My Mortgage Free Mountain - A 7 year expedition to climb to the top

craftingmad

Morning all (well when I say all I actually just mean the two or three of you who read my boring little thread) so thank you  

I had a 10 and a half hour day at the cafe yesterday so not much time for anything else but it means that it was a NSD and I also earnt some cash so it was a win win  

It's blowing a hooley here on the Norfolk Broads today. I have my oodie snoodie on and I'm not intending to venture out at all , well apart from when doggo needs to have a wee or something else but at the moment she is not feeling outside either and I don't blame her at all

Fingers crossed I can get lots done today so I'm going tro crack on with my list and see what I can achieve

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 2 points so far today 
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos available for a total of 11p
3. Read lease to check there are no hidden surprises
4. Submit hours to cafe in order to get paid today - DONE now just to wait for wages for 37.5 hours  
5. Write and schedule social media posts for this week and next
6. Return dies to Amazon for a refund - DONE £7.36 to be credited back to the joint account  
7. Make and post off prayer box - made now to wait for glitter to dry before posting
8. Make and post off jewellery planner for Etsy order - made will post later today
9. Print and post off index cards for returning customer and email through designs - printed and cut - just waiting for confirmation of address ready to post off
10. Pay in final chippy wages into OP savings account - DONE £37.40 transferred  
11. Return christmas table cloth as can reuse one from last year and also return laminating sheets as found some more during tidying up study - DONE £7.48 credit note received as shop does not offer refunds  
12. Make a few Christmas cards using stash to hand out to friends and neighbours  - five made so far
13. Update monthly spreadsheet (better late than never) - savings account balances updated but mortgage company closed so cannot get accurate balance. Will try phoning on Thursday when I'm not at work  
14. Get business accounts up to date
15. Follow up on letter received from Yorkshire building society about old account - tried phoning but shut today so will try again tomorrow  
16. List something on facebook marketplace
17. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get a few orders - DONE commented on three today
18. Prepare emails, facebook group and samples for cardmaking advent calendar
19. Take a course from a membership 
20. Design something new to sell
21. List something new on Etsy
22. Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner  
23. Complete Prime Opinion survey
24. Create another cardmaking download
25. Tidy more of craft room/office
26. Get chicken breasts out of freezer for doggo ready to cook later today - DONE
27. Go through more of the freezers and make a list of meals - two more shelves gone through and 7 more days of family meals found  
28. Chase Amazon for refund for extension lead left outside in the heavy rain - DONE said may take up to 7 days so I will make a note to check and chase then if not received  
29. No heating on until 5pm - DONR 7pm and still no heating as warm enough in my oodie snoodie  
30. Transfer cafe wages to OP savings account when received in current account - DONE £416.11 added
31. NSD - DONE  

~FlowerPot~

hi ((waves)) im here,

No one reads my diary either, alhtough Im not surprised, there not much saving going on for a savings diary!!!!

Baileys_Babe

~FlowerPot~ said:

hi ((waves)) im here,

No one reads my diary either, alhtough Im not surprised, there not much saving going on for a savings diary!!!!

Im an avid reader both @craftingmadand your diary @~FlowerPot~

SuperSavingD

Baileys_Babe said:

~FlowerPot~ said:

hi ((waves)) im here,

No one reads my diary either, alhtough Im not surprised, there not much saving going on for a savings diary!!!!

Im an avid reader both @craftingmadand your diary @~FlowerPot~

Me too I just love reading all the diaries, they keep me motivated.  I just don’t often post on them, not sure why.

craftingmad

Aww thank you guys so much. It's lovely to know that I have people cheering me on. Every comment means so much to ne and helps me remember that it will all be worth it in the end  

I've got a 9 hour day at work today (had a 10 hour day yesterday hence no post from me) so I know I won't achieve a lot but something is better than nothing right? 

I've asked our daughter who is home all day to unload and load the dishwasher and clean the kitchen so fingers crossed she will do it or I might just explode at her!!! If she doesn't then we have no forks left to eat dinner tonight!!  

