Don't Wait Until You're Thirsty To Dig A Well

Gosh, this proverb is sooo true. Five years ago (in July) I joined UW, as working part time I wanted to boost my income, and long-term, create more time freedom for my writing.

 
However, having increased my hours in January, as I needed to boost my 'reliable' income (as I was losing benefits/maintenance with boys getting older and the royalties from my writing decreased) I have learnt how much I valued working part-time, having done it for nearly twenty years.

Now I have increased my hours at work, I really, really, really value time freedom.

 
Don't get me wrong, technically I've always worked full-time, with the writing, raising two boys, then UW, as well a part-time job. But it was always on my terms. I don't like that I'm trading more of my hours for money - I want my free time back.

 
With these increased hours, there are time constraints/restrictions to this, and I'm exhausted at the end of the day, therefore, I'm soooo grateful that I started my side hustle five years ago, because I can see, eventually, I'll be decreasing those hours again.  

Five years ago, I wasn't thirsty... but I certainly am now! 

If you'd like to reduce your hours with the day job (or work work as I like to call it), and make time for more things that you enjoy, I'm happy to show you what I do. It fits in and around all my other commitments, and busy people can make this opportunity work. 

If this sounds like something that would interest you, too. Then let's have a chat. The link below can take you to my UW website and give you a little more information as well as ways to get in touch with me. 

https://uw.partners/teresa.morgan

No More Working Saturdays!

Friday evening, it felt strangely weird locking up the Post Office for the last time, and walking out of the store... if not a little scary.

I've worked for Tesco for over 16 years, the last 8 of which were in the Post Office.

I started back in 2005 when Ben was only 6 months old (he's now 17!) as it fitted around my new 'mum' life.

16 years is a long time. You get set in your ways, your routine.

I'm not sure I will miss the job (or the company) per se, I've had real ups and downs, but I will miss working with some colleagues who have now become my friends. (So it's not really goodbye to them!)

Time to move on to pastures new, the next chapter...

I'm still writing, and still helping people save money on their bills and/or realise their own dreams, but after a couple of weeks off, I will be joining North Somerset Council part-time. Eek!

No more working Saturdays! Yay!

I wrote a goal to find a new job by 31st March 2022 and I only went and done it!

Goodbye 2021

As the year comes to a close, I thought I would reflect a little. 2021 hasn't been all bad, (thanks to journaling my 3 positives a day) although it does feel like it amalgamated with 2020 a bit. I am so done with Covid! I really hope we do see the back of it in 2022! 

Mistletoe At The Manor has remained in the top 500 in the UK Amazon charts for a month! I can't believe this. It's been No 1 in Inspirational Religious Fiction (only because it's set at Christmas lol!) and as I type this, it's No 2 in British and Irish Humour and Satire Fiction - which is a little more my category! This is a great way to end the year with my writing career. 

I do have edits for my third novel (due summer 2022) which I will look at next week. But I have really taken the last two weeks off. It's been hard to concentrate with the kids home and getting ready for Christmas, from cake decorating, mince pie making and present wrapping! 

One of my best friends bought me a Jane Austen puzzle for Christmas, and I have spent time finishing this. Something I'm not very good at doing is taking time to do nothing - without feeling guilty about it. Christmas feels like the only time I can justify stopping everything and doing a puzzle. So I did! 

With my UW business, it came to a halt with not many people wanting to take a look at their bills with Christmas approaching - completely understandable! But in 2022, I really want to help more people save money on their bills. There are more price increases coming, and the cost of living is just going up and up. With this in mind, I'd also love to help people make some extra cash like I do. £250-500 extra a month to most people will make a huge difference to their everyday lives. I know it does with me. 2022 we have a holiday in Corfu to look forward to, and I wouldn't have been able to book this without my UW business income. 

But UW hasn't just given me a financial benefit. It has taken me on a path of personal development no other organisation I've worked with has even thought to give me. I want to grow and develop and be a better version of myself in 2022. And I hope that will make me a better person to support the people closest to me. 

Also, if I want to get another book out there, I need to start writing properly again, so I'm setting myself a word target for each week of 2000 words. 

I'm not really one for New Year Resolutions, and if anything, I've learnt it's best to set goals. Do you set goals? If so, what are they? 

Another of my goals is to find a part-time job as I really need to get out of the Post Office!

On that note, Happy New Year, everyone. I hope 2022 brings you happiness and health, because these two things are what makes real wealth. 

Xxxx 

Lucky To Be Surrounded By Awesome People

It's been a while since I've blogged - again! It feels a bit of a thing of the past when we're all encouraged to send newsletters now. 

And there's only so much I can think to write about and only so much time in the day. You could be blogging and sending newsletters all day long, and not get what you're supposed to be doing done! 

(My latest newsletter is here, by the way).

However, I do want to blog about this. So I will. 

At the weekend, I attended my first live event - because we could! Yay! - with my network marketing business, Utility Warehouse. And all I can say is WOW. 

I feel very lucky, that as a writer, I've attended some amazing amazing parties, where I am surrounded by like-minded people with the voices in their heads. And long may those parties continue!

Well, on Sunday, I was surrounded by a different sort of like-minded people. People that are working towards building a better future for themselves, keen on self-development, and also wanting to help other people too.

It's very satisfying when you can help people save money... and if they choose, make money. 

The event was so empowering and motivating, and then we got to have some fun like play on the dodgems. I love dodgems! 

I think the only difference between these two groups is that usually my writing/author events involve a lot more prosecco! 

The reason I joined Utility Warehouse as a distributor is so that it will give me the time freedom to continue to write - which is my passion. 

I love how I love both now, and I'm surrounded by awesome people in the two different areas of my life. It makes me feel incredibly lucky.