Olympic Challenge Take Two (Part Two)

Gemmzie · 15 November 2007 at 1:52PM

Since we've lost part of the thread, we can finish off the challenge over here, plus then we have a record of the important bits.
Once again there's three posts so please wait for them before posting. Thanks
And maybe Nearlyrich could close the old thread please

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since the last Olympic Challenge was so popular and really useful, we decided to run another one

and this is it.......

The Olympic Challenge Take Two

The challenge begins on 14th July and will run until 14th December (giving enough time to beat the Christmas post!)

It'll have FOUR levels this time:
Bronze - £1000
Silver - £2000
Gold - £3000
and... Platinum - £4000

You can start at any level and if you want to upgrade/downgrade at any time - just drop me a PM and I'll change your challenge level.

On the Sunday or Monday after the week has finished, PM me your totals and I'll get a newsletter going like Wings did so well last time. So the first PM time will be 22nd/23rd for how much you've made in Week 1 (14th - 20th). Hope that makes sense!

The Rules.....
Money must come from anything extra to your normal income and must be obtained lawfully!!

But how do I make more money?
Try the second post for some tips/tricks!

For those of you saving for Christmas for this challenge, I thought it would be fun to add a second part to the challenge.

Make your challenge amount stretch as faaaaaaaaaar as possible. For example, if your spending £10 on your children - get as much for that £10 as possible. Use Martin's Tips, Sales and price comparison to make those gifts worth every penny. Beat those RRPs!

Just state whether you're in for the Christmas Challenge when you post up which level you're aiming for, then when you start buying bargains add it in your weekly PM.

The third post will be updated periodically with any FAQs and information like which week we are in, how much you should be up to to reach your goal, and how many challengers we have.

So post below if you're in and for how much and we'll get going on the 14th!

Gemmzie · 15 November 2007 at 1:53PM

General FAQs

Can bank charges claimed back be included?
As before, no.
From annie:

We have decided that bank charges refunds should not be included in total as it doesn't represent making huge effort to make extra money (luckily for those who have or are in the process of being refunded it simply takes (in most cases) a few letters) We are happy for you if you get them refunded but it doesn't seem fair for everyone. Please tell us if you have been successful as it is great and you should be congratulated. Maybe add it in brackets after your total.

Can I join after the 14th?
Definitely! Just PM me if you want to join later with your challenge amount

Christmas Challenge FAQs

How much do I include when I've made a saving?
Find out the RRP for the item (Amazon usually have them listed), then subtract the price you paid (included p+p though) and that's your saving

Where can I find cheaper prices?
Keep an eye out for sales! Buying close to Christmas is usually more expensive so we're being organised and protecting our wallets!
Also the Amazon Filler (http://www.filleritem.com/uk) is a good idea to avoid those high p+p charges.
Another useful site is www.find-dvd.co.uk who also have their own cd / games versions (just change the word "dvd" for the one you want)

Gemmzie · 15 November 2007 at 1:54PM

Tips/tricks of trade

Sell!

Amazon

Amazon 'Sell Your Stuff'

You can sell books, CD's, DVD's, and more on Amazon. It is very easy to list them and, unlike ebay, there are no fees until you make a sale.

Read more at The Amazon Thread
.................................................. .................................................. ........
Ebay

Learn how to sell
You can sell anything on Ebay (well almost!). Listing can be quite time consuming and it costs to list items even if they don't sell. Ebay can be fun and quite addictive!

Read more at The Ebay Thread
.................................................. .................................................. ........
Cashback sites

Quidco
Read more on this MSE thread

RPoints
Pigsback
Greasypalm
Mutualpoints

.................................................. .................................................. ........
Mystery shopping

Become a Mystery shopper or if you already are one join another and use the extra funds towards your total.
http://www.indiefield.co.uk/
Grassroots
Retaileyes
Gapbuster
http://mshopper.5.forumer.com/
.................................................. .................................................. ........
Survey sites

ciao
valuedopinions
yougov.co.uk

This is a good focus group website:
http://www.focus4people.com/index.asp

Mostly in london, but if you are close enough to go there then you could earn some serious money. I have only matched their requirements once and wasn't accepted so I don't know yet if the focus groups are any good but it was recommended to me by someone who has done one and said it was very good and good money.
.................................................. .................................................. ........
ODDS

Another tip is to join swapit shop and collect free points, then get vouchers or goods for these free points then sell them on ebay. You can get the points from this thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...ghlight=swapit

http://www.aqa.issuebits.com/vacancies.htm
It's a completely flexible, do as much or as little as you want, part-time work from home job, all the details in the link. It's a text messaging service and you will be hired as a researcher to answer the questions people send in and you get paid 30p per text, you do it through a pc not your mobile phone. You need a degree though and the test to pass is not easy. If they are not hiring right now, check everyday because it seems to change daily.
……………………………………………………………………………

Matched betting
Try here for help
Newcomer's Guide to Matched Betting

Thread for Questions about Matched Betting (no need to read the entire thread before posting your question)
.................................................. .................................................. ........