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - DONE 52 points earned
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE four videos available for a total of 16p 
3. Read lease to check there are no hidden surprises
4. Write and schedule social media posts for this week and next
5. Decide if I am going to keep or return dies to Amazon for a refund two more die sets
6. Post off prayer box- DONE  
7. Post off jewellery planner for Etsy order - DONE  
8. Post off index cards for returning customer - DONE  
9. Get business accounts up to date
10. List something on facebook marketplace
11. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get a few orders
12. Prepare emails, facebook group and samples for cardmaking advent calendar
13. Take a course from a membership 
14. Design something new to sell
15. List something new on Etsy
16. Check freepostcode lottery
17. Complete Prime Opinion survey
18. Create another cardmaking download
19. Tidy more of craft room/office
20. Go through more of the freezers and make a list of meals
21. No heating on until 5pm - DONE didn't go on until 7.45pm  
22. Cafe shift (9am - 6pm) - DONE actually finished at 6.15pm so an extra 15 mins wages for me  
23. NSD - DONE

craftingmad

Morning all,

So I made very little progress on my list yesterday but the things I did manage like a NSD and worked 9 and a quarter hours will do for me so I'm focusing on the positive impact those few things will make in our mortgage mountain climb rather than what I didn't manage to achieve:)

I'm really hoping the solicitors don't get a jiggle on and get everything ready to go with the cafe sale now until the New Year as I really don't want to start off my ownership with almost two weeks closed because of the festivities If they do I will have to do all I can to delay it I think Hubby did day that if we got it then we could open between Christmas and New Year but in all honesty I think I deserve a little break - maybe if it dies go through I can get him working in there instead  

I've got another 9 hour shift at the cafe today but then a few days off so I can start preparing for Christmas as I feel like I have done absolutely nothing for it yet and it is getting so close now! I have to admit to not feeling very festive at all this year so I hope the spirit suddenly finds me and I can get cracking  

We had a all freezer meal yesterday of Hamwiches (the food of gods), hash brown tator tots and veg so that has cleared a very small gap in one of them and I am planning another full freezer meal again tonight (not sure what yet but think I will just go for the biggest packets/boxes to gain more space ). I've also taken out a couple more chicken breasts for the dog but honestly I still cannot really see much more room in there At least the only shopping we should need for the rest of this year is the Christmas food for the big day and pick and mix type things for the buffets so this will help save our pennies

Hubbies car is fixed and will be picked up tomorrow but the bad news is it's costing us £1600 Not great at all but he loves that car so getting rid was not an option for him - I on the other hand would have got rid of it in a heartbeat

Right, I must get cracking as need to take the doggo for a walk before work so here's my very optimistic list for today:-

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 27 points earnt so far
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE nine videos available for a total of 41p 
3. Read lease to check there are no hidden surprises
4. Write and schedule social media posts for this week and next
5. Decide if I am going to keep or return dies to Amazon for a refund two more die sets
6. Print and post off stickers for existing customer
7. Make and post off little bags of love for Etsy order
8. Make and post off plantable christmas shapes for Etsy order
9. Get business accounts up to date
10. List something on facebook marketplace
11. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get a few orders
12. Prepare emails, facebook group and samples for cardmaking advent calendar
13. Take a course from a membership 
14. Design something new to sell
15. List something new on Etsy
16. Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner  
17. Complete Prime Opinion survey
18. Create another cardmaking download
19. Tidy more of craft room/office
20. Go through more of the freezers and make a list of meals
21. No heating on until 5pm - DONE did not get turned on until 7pm  
22. Cafe shift (9am - 6pm) - DONE actually finished at 6.15pm again so another extra 15 minutes to be paid  
23. NSD - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning all,

Well I have a meeting with the Parish Council today about buying the cafe. It looks like everyone apart from me wants to complete next week (17th). I'm not going to lie it actually kept me awake last night as it seems very real now but I'm sure everything will be ok. I know it is never going to make me a millionaire but hopefully it won't lose us money and we get an ok return on our investment. Time will tell I suppose!  I will need to have a look into insurances etc now as a matter of urgency and also get a business bank account opened asap.

