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

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

You will be exhausted by the time you finish work.

Despite being at work for over 9 hours today don't forget to drink, you don't want to get dehydrated.

What are your plans for eating today?

I'm a little bit tired to say the least but I got through it  
I made sure I had a good breakfast before I left for work (sausage baps) and then I had spag bol when I got home. I also may have picked at the odd few chips as well whilst I was working  
I also got through two bottles of water (and managed not to wee all day) so I'm all good.

Thank you for looking out for me - it is very much appreciated x 

craftingmad

Morning all.

Look at that - I actually managed to complete a full To Do list yesterday. It may have only had 6 things on it but I'm still counting that as a win  

I treated myself to a lie in this morning as needed it after two busy shifts at jobs. At least I didn't finish quite as late as I thought we would so I managed to have some dinner before bed which was good for my stomach. 

I came home loaded with treats from both jobs too - I got two cookies, a brownie, two cheese scones, 2 ham and cheese toasties and half a loaf of sour dough bread from the cafe and from the chippy two jumbo battered sausages, a small plain sausage, a code and a large portion of chips. The boys and doggo ate the sausages and cod last night (as well as having their dinner earlier) and I treated myself to the brownie which was delicious (why do things always taste better when they are free)  
The cheese scones became my breakfast this morning and I might reheat the chips in the airfryer for my lunch. Our son loves sour dough bread so he almost certainly will have toast this morning and a toastie before he goes to work this afternoon. So that's a free breakfast and lunch for both of us sorted today  

Slightly worse news on the hours front though. I have now lost my Tuesday shift at the chippy as they have given it to the clueless teenager despite spending half the shift yesterday moaning about just how bad she is I'm a bit gutted if I'm honest as that is 4 hours each week I now will not get (£46 before tax) especially as the cafe keep cancelling hours but hopefully things will pick up soon and I will get more regular hours there and knowing the chippy they will also want me longer hours as summer comes closer.  It just feels like I'm getting penalised for being the age I am and being good at my job  

I have absolutely nothing planned today and will certainly be trying to do as little as possible I think as I still feel pretty exhausted despite the lie in but I have to take son into work for 1pm so may nip into the shop to pick a couple of things up for dinners next week - I'll see how I feel. Other than that I'm hoping for a pretty chilled Sunday. I'll add a list but honestly I'm not sure if I can be bothered today  

  So today I MIGHT:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 97 points today thanks to a 30 point new game bonus   
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for total of 18p 
3. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders - DONE commented on three so far  
4. Make mini seed packs for Etsy order - DONE will post off tomorrow on way to work  
5. Make nail planner for Etsy order
6. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get some interest in my items
7. Give prices for stickers following on from enquiry yesterday 
8. Pay in money from chippy wages and transfer - DONE £95 safely deposited into the OP savings account  
9. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
10. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE 11 surveys for a total of 46 points (I only managed to complete 5 so gave up as was getting frustrated)  
11. No heating on until at least 5pm - DONE  
12. Complete Health and Safety Written test for BK - DONE  
13. Make some more cards for a charity
14. List something on FB Marketplace
15. Finish colour cube type idea
16. Create a new item to sell using clipart from membership
17. List bracelets on Etsy made the other day
18. Create an item from the teddy bears I bought for 50p each a while ago
19. Take a course from a paid membership
20. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure 
21. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
22. Finish tidying craft room
23. Go through drawers and wardrobe in bedroom and donate anything no longer worn
24. Action one thing on my business growth list
25. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint - DONE uploaded one I had already designed and forgot to upload and tried to sort out set in quarantine by redoing the image photo  
26. NSD - DONE  

 

craftingmad

Good morning from a sunny Norfolk Broads Isn't it lovely when there is a bit of sunshine - it really helps to boost my mood  

I've got a 5 hour shift at Burger King today so that will keep me busy and at this rate it looks like I will be having to take son into college too as it will be a miracle if he manages to catch the bus - he's not even dressed yet and needs to be out the door in 15 minutes!!! 

I am however hoping to get a few bits done before I leave so it will be a smaller list from me today again.

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 46 points so far today   
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE only one available for 6p
3. Post off mini seed packs for Etsy order - packaged and label printed ready to post on way to work
4. Make and post off nail planner for Etsy order - made and packaged ready to post off on way to work  
5. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders
6. Give prices for stickers following on from enquiry
7. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE
8. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE 3 surveys completed for 57 points
9. Load new cardmaking sheet onto Craftsuprint and promote it in group - DONE
10. Food shop from Lidl on way home from work - DONE  
11. Burger King Shift (5 hours) - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning all,

Another sunshiney day here on the Broads so there's a big smile on my face already.
It's a quick post from me this morning as I have an 7 and a half hour shift at the cafe ahead of me today. Hopefully the sunshine will bring visitors as it will be a bit boring if not. There again I am quite happy to have an easy shift and take the wages - it certainly helps me take another step up my mortgage mountain. Luckily hubby has got to come back to the doctors at 12.30pm so he can pop in on doggo at the same time and let her out for her wee wee so that's worked out well

Other than work nothing else planned - in fact I really want to take it easy when I get back as I'm feeling exhausted at the moment for some reason but lets see if that happens later

 So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 47 points so far today   
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE six watched for a total of 40p 
3. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders
4. Give prices for stickers following on from enquiry
5. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji
6. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE completed three surveys for 115 points  
7. Cafe shift - DONE it was busy but it passed the time much quicker  
8. NSD - DONE  

Baileys_Babe

Enjoy your café shift hopefully it isn't so busy you don't have a moment to think nor to quiet and you get bored or they decide to reduce your hours.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Enjoy your café shift hopefully it isn't so busy you don't have a moment to think nor to quiet and you get bored or they decide to reduce your hours.

