***New*** Thrifty Gifty Money Making for Christmas and all occasions 2011***

Skiergirl

Thanks for the new challenges Elysia :T I've just checked our council tax and unfortunately it's the same as all the neighbours

I'll try and get back into looney, haven't been on for ages and carry on with the other sites

I have a couple of Mr T receipts to check but can only do 1 shop a week when DH takes me

I am still around although not posting much as our internet is playing up

Huge hugs to anyone who needs one

Savvybunny2009

Evening all :wave:
Great totals everyone, it's a new month and every penny helps towards a money neutral Christmas (and all occasions)

Was going to study tonight, but after reading the challenge of doing every survey that comes to us I haven't managed to get to my books On the bright side I am closer to redeeming on most of the sites now.

Right, we all need a new survey site to help get us cracking and Vivatic is a new one that pays £1 per survey with cashout at £10 (£1 added for signing up). I have been signed up a week or so but found the time to plough through todays and managed to add £3.00 into my account. It's very similar to survey network except lower payout limit.
http://www.vivatic.com/

I will give the veg growing a go on our kitchen window cill, dd will enjoy watering it. I tend to be cursed with anything of the green leafy variety but will give it my best shot. maybe we could even take pics to show how we got on, just for fun of course.

I think I will do some more baking throughout the month so I have something to show if my veg gets poorly

cha97michelle

Great challenges there. I have heard of vivatic several times now from different sources, so i think i will join that one. I also want to join survey head, so if anyone can refer me to either then please let me know. I worked out the other week i am a member of 11 survey sites already, and then reviews and bingo on top so busy busy busy, but you have to be in it to win it as they say.

My biggest trouble is i have 2 email addresses and i have different emails going to the 2 addresses, and i mainly check one. I must do better. (How i don't know, but i must.)

Legendmum

Oh dear Lord I am ashamed! Will tot up my totals but they are very poor this month! Lost my mojo like you wouldnt believe especially with DS and tonsilitis and OH with appendix ad washing machine#! Excuses excuses! I will get back to you all in the morning! Knackered!

Off to hang my head in shame!

bunbun2

Legendmum wrote: »

Oh dear Lord I am ashamed! Will tot up my totals but they are very poor this month! Lost my mojo like you wouldnt believe especially with DS and tonsilitis and OH with appendix ad washing machine#! Excuses excuses! I will get back to you all in the morning! Knackered!

Off to hang my head in shame!

I don't think I have done too well this month either and I don't have any excuses! Just think how much you have saved at Tescos:D

kec09

Thanks for the new challenges Elysia.

I must get my act together for April, had a rubbish March and glad to see the back of it, I don't think I have made any money at all.

I have all but given up on surveys I'm afraid, still have not had any vouchers from T and I am fed up of doing 10-15 mins of a survey to then be screened out, I just don't have the time right now. I will try harder to do more this month, as we have a few bank hols I will have a few days off to do some!

Well done to everyone that kept on track in March

I need to get in on the tesco thread to try and save money on the shopping.

My council tax is right unfortunately I really need to sort out switching my gas and electric, it has gone up for the fourth time in the last year so my personal aim is to sort that out this month.

mum2one

elysia2003 wrote: »

***** APRIL 2011 - CHALLENGE*****
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1. Not money making but money saving - Double check you are in the correct council tax band. If you've done this before, you're ok, but if you haven't, just take 10 minutes to do it, as it could save you thousands. I did this myself this time last year, and not only did I get over £800 refund, but it's lowered the price of the council tax for this year and future years too. I know this is in Martin's email quite regularly, but I never read it properly and usually skip to the bargains. I'm just pointing it out 'just in case'

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2. We are concentrating on surveys this month - we are going to complete EVERY survey offered us, and not just pick and choose the best ones. Sign up to a new survey company if you can too - It's better to have too many surveys, than not enough. I know it get's frustrating when you're screened out, or you're kept waiting for months for payment (T are you listening? we mean you!) we've all been there and done that - we just need to keep going. We will get there. Right ladies - we are going to go for it aren't we? I know we have the kids off shortly, I do too - it's just a matter of juggling - we are used to that - we can do it!!!

