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

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Happy New Year!

It must feel such a relief having made a decision about the cafe. When you say it as 12 years of working 60+ hours a week compared to working for someone else and interest on your investments I know which I would choose. You will also be in a better place to support your hubby and parents without the stress in having to manage owning the cafe at the same time.

It sounds like you are putting some MSE activities back in place, which will help.

You have made huge progress on becoming mortgage free, have you worked out when it might be?

Happy New Year to you too. I hope it is fabulous for you.

It is a huge relief and just sending the message over to the current owners feels like a weight has been lifted from me. It really does feel like the best thing for us so that is all that matters right?

2025 is the year when we really put even more effort into our mortgage mountain. We are hoping that our mortgage free date will be 30th June 2027 as that is when the last of the fixed rates for the mortgages comes to an end which will be two and a half years early than we first dreamed. That said if we can pay them off before this date then we will as long as the fees for early repayment are not too high     

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

HNY crafting. 
I'm glad you've made a decision about the cafe and it does sound like the right one. I was very worried about just how much work it would be for you for the amount of return and stress of owning a business. 

Aww its lovely to know that you care so much Flowerpot - thank you from the bottom of my heart x

Happy New Year to you - I hope this year is a fabulous as you are x

craftingmad

Good afternoon,

A later post than I hoped from me today but I have been a busy bee tidying up my craft room. I have a way to go yet but I'm being truthful with myself and putting several things in a sell pile as I know I will never use them.  I am determined that 2025 will be the year when we have a clean, clutter free and organised house for us all to enjoy

I've sent the message to the cafe owners and heard nothing back so I'm dreading having to go into work on Monday but ultimately I know the decision is the right one for us a family so am determined not to feel guilty about it. I think its about time we starting putting us first for a change so it is what it is and we will not change our minds  

Hubby officially starts his new job on Monday but he worked yesterday and today as overtime so that will be a nice start to the year and I am very happy to have the OT option back again (and to have him home each night obviously ) 

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 7 points so far  
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE one video watched for a total of 4p
3. Make up 4 bags of love for Etsy order and post off - made just need to package and post off but will wait for the ice to melt a bit first as very slippy out today
4. Make up three angels in my pocket for Etsy orders and post off - made them up but will wait to post off until tomorrow as roads still very icy
5. Pay in tip money and transfer into savings account - will wait until tomorrow as roads very icy
6. Update monthly spreadsheet
7. Check to see if cheque cleared and transfer into savings - DONE £10.40 transferred to savings
8. Look to see if code received for Mistplay voucher I cashed out before Christmas - DONE £10 added to amazon account and money transferred into OP savings account
9. Transfer £10 to OP savings account from nectar voucher used for clothes rail to dry clothes (bought on 30th December) - DONE
10. See what has happened to Prime Opinion cash out payment - still no sign of it so emailed them to get an answer as to where it is Code received and £10 transferred from paypal into OP savings account
11. Meal plan for week trying to use up what we have - list made and enough meals for at least 7 days so will ask everyone who is about for dinners when they are home and plan accordingly
12. Transfer savings from YBS into higher interest account
13. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some orders
14. Write and schedule social media posts for first two weeks of Jan
15. Get business accounts up to date
16. Submit meter reading to electric company - DONE
17. List something on facebook marketplace - DONE listed macrame wall hanging bought a while ago and never hung - fingers crossed somebody likes it for £4  
18. Prepare cardmaking downloads for advent calendar (better late than never)
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 - DONE one survey completed for 4 points and kicked out of two surveys so gained an additional 2 points
24. Take a survey on Inbox Pounds - Tried but got timed out on all the 7 I tried. Did win 6p on spin to win though  
25. Create another cardmaking download
26. Tidy more of craft room/office - DONE under my desk tidied and I have a pile of topper pads ready to sell  
27. No heating on until 5pm - DONE still not on at 5.15pm but have wet washing so will need to turn it on soon plus it is blummin freezing
28. Update shipping dates on Etsy so hopefully orders start coming in again - DONE
29. NSD - DONE

craftingmad

Morning everyone from a very frosty Norfolk Broads. It's really slippy out today which is not made easier when a 50 kilo dog decides it wants to jump on you when you are on an icy pavement If I only achieve one thing today then staying on my feet is enough for me   

Hubby has a day off today so our main priority today is to sort out our daughters phone to roam in Europe as she goes travelling for a month on 12th and we don't want a huge bill. Plus I don't want her to have any excuse not to text us each day so I don't have to worry  

Other than that hoping for a relaxing kinda day with more decluttering and tidying and organising. I am determined our house will look presentable rather than an episode of hoarders very soon

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 22 points so far  
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - no videos available today so far  
3. Post off two Etsy orders - DONE  
4. Pay in tip money and transfer into savings account - DONE £102 added into OP savings account
5. Update monthly spreadsheet
6. Transfer savings from YBS into higher interest account
7. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some orders - commented on two posts so far - fingers crossed for a sale
8. Write and schedule social media posts for first two weeks of Jan
9. Get business accounts up to date
10. List something on facebook marketplace - DONE 4 items listed - Hunkydory craft toppers bundle (£25), Star Wars Top Trumps Game (£2), various cutting dies (£15) and plastic medals (no clue why I have them) (£4) - fingers crossed they sell quickly
11. Prepare cardmaking downloads for advent calendar (better late than never)
12. Take a course from a membership 
13. Design something new to sell
14. List something new on Etsy
15. Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner  
16. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DOE one survey completed for 64 points and timed out of another for 3 points  
17. Take a survey on Inbox Pounds
18. Create another cardmaking download
19. Upload completed designs onto craftsuprint
20. Tidy more of craft room/office - DONE one wheeled trolley tidied
21. No heating on until 5pm - Went on at 4pm to dry sons washing
22. Get a roaming plan for daughters phone for Europe to save high fees - daughter not available today so will have to go tomorrow
23. Look into different pet insurance as premium has risen again
24. Complete tax return
25. Scan shopping for Shop and Scan points - DONE  

Baileys_Babe

Why are you sorting out your daughter's phone, surely that is a job for her? This MSE guide might help.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Why are you sorting out your daughter's phone, surely that is a job for her? This MSE guide might help.

