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

craftingmad

LadyWithAPlan said:

@MatyMoo is v wise - I don’t think you can expect much rational behaviour from OH as that’s a lot of stress and grief 

Of course that doesn’t mean you should be yelled at and all financial goals forgotten. Maybe find a quiet time to chat about communication and how you are also feeling 

take care of yourself - you are v busy - but glass Etsy is working and sales up 
Are you clear on possible profit on the £150 investment and how many you would need to sell to break even?

It's really hard to find the right balance isn't it. I totally get how much he is hurting at the moment as we are all feeling it too but at the same time it hurts me so much to be yelled at and totally not factored into anything it seems at the moment either. I feel like I am grieving not only for those no longer with us but also what we had together before the tragic events of the last couple of months. I am sure we will get through and as they same time is a great healer so for now I will take one day at a time and keep clinging on to the what will be will be quote I think. 

I'm really pleased with Etsy sales although today they just seem to have stopped again. I never will be able to make out the patterns which come with that site but it is bringing me in orders so I will keep plodding along and doing a happy dance whenever I her the ker-ching from a sale.

Profit wise if I do nothing but add the gemstone jewellery into a pretty organza bag I stand to make about 50% profit (so £115 after I have taken out my costs) but if I put my designing skills to the test and package them up beautifully and offer them in sets then I should hopefully be able to at least double my money (so £230 profit after all costs). I will have to work on my marketing I think to ensure I sell them for the best price I can but I'm up for a challenge. I have already formulated a backup plan if sales are slow in that I can sell half the amount on as a bulk lot for slightly more than I paid for it so fingers crossed I cannot lose (famous last words you watch!)     

craftingmad

Morning (I would say good morning but it's blowing a gale outside and the rain is bucketing it down so I'll just stick with morning)
I've got my two pairs of socks and wearable blanket on already and the dog has refused to go out for her 2nd walk of the day which she usually has but I'm certainly not complaining. It's horrid out there.

I was right about the chippy. We are now closing on Mondays until the summer season starts again so that means I have lost another 3 hours a week. I actually only have 15 hours spread over the next two weeks (and 3 hours of those are in the back kitchen which I really hate) so it's pretty dire on that front. I'm hoping it picks up soon but we shall have to see. I have seen a couple of year round jobs advertised so I will think about applying for them I think although not being at work as much is giving me the opportunity to work on my business more again. I'm really not sure what to do. Hubby keeps saying we don't need the money but it is nice to be able to contribute a decent amount each month for overpayments and I actually like getting out the house and interacting with people in person (working from home can be very lonely). 

Hubby's meal went well yesterday (he had steak - I'm very jealous) but we don't really know anymore yet. They were just sounding them out I think to see if they would stay but without firm details and actual offers we cannot really make a decision. Time will tell what will happen next I suppose so what will be will be. I'm trying not to think about it to be honest until closer to the time and we shall deal with it then.

I've had a lovely lady contact me about my plantable shapes I advertsied on the Nextdoor site so fingers crossed this will lead to a £14.85 sale for me. I'll certainly use this platform again as I don't seem to be getting very far with FB at the moment. I woke up in the night regretting buying the wholesale stock but it's too late now. I will just have to put my selling skills to the test and if need be up my game a bit  

I didn't make my £20 of sales target I set myself yesterday though. I only had one sale of £4 but as my son said to me that sale is better than no sales so I am going to try even harder today and hope for it to pay off  

I'm in the chip shop again tonight so I need to get a wiggle on in order to get some things done which must be completed today so I'm going to get cracking straightaway on my list. I'm going to try and make it more realistic today and allow me some time for self care too  

1. Print goal planner for Etsy order - DONE
2. Create cutting file for stickers for goal planner - DONE
3. Make 25 double sided business cards for returning customer order
4. Post three orders on way to work - DONE
5. Chase up on two enquiries who I have not heard back from (I call it a gentle reminder) - DONE fingers crossed this will result in sales  
6. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month - posted twice today to keep up visibility  
7. Promote business in three different places - DONE posted in 3 FB groups and on Marketplace and also on Nextdoor again  
8. Move Christmas items into a box so they are all together - DONE finally  
9. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - 12 points so far  
10. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
11. Design a backing card for the crystal earrings - DONE I actually designed two different versions as I could not decide which shape I liked best  
12. Take a survey on Prime Opinion (close to being to cash out a £10 voucher)
13. Contact farm shop and see if they want any christmas plantable shape sets - DONE Now we just have to wait and see if they want some of these as well as their usual items  
14. Chip Shop Shift - DONE we closed early again so only managed 4 hours instead of 5.5  
15. NSD - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning everyone  

