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

Baileys_Babe

That looks like a good list, enjoy the day with your family.

craftingmad

Morning all.

I had a lovely day yesterday but we are back down to earth today with a bump. Hubby managed to hit a kerb in his car yesterday which set off his side airbags and locked his drivers seatbelt so I'm thinking that is going to be expensive to put right. Luckily we have our daughters car (who cannot even drive yet) he can borrow until his is fixed so at least he can get too and from work. 
We also found two lumps on our doggo yesterday so I need to get her an emergency appointment today to get those checked. I'm praying its nothing serious but have to admit I'm worried.
Daughter is not feeling well today either so we won't be doing anything exciting but am sure son will want to do something so will have to wait and see when he wakes up. 

Other than that it will be a usual day for me pottering around and trying separately to clear these mortgages as best as I can.

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 137 points earned
2. Burger King Online Training (15 courses left to complete before Friday) - one more completed
3. Spend time with kids during school holidays
4. Get gammon in slow cooker ready to eat tonight with chips - DONE
5. Print wedding invitations to complete order
6. Make a lucky gnome and two guardian gnomes for Etsy order - lucky gnome made
7. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
8. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders 
9. Write remaining social media post for February and schedule this weeks
10. Tidy more of craft room
11. Read through make £5 a day thread and see if I can get any ideas on new money making opportunities
12. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
13. Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
14. List something on FB Marketplace
15. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
16. No heating on until at least 5pm

That will have to do for today

craftingmad

Hi all,

Quick post from me as its been a busy day - I've been non-stop so didn't even have time for a list today I had my first proper shift in the National Trust cafe today learning the ropes and I really enjoyed it so that was good.

In other news daughter has gone back to Uni today and the first tube of toothpaste which son was going to throwaway has finally run out (we got 16 cleans out of it so very glad I rescued it before he threw it away). I also resisted the urge for a takeaway and we just had a quick freezer dinner instead so I have achieved a little bit of MSE'ing today to help with our MF dream   

craftingmad

Morning all.

The house is eerily quiet this morning. Hubby was at work early, daughter has gone back to Uni, son stayed at his girlfriends last night after going to a party and the dog is fast asleep on the sofa after an early morning wake up from her daddy for a woo woo walk so its just me for a few hours so fingers crossed I can get lots done before I do another shift this afternoon at the National Trust cafe.

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 117 points earned 
2. Burger King Online Training - cannot gain entry so emailed manager to help
3. Raise claim for missing Royal Mail item - DONE only £6.70 but I don't see why I should be out of pocket for Royal Mail's mistake
4. Photograph wedding items and contact customer to let her know they are ready - DONE  
5. Make two guardian gnomes and post off together with a lucky gnome for an Etsy order - DONE
6. Print and bind jewellery planner for Etsy order and post off - DONE
7. Start logo design for Etsy order
8. Start design for birthday invites for a FB customer
9. Renew FB Marketplace listings - DONE 35 renewed
10. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
11. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders 
12. Write remaining social media post for February and schedule this weeks
13. Read through make £5 a day thread and see if I can get any ideas on new money making opportunities
14. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
15. Carry out searches on Inbox Pounds
16. National Trust cafe shift - DONE 3.5 hours completed
17. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
18. No heating on until 5pm - DONE went on at 6pm because I was cold
19. NSD - DONE

That should keep me busy for today

Baileys_Babe

Enjoy the peace and quiet. 

You have lots on your list remember to include some time to relax.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Enjoy the peace and quiet. 

You have lots on your list remember to include some time to relax.

Thanks Baileys_Babe.
I did treat myself to a lie in yesterday which was lovely. 
No such luck today though as hubby woke me up leaving for work early

craftingmad

Morning all.

I've not got actual work today, although I do have lots of online training to complete and some orders for my business which I really ned to start so looks like it will still be a busy day ahead for me. 

I'm still liking the cafe job - especially given that I have only completed three shifts and already come home with 3 sausage rolls, two cornish pasties, a ham and cheese sandwich, ham, chocolate scone and shortbread I think this will be very good for helping to cut my weekly food bill  

 So my plan for today is:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 107 points earned 
2. Burger King Online Training - nine courses completed so far today (75%) 
3. Drop off wedding items to my friend
4. Start logo design for Etsy order - DONE initial designs sent to customer
5. Start design for birthday invites for a FB customer
6. Design planatable cards for returning Etsy customer and send over proof - DONE  
7. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
8. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders 
9. Write remaining social media post for February and schedule this weeks
10. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
12. No heating on until 5pm - DONE still not on yet and its 7.30pm  
13. Meal plan for rest of week - DONE
14. NSD - failed went to the range and picked up some things for my mum and dad (I'm sending them 80 things throughout the year as they both turn 80)

craftingmad

Hello

Sorry for not posting yesterday. I had training at Burger King for the morning and then enjoyed a bit of time with the husband and son so just did not get round to it. I also managed to finish all the online training for BK so that's good news for me
We also treated ourselves to a takeaway last night so no progress whatsoever was made.

