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

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

morning glad you survived the winds, yesterday here (we are more south and west of you) it was jolly windy, but I think it had calm down by night time. The news certainly showed some scary sights!

Have a good day, hows the job hunt going?

It really was terrifying here. Luckily we don't live close enough to the Broads to usually flood but several of my friends are now fighting flood water sadly. We just have the trees to contend with - so many fell but we were lucky and they all managed to avoid us and the cars. 

I've applied for a couple more and made a list of companies to contact so fingers crossed something will turn up soon. Part of me regrets quitting now but then I think how unhappy I was and think that no amount money would be worth me feeling that way.

Hope you have a good day today x

craftingmad

Morning all.

Well I didn't get very far with my list yesterday but I did manage to be productive in other ways. One of my goals for this year is to declutter the house as it really is shameful how much stuff we have just lying around, so I tackled the hallway and part of the dining room and threw away a black bin bag full of rubbish and have a box full of things to donate to our village hall for their next jumble sale I'm planning on tackling more of the dining room today so wish me luck  

I did find some unopened dog food which our puppy dog has gone off so I listed it on FB Marketplace and sold it straightaway so I've managed to add another £10 into the OP pot so that is a decluttering bonus. I also found £1.07 so that has gone into our change pot ready to cash in at the end of the year Small amounts but as I have seen from last ear, every penny really does count  

No plans for anything exciting today. Tonight we plan to watch some more episodes of Fool Me Once on Netflix as we all loved episode 1 and 2 so fingers crossed it will be an uneventful night and we can watch some more (the kids both had other ideas the last two days wanting us to be their taxi service instead!.

So today I WILL:-

1.  Play on Mistplay (106 points target) - 22 points so far 
2.  Make up nail planner for Etsy order and post off
3.  Make up jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off
4.  Advertise my logo design service in three groups - DONE
5. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
6.  Transfer over DD from Santandar to Natwest to get better interest rates
7.  Look for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again
8.  Take a survey on Prime Opinion
9.  Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
11.  Look for any local PT jobs
10. Write remaining social media posts for this week and next and schedule them
11. Go through DD's and SO's and see if I can negotiate any prices or cancel them
12. NSD - failed again as bought some storage boxes for Xmas decorations  
13. Tidy some more of dining room and list for sale anything I find which could be sold - DONE I found quite a lot to sell and also got rid of half a black bin bag full of rubbish so I've made progress I've listed three things (£8 in total if they all sell as I just want them to sell quickly so I can get rid) on FB Marketplace so fingers crossed they sell as quickly as the dog food yesterday  
14. Design and make one new item ready to sell
15. Two loads of washing on quick washes and hang on airer to dry - DONE actually hung three loads outside - not sure if it will dry (although it does feel drier than when I hung it out) so fingers crossed it will not need as much heat on tonight to be fully ready to put away   

~FlowerPot~

9.  Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds

Intetested to hear what this is like!
Well done on clearing it the unwanted dog food and getting done money for it. I have 2 bags of dog food that ours will not touch and one he will just about tolerate! 
I keep trying new brands, but he is afussy so and so!
Was planning on donating to blue cross, hadnt considered selling! 

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

9.  Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds

Intetested to hear what this is like!
Well done on clearing it the unwanted dog food and getting done money for it. I have 2 bags of dog food that ours will not touch and one he will just about tolerate! 
I keep trying new brands, but he is afussy so and so!
Was planning on donating to blue cross, hadnt considered selling! 

I didn't get it done  
You can get 7 points a day for searches but it does take a lot of time and I am finding that I get kicked out of any surveys the offer so it's going to take me ages to reach an amount that I can cash out at I'll keep trying though (especially as I no longer have the part time job)  

Honestly consider selling the dog food if it is sealed. I try and sell anything and I have seen loads of posts for dog food for sale recently. I told myself that if mine did not sell then I would take it to a dog shelter which made me feel better about myself  

craftingmad

Morning all.

