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

~FlowerPot~

Hi Crafting, lovely to see you back here. Do take care, it doesnt matter in the slightest if you dont finish half the list. But if being busy is helpful then its worth doing, and helps to keep you mind occupied

love Flowers x

MatyMoo

Only just caught up, so very sorry about your niece, just awful for the family. Be kind to yourselves for now, it’s a lot to deal with. 

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

Hi Crafting, lovely to see you back here. Do take care, it doesnt matter in the slightest if you dont finish half the list. But if being busy is helpful then its worth doing, and helps to keep you mind occupied

love Flowers x

Thank you.
I am certainly finding it helpful having something to focus on again and distract my mind from thinking about events too much but am still having trouble concentrating for any length of time I must admit.

I keep telling myself that progress is progress no matter how small it might be and for now I'm really grateful to just be alive x 

craftingmad

MatyMoo said:

Only just caught up, so very sorry about your niece, just awful for the family. Be kind to yourselves for now, it’s a lot to deal with. 

Thank you.
I still don't think it feels real at the moment. I feel like I am living a nightmare but am now so grateful for every moment I get to spend with my loved ones so at least some good may have come from this tragedy. 

It really helped having something to focus on yesterday so I'm going to try and ease myself back in slowly onto our MF dream again but take one day at a time as at the moment that seems to be the only way as a family we are getting through x 

craftingmad

Morning all.

Your kind words really do mean so much to me so thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Not loads of progress made yesterday but I'm reminding myself that money did go into the OP pot and progress is progress no matter how small it might have been. I'm also quite pleased with how much I did manage to achieve given that I seem to only be able to concentrate on anything for around an hour at the moment so trying to celebrate my little wins.

I could not find the dog bowl I bought anywhere so had to resort to buying one but did manage to find a lovely one from Home Bargains (which I popped to on way to collect son from his half day at college) for £2.99 so that's not bad. I may have spent £17 in total there though but have got some little stocking filler items and son's advent calendar (a scented t light candle one which he loved last year) so I have finally made a start on Christmas.

Bad news on the oven front here though - the newish one has broken so I am without one until Saturday. The takeaway planned for that night will have to be moved to tonight and then we can have left over stew tomorrow heated on the hob or microwave so not too bad but I am hoping that we will be able to claim under warranty (if my husband can remember where he put the papers!). That is going to be one of my tasks for today so I shall add it to the list.

The new chippy laid off two delivery drivers yesterday with no warning so I am a little concerned that my days may be numbered as it has gone very quiet customer wise now the summer season has come to a close and I am not getting anywhere near the hours I was when I first started. Only time will tell I suppose so I will just be grateful for any hours I do get knowing that currently all that money can be used towards OP to the mortgage. 

I'm going to be optimistic again with my list just to try and keep my mind focused - how much I achieve we shall see tomorrow  

 Here's my (not so) little list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay - DONE 154 points earnt today thanks to a 50 point bonus for playing a new game  
2. Package and post off advent calendars sold yesterday
3. Hunt for warranty paperwork for oven
4. List two things on FB marketplace and renew all listings which have not sold - listings renewed and somebody has enquired about magnets listed for £10 and heart photo holders (also £10) so fingers crossed
5. Look for heart place card holders listed on FB Marketplace after enquiry
6. Weigh decoupage books listed on FB marketplace and work out postage - DONE price given to potential buyer so now just waiting to hear (will be £20 if they decide to buy)  
7. Ask neighbours if I can borrow oven to cook chicken for the doggie - done will drop it round later this afternoon
8. Wait for person to collect some books sold on FB marketplace (due around 4.30pm) - DONE £5 added to OP pot
9. Return library books to save overdue fees
10. Complete some of an online course included in a membership which runs out at end of month
11. Comment om In Search of Posts on Facebook to hopefully get some more orders - commented on two posts  
12. Advertise my business in 3 FB groups to improve my visibility and hopefully get some orders
13. Schedule posts on FB to help get my visibility back
14. Raise claims with Royal Mail for two missing parcels
15. Create a new item to sell
16. Upload a new cardmaking sheet on Craftsuprint
17. Check freepostcode lottery, win a dinner and freeemoji draws - DONE not a winner  
18. Complete surveys on Prime Opinions - DONE 344 points earned on 11 surveys  
19. Complete surveys on Inbox Pounds - DONE 33p added today from searches (7p), spin to win (2p) and 24p from survey
20. Complete surveys on Panelbase
21. Get some swagbucks as offered a 50 point birthday bonus if I redeem a gift card within 30 days 
22. Declutter 10 items from the house - 4 books left the house after being sold  
23. Turn off lights left on by family, unplug anything not needed to be on and no heating until 5pm - DONE sons bedroom light turned off, toothbrush charger and torch both unplugged and wearable blanket and extra thick socks on stand by if I get cold  
24. Action one idea on my MF list
25. NSD - DONE so have transferred £5 to OP savings pot  