I've finally got some good news to share (sorry I must have been making you all feel depressed with my last few posts) My BIL has paid for this months and next months rent as they have received an interim payment from the insurance company so I feel much better knowing we are not covering that over Christmas. Hopefully come January they will be in a position to pay again monthly as normal but  guess we will have to just wait and see. 

I'm trying to be upbeat and positive today but I had a horrendous shift at the chip shop yesterday because of the boss (it seems like he has turned into my last chippy boss). One of the things he told me was that I had taken far too much time off and that I needed to make myself more available which is rich seeing as there seems to be no hours available. I have taken 6 days (all of which I was not rota for anyway) for two funerals whereas he has had 3 weeks off in the time I've been there and the other counter lady I work with has just got back from a 14 day holiday!!! One lady has left as she was not getting enough hours and instead of sharing the hours she was scheduled to be working between the rest of us he has given them to his sister!!! I honestly think that he is trying his best to make me leave (he won't want the other counter staff person to go because he fancies her daughter) so that his sister (who has recently been made redundant) can take my place
I cannot wait for my shift today!!!

I'm still in a panic about buying all the wholesale items as I have not sold any of the similar earrings I advertised yesterday. The fear is very real at the moment but what is done is done and now I just have to make them work. I think they will be being delivered Monday so I shall get to work with them as soon as they arrive and start advertising them so hopefully I can get the Christmas buyers and sell out I think I'm going to need a lot of luck

Son is at work again today (he seems to be getting only a few shifts too) so although I have to take him on the plus side it does mean he will not want to go anyway which involves spending money so silver linings and all that  

Right here is my list for today. Let's see how much I can achieve  

1. Make 25 double sided business cards for returning customer order
2. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month - posted for today  
3. Promote business in three different places - posted in two FB groups so far  
4. Comment on In Search of Posts to hopefully get some orders - commented on two so far  
5. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - 27 points earnt so far today
6. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
7. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop
8. Take a survey on Prime Opinion (close to being to cash out a £10 voucher)
9. Chip Shop Shift - DONE 4 hours added to wages for this month    
10. NSD  - FAIL I went to a local craft fair and bought a few stocking filler things which were very reasonably priced  

craftingmad

Good morning everyone.

I feel like I am making no progress at the moment in relation to becoming mortgage free so I'm hoping when the end of the month comes round and I complete my spreadsheets that I will see some progress as I think I need that little lift to get me back on track.

I have picked up another 2 hours overtime at the chippy today though so I should be on course for 6 hours in total today which will add a nice £48 odd to my wages to be paid at the end of this month after the nasty tax man has got hold of it. Payday still seems a long way off though  

I'm going to try and practise self care today and make something just because I want too rather than for my business as due to lack of sales I am getting a little depressed and falling out of love with the making things so I want to try and get that spark back so it brings me joy.

So not much on my list for today but I'm not going to beat myself up over it  

1. Make 25 double sided business cards for returning customer order
2. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month 
3. Promote business in three different places 
4. Comment on In Search of Posts to hopefully get some orders  
5. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - 37 points so far - I'm slowing creeping up towards the target
6. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discount
7. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop - started cut enough robins for two packs needed
8. Take a survey on Prime Opinion (close to being to cash out a £10 voucher)
9. Chip Shop Shift  - DONE 5.75 hours clocked up which I think will be the last in this month's pay packet
10. NSD - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning all.

It is absolutely bucketing it down with rain here today and it's so cold. Winter is certainly here I think. 

I'm now not in the chippy until Thursday so I intend on using my days off to be productive and I really must get ready for Christmas. I'm intending on doing minimal food shopping so we can run the freezer down ready for all those Christmas goodies we always get so the next few weeks dinners could be quite interesting as hubby just wants to throw some of the food out but I refuse - how un MSE can you get - he needs to change his attitude      

I really must start my Christmas shopping as well. I feel so unprepared this year and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about Christmas this year. Part of me thinks it feels so wrong to celebrate given what has happened to my brother and sister in law but the other part of me thinks we need to enjoy it even more because who knows if it will be our last chance to all be together. I think I'm going to have to find a middle ground somehow.

