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

craftingmad

Morning all.

Yesterday was a proud moment watching son be presented with his GCSE certificates and we also got to pick up his GCSE art work and I saw for the first time his two pieces which he completed for his actual exam. they are amazing and definately should be hung on our walls so I will have to find a spot for them and it will give me a good motivation to start decluttering in 2024 so they can be seen in all their glory. 

I've got a chippy shift today so fingers crossed the boss in a good mood.  Other than that not much planned apart from having to take son into college for 10.30am today so I may have a little mooch around the shops there and see if I can pick up a few more Christmas gifts. My chippy boss has apparently bought me a gift from the heart (I have a feeling it has something to do with the people we have lost this year) so I need to get my thinking cap on and try and get him a present with the same sentiment as his. Wish me luck I have no clue so any ideas gratefully received. 

I'm also hoping to have a last minute push for sales in my little business today as it has been a dire December so far so that should keep me busy for most of the day and out of mischief. 

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

1. Post off mini seed packs and plantable shapes on way to take Son to college - DONE  
2. Drop off gemstone keyring neighbour has bought (this will be her 5th one) - DONE  
3. Write remaining social media posts for December and schedule
4. Promote business in three different places - posted in one group so far
5. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - commented on 4 so far today
6. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and deliver
7. Raise invoice for farmshop for plantable heart packs sold 
8. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 59 points today
9. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
10. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
11. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom 
12. No heating on other than the times it is set for - DONE I'm nice and toasty with my slippers and oodie thing on    
13. List two things on FB Marketplace
14. Complete a course in one of my memberships
15. Download free courses ready to take in 2024 - DONE 12 downloaded
16. Make a plan of action for 2024
17. Chip Shop Shift - DONE picked up an extra hour OT as was asked to go in early and also made a delivery for them so got a £5 tip  

Baileys_Babe

Could you make Mr chip boss' present using your creative talent?

~FlowerPot~

Glad you had a lovely evening at your sons presentation. Its lovely that his work can be hung up and admired!

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Could you make Mr chip boss' present using your creative talent?

I have thought about it and am currently mulling over the idea of some sort of photo gift for him such as a calendar or photo frame or a holiday countdown calendar (as he loves going abroad).

I shall see what I can come up with. 

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

Glad you had a lovely evening at your sons presentation. Its lovely that his work can be hung up and admired!

thanks FlowerPot.

I cannot wait to get it up on the wall. Hopefully it will help his confidence a bit too x

craftingmad

Morning all. Where is this month (in fact year) going!!!! 

Part of me is not ready for this year to end but the other part of me just wants it over with so we can begin afresh in January!!! 

Not huge plans for me again today. More pottering with the same list I think but I'm ok with that. I'm too tired to lead an eventful life these days  

The chippy shift wasn't too bad last night. Boss was in a bit of a funny mood but nowhere near as bad as the other day and I bought in some chocolates so that helped me get through I also had to do a delivery yesterday as a favour and got a £5 tip so it wasn't all bad. I was also asked to go in an hour earlier so that will be a bit more in this month's pay packet which is much needed as with it closing for a week and each shift's hours being cut, the money is going to be down quite a lot so any extra will really help. Although I have planned a day off spent with my hubby and son tomorrow and bosses last words to me were I may need you Sunday so we shall see. I might tell him I can't do it as there is more to life and I feel we have not spent much time together as the three of us for ages.

I'm still waiting for kids Christmas lists so at this rate they won't be getting much at all as I have given up buying big gifts for them without their input as they never use them or wear them etc. They like to leave it late - I think they think Santa has a warehouse he can just fly to and get them ready for the big day

I'm going to try for a NSD today as I think tomorrow we might well splash the cash but son is at work for 9am so I will have to take him and pick him up and may well end up having a little mooch around the farm shop attached to the cafe as it always looks so inviting I'm not sure if the craft fair is on again today and last time I got some cute little inexpensive stocking filler bits as well so I'll certainly take a look in there again if it is on. 

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

1. Make jewellery planner for Etsy order
2. Reply to enquiries regarding handmade items - DONE invoice paid for £12.00 and bank details given for £8.00 order  
3. Write remaining social media posts for December and schedule
4. Promote business in three different places - posted in one group so far
5. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - commented on one so far and got £15 order from it  
6. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and deliver
7. Raise invoice for farmshop for plantable heart packs sold 
8. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) -  7 points so far today - aiming for an optimistic 50
9. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
10. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
11. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom - another half an hour solid decluttering and half a black bin bag full of rubbish
12. No heating on other than the times it is set for  
13. List two things on FB Marketplace
14. Renew facebook listings - DONE 5 renewed
15. Wait in for neighbour collecting something from FB Marketplace - DONE £5 added to the savings account  
16. Complete a course in one of my memberships
17. Download more free courses ready to take in 2024 - DONE another 15 downloaded  
18. Brainstorm ideas to help my MF journey in 2024
19. Wrap some presents and sort out stockings etc - stocking gifts all gone through and made a list of all Christmas presents got so far Now have a much better idea of what I need to buy tomorrow  
20. Raise claims for Royal Mail missing items - put one claim in but had to do it manually so will check they pay out before submitting the other two  
21. NSD - DONE no craft fair and it was too wet to get out the car to look round the farm shop  

 

craftingmad

Morning.