My money making plans are not going that well but the house is definitely looking clearer as I am focused on decluttering - you can see the areas I have tackled and the family have noticed so that's a good plus. It's also meaning I am finding lots to put on the selling pages. I managed to sell some card games yesterday for £5 so that's good as not only does the money go into the savings pot it also gives me some space in the house (and selling them quickly means I won't be tempted to keep them like I have in the past) I also have a lady coming to collect a brand new pair of magnetic earrings I have had lying around the house for donkeys - only £2 but its still money for the pot Every penny counts and really seems to adds up and quite frankly I will take any money I can at the moment as I will no longer have the chippy money coming in each month   

Daughter has an eye test today in the same town as my son goes to college so I will run him in and save the £2 a trip I am having to pay on top of the yearly bus pass cost as the Council still have not sent out the one I requested on 28th November!!! I'm planning on claiming the money back as it will be around £40 by the time the pass hopefully turns up! 

I'm also planning to pop into Asda and grab some of their pizzas for dinner tomorrow (daughters request as she loves them and does not have one anywhere near her when she is in Uni and she is back there on Sunday so I could not refuse. Planning on utilising Blue Light discount as well whilst I'm there and I might even have a voucher which will be even better  

 So today I WILL:-

1.  Play on Mistplay (106 points target) - DONE 127 points earnt  
2.  Make up nail planner for Etsy order and post off
3.  Make up jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off
4.  Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
5. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
6.  Transfer over DD from Santandar to Natwest to get better interest rates
7.  Look for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again
8.  Take a survey on Prime Opinion
9.  Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
11.  Look for any local PT jobs
10. Write remaining social media posts for this week and next and schedule them
11. Go through DD's and SO's and see if I can negotiate any prices or cancel them
12. Pay in cheques from Royal Mail via app for compensation for lost parcels
13. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace
14. Tidy some more of dining room - DONE found daughters passport which we thought was lost and threw away half a black bin bag full of rubbish  
15. Design and make one new item ready to sell
16. Two loads of washing on quick washes and hang on airer to dry (although short on space as the loads yesterday are still drying) - DONE had to put heating on to dry them quicker as running out of room and still have two loads to get done before daughter goes back to Uni on Sunday  
17. Use Blue Light discount and Rewards app at Asda to gain some more in my cashpot - DONE earnt £1.60 from this  
18. Freeze any food going to go out of date before it can be used

craftingmad

Morning all.

I don't seem to be starting this year off very well on my MF journey - I'm getting on ok with the decluttering but not so well with the money making I really must start trying harder!!!

On the plus side I did complete a survey for Shop and Scan for 1500 points so that will help bolster my account balance there and also managed to earn another £10 credit off my mobile bill with Airtime rewards so I have made a very tiny amount of progress. My business is still really quiet though so I really need to work hard to build it back up, especially given I have quit the chippy!    

Nothing planned at all today apart from taking son to and from work and desperately trying to get some washing dry (I hate the winter months when you have a teenager in the house and a daughter who comes home with bags of washing when she visits! - roll on the summer!!! I have had to admit defeat and use the tumble dryer for towels and bedding  

We now have a date when hubby is going to start working away - 1st July 2024. That will be a nice anniversary present (not) as he will need to go up there the day before which is our wedding anniversary It also means that we need to start looking now for accommodation for him to stay in whilst he is there so that is either going to mean we have to find the money for a hotel/chalet or we bite the bullet and use some of our savings to buy a small motorhome. We are leaning towards a little motorhome (I suggested a caravan but he flatly refuses) as at least we could also use this to go away on holiday in as well but we shall have to see. Decisions decisions. Either way I'm not looking forward to having to pay for either option  

 Right I need to get on and hopefully get a little bit more money coming in today if we want to achieve my dream of mortgage free in 7 years (6 years now!!!).

