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

craftingmad

Morning all,

Well I might have been motivated to achieve lots yesterday but the doggo had other ideas whining to be outside and enjoying the spring sunshine all the time I had before I had to start work and when I got back from work I was shattered so nothing really was achieved. I do have another 4.5 hours to add into wages in a couple of weeks time though so it's not all bad. I have also picked up another shift at Burger King on Friday covering for someone who is ill (not sure how they know they are going to be ill on Friday but hey ho!). the only problem is the shift is 6pm- 11.30pm so there is a good possibility I will not be able to stay awake  

No going out to work for me today but I MUST finish the orders I have for my business so these are my main priority for today. I'm going to try and keep the list to a manageable length again in the hope that I can speed through it and actually feel like I'm making progress so keep your fingers crossed for me  

Hoping to be able to pick up my car from the garage today although not looking forward to the bill - its been an expensive month already what with the £175 medicine from the vet, £75 car battery, £115 lawn mower, £120 college bus pass for upcoming term, car insurance £275, MOT £45 and a few other bits we were not planning on having to buy so fingers crossed we can limp home and afford to pay for the neutering op on Monday without having to dip into the savings.

Todays plan is:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far  
2. Print leaflets and stickers for Etsy order - DONE  
3. Print and cut invitations for FB customer  - DONE  
4. Make seed paper names for Etsy order - DONE
5. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
6. Schedule social media posts for March
7. Pay in cheque using banking app from Royal Mail - DONE  
8. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
9. Complete Prime Opinion survey
10. No heating on until at least 7pm
11. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
12. Meal Plan
13. Update mortgage amounts on spreadsheet
14. Raise claim with Royal Mail for missing order - cannot find proof of posting - hoping it is in my car which is currently in the garage but it is around about the time hubby decided to throw everything out of car for some reason  
15. Photograph and return cook books to library - four books photographed. Will return when I go out to post office I hope  
16. Take a course from a paid membership
17. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
18. NSD - DONE

craftingmad

Morning all.

I'm going to be honest and say I'm feeling really down today. Despite us both seeming to work every hour of the day we don't seem to be making any progress this month at all I think it really hit me yesterday when my friend who is the same age as me and has never worked a day in her life (she lives off benefits) went off on her 11th day out in a row, this time around the shops and kayaking on the Broads. She doesn't have a care in the world and it's got me thinking that maybe our game plan is all wrong  

I don't think it has helped that my cafe shift for today has been cancelled as well due to lack of customers (it was only two hours but that £18 odd after tax would have helped add a little bit more to the pot). I also advertised an amazing deal for 4 of my downloadable planners yesterday for just £10 and not one person bought it. I just want to sit down and cry   However I've got to pull up my big girl panties, suck it in and keep plodding along with extra vigour and just hope that it will all come together in the end. I'm sure it will but I find myself looking at my friend and thinking how lucky she is. 

On the positive side, my car has now been fixed and passed its MOT and it came in at £2500 so that was £50 less than what we were expecting so there are some good things. Sadly I cannot transfer the extra over yet as this month is going to be tight as we still have to pay the £800 odd for the dogs neutering operation (if the medicine has worked and she has stopped producing milk).

Ok enough self pity - its time to do something about the lack of sales and money being added to the OP pot. Today is the day for action  

Today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 182 points so far thanks to a 50 point new game bonus  
2. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - DONE commented on three so far
3. Schedule social media posts for March - DONE  
4. Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
5. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
6. Complete Prime Opinion survey
7. No heating on until at least 7pm - DONE
8. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
9. Meal Plan and make shopping list - DONE
10. Update mortgage amounts on spreadsheet - DONE the mortgage balance has gone down by £800 so I'm a happy bunny
11. Try and find proof of posting for lost order
12. Renew library books to stop any fines - Renewed 8 out of the 12. Will take back all 8 receipe books tomorrow as photographed them all now  
13. Take a course from a paid membership
14. Download free resources from business giveaway
15. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
16. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
17. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
18. Create a new product to sell to hopefully refresh my offering (colour cube type idea) - started but taking ages. Hoping it will be worth it though as big hype around a similar product  
19. Finish tidying craft room
20. Renew FB Marketplace listings - don't need renewing for another 2 days apparently  
21. Write a plan on how to grow my business with actionable steps - sat down and brainstormed so will make action plan tomorrow  
22. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
23. NSD - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning all.

I'm feeling in a much better frame of mind today and am going to make some progress for sure  

I finally managed to get through to the BTL1 mortgage company again yesterday and the good news is that that mortgage is down to just over £38K which means I have around £11.5K extra already saved up which will go towards BTL2 mortgage. I can also still overpay a further £890.82 before I reach my 10% allowance this year so that will reduce it even further and then hopefully mean that this money can then be added to the savings (although with no hubby overtime I'm not sure how possible it will be). 