Gemmzie · 15 November 2007 at 1:58PM

Challengers

Bronze
Yorkielass - £518.56
oops a daisy - £711.26
Storm - £37.42
angelavdavis - £820
Christmasshopper - £754.93
webitha
kiwigirl - £964.31
Sea78
micky mouse - £712
finallydebtfree - £300.61
Pollydaydream - £57.10
slowlyfading - £403.28
sampa99978 - £506.63
bellsbells
Boomdocker - £120.80
Sa1sysoo - £241.93
FatJock
rumblytum
misery-able - £459.51
racer256 - £396.02
taka - £150.29
Karmacat - £674.06
poppycracker - £957.61
reformedEffortMaker
flowerofscotland
Spendaholic Chick
wam73
jet77
lmw1997
rachelja - £507.83
Sammz
Punkygoth - £1,064.06
pippo - £87.36
theluckiswithme
Ignatius_A
efrieze
badmuthar
joeyjac - £80.83
headoutofthesand
Hope78 - £613.40
mumofcookers - £1,087.88
miss saver - £379.96
JAMIEDODGER - £41.29
lovelybirchtrees
jmf76
ruthiejane - £1,104.59

Silver
Gemmzie - £1,562.60
blackangeluk
Jaxx_uk
SarahNeedle1872 - £1,798.11
Tracy173
bonar - £2363.09
fishface69 - £545.03
Dr Hook - £799.03
leebarton
Floxxie - £1,763.87
Woodyrocks

Gold
welshgirl78 - £1000?
candyblue - £2,142.54
kbarty
scuba147

Platinum
wilf55
FrankieM

Karmacat · 15 November 2007 at 5:15PM

I think thats a great idea, Gemmzie - makes everything a lot clearer to have it on the thread, and maybe easier for you to update, doing away with the need for a "newsletter" type thing - the post number of a newsletter type post could be listed on the fourth post, for instance.

Gemmzie · 15 November 2007 at 5:42PM

Yeah I thought that as time is tight this end of the challenge (uni takes up a lot of time!!) so that's a great idea. Will upload it tonight

finallydebtfree!! · 15 November 2007 at 10:31PM

just wanted to pop in and say hi! my challenge total is still going nowhere fast!! but good news is my fundraising is!

the challenge (and its the original) has been a great inspiration and has taught me a whole new way of life! who would have though what started of as a challenge could change my ways completely! a lot of my christmas shopping will be paid for from vouchers earned through things taken up by joining the original challenge! ie cashback sites and vouchers earned by using my john lewis partnership card! (will update my total as I use them!)

I will carry on topping up my challenge money over the coming few months as it is going to pay for the essentials needed for my charity trek! (which dont come cheap! although mse has taught me lots so I know Ill be searching for the best price available!)

Good luck to everyone for the remainder of the challenge!

SarahNeedle1872 · 15 November 2007 at 10:34PM

Gemmzie wrote: »

How about a fourth post with a list of challengers and totals?

Great idea Gemmzie, it would be good to see how everyone doing!

Sarah x

wilf55 · 15 November 2007 at 10:42PM

hi everyone good to see you are doing so well keep up the good work not long to go now

Christmasshopper · 15 November 2007 at 10:58PM

Hi Wilf, are you doing ok too?
I am amazed to see how well you are all doing.

Yorkielass · 16 November 2007 at 1:35PM

Thanks for starting a new thread Gemmzie - I keep thinking I must get back on track with this and your new thread has inspired.

I'm ashamed to admit how badly I've done at present - my total is £388.09 currently having added in things for the last 6 weeks

I've got £5 or so from Ciao coming, £20 from Mutual points coming and 3 mystery shopping payments to come so that should be getting on for £50 owed which will help a bit.

Haven't had any amazon sales for a month now which is a problem - have been through the and checked prices and re-listed some things which had expired.

Then I'm going to get some bits on ebay over the weekend and some books and things on the small ads at work as haven't done either of them recently either.

It's unlikely I'll make the £600 I need to in the next few weeks but I'm hoping I'll get to £500 at least - which considering I've had a new job to get used to I don't think is too bad.

Olympic Challenge Take Two (Part Two)

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