So today I WILL:-

1.  Play on Mistplay (106 points target) - 57 points earnt
2.  Make up nail planner for Etsy order and post off
3.  Make up jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off
4.  Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
5. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
6.  Transfer over DD from Santandar to Natwest to get better interest rates - DONE  
7.  Look for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again - started looking but not in the pile I thought it was (as a bonus though my desk is looking a bit tidier)  
8.  Take a survey on Prime Opinion - DONE two surveys taken for 130 points in total  
9.  Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds - DONE 7 points earnt and had anough to cash out a £20 Amazon  voucher  
11. Look for any local PT jobs
10. Write remaining social media posts for this week and next and schedule them
11. Go through DD's and SO's and see if I can negotiate any prices or cancel them - DONE cancelled two paypal automatic payments for memberships I no longer use and earmarked 4 DD's to hopefully negotiate better rates on   
12. Pay in cheques from Royal Mail via app for compensation for lost parcels - DONE will transfer over the £20 when the cheques have cleared  
13. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace
14. Tidy last bit of dining room - started - small bag of rubbish already  
15. Design and make one new item ready to sell
16. Last load of washing on quick washes and hang on airer to dry - in the washing machine
18. Freeze any food going to go out of date before it can be used - DONE beef mince, sausages and chicken drumstick meat all in freezer ready for meals either next week or week after  
19. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji to see if I'm a winner
20. Complete Asda self scan prize draw - DONE fingers crossed I win £100  
21. NSD - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning (just),
I've just got back in from waving off the daughter who is going back to Uni today. I thought it would get easier each year she finished but I find it doesn't. I cannot wait for her to be home again in June for a few years before she properly flies the nest for good.

I'm being kind on myself today and not putting any pressure on me tro get anything done unless I feel up to it so I'm not making a list today.

Normal service will hopefully resume tomorrow x 

craftingmad

Good morning. 

Everything is back to normal today now that daughter has gone back to Uni. The house seems very quiet already so I'm going to try and keep myself busy so I don't miss her too much  

I've got my slippers and my snoodie oodie thing on and that is how I am intending to stay all day (I might even keep them on when I take the doggie for  a walk )

So today I WILL:-

1.  Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far  
2.  Make up nail planner for Etsy order and post off - DONE made, will post off later today just in case I get another order Posted
3.  Make up jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off - DONE - made, will post off later today  Posted 
4. Make up 2 crosses in my pocket for Etsy order and post off - DONE - made, will post off later today  Posted 
5.  Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
6. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
7. Create new cardmaking sheet for Craftsuprint and advertise it
8.  Keep looking for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again 
8.  Take a survey on Prime Opinion - DONE surveys totalling 130 points  
9.  Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds - DONE 7 points added
11. Look and apply for any local PT jobs - applied for two and going to write specific CV's to three more jobs I have found  
10. Write remaining social media posts for this week and next and schedule them - posted for today   
13. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace along with necklace found during decluttering
14. Tidy shelf in lounge
15. Design and make one new item ready to sell - DONE made some positivity pills. Will list them tomorrow 
16. Meal plan for week and get out meat required for todays dinner - DONE should not need much shopping this week apart from veg and fruit and bread  
19. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji to see if I'm a winner - DONE not a winner
20. No heating on until 4.30pm so it is then warm for the boys come home - DONE although I nearly caved as it was so cold at one point  
21. Renew Facebook Marketplace listings - DONE 17 renewed  
22. NSD - DONE will transfer £5 into OP savings account  

~FlowerPot~

morning! well done on the etsy orders

keep moving to stay warm, its cold today!

Flowers x

LadyWithAPlan

Amazing year end figures well done ! 

Can you start a side hustle in helping people declutter as sounds like you are doing brilliantly at it 

if you ever think of the missing chippy money please also reread on here how it made you feel - as you say you feeling positive is an important thing - is there local supermarket you can do shifts at as then you also get reduction on food as staff discount ?