No going off to work again for me today but I do have an urgent order I have to work on so that will keep me busy for about half an hour and then I can devote the rest of the day to trying to grow my business again  

Today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 32 points so far today  
2. Reply to enquiry for keyring - DONE lady did not want to pay £6 including postage for the keyring and next day delivery - she offered me £2 which would not even cover my material costs and postage  
3. Raise custom order for 4 sticker sheets for returning customer on Etsy - DOBE and posted off as payment received
4. Make up order book for Etsy order and post off - DONE  
5. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - commented on two so far
6. Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
7. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
8. Complete Prime Opinion survey
9. No heating on until at least 7pm - DONE
10. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
11. Try and find proof of posting for lost order
12. Return library books to stop any fines - DONE  
13. Take a course from a paid membership
14. Download free resources from business giveaway
15. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
16. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
17. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
18. Finish creating new product to sell to hopefully refresh my offering (colour cube type idea) 
19. Finish tidying craft room
20. Action one thing on my business growth list
21. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
22. NSD - DONE

craftingmad

Morning all (well I hope some of you are still here)

I got all excited this morning thinking that it was Burger King payday but alas I am a week ahead of myself so no money will be being transferred over today. I am hoping Monday is National Trust payday though as I have not got any wages from them yet despite starting on 16th Feb and then a week today it will be BK payday too so finggers crossed I will be able to add a nice chunk of cash next week into the savings pot  

I've got a late shift at Burger King today (6pm - 11.30pm). I'm not sure I will be able to stay awake as anything past 9pm seems to be a struggle but we can only see I have also officially been asked to go back to the original chippy from next week for two evenings a week (8 hours in total) so one job is going to have to give but I'm still not sure which. If I can get the 12-5pm shifts all the time with no late ones at BK that would be great, I love working at the cafe and there are no late finishes and the chippy pays me £2 an hour more than the others so I'm so confused. I MUST make a decision though so that it my task for next week. 

Hubby has a day off today so not sure how much I will achieve before my shift starts so will have to wait and see what time he falls asleep on the sofa so that I can get my bits done   

Our daughter has now decided that she is coming home in between her holiday job so no camper van trip for me in the forseeable future. I'm gutted but I will have to persuade hubby that we need to test it out before he stays in it whilst working away so I WILL get my night away in her very soon - I'm determined  

Nothing else exciting (or even boring) to report. I lead such an exciting life  

 So today I HOPE too:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 17 points so far today 
2. Hang washing done overnight outside and hope it will dry - on line but don't think it is drying very well sadly  
3. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - commented on two so far - DONE commented on two  
4. Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
5. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
6. Complete Prime Opinion survey
7. No heating on - DONE the boys may put in on this evening whilst I'm at work though  
8. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
9. Try and find proof of posting for lost order
10. Take a course from a paid membership
11. Download free resources from business giveaway - DONE  
12. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
13. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
14. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
15. Finish creating new product to sell to hopefully refresh my offering (colour cube type idea) - almost there - I just need to add HEX codes and format it for printing   
16. Finish tidying craft room
17. Action one thing on my business growth list
18. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
19. NSD - failed picked up some bread and cream donuts from Morrisons on way to taking son to college as he missed the bus - again!!!
20. Burger King shift (6pm - 11.30pm) - DONE and it nearly killed me. I finished at midnight  

Baileys_Babe

It must be so difficult choosing between the 3 jobs have you asked yourself : 
How far do you need to travel to get to each job? 
How much will it cost?
How long does it take? 
Will it take longer as your area becomes busier with more holidaymakers?

As your hubby is off today can the pair of you spend some time planning a little break in the camper van?

~FlowerPot~

please dont go back to the chippy ~ both the bosses were not good to you. You deserve better!!

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

It must be so difficult choosing between the 3 jobs have you asked yourself : 
How far do you need to travel to get to each job? 
How much will it cost?
How long does it take? 
Will it take longer as your area becomes busier with more holidaymakers?

As your hubby is off today can the pair of you spend some time planning a little break in the camper van?

Hi Baileys. 

Sadly hubby spent most of the day asleep on the sofa again so no planning took place  

With regard to the jobs they are all pretty much the same really - each one takes about 15 minutes to get too, all routes involve tourists during peak season so will probably make it more like 20 minutes each and all (apart from the chip shop) pay minimum wage. 
I really do not have a clue what to do  

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

please dont go back to the chippy ~ both the bosses were not good to you. You deserve better!!

Thank you lovely. 
My problem is that I forget to easily.
He does seem to be a changed man in his recent conversations but I suppose in time he will show his true colours again  

craftingmad

Morning all.

Well the late night shift yesterday nearly broke me. I'm so tired today and I've got another shift starting at midday but at least I finish at 5pm so i can be tucked up in bed by 9pm tonight  
I've also got a lovely bruise on my right hand which I think I got from mopping yesterday so I'm a tad sore but I'll be ok. I'm hoping for a nice quiet shift today but being a Saturday I doubt it very much. I can dream for a bit longer though  

I'm going to put out a list but the chances of me getting much done on it are pretty slim I think but I'm going to write off today until it is actually over so I'll see what I can achieve in the half an hour before I have to leave for work and then see how I'm feeling after my shift. There is a good chance that I might just want to flop on the sofa and watch Gladiators and then sleep  

 So today I HOPE too:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target)
2. Dry three loads of washing outside - hung out - will get in after my shift or ask son to get it in when he finishes work  
3. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - commented on one so far
4. Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
5. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
6. Complete Prime Opinion survey
7. No heating on - DONE  
8. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
9. Try and find proof of posting for lost order
10. Take a course from a paid membership
11. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
12. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
13. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
14. Finish creating new product to sell
15. Finish tidying craft room
16. Action one thing on my business growth list
17. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
18. NSD - DONE
19. Burger King shift (12pm - 5pm) - DONE  
20. Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability

 

Baileys_Babe

These days I would struggle a lot with the late finishes at BK, my lights usual go off at 11 pm at the latest.