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3. Are you still putting some of your shopping savings away? Continue to do that, if you have been. If you've been lucky enough to get some DTD back, try and put a bit extra in the pot, an extra £1 or two will make sooo much difference.

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4. Fun Challenge - get a packet of seeds, flowers, tomatoes whatever you like, and plant them with the kids. They will enjoy seeing them grow. No garden? You can't cheat on this one - buy some cherry tomatoes or something small that will grow in a pot. 1. you will save because you will be eating what you have grown, and not having to buy it, 2. the packets sometimes have hundreds of seeds, so you could potentially sell whatever you don't need - you could put them on ebay. As long as they are well wrapped, they go through the post ok. I heard of someone who did exactly this last year, and sold all the excess plants he grew - he made £100's

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Nothing too challenging there - as the kids are off soon, so I've kept it nice and easy.


Well done everyone on all your hard work. We've done a quarter of the year, only nine months until new years day :eek: and 268 days until Christmas. :santa2:



:j:j:jI look forward to seeing everyone's totals for the month :j:j:j

I can't believe we're a quarter of the year thou (bar my bday but time wise) just flown by.
Daren't tell Miss Hoodie the christmas countdown, she'd want it on the board, she has a little santa stop here, and they can write the days down, - thats not allowed to go up in the loft, it has its ownbermuda triangle!!

Challenge 1 - Council Tax
Tried, but unfortunatly it seems we're in the right band, we're in B, but it was interesting on one of the sites, as a house bit further down the street, they have an (i) by their house, so scrolled down to see what it meant, - they've done improvements - so guessing their being earmarked for a rise... but it was so weird seeing the differences in the house prices over the years, - the best was one house was brought for 60k, sold 12 months later 130k... (got to be curious...!!)

Challenge 2 - Surveys
Yes - do pick and choose - no more of that as long as theres cash or points incentive I'll be there... did need a kick up the bum.

(But do have to say a massive thank you Elysia for the surveys, as basically without them Miss Hoodie and I wouldn't be having our dolphin swim and the trips, a big thank you)xx

Challenge 3 - Shopping
As darling daddy!! (only course he think's he'sbrilliant when he gets an offer) that goes off the shopping - his new excuse that savings means you get the chocolate biscuits and the posher cake!!

But we have improvised - we've had the 2 x £5 co-op vouchers from News of the World, and Sainsburys have sent some £12 off £60 shops, (6 vouchers) reckon we're use 4, so thats going up in the mini pink safe, and pays towards Miss Hoodies ballet. (again thank you - paid Easter to July and an exam - all money neutral.

Challenge 4 - the fun challenge
Def have to get something Miss Hoodie can grow on windowsill, even if we resort to the cress head.
At Miss Hoodies school, every car boot theres a bloke there selling plants, he's there in the summer at 5.30am, always got customers.

Thank you for the brilliant challenges xx

NickyBo_2

Thanks for the new challenges Elysia

When we moved in we found out our council tax band was much lower than expected. It's only one more than our previous house and we are now in a semi-detached in a much nicer area. I checked on the site, half expecting to be in a lower band than the neighbours, as we've been a bit worried it was a mistake and they'd suddenly realise we should be in a higher band! Anyway, we're the same as all our neighbours so that's good

I've been busy getting loads of items ready for Ebaying this weekend. I'm sitting here on the floor surrounded by Ebay things!

kec09

I have just been good and done 3 surveys on T, screened out of another 2 so off to sleep now and will try again in the morning.
Night all

susiecm3

Thanks for the new challenge will get onto my totals in the morning from March

The growing challenge= poataoes are a nice easy one to grow even if you have a yard use a heavy duty black bag, makes some holes, bag of compost and let some potatoes root in a bag ready for planting, we challenged ourselves last year and between 5 of us got 52lb of potatoes out of our bags