Entrepreneur
Name
Mary
Member since
May 2015
On-time repayments
141 installments • 15%
About Me
My names are Mary Kabura Mwangi. I am the last born in a family of 6 siblings. I was brought up in a remote town here in Kenya where people engage in farming as their income generating activity. The town is called Magina, near the Equator line. Due to its proximity with the Equator it is naturally very cold. It was 'hell' to me as a young child going to school barefoot in that freezing cold.
My parents were peasant farmers and they used to fund my education with the proceeds from our rented piece of land. The land was small and so was the profits from the farm. The small proceeds would be used to pay for every of our siblings and this made it obvious that some of us would sometimes miss school due to lack of school fees.
I was among the biggest casualty of this since I was the youngest of them all. I struggled through school and I would sometimes stay at home for a whole term without entering a class. This didn't auger well with my education and so after finishing my primary school education I didn't qualify to proceed to a college.
This prompted me to search for employment in the nearby city. City life was such a challenge to me. After some time, I started copping with life. Changing jobs in search for greener pastures was also helpful in my city life coping. The salary from these jobs was meager and could only survive on it - that is paying for rent of a shared house, food and some clothing. It was not possible to do some savings.
However, the little I did was helpful and managed to live decently. I later got married and that is when I finally was able to start a business with the help of my husband.
We live in a maasai land here in Kenya together with my husband and our little daughter. The maasai are an interesting community. They still live in traditional clothers. The town is however a cosmopolitan city in that many communities have migrated to live here.
I like travelling in my free time - holidays, spending time with my young family.
My Business
I deal with selling of second hand clothes. These are bed-sheets, carpets, curtains, bed-covers and such. It is such an interesting job since the clothes are inexpensive and so very affordable to my clients. They like them because they are unique. My clientele are ladies. Ladies are a funny lot. One will feel good when they buy things that are unique.
This gives me an added advantage to my competitors who do new clothes. New clothes are not unique and one will easily find the same type of say curtains in their friends houses.
I chose this kind of business because the starting capital was not much. We buy in bales whereby a bale's cost ranges from 130 US dollars to 330 US dollars. I started with 130 US dollars and with time I have been going up capital wise.
The only expenses in my business is paying up of rent to my shop. I have not employed anyone since my shop is still not that big. The rent is about 80 US dollars a month. My current profits a month is about 200 US dollars. This helps in a great way to supplement my husband's business in our monthly expenditures.
My daughter is approaching 3 years now and she will start school by the beginning of next year in January. My small business will help in a great way to cater for her school. I would wish to educate her without lack of school fees. This motivates me a lot.
Loan Proposal
I am here again to apply for some yet additional funds to restock my clothing business. I am in need of having some different types of products to give my shop an even newer look. I am currently dealing with carpet marts, bed sheets and towels and I am getting demands from clients to stock baby blankets. The weather is still cold and I bet the blankets will come in handy to clients with young kids. With a wide variety of items, I will enjoy the confidence of clients who come in to shop and getting what they anticipate to get in my small shop.
The baby blankets are sold in bales which costs US $ 140 per bale. I need to buy two bales which will have a total cost of $ 280. I have managed to save some of it - about US $ 100. I need some extra $ 190 to realize my target.
This I anticipate will increase my sales volumes even further to enable me realize my profit target which I am expecting to clock US $300 per month by the end of the year.
Feedback
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Loan Info
Project Type
Classic Loan
Disbursed amount
$197.00
Date disbursed
Aug 5, 2015
Repayment status
Late
Projected term
31 months
Other loans
Lenders
United States
Summary
Amount repaid
$98.50
Amount remaining
$107.36
Expected completion
Mar 18, 2018
Status
Repaying late
Installment amount
$1.00
Repayment History
| Expected Payments | Actual Payments | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2015 | $38.00 | Aug 22, 2015 | $38.00 |
| Aug 23, 2015 | $0.00 | ||
| Aug 30, 2015 | $5.00 | Sep 15, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Sep 6, 2015 | $5.00 | Sep 15, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Sep 13, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 9, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Sep 20, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 9, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Sep 27, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 28, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Oct 4, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 28, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Oct 11, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 28, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Oct 18, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 28, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Oct 25, 2015 | $5.00 | Oct 28, 2015 | $5.00 |
| Nov 1, 2015 | $0.00 | ||
| Nov 8, 2015 | $0.00 | ||
| Nov 15, 2015 | $1.00 | Nov 15, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Nov 22, 2015 | $1.00 | Nov 15, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Nov 29, 2015 | $1.00 | Dec 14, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Dec 6, 2015 | $1.00 | Dec 14, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Dec 13, 2015 | $1.00 | Dec 14, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Dec 20, 2015 | $1.00 | Dec 27, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Dec 27, 2015 | $1.00 | Dec 27, 2015 | $1.00 |
| Jan 3, 2016 | $1.00 | Jan 19, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Jan 10, 2016 | $1.00 | Jan 19, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Jan 17, 2016 | $1.00 | Jan 19, 2016 | $0.50 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | $0.50 | ||
| Jan 24, 2016 | $1.00 | Feb 23, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Jan 31, 2016 | $1.00 | Feb 23, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Feb 7, 2016 | $1.00 | Feb 23, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Feb 14, 2016 | $1.00 | Feb 23, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Feb 21, 2016 | $1.00 | Feb 23, 2016 | $1.00 |
| Feb 28, 2016 | $1.00 | Feb 23, 2016 | $0.50 |
| Mar 6, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 13, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 20, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 27, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 3, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 10, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 17, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 24, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| May 1, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| May 8, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| May 15, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| May 22, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| May 29, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 5, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 12, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 19, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 26, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 3, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 10, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 17, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 24, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 31, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 7, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 14, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 21, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 28, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 4, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 11, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 18, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 25, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 2, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 9, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 16, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 23, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 30, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 6, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 13, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 20, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 27, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 4, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 11, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 18, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 25, 2016 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 1, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 8, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 15, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 22, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 29, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 5, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 12, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 19, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 26, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 5, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 12, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 19, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 26, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 2, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 9, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 16, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 23, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Apr 30, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| May 7, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| May 14, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| May 21, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| May 28, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 4, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 11, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 18, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jun 25, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 2, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 9, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 16, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 23, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jul 30, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 6, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 13, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 20, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Aug 27, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 3, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 10, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 17, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Sep 24, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 1, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 8, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 15, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 22, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Oct 29, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 5, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 12, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 19, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Nov 26, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 3, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 10, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 17, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 24, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Dec 31, 2017 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 7, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 14, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 21, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Jan 28, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 4, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 11, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 18, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Feb 25, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 4, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 11, 2018 | $1.00 | ||
| Mar 18, 2018 | $0.86 | ||
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