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

craftingmad

Morning all,

I feel like I didn't really achieve much yesterday but I did manage to pay in a bit more into the OP savings account which is the main aim I suppose so I'm going to be happy with that  

No work for me today (apart from printing an order for my business) so I'm going to try and get a few things crossed off my list but not overdo it as I have a seven and a half shift at the cafe tomorrow so want to approach it fresh and well rested  

I'm also up to date on the washing so no need to worry about that today (which is good as I think rain showers are forecast throughout the day for us in Norfolk).

Hubby is at work until around 2pm so I'm hoping the weather will be kind and let us go for a nice walk later this afternoon with the doggo to enjoy some fresh air. Other than that nothing planned so I will see what the day holds for me.

Here's my Hope to Do list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 84 points so far
2. Print plantable business cards for Etsy order - DONE 200 double sided business cards printed and cut. Now I just need to box them up ready to post off tomorrow
3. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
4. Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
5. Schedule social media posts for month
6. List Holy Communion prayer tokens and Plantable heart wedding favours on Etsy - DONE  
7. Finish colour cube type idea
8. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner
9. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE 9 surveys tried (4 completed) for a total of 137 points  
10. No heating on all day
11. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
12. Take a course from a paid membership
13. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
14. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
15. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
16. Finish tidying craft room
17. Action one thing on my business growth list
18. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
19. Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability 
20. List something on FB Marketplace
21. NSD

~FlowerPot~

"19 Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability "

!!!!!!!

these councils will try and get out of everything!! who elses faut is it?, if the roads arn't maintained to t good enough standard!!

have a good day x

craftingmad

Morning all,

Sorry no time to post yesterday as I had a seven and a half hour shift at the cafe. I was on my own and although it was really quiet I was shattered when I got home so just chilled out for the evening and achieved absolutely nothing!

I'm at the chippy this afternoon/evening for a 3 and a half hour shift so I'm hoping to get a few bits done before I have to start although I have a thumping headache again today so am also planning to take it easy. 

We have been out this morning to get new tyres for hubbies car as two were on the legal limit and he also needed a battery for Bernard the banana beast van. We think he will be being sold after we have collected our daughter but I have to admit I quite like him and ability he brings for us to get rid of rubbish or collect anything large so we will have to see. I nipped to the Food Warehouse next to Halfords and picked up some frozen bits to stock up the freezers as they were looking quite empty and I happened to find a hazelnut aero. I am in love and have nearly eaten a whole big bar to myself!!!   Whoops but it is so scrummy and I had to buy 5 more bars so will have to make sure I pace myself and make it last rather than eating it all in one o (which quite frankly I could easily do!).  

I've got to phone BTL1 mortgage company today and stop the overpayment so we don't exceed our OP payment limit for the year and incur penalty charges. I'm not looking forward to it as I am always in the queue for at least an hour before I can get through to anyone  

Here's my Hope to Do list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far
2. Post off plantable cards for Etsy order - DONE
3. Phone BTL1 mortgage company to stop OP to avoid incurring charges - DONE took 47 minutes to get through today so not as bad as before  
4. Set up DD to savings account for the £500 OP we currently make - DONE - it will be sad not seeing the mortgage go down by as much each month but at the same time I will earn interest on the amount being paid into the savings account so it's not all bad  
5. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders - DONE commented on four posts so far
6. Reply to enquiry on FB page regarding loyalty cards - DONE hopefully will bring me a £7 order - I need everyone I can get right now no matter how little they are  
7. Pay in 5 cheques from Royal Mail using banking app - DONE £96.39 in total so will transfer to the savings account when they have cleared   
8. Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
9. Schedule social media posts for month
10. Finish colour cube type idea
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
12. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE 3 surveys completed for a total of 100 points  
13. No heating on all day - DONE
14. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
15. Take a course from a paid membership
16. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
17. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
18. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
19. Finish tidying craft room
20. Action one thing on my business growth list
21. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
22. Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability 
23. List something on FB Marketplace - DONE listed a punch board for £12 I have never used and cannot see myself ever using - fingers crossed it catches somebody's eye SOLD so very happy
24. Chip Shop Shift - DONE 3.75 hours to be paid next week

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

"19 Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability "

!!!!!!!

these councils will try and get out of everything!! who elses faut is it?, if the roads arn't maintained to t good enough standard!!

have a good day x

Exactly that!!!!!

I really must try and get the letter drafted today. It will be very strongly worded!!!

Baileys_Babe

It is a shame you are unable to manage the mortgage payment online.

Could your headache be due to dehydration? 

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

It is a shame you are unable to manage the mortgage payment online.

Could your headache be due to dehydration? 

Oh I really wish I could - that would be amazing but sadly they don't have this facility available at the moment They will probably bring it in just as we pay ours off knowing our luck  

I think you may have been right - I seem to be having to drink much more since having this last round of Covid. I have a permanent salty water taste in my mouth which seems to be making me thirsty all the time. I took your advice and drunk even more and feel much better today - thank you x  

craftingmad

Good morning. 

What a difference a day makes when it comes to weather. The sun is shining and its really boosting my mood  

I've not got to go out to work today as not on any rota but I do have an order I need to complete and post off and I really do want to spend today working on my business as sales on Etsy and FB at the moment are absolutely dire so I need to be proactive and do something about it Today will be that day  

Other than that I'm hoping to take doggy for a long walk as we didn't go for one yesterday due to the heavy rain (she hates the rain and refuses to leave the house - fine by me as I'm not keen on getting soaking wet through either  ) but nothing else really planned so fingers crossed I can power through my to do list.

