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

craftingmad

Morning all,

I was absolutely shattered after my shifts yesterday as I finished the day scrubbing and moping a really greasy corridor floor which was hard work and it was a very hot day. I've got a day off today to recover though and both hubby and son are also off so we hopefully get a nice day together.

I have a BK family fun day today with a free BBQ so looking forward to that - free food always tastes better doesn't it I also bought back cod and chips and sausage and chips from the chippy last night so more free food and a perfect perk to the job  

Not planning on doing much money wise today but I'll add my list up just in case I find myself with any spare time I want to fill  

So today i MIGHT:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 102 points
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for a total of 20p
3. Pay chippy wages into OP savings account - decided to pay in tomorrow rather than making a  special trip today  
   
4. Design moving planner for a returning customer request
5. Make 20 mini seed packs for Etsy order
6. Design more cardmaking sheets to sell
7. Sort more of my craft stash in the spare room ready for daughter coming home from Uni
8. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders 
9. Write and schedule rest of social media posts for May
10. Design business card for neighbour (freebie so she can wait if I don't get time)
11. Post in three FB groups to hopefully get some interest in my items
12. Give prices for stickers following on from enquiry  
13. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freemoji - DONE not a winner  
14. Complete Prime Opinion survey
15. Look into why I cannot upload on Craftsuprint
16. List something on FB Marketplace
17. List something on Etsy to help refresh my shop 
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. Action one thing on my business growth list
24. Enjoy free lunch at work family fun day - DONE we have had a lovely day playing pool and mini golf and stuffing our faces at the BBQ Its worn the boys out as both are having a power nap!!

Baileys_Babe

Enjoy your day off and the free food.

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Enjoy your day off and the free food.

Thanks Baileys - it was a lovely day but not very productive on the MSE front

craftingmad

Morning all.

Well yesterday was a lovely day if not very productive towards our goal. I wouldn't change it for the world though as spending time with my family has to be the most important thing in the world to me. 
We had a lovely chilled day playing mini crazy golf, pool and walking along the beach. I feel super relaxed and ready to face this new day head on (although I may feel totally different after my BK shift today)

Realistically I don't think I will get much done today other than my shift as it is bang slap in the middle of the day (12pm - 5pm) and I have to take son to work before I start so I am going to try and see how much I can cross off my list but honestly I'm not expecting great things from myself today

 So today I HOPE I MIGHT:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 42 points
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for a total of 18p 
3. Weigh coasters advertised on FB Marketplace and give postage price to person who enquired - DONE not sure she will go for them as it will be nearly £7 to post but we shall have to wait and see  
4. Pay chippy wages into OP savings account
   
5. Design moving planner for a returning customer request
6. Make 20 mini seed packs for Etsy order
7. Design more cardmaking sheets to sell
8. Sort more of my craft stash in the spare room ready for daughter coming home from Uni
9. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders 
10. Write and schedule rest of social media posts for May 
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freemoji
12. Complete Prime Opinion survey
13. Look into why I cannot upload on Craftsuprint
14. List something on FB Marketplace 
15. Burger King Shift - 5 hours - DONE and boy was it busy so I really earnt my money today  
16. NSD - DONE  

Optimistic but lets see how I get on  

craftingmad

Morning everyone,

Well like I feared I did not achieve much yesterday but hey ho I'm not going to beat myself up about it. Although I have the motivation, I seem to be severely lacking in energy this month. Honestly I have been lacking in energy since this last bout of covid I think so I'm going to have to use that as my excuse. Although maybe it's more to do with the fact that silly season is in full swing at all three jobs too and we are super busy with not enough staff on each shift - who knows? I'm working 32 hours this week (not including the time I need to spend on my business) so I think the tiredness is only going to get worse!

Anyway I am determined that I do have to get a few things done today before my cafe shift today so I'm gong to keep my list short and concise to hopefully allow me to complete it in full. 

I'm started to get very excited about the thought of our daughter being home from Uni next week (although I may not be so keen on the increased food bill, the long showers she takes and the running her around part which are coming my way) In theory it also means that we should be £250 a month better off as we will not be giving her food money each month but obviously our food bill will go up here so I shall wait and see exactly how much it works out too after she has been back for a few months. 

It's her 21st birthday at the start of June and I asked her what she would like as a gift. Hubby has got a bit grumpy as he thinks now she is an adult she shouldn't get birthday gifts but I think that she always should even if only a small little things as birthdays are special (especially since we lost our niece last year) and should be celebrated. What do you guys think - should we buy our kids a gift for their birthdays each year, just buy a gift on the special birthdays (like 21st, 30th etc) or just stop as soon as they hit 18? I'd love to know. I just think that whilst we can afford it then what harm is there in giving them a little treat on their special day? 

Right I'm going to get on with my list as time is marching on and I still have the daily fight ahead to get son out of the door and on the bus for college - wish me luck!!!