My wholesale order should be arriving today so one of my top priorities is to work on the display cards for the bracelets so I can get those up for sale as quick as I can.  I think they are going to have to be something really special as sales seem to have slowed down to an minimal trickle at the moment (in fact a drip might describe them better!).

I cannot believe that the end of the month is nearly upon us. November seems to have flown past in a whirl!!!

Hubby has found a car he likes and is picking it up on Saturday - it is costing us £4800 so it better be good and more importantly reliable!!!! He has taken the money out of our investments to pay for it so I'm not looking forward to updating the spreadsheet on Friday. I may just cry  

Right lots to do so I'm intending on not wasting a second today.   

Here's my very optimistic list for today:-

1. Make 25 double sided business cards for returning customer order - DONE
2. Make 3 packs of plantable shapes for an Etsy order - DONE
3. Make dinosaur pack of plantable shapes for facebook order - DONE  
4. Print display cards for earrings sold to a neighbour and drop them round (unless the rain does not stop) - cards printed but still raining hard so not going to deliver today
5. Print 1500 thank you cards and 43 sheets of stickers for a repeat customer
6. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month - posted for today. Will post again tomorrow and hopefully schedule all remaining posts  
7. Write social media posts for the 1st week of December
8. Promote business in three different places
9. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - commented on two so far  
10. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and drop off 
11. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - 2 points so far
12. Give bank details to lady wanting to place an order via Nextdoor site - DONE hopefully pay quickly as a £14.35 order  
13. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
14. Design backing cards for the crystal bracelets due to be delivered today - started work on them but cannot decide between 4 different designs. Going to throw it open to my facebook page and see what gets voted for :) 
15. Take a survey on Prime Opinion (close to being to cash out a £10 voucher
16. List crystal earrings on Etsy - DONE fingers crossed for some sales  
17. Meal plan for week and take items out of freezer - 5 days meals taken out the freezer. Will find last two tomorrow or Wednesday  
18. NSD - nope found offers on at Boots online for gift sets son wanted (half price) and hubby begged me to buy an airfryer  

craftingmad

Morning all.
I've decided I am going to start my Christmas shopping properly today so I'm treating myself to a trip into the City. I'm hoping seeing everywhere trimmed up for Christmas will help to get me in the mood a bit more  

I will be back for the afternoon so still hoping to get a few bits done to help with our mortgage free journey:-

Here's my very optimistic list for today:-

1. Post off two plantable seed shape orders
2. Print 1500 thank you cards and 43 sheets of stickers for a repeat customer
3. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month
4. Write social media posts for the 1st week of December
5. Promote business in three different places
6. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders
7. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop
8. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - 2 points so far  
9. Check bank account and see if payment has been received - DONE £17.35 included in transfer below  
10. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
11. Make up crystal bracelets and promote them 
12. Return trousers to Primark for a £16 refund - DONE  
13. Transfer money from website sale and earring sale into savings account - £32.00 transferred as also added money from Neighbourhood sale  
14. Read latest MSE newsletter

craftingmad

Morning all.

Well I did not manage to get much crossed off my list yesterday so I'm going to have to work extra hard today but I did buy some Christmas presents so at least I can officially say I have made a start. 

I also got my hubby and son to wear an oodie type thing from Primark (a plain version rather than the Tom & Jerry version I have) . They were £20 each but went through the till at £15 each so a bit of a billy bargain and they will hopefully stop us having the heating on as much. I have bought my mum and dad one each too as I thought they would make a nice gift and as they will be staying round ours all over Christmas and New Year I hope it will also save us having to have the heating on continiously whilst they are here as well as they are always cold

Son wants to go into city tonight to an indoor skatepark with his friends so I have persuaded hubby that we may as well stay there for the two hours and look in the big Asda which is there.. I have lots of Rewards I have transferred over to vouchers as about to expire so have around £50 to spend without having to use our bank account  

