Bleurgh…Money Issues for a Smallest Smallholding Freelancer
I am not in a good place. Two chickens are sick and have me worrying every day. Seriously worrying. And it’s too hot to work outside, but everything is going to pot here. Grump.
I desperately want to dig out more veg plots and get some fruit bushes in, but have no savings to buy them in. In fact, I have a million and one plans for the Smallest Smallholding. It’s just getting out of hand and I’m losing the spark for it, and I wish I wasn’t. Things are becoming so expensive and I just can’t seem to put anything aside at the end of each month either. And I don’t even commute! Got to start thinking about finding a way to save up for my tax bill. Worry, worry, worry. Welcome to the life of a freelancer.
It wouldn’t be so bad if the dollar was stronger. A lot of our household income comes from the US. But $1 has been roughly equivalent to 50p for about 2 years now, and it’s taken it’s toll on our finances. So I guess we should be looking closer to home for work. Well, we have but for some reason a lot of people want to either pay in dollars, or you quote a reasonable UK price and they just get a freelancer in India or China to do it instead, where the cost of living isn’t so high. Losing battle perhaps? I don’t know. I’m still looking for part-time work to up my contribution. Despite having loads of work on I still can’t seem to make ends meet. My shoes are falling apart, they’ve got holes and the soles are breaking away from the fabric but I have to have enough money for bills first. And food (thankfully the allotment and the Smallest Smallholding veg plots are helping in that regard at the moment).
We want to be more self-sufficient and it is viable to do it on a shoestring. I want to get married and start a family, but it just seems like a distant dream. The fact is I have a stupid amount of debt, haven’t even started paying back my student loan, and have been paying out millions of pounds (or so it seems) for veterinary bills etc. Of course they’re skilled and we should expect to pay, but sometimes I wonder why chickens are classed as exotics, and therefore we have to pay a larger consultation fee?
Money stinks.
Help! Someone give me a break…I’m fed up with being fed up.
Or perhaps I should just try harder.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Hey, found your blog via farmblogs and I think it’s great what you are doing. We are on our own adventure and wondering how to live a more self-sufficient life without having to work in the corporate world. The dream is great, but reality doesn’t always allow and it’s damm hard being a freelancer!!!! I am forever bombarding people for work to support our lifestyle. Drop me an email sometime - maybe we can exchange ideas! Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve added your blog to my list of faves. Stay focused - there will be a way to achieve your dreams! Alice
July 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
You might have already come across the site but try www.moneysavingexpert.com
July 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
hello!
I have been reading your blog for few months now, and I always look forward to your new posts.
You are not the only one feeling this frustration! At 26, I have spent 7 years in Architecture education (!!) and I am now working full time with a very normal salary (contrarily to public opinion) which will certainly does not allow me to even think about buying a home with my boyfriend, or get married or have children! and I am still taking exams (with attached costs) which my profession requires, on a yearly basis!
However, even if may sound cheesy and a cliche`, at the end of the day if I take a step back and look at the bigger picture and realise on how lucky I am to be living in a place where one is safe, has easily food on the table, and has exciting opportunities to be taken everyday then my mood lifts up!
before you know it your mood will lift up to and the future will not look so bleak!
Try and do the same, from your blog it sounds like you have a great family, friends and a lovely smallholdings that many people dream of having
Hugs!
July 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Hi Hun
I’ve just had a day exactly like that! don’t worry, everyone feels like this right now!!
The most important thing isn’t money, its have good people in your life that make you smile even on the most rubbish days, they are worth their weight in gold!
Plus a bunny to squeeze helps…
July 31st, 2008 at 10:06 am
Dont panic…maybe it is worth downsizing a bit for a while. Could you sell what you grow and reinvest? Also have you tried freecycle - a really useful website for getting stuff other people dont want. Keep doing what youre doing though…it seems a lot of people are inspired by it!
July 31st, 2008 at 11:29 am
Thanks all - it has been rubbish but I’m trying to keep my head up
These comments definitely help!
vegmonkey: essentially the smallest smallholding is just a large than average backyard ’smallholding’ - chickens and veg really. So there’s no downsizing about it, if anything, I need to use up more land! I’m also a member of freecycle, it’s where I got my greenhouse http://www.smallestsmallholding.com/all-quiet-on-the-vegetable-front/ from (yey!).
I will keep plugging away, thank you
It’s just frustrating that money keeps holding me back. But I just have to pull my finger out and get on with it, musn’t keep grumbling…
July 31st, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Lucy {{{{hugs}}}}
I feel it all gets a bit overwhelming at our place sometimes, I have hurt my shoulder and life at compost mansions is a bit tough if you are below par….especially at this time of the harvesting season! I SHOULD be freezing courgettes and making chutney tonight..but it will have to wait till tomorrow…
so for a different reason I do sympathise….
On a forum I am a member of we have a “5 good things a day” thread…which I have found a god(ess) send some days…as it feels like there ARE no “5 good things” but then I sit down and I usually manage to find more than 5…even if some are just “had a nice cup of tea” or ” One of the kittens sat on my lap”…
Might be worth a thought?
XXX
August 1st, 2008 at 6:59 am
Hi Lucy,
I hope that your chickens are on the mend. Animals are always a worry but such a joy too.
I think someone in the comments asked if you could sell any of your veg that you grow. If you have an abundance of veg then I would have a go at that. Could you also swop some plants or materials for plants and materials that you want for your veg garden. Maybe you could save some money on presents by growing or making presents for people. A friend of mine did hampers for her family full of pickles, jams etc which i hope to do this year. Maybe you could collect more flower seeds and give them as gifts.
Have you come across The Cottage smallholder website http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/ . Fiona and Danny are trying to make savings every month and come up with some handy tips to do so.
I really enjoy reading your blog - you are inspirational.
Kind regards
Sara from farmingfriends