The 'Save £12k in 2012' thread!

slowlyfading

Humbert - actually, maybe you're right; they'll be a welcome boost whenever they arrive

guitarman001

Phew, I thought you were about to say £40k EACH lol! I hear of couples on joint £80k+ or singles who contract in IT earning £150k+ and often think to myself... where am I going wrong... but I think these are rare cases.

I agree with you on your points about saving money and not being materialistic. Every now and then a splurge since life is to be enjoyed, as you say - good stuff.
Tightwad Gazette - will check it out - thanks!

Oh, I must check out the free books you can get on the Kindle. I tried one in a shop and found page turning to be a tad slow - plus I don't have much time for novels. My main reads are technical books for work (snooze!!) so probably not suited to that. But I'll check the free books you can get for it.

lvm

guitarman001 wrote: »

Still baffled how most can be saving £12k in a year. Like I said, I live fairly frugally (at home!) - with £30k gross income savings are only £900 a month (student loan, digs, food, petrol). Knock of a couple £k when you factor in a holiday and car insurance & service and it looks more like £8k a year. God knows how anybody saves on a single income in a rented place, with no kids and no benefits! Are you lot considering dual incomes, or is it just a very high single income??

Guitarman, I think it really depends on individual circumstances if you can aim for a £12k target.

I'm only on a salary of £21.5k (just under £16.5k net a year) and I'm definitely going to hit the £12k savings.

I'm single and will be saving the money alone, no kids, no benefits etc.

I rent out my spare room which brings in an extra £4200 a year. This pays all but £50 of my bills including mortgage, C/Tax, gas/elec, insurance, mobile phone etc. I allow £100 for petrol and £200 for food and clothes etc but my company pay all mileage expenses back to me at about twice the cost of petrol. Car insurance is my Crimbo pressie from parents and MOT relatively cheap.

I get extra income from mystery shopping, risk free betting, vouchers from surveys etc. I sometimes do random jobs like the Census or elections.

So, it can be done even on a really low income. I think my budget's reasonable and it still allows be holidays and stuff - just when I want to buy something big, I'll work out how I'm going to make that money before doing it.

I have a mich tighter budget than I would do normally and it's just because I'm paying off a wee bit of debt just now but once I'm through that, I'll have quite a large bit of savings and can live a bit more generously.

Good luck if you do decide to go for the full £12k!

guitarman001

Renting the room out is a great idea - well done

'I get extra income from mystery shopping, risk free betting, vouchers from surveys etc. I sometimes do random jobs like the Census or elections.'

Is there really quite a bit of money to be made from these.....?

lvm

guitarman001 wrote: »

Renting the room out is a great idea - well done

'I get extra income from mystery shopping, risk free betting, vouchers from surveys etc. I sometimes do random jobs like the Census or elections.'

Is there really quite a bit of money to be made from these.....?

If you live or work in a busy city then mystery shopping is good - I live in Edinburgh so lots of opportunities. There are lots of small things that earn about £4/£5 but I get some bigger ones too - I'm going for laser eye consultation next week and getting £34 for that. Registered for a well known restaurant place and get £20 a visit plus all meal reimbursed (about £100 for food, drinks and gift shop).

Surveys - I don't do it as much as others but I've received a wee bit dosh through Paypal and have received vouchers a few times as well (Love2shop). Try registering on www.volunteer4panels.com and hope you get invited for Shopandscan. I get £85 in vouchers a year (I select Debenhams). I've also got product trials...the latest being 3 different soups that saved me buying 3 days dinner. All adds up...

I got £1500 for doing the Census and £145 for a full day at the May elections. I'm on the list for any other ones that come up to, even if it's just a referendum on something. There's always things like this that come up. Phonebook delivery is one that I was tempted with but never did.

Keep an eye out for voucher on the freebie board as well. I've got vouchers for 5 free Innocent veg pots. That will do 5 dinners at no cost to me.

So there's always things around - depends how much time you have to look for things like this (I have no life which is why I find all these things! lol)

I wouldn't have done half the things I've mentioned if it wasn't for this forum...it is AMAZING :j

guitarman001

Mystery shopping???
£1500 for doing the census...? Tell me more!

I'm just outside of Edinburgh - glad to meet'cha!

Hmm, a good post - lots to check out. Thanks - very much appreciated!

MoneySaverLog

guitarman001 wrote: »

£1500 for doing the census...? Tell me more!

Only another 9 and a bit years to wait

lvm

guitarman001 wrote: »

Mystery shopping???
£1500 for doing the census...? Tell me more!

I'm just outside of Edinburgh - glad to meet'cha!

Hmm, a good post - lots to check out. Thanks - very much appreciated!

Ah, nice to meet a fellow Edinburger!

Unfortunately the Census is a once every 10 yrs thing so you've missed the boat this time around

Check out the Mystery Shopping Thread for LOADS of info and companies to register with. Just no stealing all the good ones in Edinburgh or I won't be happy

guitarman001

I always assumed these little ways of getting money weren't worth it compared to the wage at my job. I remember looking at residual income and surveys a while back but it just didn't chime with me. I'll have to have another look - and check out those parts of this website!

Cheers!

guitarman001

lvm wrote: »

Ah, nice to meet a fellow Edinburger!

Unfortunately the Census is a once every 10 yrs thing so you've missed the boat this time around

Check out the Mystery Shopping Thread for LOADS of info and companies to register with. Just no stealing all the good ones in Edinburgh or I won't be happy

Thanks for that - and no worries lol.

P.S. Edinburgh is nice, huh? I'm doing ok right now as I live at home... but I've been approached by recruiters for jobs in London and Germany offering £10k more! I think it wouldn't be worth it in London, but Germany would be nice... a good challenge. Anyway, that was a bit off topic, sorry..