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

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Our meal plan for the next week is mainly from the freezer and cupboards, I know we will need milk, fresh fruit & vegetables, and brown rice. No idea how we have run out of brown rice, we have had a store cupboard fail.

I'm always pleased when I read in your diary about checking free postcode lottery etc as it reminds me to check. I used to be brilliant at remembering but inn the last few months I've list the routine, so thank you for the reminders.

I ram out of pasta the other day - could not believe it - I ALWAYS have a stock of pasta in!!! the store cupboard gremlins must be visiting us!!!!

craftingmad

Morning all. It's a bit fresh today isn't it!!!! 

I am planning on staying indoors as much as I can snuggled in with my oodie snoodie and slippers on (no heating of course until 4pm ish ), working on my business, applying for jobs and decluttering. I'm living the dream       

Today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 12 points today so far
2. Make and post of 10 mini friendship seed packs for an Etsy order
3. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
4. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - couldn't find any to comment on
5. Create new cardmaking sheet for Craftsuprint and advertise it 
6. Keep looking for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again - still no sign  
7. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
8. Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
9. Write a specific CV for catering jobs
10. Write a specific CV for administration/customer service jobs - started - now I've just got to try and get it down to only two pages
11. Apply for jobs found on Indeed
12. Write remaining social media posts for this month and next and schedule them
13. Claim for bus fares had to pay whilst waiting for bus pass
14. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace along with necklace found during decluttering
15. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
    
16. No heating on until at least 4pm so it is then warm for the boys come home - DONE  
17. Return coat which was wrong size (in sale and I ordered two for son to see which one fitted him best) 
18. Return watercolour paints ordered for son but then he found his set 
19. Work on my business to help it to grow
20. Evaluate ideas I came up with for low cost start up businesses - made a start - pros and cons list for two ideas so far  
21. Take a course from one of my memberships
22. Write small shopping list to take advantage of £10 voucher won at Lidl - DONE
23. Check and see if website order money credited into my account yet - DONE £137.84 transferred into OP savings account  
24. Design a  new product to sell
25. Sort corner of craft room - DONE it is now tamed back into the containers it should be  
26. NSD - nope - went to Lidl to se £10 voucher before it expired so not a NSD but did use £12.48 in coupons Also bought paper bags for a lucky dip idea I have had to try and sell more of the crystal bracelets

craftingmad

Morning all.

Gosh it's cold today but still no snow for us here in Fleggburgh. All the villages around us got some but not us. The puppy dog is most upset as she loves nothing more than than to roll about in it! 

I feel like I achieved nothing yesterday so I really must try harder today and get lots crossed off my list. I did manage to add £12.50 to the OP savings pot though thanks to my Lidl spin to win voucher and two free products earnt on their app so at least that is something.

Father In Laws car is still at the garage as the part required to repair it did not arrive in time yest5erday so hopefully today it will be all mended and we can get on with advertising it from tomorrow. I just want it gone to be honest as every time I see it it reminds me of the tragic events of the last few months.   

I've got nothing planned again today (apart from trying to keep warm!!) so hopefully that means that I will be able to crack on with my list and get lots crossed off  

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 27 points today so far 
2. Make and post of 10 mini friendship seed packs for an Etsy order
3. Make jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off - proofs made - just waiting for customer approval  
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. Create new cardmaking sheet for Craftsuprint and advertise it 
7. Keep looking 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
10. Write a specific CV for catering jobs - DONE
11. Finalise CV for administration/customer service jobs - DONE
12. Apply for jobs found on Indeed - DONE applied for 3 admin positions and one Cafe position 
13. Write remaining social media posts for this month and next and schedule them
14. Claim for bus fares had to pay whilst waiting for bus pass
15. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace along with necklace found during decluttering
16. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
    
17. No heating on until at least 4pm so it is then warm for the boys come home (this is getting harder the colder it gets but I'm determined) 
18. Return coat which was wrong size (in sale and I ordered two for son to see which one fitted him best) = packaged and ready to return  
19. Return watercolour paints ordered for son but then he found his set - DONE packaged and ready to return  
20. Work on my business to help it to grow
21. Evaluate ideas I came up with for low cost start up businesses
22. Take a course from one of my memberships
23. Design a  new product to sell
24. Sort corner of craft room
25. Scan CD's and see how much Zavvi will offer me
26. Renew FB Marketplace listings
27. NSD - DONE - will transfer £5 into the OP savings account  

Baileys_Babe

We have a tiny dusting of snow, it looks like someone has sprinkled icing sugar on a cake.

~FlowerPot~

no snow here (down south) but it was -5 when I deiced the car brrrrrr.

Crafting I thought of you this morning, I bought a gillet from vinted and im wearing it today, its a lovely extra warm layer to help me stay warm and its working, but my toes are freezing!!!

Hope you stay warm xx

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

We have a tiny dusting of snow, it looks like someone has sprinkled icing sugar on a cake.

Oooh I feel like I need a slice of cake now Yum Yum!


~FlowerPot~ said:

no snow here (down south) but it was -5 when I deiced the car brrrrrr.

Crafting I thought of you this morning, I bought a gillet from vinted and im wearing it today, its a lovely extra warm layer to help me stay warm and its working, but my toes are freezing!!!

Hope you stay warm xx

Gosh that's cold. I thought my -3 was bad enough! 

The gillet sounds great and a much more stylish option than my oodie snoodie thing that I choose
I always seem to have cold toes so no advice to warm those up I'm afraid although I did see on the tv today some slippers which could be heated in the microwave to keep your feet warm so they may need to go on my birthday list

Warm wishes sent your way x

craftingmad

Morning all.