 Here's my I WILL DO list for today:-

1. Post off two plantable seed shape orders and a card required urgently for a customer - DONE
2. Make 3 packs of Penguin plantable shapes and post off - DONE
3. Print 1500 thank you cards and 43 sheets of stickers for a repeat customer - sticker sheets printed
4. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month - posted today
5. Write social media posts for the 1st week of December
6. Promote business in three different places
7. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - commented on 5 posts today - fingers crossed for some orders
8. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop - cut out 10 gingerbread men ready to package up  
9. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 32 points earnt  
10. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
11. Make up crystal bracelets and promote them 
12. Read latest MSE newsletter - Going to look into opening Nationwide savings account to get 8% and also switching banks to get a cash incentive  
13. Take a survey on Prime Opinion (close to being to cash out a £10 voucher - DONE two surveys completed for total of 148 points and I've gained enough to cash out £10 Amazon voucher  
14. Freezer dive for remaining meals for week
15. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
16. Renew FB Marketplace listings - DONE 32 listings renewed
17. Check interest have been paid on savings accounts - DONE £389.04 paid out over the two accounts which will be put towards mortgage OP when rate finishes  

   

craftingmad

Good morning everyone. How cold is it today!!! We even had a few flurries of snow yesterday here on the Broads which is almost unheard of for us but today so far just a really thick frost. I'm so glad my car has heated windscreens Not that I am planning on going anywhere today until I go to work but you never know.

I didn't end up going to Asda last night as son didn't go skateboarding but we went to Pets At Home instead and picked up some cans of food for the doggy as she is off her food at the moment so we are trying to tempt her. Also picked up a few packs of treats which were on offer so that's a couple more Christmas resents sorted as well

I've already been paid for the chippy so that was a nice surprise to wake up to. That means I have added a further £605.93 to the savings pot which was just the little boost I needed as I feel these last couple of months we have gone backwards rather than forwards (which we have £10k down after buying two cars!!!). I'm not looking forward to doing the monthly spreadsheet tomorrow but at least the money for each of them was taken from other places rather than the OP savings pot so fingers crossed we can make that back asap. 

I'm planning on a busy day again (at least it should help keep me warm as I'm planning not to have the heating on again now until around 4.30pm so the house is warm for when son and hubby get back although I do have lots of washing to dry so will have to see. I've got a chip shop shift tonight as well so extra busy today for me At least it keeps me out of mischief  

I really need to start selling some of these crystal bracelets I bought. I have a limited maximum sale time for Christmas and its getting shorter everyday. Must get my butt into gear today and sort these. 

So here's my I WILL DO list for today:-

1. Print 1500 thank you cards and post off with the 43 sheets of stickers made yesterday - printed and half cut out - taking much longer than I thought
2. Make 4 little bags of friendship for order and post off
3. Drop round two pairs of earrings bought by neighbour
4. Make 12 little wooden token gifts for regular customers order and post off
5. Schedule the remaining social media posts for my business for this month
6. Write social media posts for the 1st week of December
7. Promote business in three different places
8. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders
9. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and drop off
10. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 39 points earnt  
11. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
12. Make up crystal bracelets and promote them 
13. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
14. Freezer dive for remaining meals for week
15. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
16. Renew library books to avoid fines
17. No heating on until 4.30pm
18. NSD - DONE  
19. Chip Shop Shift - DONE picked up 1.5 hours extra as called in early as well  

I might be slightly ambitious today but I do love a challenge. Wish me luck, I'm going in x 

craftingmad

Afternoon everyone (or nobody if I have bored you all to tears and you no longer read)  

I cannot believe today is December. Where has this year gone!!! Soon we will only have 6 years to clear our BTL mortgages which is slightly scary!!!! At least it motivates me to get a jiggle on though  

The thank you card cutting took a lot longer than I thought so I achieved absolutely nothing most of yesterday and all morning today apart from cutting them out. They are done now though and will be posted off on my way to work tonight. I'm just hanging onto the fact that it was £162 order  

I was hoping to pick up an extra hour or two today at the chippy as it is the village light switch on so hopefully we will be busier but I'm still only wanted in at 5pm so fingers crossed customers will keep coming in so we don't shut until 9pm as scheduled and I can clock up some hours as I only have one shift next week so won't get much in wages at the end of this month.

