1000 quid club revisited

[DolomitesDonkey]

How is everyone getting on? Since our last thread I am moving in to a totally new area, once which I'd wanted to do (many a time), but didn't feel that I "could" - for a variety of daft reasons (e.g., self-esteem!).

I've really been struggling the last few weeks finding the time to work on this new project - my paid job has been pretty full on - e.g., 11 hour days - then with 2 tiny ones on top of that - and the change of season isn't helping.

I long for the days when the children will need to be prised from their beds rather than shouting in my face from 5am.

Has anyone got any tips for this? I'm really a morning person but my toddler is destroying my will to live, never mind my will to work. I'm open to all sorts of tips from behavioural/reward strategies through to "best doping devices".

I tried working late the other night but my brain turns to mush by 8pm.

I had been planning to attend the great British business show in London next month but as my new business isn't ready to launch I just feel the timing isn't quite right. I know we talk about procrastination but it's not simply that... it'd be a 300 euro day out which seems a lot for what I feel it could return to me right now. Anyway, if anyone's interested the tickets are free and there are more details here:-

www.greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk/index.asp

Hi Mam, yes definitely want to diversify a into different things. I really want to do a children's picture book to appeal to the camper van niche (and others hopefully since it will be so fabulous )and the Christmas cards were a way to get my name out there and traffic to my website. It was a small project in 2011 that quickly grew arms and legs when I took the plunge to go to a printers and orders more than doubled in 2012 so I be ploughing all the profits into ..... well that's the question. I went for Christmas for the sheer volume of sales in general at that time and print runs are 1000 + to get a decent price - getting rid 1000 when you are selling one at a time would be prohibitive but packs of 10 cards at a time are ok.

I've learned though that paypal and amazon fees are relatively high for lowish priced good like mine - there's only a few pennies difference in the amount they charge for one pack (£5) and 3 so I need to be smarter in the way I sell and look for more expensive items to produce too.

I signed up to Twitter in 2011 to try and get the word out there and I made a few sales that way but I got a bit fed up with it and apart from pressing the Tweet button that appeared when I listed items on Amazon and Twitter I don't think I've touched it recently. Amazon was a brilliant selling tool apart from a noticable dip when the tax story was big news.

I'm in Scotland so the thought of finding my way round London terrifies me though if I go I'll be staying with a cousin (in law if that exists) who'll hopefully point me in the right direction.

I'm self employed, working from home as an audio typist but my wrists, hands and fingers are becoming quite arthritic plus the fact that I earn a few hundred a month at most.

I'm feeling very frustrated as I know I'm not stupid but I wasn't encouraged to take A levels but instead went to college and learnt to type and took languages. I am fluent in German due to living there for a while but not confident enough to do translations plus generally qualifications are required. Same applies to interpreting.

I cannot afford to do a degree now, unfortunately due to my husband being made redundant several times we have a bad credit rating so I am unable to borrow start up costs.

I would just like to find a fulfilling way of earning a reasonable amount of money that doesn't involve selling make up, cooking products, books etc!

I'm good at proofreading but believe it is impossible to land proofreading jobs without qualifications.

I'm absolutely stuck for ideas. Although language is my "thing" I don't seem to have a book in me. I can't accept that I am useless and unable to earn money.

If I go back into an office I would earn so little, I couldn't afford childcare which I need for a few years yet. Have no family nearby and live in a village.

Grateful for any tips and enjoying reading the thread.

simplethings what are your hobbies? What small things in life give you satisfaction? If you mention some here, even if they seem like they could never earn you any money, maybe some of us could make some suggestions?
Can you write well? Is there anything you particularly enjoy doing with the children?

Alwaysonemissing, my hobbies are reading (fiction mainly), knitting (but my aching hands are slowing me down there too), listening to rock. I used to do yoga and considered taking on a yoga class for children but need to have been attending a group for the past three years I think and I've only been doing some at home and not much of that for the past couple of years due to a painful hip.

My passion is mainly reading, I'm a stickler for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

My dream would be to open a book shop or run a cafe, but I just don't have the money to finance it nor will I have in the near future. I looked into it a few years ago before my husband was made redundant and we ended up in a financial mess but was told that there is no money in bookshops in small towns anymore due to the internet

I considered making some natural cosmetics for sensitive skin but I have no or little sense of smell so would struggle to know what they smell like which I always think is important.

