Help me my life sucks

Sofa_Sogood

fatboyonadiet wrote:

sofa_sogood mentioned one survey but I so loads and get a bit extra a month, loads to try but www.valuedopinions.co.uk www.myvoice.co.uk (a bid dead at the mo but was good for me) www.gozing.com and there is many more but can't remember any! use www.greasypalm.co.uk for cashback too, had over £50 in the few months I've been a member and not done any really significant purchases.

Nice one!

Talking of Martin's book and online surveys, I entered one that Foxy posted on the Freebies board for www.prismstrategy.com but I think only people that were members of ipoints qualified.

Anyway, I'd joined ipoints for some unknown reason, along with Rpoints, Mutual points, Nectar points etc. I'd have signed up for brownie points if they'd been online , but because I was a member of ipoints and did the survey I received a £5 Amazon voucher.

As I was also looking for Martin's book, and because WH Smith's had cancelled the full price order I had with them, I used the Amazon voucher to buy the book. So, even though I didn't get free delivery on the book, it cost me the grand sum of £2.54

Look out for the surveys, because my 30p gain is nothing compared to what some people get, (I must fall into a strange bracket lol), and I only got that because I own a dog. I wish I'd said I owned a cat now hint hint lol. But you get the picture brisck1? There's money to be made as fatboyonadiet's proved.

Although I only use Rpoints, (free points just for using Kelkoo etc but still free!), I'd check out the Referrer's section of this forum. You can always bypass them if it's not your bag and apply direct for whatever you might need, but you might pick up an idea or address here or there.

Good luck ... again.

P.S. And keep checking Foxy and co's freebies. My other half's been kept in Head and Shoulders for a while now, and although I don't apply for all the freebies, I'm not going to turn my nose up at free teabags, money off coupons, sim cards and £5 Amazon vouchers am I?

Remember to keep having a look and sorry I can't offer any more practical advice. Maybe someone else knows of other surveys?

mandi

Just a thought , do you live alone? if so , would it be possible to get someone else to rent with you?. You may not be keen on my next suggestion, but have you thought about a part -time job, yes, know the idea sucks but it would give you a little more flexibility, and could help pay off your student loan a little quicker

skdotcom

brisck1 wrote:

Thanks for the advice anyway

I wonder if there is some way I can get out of this 12 month deal?

With Vodafone you can reduce your monthly tariff down to £15.00 per month after the first 6 months.

brisck1

Thanks Fazer, you know what? i've been thinking of makin my own cakes and biscuits for a while now, just need to learn how! lol

I'll have to keep an eye out for some (simple :P) tasty and cheap recipies.

One question, when you freeze a cake, when defrosted, does it have to be consumed straight away? and how long do biscuits last before goin stale? -im thinking I could make a months worth in a day lol :P

Lard_3

Hi, Ive been following this thread and am so impressed with all the tips that have come through & have taken a lot on board myself.
I must say though no one so far has questioned the car. I read you travel 10 miles to work but does it have to be in a £3k car?
I buy cars under £1k, never above, they lose too much value, a car for £500 will go from a to b, need taxing & insurance but will not cost the loan payments.
I left my wife & kids in '98 and moved out of a house in Devon with no mortgage and got nothing but the kitchen table and a portable TV. I worked as a rep from 7am to 5.30ish then went to work in a local pub from 7 to midnight. Although I lived 60 miles away I had to drive the kids back on Sunday nights then return to my evening job in the pub. The 15yo waitresses were earning more per hour than me as I had to pay tax on the earnings. I was paying the CSA about £750 month.
By working hard I now own 3 houses back in Devon, two are rented, and I have a £40k boat on the marina. I've had 1 weeks holiday in 2002 and 1 week last year on my boat.
I drive a M reg peugeot, it cost a grand 2 years ago and will last another year, its only a car!
I've started making new friends.
I'm still tight as a ducks botty.
The state scroungers are not worth being upset about, take pride in providing for yourself.
Life does not suck, its just not free.
Keep going.
Lard

Spendless

brisck1 wrote:

Thanks Fazer, you know what? i've been thinking of makin my own cakes and biscuits for a while now, just need to learn how! lol

I'll have to keep an eye out for some (simple :P) tasty and cheap recipies.