Our doggy is still off her food so I'm really hoping she will perk up over the weekend or else it looks like we will have to go to the vets for a very expensive appointment with her. I'm sure I worry more about her than the kids!!!

Nothing else exciting to report so I'm going to get stuck into my To Do list today:-

So here's my I WILL DO list for today:-

1. Cut remaining thank you cards and post off with the 43 sheets of stickers - all cut now just to post off on way to work to save petrol  
2. Make 4 little bags of friendship for order and post off - made just need to post off  
3. Drop round two pairs of earrings bought by neighbour - DONE
4. Make 12 little wooden token gifts for regular customers order and post off - tags printed, laminated and cut. Now just need to paint wooden tokens  
5. Make a dinosaur hug token for Etsy order and post off - made just need to post off  
6. Contact customer with proof for jewellery planner for Etsy order - DONE
7. Work out postage for something on FB Marketplace and let person know cost to see if she wants to buy - DONE fingers crossed she decides to buy as will add £8 into savings account  
8. Pay in cheques from Royal Mail using banking app - DONE £42 but will not declare until cleared  
9. Update spreadsheet with savings accounts balances - DONE quite pleased as even with the £4k coming out for hubby's car we are still up by just under £400 this month in the savings and investments. Not loads but I was actually expecting to see a minus figure again so pleasantly surprised   
10. Write social media posts for first two weeks of December and schedule
11. Promote business in three different places
12. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders
13. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and drop off
14. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 12 points today - not much but moving in the right direction  
15. Offer logo made yesterday for sale at a discounted rate
16. Make up crystal bracelets and promote them 
17. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
18. Freezer dive for remaining meals for week
19. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
20. Renew library books to avoid fines - DONE  
21. NSD - DONE  
22. 4 hour Chip Shop Shift - DONE

craftingmad

OMG how cold is it today. There is ice on the pavements and I'm certainly not looking forward to driving our son to work this morning and me getting back from the chippy tonight! I've tuned the heating off again though until this evening and I'm toasty warm in my wearable blanket. 

Hubby picks up his new car today. I'm really sad to see the affectionately named "rollerskate" go. It's been part of our family for years so fingers crossed he has picked this new to us one well as he does not have a great track record when it comes to cars!!! You would think if he can mend helicopters he could make sure an engine of a car works well but no ...  it appears he can not given previous experience. My fingers are tightly crossed that he has got better the older he gets!!! 

The new chippy boss seems to have been taking lessons from my old chippy boss in management style at the moment. I've got to the stage where I'm dreading to go in!!! The local garage we use is apparently looking for a new reception/admin assistant in the New Year so I might drop them a little letter and get in early and keep my fingers tightly crossed that I get it as I really don't know how much more I will be able to stand to be honest. I'm in again tonight but in the back kitchen so it will be interesting to see how he is with the counter lady (he fancies her daughter so always treats her like royalty).  It may be the straw that breaks the camels back. the money really comes in handy but if the last few months have taught me anything it is that there is more to life than money. I'm really torn and have no clue what to do. I've got 5 days off after tonight so hopefully that will help me get things into perspective. 

Orders are still really slow considering Christmas is only a few weeks away now so I really have to try and sell a little bit more as I know historically the next few months are usually even worse I really need to sell at least some of the crystal bracelets I bought in to get a little bit of cash back for them so that is going to be my mission today I think. 

I've also got to tidy up the spare room and sons old bedroom (he moved into daughters bigger room from his small box room) as my parents will be using the spare room over Christmas and daughter will have to go into the box room. Both are pigsty's so it's going to be a challenge and race against time to get both done but it has to happen so I will just have to put my head down and get on with it as quickly as I can. 

So here's my I WILL DO list for today:-

1. Make 12 little wooden token gifts for regular customers order and post off - made will post off on Monday as paint was not dry in time  
2. Make a pack of plantable gingerbread men and post off
3. Write social media posts for first two weeks of December and schedule - posted on pages
4. Promote business in three different places
5. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - DONE commented on 4 posts  
6. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and drop off
7. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 42 points earnt today  
8. Make up crystal bracelets and promote them - DONE posted on my FB page and Instagram
9. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
10. Freezer dive for remaining meals for week - DONE fish and chips for dinner tonight and pork joint for tomorrow
11. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
12. 4 hour Chip Shop Shift - DONE and it was actually ok