All three of us have got a day off today so we are planning on getting the Christmas decorations up and then heading into the City to get some Christmas shopping done. 
Got another pork joint (out of the freezer) for an airfryer roast dinner for when we get home. Fingers crossed it will taste delicious.

I've had a little flutter of orders in (nowhere near as many as I would like) so those will keep me busy tomorrow but for today I am just going to try and spend some quality time with the family. 

Whilst I am waiting for hubby to put the outside lights up and son to wake up though there is always time for a little list so here's my I WILL DO list for today:-

1. Check and see if returning customer has paid £8 into bank for sticker sheets
2. Promote business in three different places - posted in one group so far
3. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - DONE commented on three posts  
4. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) -  DONE 142 points today  
5. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
6. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
7. Download more free courses ready to take in 2024 - DONE 10 more courses downloaded
8. Brainstorm ideas to help my MF journey in 2024 

craftingmad

Morning everyone.

I'm a bit of a grouch today as I didn't get much sleep as it was so windy here in Norfolk in the night. I thought the roof was going to blow away at one point. I also started thinking about my niece and father in law and got a bit upset again. I suppose that is what grief does to you but it took me by surprise a bit and I feel very odd today. 

I've got to get on with some orders and get them posted off so fingers crossed that will help take my mind off things a little bit and keep me occupied. 

Son has also booked a haircut at 5.15pm today so that means I will have to collect him from college or else he will not get home in time for the appointment. Lucky me!!!!

I really enjoyed the shopping trip yesterday. I picked up a few little gifts and also got a few ideas on what to buy our son as I still don't have his list!!! Clearly he doesn't want anything this year which suits me just fine and fits in very well with our mortgage free journey     

OK time for my list as I really need to get a wiggle on!

Today I WILL:-

1. Make jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off made just waiting to post off on way to collect son from college Posted
2. Make larger jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off - made just waiting to post off on way to collect son from college Posted  
3. Make 6 little bags of love for Etsy order and post off - made just waiting to post off on way to collect son from college  Posted  
4. Make wellness pack for Etsy order and post off - made just waiting to post off on way to collect son from college Posted  
5. Make 30 display cards and 2 sheets of stickers for order and post off - made just waiting to post off on way to collect son from college  
6. Write remaining social media posts for December and schedule
7. Promote business in three different places - posted in one group so far
8. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some new orders - DONE commented on 7 posts Fingers crossed at least one of them places an order  
9. Make plantable shapes stock for farm shop and deliver
10. Raise invoice for farmshop for plantable heart packs sold 
11. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) -  32 points so far
12. Either order or make gift for chippy boss - messaged a couple of places to see if it can be made in time - awaiting hearing before making something myself
13. Take a survey on Prime Opinion 
14. List car on Autotrader as having no luck with FB
15. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
16. No heating on other than the times it is set for  - DONE slippers and oodie for me  
17. List an item on FB Marketplace
18. Renew facebook listings - DONE 11 listings renewed  
19. Check to see if money received in bank account for stickers order - not received yet - this customer is awful at taking ages to pay (if at all) and then wanting her items the same day!
    
20. Make a meal plan and get food out of freezer for the week ahead - DONE all meat is from the freezer which is emptying nicely ready to be filled with Christmas goodies later in the week  
21. Download more free courses ready to take in 2024 - DONE 10 more courses downloaded and added to my list to complete in 2024  
22. Brainstorm ideas to help my MF journey in 2024
23. NSD - DONE apart from paying for sons haircut which was budgeted for and picking up a hair product which is much cheaper at barbers for his stocking  

That should keep me busy for a while!

Baileys_Babe

It was very windy here overnight as well, sorry to hear it contributed to your rubbish night's sleep.

If you are able focus your energy on your crafting and try and get as many of your orders completed.

Before booking his hair cut did your son discuss with you times which would suit you or not need you to give home a lift?

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

It was very windy here overnight as well, sorry to hear it contributed to your rubbish night's sleep.

If you are able focus your energy on your crafting and try and get as many of your orders completed.

Before booking his hair cut did your son discuss with you times which would suit you or not need you to give home a lift?

Sorry to hear you have the bad weather too.
My plan is to certainly try and concentrate on making things to help keep my mind busy and hopefully save me slipping into sadness again.
Miracles did happen this time as son did talk to me about his haircut before booking it so maybe he has turned a corner? Now just to train the daughter and hubby up and I will have cracked it