It's another cold one today so I will be hibernating inside as much as possible  

Yesterday didn't start too well as son made no effort to catch the bus so I had to take him in to college which took up two hours of my day as I got stuck in rush hour traffic and roadworks!! Is it wrong to take £10 out of his lunch money (he gets £35 a week for this paid into his account) every time he misses the bus? I feel like I need to do something as it is becoming a regular occurrance and I resent having to do it when I have paid a fortune for a bus pass already!!! 

I managed to get my CV's in order and apply for a few jobs yesterday but my word it took forever. One coffee shop application came with not only the application form which was five pages long and required me to write an essay as to what I feel is the future of eateries in the 21st century but also an aptitude test which had 176 questions!!! I am so out of practise. I'm not going to expect a call for that one I think  

I'm planning on being very productive again today (but then again I though that yesterday and look what happened) so with nothing exciting planned (I never seem to have anything exciting planned!) I'm going to crack on and get lots crossed off

Today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 117 points today
2. Make and post of 10 mini friendship seed packs for an Etsy order - made will post off later today  
3. Print and bind jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off = made just have to post off later  
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 - commented on three posts
6. Create new cardmaking sheet for Craftsuprint and advertise it - created but for some reason the system is not letting me load it on at the moment so I will have to try later   
7. Keep looking for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again - checked another pile and still no sign  
8. Take a survey on Prime Opinion - DONE one survey for 213 points from 3 surveys 
9. Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
10. Apply for more jobs found on Indeed - DONE 5 more applied for today including receptionist at a leisure centre, working in Lidl and cooking and serving food in Burger King  
11. Write remaining social media posts for this month and next and schedule them - posted today and all but two posts written for this month  
12. Claim for bus fares had to pay whilst waiting for bus pass
13. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace along with necklace found during decluttering
14. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
    
15. No heating on until at least 4pm so it is then warm for the boys come home (this is getting harder the colder it gets but I'm determined) - DONE  
16. Work on my business to help it to grow - DONE I've made a list (surprise surprise) of what I need to do so will start actioning it step by step tomorrow  
17. Evaluate ideas I came up with for low cost start up businesses - evaluated another one  
18. Take a course from one of my memberships - DONE and I've added all the points raised in it to my new business action plan  
19. Design a new product to sell
20. Sort corner of craft room - DONE big pile gone through and everything put back where it should go  
21. Scan CD's and see how much Zavvi will offer me
22. List car for sale on Autotrader
23. Renew library books - tried but it would not let me do it online so I will have to go to a library tomorrow
24. Read MSE weekly email - DONE a couple of bits added to my list for further investigation
25. Renew FB Marketplace listings - DONE 21 listings renewed. Fingers crossed something will sell soon  
26. NSD - DONE £5 will be transferred into the savings pot tomorrow  

Baileys_Babe

I think a financial penalty could be the way forward, only you know your son and if would motivate them.

On a separate note could your son take a packed lunch and save you a couple of quid a day?

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

I think a financial penalty could be the way forward, only you know your son and if would motivate them.

On a separate note could your son take a packed lunch and save you a couple of quid a day?

Thanks Baileys_Babe. 
Money certainly motivates him and he does not like using his own so hopefully it might work - only time will tell  

craftingmad

Good morning all.

We finally have snow here on my little bit of the Broads and if I thought it was cold before, it has nothing on today - it's flippin' freezing!!!!! My resolve for no heating from 7.30pm - 4pm will be tested to its limits today I think!!!! 

It's too cold to do much in my eyes so I will be hibernating indoors for as much of today as I can I felt quite productive yesterday getting lots crossed off my list so am hoping that I have another day of the same today. 

I need to pop outside and get some new photos of father in laws car so I can get it listed but will have to wait until it defrosts a little bit I think in order to make it look its best. I'm being optimistic that it will defrost as its so cold but this is the new me so optimistic I shall be  

I feel like progress is really slow this month so hopefully there will be some movement on the OP pot at the end of the month to help boost my spirits and show me that even small things can make a really big difference. In the meantime I shall keep plodding along with all my little things I am doing and keep looking for ways to earn larger chunks of money each month Any new ideas are gratefully received  

 So on my hit list today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 32 points added  
2. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
3. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - commented on one already
4. Load on new cardmaking sheet onto Craftsuprint made yesterday and promote it - loaded on but gone into quarantine so will have to wait until cleared before I can advertise  
5. Pay in cheque via app from Royal Mail - DONE will transfer £6.70 when cleared
6. Keep looking for Scan and Shop booklet so I can start scanning and earning points again
7. Take a survey on Prime Opinion - DONE 141 points from two surveys  
8. Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
9. Take some Panel Station surveys (they email me everyday)
10. Check OhMyDosh for free offers I can apply for
11. Apply for more jobs found on Indeed - applied for Retail Assistant at local caravan park near me and an at home customer advisor 
12. Write remaining two social media posts for this month and schedule them - DONE
13. Claim for bus fares had to pay whilst waiting for bus pass
14. List board games we no longer play on FB Marketplace along with necklace found during decluttering
15. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
    
16. No heating on until at least 4pm so it is then warm for the boys come home (this is getting harder the colder it gets but I'm determined) - DONE my hands and toes have been a bit cold but it's made me move about more to get the feeling back in them I'm looking forward to the heating kicking in in about 30  mins though   
17. Action one thing from my business growth list - DONE updated my Etsy shop banner
18. Evaluate ideas I came up with for low cost start up businesses
19. Take a course from one of my memberships
20. Design a new product to sell - DONE price display signs made
21. Sort more of craft room
22. Scan CD's and see how much Zavvi will offer me - DONE the grand total of £1.36 for 4 out of our 100 odd CD's  
23. List car for sale on Autotrader
24. Renew library books
25. Action one thing from my list of new things to help be MF - DONE moved some money around to benefit from better interest rates  
26. NSD - DONE will transfer £5 into OP savings account