Sorry, pressed send too soon.

I can't write well I mean, my grammar, spelling, punctuation are spot on but I have no imagination, it seems. I thought one day I'd like to write a book about my experiences but when I tried I just didn't know how to start, how to put it into words. It was sadly always like that at school when called upon to write an essay ....

I'm hopeless with children (apart from my own obviously), not full of exciting ideas at all.

I'm afraid I don't have much knowledge of the writing industry, but maybe someone else here does and can point you in the direction of something you perhaps haven't thought of?

Ill admit, you have sounds reasons for why you can't do a lot of the things you mentioned and I'm struggling to know what to suggest!

I will have a think and see if I can come up with anything. Maybe for now, google is your friend. Look into small businesses, what sort of children's groups and facilities there are in your area, is there anything missing? How about an eBay venture, or an online sales venture?

Think totally out of the box... Good luck and I will try to think for you too.

Thank you so much for reading my post and commenting.

I have thought about a service helping new mums but as I have no medical background I'm nor sure if I'd be able to offer everything they need.

I'm also not brimming with confidence, I've suffered with depression recently and, whilst I'm now much better, I still struggle with my confidence.

I had maternity nurses who did a lot of things which didn't require specific medical training - first aid and common sense really!

They kept my house clean, looked after my toddler, did the washing, brought me coffees & sarnies, put the washing on, cleaned the loo, etc., etc. Just did all the things which need doing so I could sit down or sleep.

Simplethings, could you write a non-fiction book? It would involve researching a field, and some independent insights, but if your book is used as a set text at even one university you'd easily make money year on year.
I'm writing a collection of short stories to self publish as an e-book, it's no initial outlay to publish, and they have a large market exposure.

DolomitesDonkey, that's exactly the service I intended offering. However, I think if I lived in London it would be a possibility but maybe not in the sleepy village area I live in. I just remember how I felt when my baby was a newborn and someone to help with the little things, generally keep the house clean and shop for me, let me have an hour's kip every now and then would have been invaluable.

InMySpareTime, thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I don't have a clue what I could write a non-fiction book about. I have a little bit of knowledge about a few things but not enough to write a book, I suspect.

itsthesimplethings - similar boat here. Not entirely sure which direction I could head in, yet I feel motivated and 'ready' to start working freelance/self-employed. My kids are just about old enough, I'm feeling full of energy to plough into a venture of my own and make some (any) money. But I just don't know what! Organisation, sorting, planning, excel, projects, admin etc are my key skills (and what I enjoy, believe it or not!). Also baking, cooking and drinking tea. Any ideas?!

Could you start with writing a blog about new mums and what you need in those first few foggy days? Writing lists on how to be organised, how to prioritise, what one needs etc. This could end up being something so good that it could be published into a 'new mums guide'. Just an idea! I'll keep thinking.

I spend my evenings trawling google, reading inspiring business stories, looking into ideas. I just haven't quite had a lightbulb moment yet!

Great idea there Dolmites.
I know you question whether that would work simplethings with you living in a village, but if you drive, you can actually cover quite a large area. And you live in a village but said that you would have benefitted from someone like that. Also, as that has very little outlay, it is probably worth a shot even if it doesn't earn you your fortune!

You could have a ruthless look around your house for things to eBay, and get a little pot of money together from there, even £100-200 would be plenty to get a business like that going.
Think about where you could target pregnant ladies/parents/families (flyers left on a maternity shop counter, give out flyers after antenatal swimming/yoga class etc) and really go for it. You would need insurance (but they tend to work out cheaper than you'd expect.) For very little outlay you could at least give it a go.
If nothing comes of it, you have only lost the money you made from selling things lying around your house anyway.

FWIW I would 100% use a service like that.

I really believe that as soon as you start being proactive and getting yourself out there, doors will open and opportunities will arise.
(Oh, and listen to Dolmites, she has given me some great advice in the past and knows her stuff).

How are you feeling about any of these suggestions op?

