Moo, but would it be an option to go and live with your mum?
I know she is getting on in years and she might see it as a good move for both of you.
A little job for you and a safety net for her.
You could continue sewing as a hobby and start to save towards the future before its too late.

If Mooloo were to give up the house that she and DGD live in, she would be giving up an assured tenancy as well as having to disrupt DGD again. And what if her mother needs more care than Mooloo and her siblings can give, what then? Mooloo would then be homeless again. Not such a great idea :-(

Savvy_sewing

So,
I have 18 months left on my lease. My first decision is that I will not expand the business. Drop the plan to increase fabrics and notions etc. So stop investing in stock other than consumables.
I will not take on any other seamstress. If we are full, then we are full.
Biggest is cutting her hours and will no longer do Tuesday. Saving me £50 a week.
I will up the price for jacket zips, and over the weekend I will review the prices again for the other jobs and make sure that I am still able to do the work in the time frame/cost analysis.
I am not going to give up my tenancy. I am assured a roof over my head, and a building that must be maintained by the housing Association. Dgd doesn't need up routing at this point in time.
I will give a longer lead time for work to be done, and if that means loosing the odd job then so be it.
DS May temporarily have to sofa surf. But he is not going to be funded by me.
I will not be going across to BFs any time soon, unless it actually suits me.
In the next few weeks I will hopefully be able to pay off the overdraft for the business. We are at approximately £658 overdrawn on a £2,000 overdraft.
I will come in during the lighter evenings and measure, photograph and upload my fabrics etc to the internet and sell it off.
I will aim to build my online presence and look towards the lessons etc again after The advertised lessons are finished.
I will not sell as a going concern as I would restrict my ability to work at home, and moving as mentioned is not an option.
I will look at my home, and make it that. Recycle the furniture etc, decorate, and come to terms hopefully with the thought that actually it will just have to be my forever home. After the 18 months is up, I will invest in a cabin in the garden and work from home again. I will have enough of a regular customer base to let them know where I am, and if the work load is reduced by moving then so will the stress of meeting rent and bills etc.
I can take work by appointment only. I can do one to one lessons or small groups either in the cabin, or in hired rooms.
I have all the equipment I need and can sell of the excess.
Then I can choose to go on holidays in my beloved Portugal when it suits me, and my purse strings, and not worry about the Shop having to be open.

Thanks everyone for helping me make that decision.
I feel calmer now.
I probably won't get to by my dreams, but I can still aim towards regular trips there.
I will have a state pension and if in affordable housing then I should be ok.
Hopefully I will loose the stress levels and gain some more time with family as the kids grow up.
I am not sure what I do about my relationship, but I am still under no illusions that I will have a happy ever after.
I will b back at work this evening at 7pm for some dress fittings. So I am going to go home now and come back later.

markdebby

That all sounds like you have thought it out well today. Good for you.:j

fozziebeartoo

That all sounds very sensible and positive Mooloo, and definitely not failing.

Savvy_sewing

NOW I just have to get through the rest of the lease term in the shop.
And reduce the stock!

thorsoak

Sounds like a good plan, Mooloo - and if you can get your website up and running properly, and a good database of customers, it should help with reducing your stock - I buy a lot of my patchwork materials online as fat quarters and jelly rolls!

BrassicWoman

I get my alterations done by post and I've no idea if my seamstress has premises. It's a PITA for me to take an afternoon off work just for two inches off trousers. They seem to have a decent system for it.... And they charge a little more than you plus postage, and I'm happy to pay it!