Here's my I WILL DO list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far 
2. Print and cut 25 loyalty cards for returning customer - DONE
3. Post off scoreboard sold on FB marketplace yesterday and transfer money into OP savings account - packaged up - will post off later this afternoon DONE
4. Work out prices for frames for customer enquiry on FB - DONE not heard anymore from her since giving her the prices so don't think she will go ahead but I'm not cutting my prices as I need to be paid fairly for what I make as well  
5. Take photos of craft kits I have for sale, work out price and send through to lady who bought last bundle to see if she wants these too - DONE offered for £75 fingers crossed she takes them to save ne having to list then individually
6. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
7.  Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
8. Take advantage of the weather and get any washing done and dried outside
9. Schedule social media posts for month
10. Finish colour cube type idea
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
12. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE 4 surveys attempted and gained 33 points (including a 30% bonus for the next 10 days)  
13. No heating on all day - DONE
14. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
15. Take a course from a paid membership
16. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
17. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
18. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
19. Finish tidying craft room
20. Action one thing on my business growth list
21. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
22. Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability 
23. List something on FB Marketplace - just waiting to hear from lady before I list in case she wants them
24. Meal plan for rest of the week - DONE no other food shopping required for week
25. NSD - DONE  

That should keep me busy all day  

craftingmad

Good morning everyone. 

The sun is shining again (although that's how yesterday started but sadly not for long) and my mood is mellow and determined. I feel like Covid has set me back in my plans this month so I am keen to push on and get some more money added into the OP savings account as quickly as I can. 

No work again for me again today so I've got a whole day to knuckle down and make some good progress I hope  

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

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far 
2. Transfer money for scoreboard as did not do it yesterday - DONE £15.58 added into OP savings account
3. Check and see if cheques have cleared - DONE £96.39 transferred into OP savings account
4. Reply to lady about the printed frames she enquired about yesterday - DONE I really hope she goes ahead and orders something as I have spent so much time already on this  
5. Find out when we last put rents up for properties - DONE sent an email to our letting agent - she may as well do some work for the commission we pay her each month!
6. Make and post off two cross in my pocket for Etsy order - DONE  
7. Complete business accounts up to year end - DONE and feeling very depressed - even less profit than last year and last year was really bad  
8. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
9.  Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
10. Take advantage of the weather and get any washing done and dried outside
11. Schedule social media posts for month
12. Finish colour cube type idea
13. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
14. Complete Prime Opinion survey
15. No heating on all day - DONE if we get cold it will be oodie snoodies, blankets and slippers  
16. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
17. Take a course from a paid membership - DONE two mkiini courses taken and a list of ideas to put into practise has been made  
18. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
19. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
20. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
21. Finish tidying craft room
22. Action one thing on my business growth list - DONE made a list of subscriptions and areas I can look at to reduce my costs First up paying for increased storage in hotmail - I've deleted over 1000 emails so far and will keep going until I can just use a free account to save me £80 a year
23. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
24. Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability 
25. List something on FB Marketplace - still waiting for lady to get back to me before I list something but if not heard by tomorrow I will go ahead and list  
26. NSD - DONE

craftingmad

Morning everyone (well I think I still have a few readers and I'm not talking to myself)  

It is raining on the Broads today but hopefully it will give me the incentive to knuckle down and make some real progress on things which need to be done as will power seems to be deserting me at the moment!!! 

I was meant to be working at the cafe this afternoon but my shift got cancelled last night due to the weather so instead I shall spend the time trying to earn money from home instead. I'm a bit gutted to be honest as I love that job but it seems that hours are few and far between. The saving grace is that I also have the chippy and burger king to help boost my hours but it is a real bind getting them all to fit together nicely. The chippy was talking about cutting my hours on Tuesdays when I was in last as well so its not looking promising. Its tough out there and at least it helps me not feel quite a failure for my own small business making pretty much no money this last tax year - it must be tough when takeaways are cutting staff costs  

I've got to take our son into college this morning as he had a free period first thing so I'm hoping it will be an easy run and not take up too much time. I would usually combine it with a couple of errands but nothing else can combine so it will just be a straightforward drop off and then straight home for me today. 

Nothing else exciting planned so I get down to crossing things off my list for today:-

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

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far 
2. Work out price for craft items the lady from FB Marketplace is interested in (sadly she doesn't want the whole bundle) - DONE suggested £55 so fingers crossed she takes me up on the offer SOLD  
3. Delete 2000 emails from inbox to hopefully save buying expensive subscription - 750 deleted so far  
4. Comment on In search of posts to hopefully get a few more orders
5.  Advertise in three FB groups to hopefully drum up more orders
6. Schedule social media posts for month
7. Finish colour cube type idea
8. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
9. Complete Prime Opinion survey
10. No heating on all day - DONE slippers and oodie snoodies worn all day  
11. Find two more ways to add money into savings  
12. Take a course from a paid membership
13. Send an email to my subscribers about my £10 offer
14. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
15. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
16. Finish tidying craft room
17. Action one thing on my business growth list
18. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint
19. Draft letter in reply to Council who are claiming pothole damage is not their liability 
20. List something on FB Marketplace - DONE five different crafting sets listed for a total of £47 Three listings sold for a total of £22  
21. NSD - DONE I resisted the urge to nip to Morrisons after taking son to college as really don't need anymore food  

Baileys_Babe

I saw this mentioned in this week's newsletter and thought of you.