Sorry, cross posted hereincornwall

I recently came across a concierge company (quite by accident, they were one of the testimonials of a web design company I was considering using). I had never considered concierge services before, but when I commented on it to the web design company, they told me that this particular company was growing so quickly and was so inundated with work that they needed to step up a gear and that's why they had a newer website built. When I looked on their website, their prices were reasonable and they offered such helpful services, I almost convinced myself that I needed a concierge!! (I most definitely don't )

But my point is that for a small business, or just a busy person, these sort of services would be extremely attractive. It would put your organisational and practical skills to good use. Do you think that's something you could consider?

By concierge services I mean, organising events, booking entertainment/restaurant tables/venue tickets etc, organising household things, managing emergency situations eg boiler breaking and calling out engineers, collecting/posting parcels and anything else, researching quotes/services etc.

Basically anything your client might want you to do, maybe like a freelance PA service.

Mummy blogs are overdone. Every other woman with a newborn in West London thinks she can write a book based upon the trials and tribulations of her PFB!

herincornwall Try setting up a survey with surveymonkey.com - make it anonymous and publish on facebook asking your friends what your qualities are and where they think your strengths lie. You will be pleasantly surprised and inspired. :)

simplethings I'd have thought that service would be very much wanted in a rural area! Much easier to get deliveries in London than 20 miles north of Inverness!

I want concierge facilities too.

alwaysone Thank you for the compliment!

dolomites - you're right. Mummy blogs are done. Need to think of a new angle then. I think the Maternity Nurse/Mother's help angle in a small village is a great idea. Certainly something you could research....

For myself, concierge services is something that I have already considered, especially because I live in a touristy area and thought it would be a good thing to offer to holiday home owners or second home owners....

Surveymonkey is a great idea, thanks.

goes off to google some more

thanks

back again.... I had thought along the lines of a professional organiser too - perhaps that could tie in nicely with a concierge service. Ok, lots to google now.

itsthesimplethings - how about a 'new mother concierge'? You could offer assistance on what to purchase, when, organising paperwork, organising for meals/food to be delivered etc.

Thanks ladies, very helpful comments. Will go and ponder ...

AlwaysOneMissing, I have LOTS to seel in the house, need to make the effort to take photos and get it all listed.

Sorry, that should of course read sell !!

HereInCornwall, the concierge idea is a great idea. Almost like a PA but for anyone. I think lots of small business, self-employed people etc could use a service like that.

Ooh, glad this thread is helping to get ideas flowing.

simplethings get listing on eBay!! Definitely worth while and now you have the perfect motivation!
I think that if you started to market yourself to new parents, you will become aware of what people need and can carve out a role for yourself.

hereincornwall what do you mean by professional organiser? What kinds of services will you offer, and who would your target market be? Taking advantage of the holiday/tourist trade near you sounds like a good idea.

You are welcome Dolmites

Hi guys just thourght I update.

Jan been frustrating month for sure as thourght kids go back can get stuck in.

Dident count on flipping snow and child illness.

The bills and house plus xmas have been drain and had no money to invest.

positive things have done as trying my best not to get down and give up all woe is me yes its hard but will be worth it.

I have booked free tickets for bristish business show in june-scary as london terrefies me but think could be useful.

I have booked to fairs

1jumble sale selling all my tat to raise more capital.
other is school fair in june so need to get products in for that,
Hopefully can buy some product next week as having huge selling weekend fb/ebay and possibly chance to get fair as easy as 1st march and need to require cost of festival stall in july as hoping to have 3 seperate but linked businesses up and running by then.

process of starting a blog-that would be intresting content but also link to green issues and sustaiability.

Also investigating how blog can earn me money.

will be little while before start setting up social media yet.
trying to focus on starting small, gradually adding and local.

I hate selling parties so hope to sell mainly through fairs and website.Thinking should be aiming for 1fair/event per month.

Still not got any further with website for service business.
plan is to start small o that get decent leaflets and business cards done and canves all affluent areas near me and hope to get 1 days work and put youngest in nursery.

My final idea is not linked to other 3 and need significant capital and networking so idea is start the other 3 fisrt which will enable me to expand to 4 businesses by july thats the aim.

as need etsy shop to begin with-depending how sucessful that is then set up website but need to do more research, buying will take time and money and really need to network with specific groups to market this idea.

cant belive its 25th jan just flown by.