We asked her to sort it out but she never did so as we pay her mobile bill we have taken it upon ourselves to sort it so we don't end up with a huge bill. I know we shouldn't but we will.
Thanks for the guide it is very helpful x

craftingmad

Morning all,

I've still not heard anything from the cafe owners since I pulled out of the sale so I'm starting to be filled with dread about going into work tomorrow. I am going to try and not let it ruin today though so am aiming to keep myself busy and try and get lots done which will move us closer to our goals  

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 7 points so far
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - no videos available today
3. Make up little bag of love for Etsy order and post off
4. Update monthly spreadsheet - savings amounts updated. Will need to phone mortgage company on Thursday for updated balance for BTL1
5. Transfer savings from YBS into higher interest account - transferred over but not credited into bank account yet rather worryingly  
6. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some orders
7. Write and schedule social media posts for first two weeks of Jan
8. Get business accounts up to date
9. List something on facebook marketplace - DONE two Olay creams which are sealed and I would never use listed for £15 the set - fingers crossed somebody fancies a bargain on their skin cream Also listed some baby vests I bought as a craft project but never got round too (£2)
10. Prepare cardmaking downloads for advent calendar (better late than never)
11. Take a course from a membership 
12. Design something new to sell
13. List something new on Etsy
14. Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
15. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE one survey completed for 81 points (now have enough for another £10 via paypal)
16. Take a survey on Inbox Pounds
17. Create another cardmaking download
18. Upload completed designs onto craftsuprint
19. Tidy more of craft room/office - DONE top of rolling desk cleared today  
20. No heating on until 5pm - FAILED hubby turned heating on as soon as we got back from City at 4pm but I do have clothes (including my uniform for tomorrow) to dry so it will help with that  
21. Get a roaming plan for daughters phone for Europe to save high fees - DONE costing us and extra £2 a day (although we did get two days free)  
22. Look into different pet insurance as premium has risen again
23. Complete tax return

craftingmad

Morning everyone,

I think it's safe to say I'm really not looking forward to work today. I have heard nothing from the owners since letting them know on 3rd Jan that I was no longer proceeding with the purchase of the cafe so I think the atmosphere today is going to be horrific I've also got to let my regular customers know that I have pulled out so not looking forward to that either as they were all so excited that it was me taking over As hubby says though, I've just got to pull up my big girl's knickers, such it up and get on with it so that it what I'm going to do. I think today will be emotionally draining so I'm really not sure how much else I will be able to achieve today but, in true me style, I will post a long list and then let you know at the end of the day how much I actually managed to complete  

So today I HOPE I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (50 points target) - 7 points so far 
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - no videos available today 
3. Make up little bag of love for Etsy order and post off - made - just need to post off
4. Print and cut 250 plantable cards for Etsy order
5. Reply to Etsy enquiry for A4 sized order book - DONE fingers crossed I get the £32.75 order  
6. Phone BTL1 mortgage company for up to date balance
7. Transfer savings from YBS into higher interest account - £2000 transferred which is my limit on that account for the day so will transfer the other £108 in tomorrow  
8. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some orders
9. Write and schedule social media posts for first two weeks of Jan
10. Get business accounts up to date
11. List something on facebook marketplace
12. Prepare cardmaking downloads for advent calendar (better late than never)
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 - Completed one which took 20 mins this morning and should have credited 104 points but then said timed out after completion and gave me 3 points so gave up for today
18. Cash out £10 from Prime Opinion - DONE £10 paid into OP savings account
19. Take a survey on Inbox Pounds
20. Create another cardmaking download
21. Upload completed designs onto craftsuprint
22. Tidy more of craft room/office
23. No heating on until 5pm - DONE
24. Look into different pet insurance as premium has risen again
25. Complete tax return
26. Cafe shift (9am - 6pm) - DONE and was not quite as bad as I was expecting
27. Transfer Etsy earnings into OP savings account - DONE £221.72 added to savings account
28. NSD - DONE

Baileys_Babe

I hope today went better than you anticipated 🤗 

Give yourself a pat on the back, you have got through your shift at work.

Remember you do not have to justify your decision to the owners or customers but if you want to you can mention something vague about you anticipating that your parents care needs increasing over the next few years.

Today's list is so unrealistic 🤣 especially as item 26 is 9 hours at the cafe. Do you write these huge lists for my amusement? 🤭

However today went it will be emotionally draining, be kind to yourself this evening.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

I hope today went better than you anticipated 🤗 

Give yourself a pat on the back, you have got through your shift at work.

Remember you do not have to justify your decision to the owners or customers but if you want to you can mention something vague about you anticipating that your parents care needs increasing over the next few years.

Today's list is so unrealistic 🤣 especially as item 26 is 9 hours at the cafe. Do you write these huge lists for my amusement? 🤭

However today went it will be emotionally draining, be kind to yourself this evening.

Oh I did laugh when I read your comment  You are right I am always far too overambitious but I suppose that is just me  

Yesterday was much better than expected and I am also happy with how much extra I managed to achieve as well - just goes to show there is always a first time. I think it's because I took your advice and was just kind to myself  
I also took a banana into work for lunch which is rare for me but I know I need to eat more fruit and veg so am really trying with this too  

I came up with the same reason you did for why we are not buying the cafe - great minds eh?

Thank you so much for caring x