Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

LadyWithAPlan

Just popping in to say I have not forgotten about you all!!
Super busy doing my big summer side-hustle, lots of travel ...

Plus I have signed up for a website dev course and also a content creation course - online 5 hours every Wed and Thurs so I am also studying.
I have built 3 websites and made loads content - however the world keeps changing and its good to have a refresh

Those who ever read my first journal entry will be thrilled to hear (finally) I did my first workshop on my programme - offered it for free here as part of the education programme - they pulled a group of 16-23 and then 40-50s and I got incredible feedback - one person even dmd me via facebook to say how inspiring it was and how much they learnt .. and how fascinating it was. I did get a quick referral video but waiting to launch til after the current side hustle. 
I am doing another workshop in Sept in Europe as part of my side hustle - this is partially why I am doing the website course to properly build and structure the website first.

The tutor keeps talking about what a great website MSE is - well structured etc but she had no idea of the forums we all live on in here 

Money -  I am keeping my ynab up to date so very clear how much I am spending on this side hustle in c advertising, travel etc) .. I am not quite half way in and at least 2/3rds covered costs.. So I am sure I will make money - how much I am not clear.  in some cases the advance sales I can check daily but cash door sales I wont know til after I finish each  stint!  
In some cases I have been told I will get paid 8 weeks after the stint!! In others 10 days... so good i have savings!!

savingholmes

Well done.  Sounds really busy. Glad you made time for nature too

LadyWithAPlan

tx @savingholmes hope all is well your end
Hope all of you here are having a fun summer.

I have won £25 on PB's this month - so despite having 50% less (£8.2k)  in than last year (13-£16k during the year) approx I have won more  - £500 over the last 8 months - won every month now got £8225 in 

I did a second workshop  on Sunday - based on my programme - a different angle - and got paid (about £125) - I am also getting a testimonial and got some pics and also they (the group who hired me to facilitate their monthly meet ) posted  loads so ..
I finally set up the insta page for it - so now got 3 insta pages  (personal, side hustle and this programme) and one I let drop but I have learnt from my content course to have diff socials for diff things  cos of algorithms and later branding. Yet to build the website for it (got the domain) but i finished the 4 week website course now so got clarity.
Apparently one should not launch a website til you have 30 posts on it so... and then takes Google 6 months to really register it and start placing it in its page rankings.


This is the third section of my  side hustle trip and is in a quiet city but still doing well relatively- the next place is a much bigger place with a larger audience I have been told so more sales. Should do as well in stop 4 as stop 2 where I did very well indeed. However I have been told this place now is the nice rest before a very busy period where lots of networking needed etc -

I have some small merchandise - badges, stickers etc. I have some teatowels coming but they are not ready yet - and probably not worth posting
as may not get here til after I leave. I will have them for the next trip - I was waiting for cash to come in (vs pulling from my savings) to order them but had not realised there was a 5 week production turnaround.  Still I will pop them online and will have for future side hustles.

Yesterday I set up STRIPE for my company as a QR  code in pounds - if you do in a foreign currency its too complicated (tax stuff)   and received my first £1 !! I will be tracking it - I have been getting cash  donations towards my badges etc which is covering food etc  buit not everyone carries cash
Either way I am very excited about my first £1 online payment...
EDIT I actually received £2 via Stripe yesterday Winning!

Its a beautiful small town where I type from and people keep giving me food!
(I am not begging) First a dozen freshly laid eggs as I was talking to their friend so we all got eggs, then I contacted people that chant the same things as I (nam myoho renge kyo) and whilst meeting them got freshly picked lettuce.. I said no to the HUGE courgette..

I am staying at peoples places and its amazing seeing how different everyone lives, levels of tidyness, kitchen surface stuff on etc. I am currently in the cleanest home ever - there is not a drop of water left anywhere ever! I am very inspired to declutter loads more when I get home - living out of 2 suitcases for 2 months (largely with stuff for the side hustle - banners etc) shows how much you dont need.


Just missed out on an award in one place so fingers crossed (awards help the marketing which is the only reason I care!) 
However I did a small tv clip and a radio interview on the local news so small is good

I have now broken even and am in profit on the whole 2 month trip (covering flights, all expenses etc), even projecting for food and ubers in the next place, .. I had some expensive ads but as no-one knows me here the ads in the big brochure were to get me seen so worth it to garner  the  sales. Never done it before but I have had a few sellouts or near sellouts.