Thanks Baileys. It was busy but just the perfect amount of busy. And I got to complete a whole shift which is someone of a novelty these days as I am so used to the hours being shortened or cancelled 

I was shattered when I got in though but still managed to cook dinner whilst hubby had a snooze on the sofa!!!

craftingmad

Happy May everyone - honestly I cannot believe how quickly this month is flying along can you?

It's time for another monthly update - sorry to bore you but they help to keep me motivated to try and do better

APRIL 24 PROGRESS=

 BTL Mortgage 1 balance 1st April £38028.35 - balance 1st May £37179.77

 BTL Mortgage 2 £81,644.71 NO CHANGE

 BTL Mortgage 3 £77,497.02 - NO CHANGE

TOTAL AMOUNT OWED:-  1st April 2024 £197,029.79 - 1st May 2024 £196,181.31

Total amount paid off mortgages in April 2024 = £848.48 

Savings added to OP savings pot in March 2024 = £3791.08

TOTAL AMOUNT FOR MARCH 2024 =  £4639.56   

TOTAL AMOUNT FOR 2024 SO FAR = £18,299.92   

We managed to increase last month's total so that was good and overall I'm really proud of how much we have achieved this year and if we continue this way (which is highly unlikely when hubby starts working away) then we are on track to complete our 7 year expedition

craftingmad

Morning,

No going out to work for me for the next three days so it's time for me to knuckle down and really work on my business to try and get it back to the income earning machine it was before Covid and the economic crisis hit  
I also really want to spend some more time decluttering as its starting to overwhelm me now and I just want a simple life these days  

Good news though - it's payday for hubby so I'm hoping I will be able to transfer at least £1.5k over to the savings although it is our daughters 21st birthday on 3rd June so I will need to keep some extra cash back to celebrate that.

I also want to tackle the rents for our properties as they seem to be much lower than the current market values so hopefully we can correct that a bit and they will help to pay off the mortgages that little bit quicker (as it stands at the moment after repairs etc we just about break even on them). We have an agent so I will get them onto it so they can actually earn their commission this month. They don't do much else for us if I'm honest so I might have to put on my list looking for new managing agents in the future!!

I am also going to try and make time for a little relaxation for me as I seem to have woken up tired this morning so I shall listen to my body and give it what it needs as well (Nurse Flowers and Bailey's I can hear you in my ear telling me to slow down and rest)  

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far which is better than nothing  
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for total of 22p  
3. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders - DONE commented on 4 posts  
4. Make and post off nail planner for Etsy order - made & will post off later today DONE  
   
5. Make up and post off communion token for Etsy order - made & will post off later today just in case I get another order  - DONE  
6. Write and schedule social media posts for May - written 7 days worth and posted for today  
7. Design business card for neighbour (freebie so she can wait if I don't get time)
8. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get some interest in my items
9. Give prices for stickers following on from enquiry  
10. Transfer some money into savings account from hubby's wages
11. Update monthly spreadsheet - DONE its lovely to see the mortgage figure coming down
12. Business accounts for April (even though they will be very depressing) - DONE I made a loss of £2.46 on paper  
13. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freeemoji - DONE not a winner  
14. Complete Prime Opinion survey - DONE 6 surveys completed for 89 points in total plus 100 point level up bonus Now have enough to claim £10 voucher  
15. No heating on all day - DONE certainly will not need heating on today  
16. List something on FB Marketplace
17. Finish colour cube type idea
18. Create a new item to sell using clipart from membership
19. List bracelets on Etsy made the other day - DONE took forever but I got there in the end  
20. Create an item from the teddy bears I bought for 50p each a while ago
21. Take a course from a paid membership
22. Research Etsy gift mode and tweak listings to see if this will give me extra exposure - had a quick look and it seems some of my products do fit so will take a better look tomorrow  
23. Look at SEO report from website and make small improvement
24. Finish tidying craft room
25. Go through drawers and wardrobe in bedroom and donate anything no longer worn
26. Action one thing on my business growth list
27. Create a cardmaking download to sell on Craftsuprint 
28. Investigate and initiate rent increases - DONE rents raised by £25 on BTL1,  £75 on BTL2 and £25 on BTL3. Could have probably put them up more but didn't to increase then too much for the tenants cos we are nice like that It will give us an extra £125 a month though but they are all paying well below the market value so will need to make sure we keep increasing every year from now on in line with inflation  
29. Spend some time relaxing however that might be - spent a lovely 30 minutes chatting to my neighbour   
30. NSD - DONE  

OK that will certainly keep me busy for the day I would imagine!

Baileys_Babe

That is good progress this month, from your figures it looks like you will have cleared or be mortgage neutral on  BTL1 by the end of the year.

What are the plans for DDs birthday?

To recover over the next few days, I suggest plenty of rest and relaxation, plenty of fluids, healthy eating, some exercise, spending at least an hour a day on doing things purely because they give you pleasure.

Are their any meals you could make in advance so it is easier on days you are working? Today I am going to make a vat of bolognese and freeze for future meals and I may prepare tomorrow's dinner if I have time.

~FlowerPot~

I am also going to try and make time for a little relaxation for me as I seem to have woken up tired this morning so I shall listen to my body and give it what it needs as well (Nurse Flowers and Bailey's I can hear you in my ear telling me to slow down and rest)

Im glad we are the nagging voice in the back of your head!! Dont wear yourself out, you need to look after number one, otherwise nothing else will get done.

Take care

love Flowers x