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE one videos watched for 6p
3. Check to see if coasters have been paid for and then parcel up and post - DONE and posted off £17.95 transferred into OP savings account  
4. Pay chippy wages into OP savings account - DONE £51.75 transferred into OP savings account
5. Make 20 mini seed packs for Etsy order and post off - cut out, scored and initial sticking together completed. Just need to add sellotape and fill with seeds tomorrow  
6. Make bee in a bag for Etsy order and post off - made just need to package up and post off DONE  
7. Take doggo out for a nice walk - DONE  
8. Design more cardmaking sheets to sell
9. Sort more of my craft stash in the spare room ready for daughter coming home from Uni
10. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders  
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freemoji - DONE not a winner
12. Complete Prime Opinion survey
13. List something on FB Marketplace 
14. Renew FB Marketplace listings - DONE 18 listings renewed  
15. Cafe shift (4.5 hours) - DONE actually 5 hours as boss phoned just as I was shutting up  
16. NSD - DONE

the_end_of_the_rainbow

I think you should always buy them gifts - probably just small ones after they’re 21. 

Jessy103

I don't have any kids, but I'm 37 and my parents still buy me birthday presents. Usually some shower gels or other little smellies and a box of Maltesers, but they always get me and my DH for that matter a little something for our birthdays. We always buy them something as well for their birthdays 🙂

craftingmad

Morning all,

A very quick post from me today as I have 12 hours of work ahead of me (oh how I love Tuesdays)

Today will mainly be taken up at work but I will try and get a couple of little things done today as well so here's my teeny tiny list for today:-

 So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - DONE 117 points today  
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for 18p  
3. Finish making the 20 mini seed packs for Etsy order - DONE   
4. Cafe shift (8 hours) - DONE 7.75 hours in the end as managed to clear up quickly
5. Chippy shift (4 hours) - DONE 3.75 in the end  
6. NSD - DONE  

Hope you all have a good day x

craftingmad

Morning all. I would say good morning but it is throwing it down on the Broads today  

I slept so well and for the first time in ages got woken up to the sound of my alarm - I cannot remember the last time that happened - usually my body clock (or bladder) seems to ping me awake at 5.30am no matter how tired I am!!! These 11 hour shifts are good for something at least Fingers crossed it gives me a bit more energy today so we shall see  

I came home with a lovely bounty of free food again yesterday as well - fish, sausages and two huge portions of ships and a piece of victoria sponge, a brownie and shortbread for afters so that all tasted delicious Fingers crossed for a few more little cakes tonight  

I've got a shift at the cafe this afternoon but its only 3 and a half hours so hopefully it will be busy as the time goes by quicker and it is lovely talking to people who are enjoying what our Countryside has to offer. I have also got to collect son from college and take him to his little job for midday so that will keep me out of mischief for a while but sadly also eat into my mortgage mountain climb as well.

Other than that not much else planned for the day if I'm honest. I think my body could do with a little rest so I'm going to take it easy and be kind to myself  

  So today I HOPE to:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 7 points so far 
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE three videos watched for 18p
3. Fill and post off 20 mini seed packs for Etsy order - DONE  
4. Design more cardmaking sheets to sell
5. Sort more of my craft stash in the spare room ready for daughter coming home from Uni
6. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders  
7. Write and schedule posts for my business page on social media
8. Complete one course from my membership
9. Get quotes for car insurance due next month
10. Meal plan for rest of the week
11. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freemoji - DONE  
12. Complete Prime Opinion survey
13. List something on FB Marketplace 
14. Renew library books to save fines - DONE
15. Cafe shift (3.5 hours) - DONE got called in early so ended up being 4.5 hours  
16. NSD - DONE

craftingmad

Good morning - the sun is back and shining down on the Broads today so that is fantastic.

I've got today and tomorrow off so I plan on making the most of it and making a good dent on tidying daughters bedroom (formally known as our spare room) and getting lots of work done on my business as it really needs a good kick to try and get it earning me some cash again. That will probably realistically be all I have time for but you know me , I'll post a huge list and won't achieve anything most probably   

I bought some rolls home from work yesterday so I cooked some burgers, added salad and made twice cooked cheesy chips (with the left over chips from Tuesday) for dinner and it was delicious and tasted even better for being (almost) free    Things most certainly taste so much better when they have either been cooked for you or have cost you next to nothing  

Other than that I don't really have any other plans for today apart from a nice walk with the doggo to make the most of the sunshine. 

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (126 points target) - 2 points so far - must try harder  
2. Watch videos on WeR8 - DONE five videos watched for 20p 
3. Reply to enquiry regarding stickers from existing customer - DONE just waiting for her to back to me with details so I can give her a price  
4. Design moving planner for existing customer - DONE just waiting for her comments before I can invoice and print  
5. Design more cardmaking sheets to sell - one more designed and three finished ready for loading onto craftsuprint  
6. See if I can understand why I cannot upload onto craftsuprint - DONE tried to load a different item on today and worked so must be a problem with that particular file  
7. Sort more of my craft stash in the spare room ready for daughter coming home from Uni - DONE two drawers emptied and now have a home in my craft room  
8. Comment on in search of posts to hopefully get some more orders - DONE commented on two so far   
9. Write and schedule posts for my business page on social media
10. Complete one course from my membership
11. Get quotes for car insurance due next month
12. Meal plan for rest of the week - DONE although I have left Sat and Sun to hubby to sort out as I will be working  
13. Check free postcode lottery, winadinner and freemoji - DONE not a winner  
14. Complete Prime Opinion survey
15. List something on FB Marketplace 
16. Sort jumble ready to take to village hall tomorrow 
17. NSD - DONE

Hope you all have a productive MSE day and get to enjoy the sunshine too