The Mystery Shopping thread - part 5

sinderella_2

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

Going to London for a couple of days and have 2 meals sorted: A pub meal and a sushi meal. Talk about moneysaving!!

That's my fave aspect of ms ing!
Well done you!

Do you take a laptop and dongle or go to internet cafes and use their gear or do you have a palm top?
Just wondering how people manage to ms when they are away.

Vickisaver

I was lucky and had access to wi-fi where I was staying, so just took my laptop, made it much easier

ThinkingOfLinking

sinderella wrote: »

That's my fave aspect of ms ing!
Well done you!

Do you take a laptop and dongle or go to internet cafes and use their gear or do you have a palm top?
Just wondering how people manage to ms when they are away.

I take a laptop and dongle but I also have free wireless at one place I'm staying. I also take the lead which lets me upload photos from my camera phone which takes clear enough receipt photos for RE to never have an issue accepting them...

My trip is gonna be so cheap as I also rang RE about some other jobs which expire today; if nobody else takes them, they're ringing me and giving them to me. My return coach to and from Liverpool is £10, my total hotel costs for 2 nights is £12.50, I have free breakfasts at the hotel, at least 2 meals, a free poledancing lesson....it's gonna be SO cool!!

FraggleFan

Silly question perhaps...

I rang the tax office and registered as self employed for my mystery shopping. For those who haven't yet, it really is simple, and they're offering free classes in how to complete your self assessment!

Anyhoo, the woman on the phone said she would notify my local tax office so they could change my tax code. I'm just wondering why they would do this, as I'll be paying through the self assessment. Is my mystery shopping going to affect the amount of tax I pay on my full-time (and badly paid) job?

Thanks,
FF

Timmne

It might do - I guess she meant she would make a note that your tax code be adjusted when the time comes to pay the tax on your self employment through your employment.

Just means you'll seemingly pay more tax in your employment and none in your self employment, but it'll be right overall....

FraggleFan

Timmne wrote: »

It might do - I guess she meant she would make a note that your tax code be adjusted when the time comes to pay the tax on your self employment through your employment.

Just means you'll seemingly pay more tax in your employment and none in your self employment, but it'll be right overall....

Thanks Timmne, I really don't understand all this tax malarky. Somewhat worryingly, as I'm currently studying book-keeping and payroll! I can work it out in the books, but when it comes to real life, my head just starts buzzing :doh:

learning_to_drive

Does the turnover count towards your total income for the year, or just the profit?

Obviously we get tax creds for the kids and I'm worried that if I carry on racking up the cash, my income (based on this year, next year, as you are awarded based on previous years earnings) will be high.

Timmne

Turnover is income/sales. This should be irrellevant (sp?) to tax credits as it's the profit they'll be looking at (income less expenses)

Money_Maker_Shaker

Anyone got a phone number for GFK? I've got an urgent query and they have not responded to my email.

Thanks

learning_to_drive

Thought so, yeah I know the difference between turnover and profit (ta timne!) from a level business accounting / finance.

That's good then, I need to slow down on other stuff then!

On a side note, has anyone ever been asked to leave / escorted out whilst auditing / shopping etc or whatever by store staff?