Today has been pretty much the same money making/saving wise (i.e. nothing!!!). Hubby has spent the day mending his car where he clipped the kerb last week (cost a total of £200 as he can do it himself so could have been a lot worse) and mending our daughters car as we went into a pothole last night and it punctured two tyres (another £150 down the drain). I've reported the pot hole so hopefully it gets repaired quickly and think I may contact the council and try and claim the costs back of the tyres as well. It's got to worth a shot - I would rather have it going towards the mortgage than the tyres if it doesn't have too  

We also went to the local baker after dropping son off at work and treated ourselves to pasties and hot chocolate to enjoy looking out over the sea. It was lovely. A pizza topped bread and a piece of bread pudding may well also have gone into our shopping basket  

No wonder we are walking through treacle at the moment and not making any progress this month at all!!! 
Fingers crossed when my wages start coming in it will help us have a little faster progress than we have achieved this year so far. I've still not decided which job to take so for now I'm doing the training at each and this will hopefully help me decide which one would be best. I think I'm sort of hoping that I can do both of them but in all honesty think that with my business as well that may well be too much. I've never liked decisions!!!

Ona  positive note though (well not for doggo) we have been told that the puppy dog is overweight and we need to feed her less than what we do at the moment, She is not liking the very small portion sizes but on the plus side I have worked out that it will save us around £25 a month so we can use that to offset the cost of her neutering op when it is able to go ahead and it can then be put towards the mortgage OP

So although it is nearly 4.30pm I am determined to at least try and get a few bits done which will help us advance up that mortgage mountain so today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 39 points earned 
2. Drop off wedding items to my friend - DONE
3. Email logo design for Etsy order and work on proof for stickers - DONE
4. Make cross in pocket for Etsy order - DONE
5. Print double sided plantable cards for Etsy order
6. Start design for birthday invites for a FB customer
7. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
8. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders 
9. Write remaining social media post for February and schedule this weeks
10. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
12. No heating on until 6pm
13. Complete Prime Opinion survey
14. Transfer money from NSD days for the last two weeks into savings account as didn't do it due to thinking the dog was going to get neutered but she is still producing milk so it cannot be carried out - DONE £35 added to OP savings account This means I'm to 30% of the first £8170 saved now  

craftingmad

Good morning all.

I've got a 5 hour shift at the National Trust cafe today so won't have too much time for my list but you know me and I cannot resist trying to squeeze a few things in so today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 107 points earnt  
2. National Trust shift - DONE 5.75 hours today to be added to my wages at the end of next month
3. Print stickers for Etsy order and design thank you card
4. Print double sided plantable cards for Etsy order
5. Start design for birthday invites for a FB customer
6. Reply to enquiries for possible orders - DONE quoted for two jobs (£51 and £14.25) - fingers crossed I get at least one  
7. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders - DONE advertised some wish bracelets from a bundle I bought at the start of this year. No takers yet  
8. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - DONE commented on three so far  
9. Write remaining social media post for February and schedule this weeks
10. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
12. Complete Prime Opinion survey
13. Create new item for Mothers Day using chip bracelets
14. No heating on until at least 6pm - DONE It's 6.11pm and we have just turned it on for a couple of hours  
15. NSD - DONE £5 transferred into OP savings account

craftingmad

Morning all.

We have just got back from the vets for the doggo to have her annual boosters so are £65 worse off than when we went in I think I should retrain as a vet - I'd get the mortgages paid in no time at all!!! 

I was meant to have a five and a half hour shift at the National Trust tearoom today but they have decided I only need to go in for 2 hours and they may also cut my other hours for the rest of the week so I'm feeling a little disheartned to be honest and thinking that I may have been bought in to just cover the occasional holiday and sickness. I suppose only time will tell. At least it gives me more time to work on my business again so every cloud and all that. I've got Burger King training tomorrow and Wednesday so am glad I have kept my options option at the moment so fingers crossed I like it there and I can then make a informed decision. 

Some good news is that I managed to win the £14.25 sticker order so that will add a little bit more in the pot at the end of the month. 
 
Other than that I've not really got much to report other than we have finally squeezed every last drop we can out of the two toothpaste tubes son was going to throw away so that's saved us about £1.50 and meant I managed to not do a big shop last week at all  

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 71 points earnt so far  
2. 2 hour National Trust shift - DONE will add another £20 into wages due to be paid at the end of March I think
3. Print stickers for Etsy order and design thank you card
4. Print double sided plantable cards for Etsy order - DONE and posted off on my way to work  
5. Print stickers for order received via Facebook yesterday - DONE and posted off 
6. Start design for birthday invites for a FB customer
7. Post cross in my pocket made yesterday - DONE
8. Make and post off Believe in Yourself bee for Etsy order - DONE 
9. Phone BTL Mortgage Company and stop overpayment to avoid penality as reached our limit for the financial year - was on hold for one hour and 11 minutes and the my phone ran out of battery  
10. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get more orders
11. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders  
12. Write remaining social media post for February and schedule this weeks
13. Take a survey on Prime Opinion
14. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
15. Complete Prime Opinion survey
16. Create new item for Mothers Day using chip bracelets
17. No heating on until at least 6pm
18. NSD 

That should keep me busy enough but also allow me to spend a bit of time with hubby on his last day off before he starts a 6 day shift.

Hope you have a good day too x