One question, when you freeze a cake, when defrosted, does it have to be consumed straight away? and how long do biscuits last before goin stale? -im thinking I could make a months worth in a day lol :P

If you go onto the old style board to ask i'm sure someone will be able to answer these queries for you.

mel734

brisck1 wrote:

Thanks Fazer, you know what? i've been thinking of makin my own cakes and biscuits for a while now, just need to learn how! lol

I'll have to keep an eye out for some (simple :P) tasty and cheap recipies.

One question, when you freeze a cake, when defrosted, does it have to be consumed straight away? and how long do biscuits last before goin stale? -im thinking I could make a months worth in a day lol :P

Hi again Brisck,
You can keep the cake for as long as you would have if you hadn't frozen it, give or take eg freeze a cake on the day it was best by you'll have a couple of days after you defrost it to eat it (I never eat my bread by the sell by date or cakes etc the only thing that might taste a bit strange if you leave too long are cakes with fruit in like currant buns)
Regarding biscuits and cakes and baking your own, I know you want to save money but 1) life's too short 2) surely the energy to heat the oven must be costlier than 3) tescos value custard creams and their 3 pack selection with cc's, shortbread and nice are tops! All about 15 - 20p a pack (bit more for the three pack) AND (!) Tescos value chocolate chip cookies are yumm scrum. They taste like cake mix to me which is always a bonus cause we used to fight over the bowl at home!
I have two little ones and often buy yellow sticker stuff and freeze it. I'm really picky about what I give them (wouldn't consider a yoghurt a day after its sell buy!) but they have always been fine with defrosted/reheated meat & meals. Just make sure it's all piping hot - stick a fork in the middle, take a tiny bit out and touch it to your lip, if it's hot, it's safe!
Nice mention in Martin's tips e-mail btw - you're famous ooooh! Good luck!
Mel

emmaoh

Are you sure you need to be repaying your student loan? you can defer it if you earn below a certain threshold (which I am sure is way above your income)

heathcote123

wow lots of replies to this one.. i Haven't readd them all, but most seemes to focus on saving small amounts of money here and there, which is all very good, but you are hardly being extravagant in your lifestyle. Your friends are probably living on credit cards like gordons good little consumers, and will sooner or later be in a very much worse position... dont envy them.

Looking at the other way around this, can you increase your income? Can you convince your boss you're worth an extra 2 or 3k a year? If not, can you find better paying work?

Ditch the car if its not essential for work.. cars are a luxury nowadays.
If it is used for work at all, ask for a car allowance to cover the car loan. Employers will usually take the p*ss if they can... dont be afraid to ask them for money... its what they're there for !

yonk

brisck1 wrote:

Actually I didnt think my food bill was that bad at only £40-odd quid a month, currently I eat alot of pasta and spag-bol and grab whatever buy-1-get-1-free/half price offers I can get. I used to have a lot of luxuries like icecream, cakes and pizzas(ohhh i miss thee) but now I cut all of that out and i saved a fair bit.

One thing I havent tried yet is buying some of the "reduced to clear" items as im never sure of freezing and recooking stuff (like casserole or spagbol) im never sure of wether its best to re-heat in the oven or just microwave it, and also for how long?

Anyway, Im thinking of buying Martin's book, but can anyone outline to me what areas of moneysaving etc it goes into? - oh and where I can get it cheap :P

You can make a cracking pizza at home - totally impresses your friends and you will never want a supermarket one again. Dead simple, pm me if you want the recipe. I use an American recipe and it's light and well easy plus you can socialise - get your friends round and cook for them.