   

craftingmad

Gosh its a wet and windy day here on the Broads today. I won't be going out until later when I have to pick my son up from college and take him for a haircut in the next village along. I  have to be honest I'm not looking forward to it! . 
I managed to pick up three hours overtime at the chippy yesterday so that will give me a bit more to throw at the mortgage when payday comes at the end of the month but as I feared I have lost 4 hours a week from next week so things are not looking brilliant on that front. My Etsy shop is also down 90% in sales this month too so October payday is going to be more than a little depressing. I really need to get my bottom into gear and come up with some other ways I can earn some cash. I'll put it on my list  

I also earned enough to cash out a £10 discount on my mobile phone bill this month thanks to Airtime Rewards so I've added this to the OP savings account as well. I love this site as other than registering the card details for us all I don't have to do anything to earn the cash. I've had £30 so far this year so that's a real bonus  

Nothing else exciting happening today apart from staying warm and dry so I'll crack straight on with my list  

 Here's my (not so) little list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay - 2 points so far hoping for 50 today  
2. Package and post off advent calendars sold yesterday
3. Hunt for warranty paperwork for oven
4. List two things on FB marketplace
5. Look for heart place card holders listed on FB Marketplace after enquiry
6. Return library books to save overdue fees - DONE  
7. Complete some of an online course included in a membership which runs out at end of month
8. Comment on In Search of Posts on Facebook to hopefully get some more orders - commented on three posts and will look for more. Fingers crossed I get some orders as I'm getting desperate now
9. Advertise my business in 3 FB groups to improve my visibility and hopefully get some orders - DONE
10. Schedule posts on FB to help get my visibility back - DONE 
11. Raise claims with Royal Mail for two missing parcels
12. Create a new item to sell - DONE new keyrings and magnet designs done  
13. Upload a new cardmaking sheet on Craftsuprint - DONE and advertised on their facebook page so fingers crossed somebody likes it and I earn a few pennies from it  
14. Check freepostcode lottery, win a dinner and freeemoji draws 
15. Complete surveys on Prime Opinions - DONE 268 points from 4 surveys  Getting close to being able to cash out another £10 voucher  
16. Complete surveys on Inbox Pounds 
17. Complete surveys on Panelbase
18. Get some swagbucks as offered a 50 point birthday bonus if I redeem a gift card within 30 days 
19. Declutter 10 items from the house 
20. Turn off lights left on by family, unplug anything not needed to be on and no heating until 5pm - DONE sons bedroom light, lounge and spare room lights turned off and wearable blanket and extra thick socks on stand by if I get cold  
21. Action one idea on my MF list
22. Investigate others ways I could earn a living as businesses are not doing that well
23. NSD (other than sons haircut) - DONE  

  Stay safe in the storm everyone x

craftingmad

Well yesterday was a little rough wasn't it  

I had a nightmare collecting son from college and then getting him to the barbers. Loads of roads were flooded - some passable with extreme care and others we had to turn around and go around another way often to be met with the same problem. A huge tree also fell near us but luckily did not cause any damage other than blocking us in as a village for a few hours until the farmer came and chopped it up. I hope you are all ok and have not sustained any damage. 

Hubby and I both have today off which seems to be a bit of a rare event at the moment. I had planned to have a nice day together (not really doing much but enjoying each others company) but apparently he has other ideas as he wants to empty the kitchen cupboards (although he is currently snoring on the sofa with the puppy dog) so it looks like I'll class it just like any other day instead. 

I am hoping he will wake up soon and pop my new oven in as I have pizzas to cook for dinner tonight (we treated ourselves to a takeaway yesterday due to the no oven situation so don't want to have to spend out on another one tonight if we can help it!). I'll give him a few hours and then wake him up if need be!!   

As I find myself bored and alone again I'll pop up a little to do list and see if I can help us in a small way to being that much closer to being MF before hubby turns 60! 