Other than the meeting, I have a day off today so I hope to complete the three orders I have and try and get organised a little bit for Christmas as I honestly haven't started! It's hubby's work dinner tonight as well so that will be nice and more importantly it's a free night out as food and drink is paid for by them so will make it taste even better I need to work out what I'm wearing as it is quite a posh place I think so my jeans just won't cut it

So here we go - here is my ridiculously long list in true craftingmad style

 So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target)
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for total of 18p
3. Read lease to check there are no hidden surprises
4. Meeting with Parish Council - DONE and it went ok I believe
5. Write a table quiz for Christmas meal at cafe on Sunday - DONE
6. Open business bank account for cafe
7. Ask about insurance, card machine subscription etc and see if they can be transferred over - DONE will have to wait to see what they say
8. Look into alcohol license transfer
9. Contact YBS about dormant account and get access to money
10. Phone mortgage company for up to date balance and update spreadsheet
11. Write and schedule social media posts for this week and next
12. Decide if I am going to keep or return dies to Amazon for a refund two more die sets
13. Print and post off stickers for existing customer
14. Make and post off little bags of love for Etsy order
15. Make and post off plantable christmas shapes for Etsy order
16. Get business accounts up to date
17. List something on facebook marketplace
18. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get a few orders
19. Prepare emails, facebook group and samples for cardmaking advent calendar
20. Take a course from a membership 
21. Design something new to sell
22. List something new on Etsy
23. Check freepostcode lottery
24. Complete Prime Opinion survey
25. Create another cardmaking download
26. Tidy more of craft room/office
27. Go through more of the freezers and make a list of meals
28. No heating on until 5pm - DONE
29. Start Christmas preparations
30. Enjoy free meal tonight - DONE the food was amazing  

Baileys_Babe

Enjoy your posh meal tonight. I hope the parish council meeting goes well.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Enjoy your posh meal tonight. I hope the parish council meeting goes well.

Thanks Baileys.

I had a lovely evening and the food was amazing. Maybe it was because it didn't cost us a penny

craftingmad

Morning all,

Well I seemed to be busy all day yesterday and not achieve anything - that's what seems to happen a lot when hubby is home  

Never mind today is a new day and I intend to fly through my list and be organised for Christmas by the end of it In fairness that is probably asking a little too much but I am feeling optimistic so we shall see

The Parish Council meeting went ok yesterday. they are not in a hurry to complete so the good news is I won't be taking the cafe until after the Christmas break so that means I won't be paying rent for an empty cafe so that is a big weight off my mind.   It looks like it will be around 18th January now so that will suit me and makes some of my To Do list a little less pressing  

OK list for today as I'm determined to achieve lots:-

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 2 points so far
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE five videos watched for total of 28p 
3. Contact Parish Council and request permission to use a little area of cafe for rent a shelf to crafters - DONE
4. Read lease to check there are no hidden surprises
5. Open business bank account for cafe
6. Look into alcohol license transfer - looked into it. It looks like the course is £100 so I will do that in January when we have a bit more money in the account   
7. Contact YBS about dormant account and get access to money - DONE the balance is £2119.81 which is a lovely bonus so I have applied for online banking so I can transfer this into the OP savings account   
8. Phone mortgage company for up to date balance and update spreadsheet - DONE mortgage has gone down by another £334 so that has made me smile  
9. Write and schedule social media posts for this week and next
10. Decide if I am going to keep or return dies to Amazon for a refund two more die sets - DONE going to return for a £6.18 credit as have far too many already and once I have the cafe I will have even less time for crafting so would rather out the money towards paying off mortgages I will send back at post office tomorrow  
11. Print and post off stickers for existing customer - DONE 
12. Make and post off little bags of love for Etsy order - DONE 
13. Make and post off plantable christmas shapes for Etsy order - DONE 
14. Get business accounts up to date - completed July and Aug  
15. List something on facebook marketplace
16. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get a few orders
17. Prepare emails, facebook group and samples for cardmaking advent calendar
18. Take a course from a membership 
19. Design something new to sell
20. List something new on Etsy
21. Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
22. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE one survey completed for 41 points  
23. Create another cardmaking download
24. Tidy more of craft room/office
25. Go through more of the freezers and make a list of meals - cleared a shelf today - sausages defrosting for dinner tonight to go with lovely crusty bagette, a mac and cheese and two pies defrosting for tomorrow and a couple of things moved into chest freezer  
26. No heating on until 5pm - failed as it was freezing and daughter had friend round so it got turned on at 2pm  
27. Start Christmas preparations - bought some biscuits from M&S and pringles from Tesco along with a couple of stocking filler bits