  I have also covered the cost of my new iphone 16 pro max (which i LOVE ) no stress on batteries and also camera good enough to film as I am putting together a diary and a sizzle reel for this whole trip. I can even film my side hustle stuff - all good to have

Found a reasonably priced filmmaker so today I am off filming for the sizzle reel. 
I am super busy though - got some side hustle stuff in Europe in early Sept I am also having to organise and promote... I really am looking to get this side hustle back to the full time work - which is was pre covid, so will plan on next steps when home.

earthgirl2

Sounds amazing and very very busy! 

LadyWithAPlan

earthgirl2 said:

Sounds amazing and very very busy! 

I feel hugely busy but all fun, lets see how to market and sell better etc. Massive efforts always leaves to massive results.
I am also though choosing to not stress myself out as there is always something else I could do but as  a one woman LaPlan it is not possible.
I may think of getting a VA next time!
@Watty1 I will reminding myself of your online platform for your course wtc when I get back end August to start building that - thinking to launch in October

debtfreewannabe321

You always sound so busy @LadyWithAPlan but also sound like you love it... Well done on all the sales of tickets etc your side hustle sounds amazing taking you to so many different countries 😍.

South_coast

OK, so I now want a LaPlan tea towel....!

Watty1

Sounds awesome!!   Investment in a VA has really helped me develop ideas.  Highly recommended for the extra support 

beanielou

In the tea towel queue! Glad all going well.

LadyWithAPlan

Tx @beanielou @Watty1 @SouthCoast @debtfreewannabe321 for the well wishes.. I am busy but its happy busy... Plus meeting new people, getting inspired by them and the travelling. 

I am now in profit -covered all costs and so every sale is now income - of course I am not counting my hours spent here and opportunity cost but have managed to do couple things of online work for clients. Have been paid a nice chunk on one of the stints (WISE bank is so great for overseas payments) and will get a decent chunk also next week. Looking at my pre sales on the final 2 weeks and a week out already got some nice starting sales so. However I have looked at the website they selling through and copy is badly pasted, no bolds, paragraphs etc so I am sorting that out. I have edited a 30sec video though that looks great

Big client keeps saying they will pay me and money coming in  but as I am refusing to do any  work for them til i get paid  and sent them an interest statement   -  and they really need me to push forward on this work which will save them loads- and is required  - I am trusting I can report next week cash coming in. If not I will be back in 2.5 weeks  and then will look to get legal advice.

How great - an unexpected teatowel queue is growing ! ...
Its a fabulous teatowel to do with my sidehustle  (my friend designed it) - a friend sells hers here for about £10 each  but her cost is £2  as she printed in NZ whereas my UK teatowel print costs are just over £5 (exc design costs) -  so I guess I will be aiming for £13 in UK and less elsewhere-  they look fantastic from what I can see in the pic ... I will get to sell them in Europe when I do the Sept side hustle.. then online in UK - the initial cost though was just under £800 so .. they are washable at 40 etc and full colour
I may well do a LA Plan teatowel though    and have some ideas for other teatowels.

I may need to go on a design course now.. or some friends here said they have learnt to screenprint themselves so I see a screen printing course hunt on my return.

Watty1 said:

Sounds awesome!!   Investment in a VA has really helped me develop ideas.  Highly recommended for the extra support 

May i ask how it best helped on ideas and follow through? - assume you have a decent VA who has experience in online courses etc as opposed to one who does not. Can you recommend them or how best to find one?

I now have a lot of knowledge on how to and what needs to be in the website and all the socials - got info overload tbh - so waiting til my return to process

HOUSE INSURANCE £143.35
Had to renew mine (all renters contents)  but as I was abroad I was unable to get CB as none of the links were tracking in Quidc* or TCB. So just used Meerk*t again as at least I get some treats that way.

YNAB
As always this I am updating more than my QB work accts - as it is giving me  up to date info on my spending as I travel. Nice to have been paid some cash as I have been pulling money from savings as I go so.