Here's my (not so) little list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay  - 2 points earnt  
2. Find a box to package advent calendars sold
3. Hunt for warranty paperwork for oven
4. Design some new card making sheets based on suggestions what people are looking for to hopefully get some sales on Craftsuprint - 3 sheets designed - now just have to hope people like enough to buy them  
5. Use Asda rewards app for shopping trip - DONE 96p added to my rewards to spend over Christmas
6. Use Lidl app for small chicken shop - DONE takes hubby to a free bakery item next time he visits  
7. List two things on FB marketplace
8. Look for heart place card holders listed on FB Marketplace after enquiry - cannot find them  
9. Complete some of an online course included in a membership which runs out at end of month
10. Comment on In Search of Posts on Facebook to hopefully get some more orders - commented on two  
11. Advertise my business in 3 FB groups to improve my visibility and hopefully get some orders
12. Raise claims with Royal Mail for two missing parcels
13. Create a new item to sell
14. Check freepostcode lottery, win a dinner and freeemoji draws 
15. Complete surveys on Prime Opinions
16. Complete surveys on Inbox Pounds 
17. Complete surveys on Panelbase
18. Get some swagbucks as offered a 50 point birthday bonus if I redeem a gift card within 30 days 
19. Declutter 10 items from the house - DONE kitchen snacky cupboard emptied and all out of date items thrown away   
20. Action one idea on my MF list
21. Investigate others ways I could earn a living as businesses are not doing that well

Jessy103

Glad to have you back, crafting and to echo everyone else, make sure you take a bit of time out for you x 

Would you mind sharing your etsy? 🙂

craftingmad

Jessy103 said:

Glad to have you back, crafting and to echo everyone else, make sure you take a bit of time out for you x 

Would you mind sharing your etsy? 🙂

Thank you Jessy x

My Etsy shop is called Tasha and Ted - I won't post a link as I don't think its allowed but if you cannot find it then just pop me over a message and I'll send it over to you x

craftingmad

Good morning everyone.

The sun is shining and I think for the first time since the accident I am feeling a little more like myself today. I know something will happen which will probably set me off again but for now I'm living in the moment and enjoying a little bit of normality (or at least trying to block out the tragic events of the last couple of months). 

I've just had a nice £31 Etsy order come in (and I got an £18 one yesterday) so I'm feeling a little more positive on that front too. Now I just have to work up the energy to make them as the perimenopause is not being too kind on my joints today it seems! I'm not sure which limb is aching more!!!

I didn't really achieve much yesterday (hubby was in a bad mood which seems to be like the new thing at the moment since the tragic events) but I did make time for myself and curled myself up in a corner and read some of my new library book so that was good for my soul.

I've got work this afternoon from 3pm so have a few hours to see what I can achieve in the meantime but other than that no plans - apart from a much needed No Spend Day as the finances are not looking good this month.

 So here's my (not so) little optimistic list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay  - DONE - 39 points earnt today   
2. Find a box to package advent calendars sold
3. Make crosses in my pocket for order ready to post off tomorrow
4. Make Nail planners for Etsy orders
5. Hunt for warranty paperwork for oven
6. Design some new card making sheets based on suggestions what people are looking for to hopefully get some sales on Craftsuprint 
7. Put all Christmas gifts bought into a box so I don't lose them
8. Check Asda rewards app and convert any points to vouchers which will expire soon
9. Answer Etsy shop enquirys for jewellery display cards - DONE will be a £60 order if she decides to go ahead so my fingers are tightly crossed
10. List two things on FB marketplace
11. Look again for heart place card holders listed on FB Marketplace after enquiry 
12. Complete some of an online course included in a membership which runs out at end of month
13. Comment on In Search of Posts on Facebook to hopefully get some more orders
14. Advertise my business in 3 FB groups to improve my visibility and hopefully get some orders
15. Raise claims with Royal Mail for two missing parcels - tried but parcel ID numbers are not working so will not let me raise claims. I will have to try phoning on Monday  
16. Create a new item to sell
17. Check freepostcode lottery, win a dinner and freeemoji draws 
18. Complete surveys on Prime Opinions
19. Complete surveys on Inbox Pounds 
20. Complete surveys on Panelbase
21. Get some swagbucks as offered a 50 point birthday bonus if I redeem a gift card within 30 days 
22. Declutter 10 items from the house
23. Action one idea on my MF list
24. Investigate others ways I could earn a living as businesses are not doing that well
25. Chip Shop Shift - DONE  
26.  NSD - DONE