Mystery Shopping Thread 23 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES

sparklysaver

HMRC workshops for the newly self employed. They're free to go on and I think they've been really useful. I did the basic one last month and then the expenses and allowances one this morning. They run them all over the country.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst/advice-team-events/work1.htm

mimi1234

brooke3 wrote: »

(I'm a hobby mystery shopper rather than a career mystery shopper, I rarely do anything these days that isn't a hotel, tourist attraction or expensive chocolate shop)

Hahaha, I started off like you, only doing what I wanted. Then I started getting circuits fitting shops in I was not too bothered about doing ever before. It's all good fun. I love the adrenaline rush.

Tomorrow I am doing a car wash, and I have ALWAYS been petrified of car washes. My uncle used to take me as a child and I would scream the car down. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

mskitten2904

mimi1234 wrote: »

Hahaha, I started off like you, only doing what I wanted. Then I started getting circuits fitting shops in I was not too bothered about doing ever before. It's all good fun. I love the adrenaline rush.

Tomorrow I am doing a car wash, and I have ALWAYS been petrified of car washes. My uncle used to take me as a child and I would scream the car down. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Haha! I love the car wash calls lol they r great! Good luck for tomorrow Hun :T

brooke3

mimi1234 wrote: »

Hahaha, I started off like you, only doing what I wanted. Then I started getting circuits fitting shops in I was not too bothered about doing ever before. It's all good fun. I love the adrenaline rush.

Tomorrow I am doing a car wash, and I have ALWAYS been petrified of car washes. My uncle used to take me as a child and I would scream the car down. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Good luck!

I started the opposite. When I was doing my social work training I needed an income that could fit around study and placement so I was taking absolutely everything that came my way. But now that I'm qualified and working full time (probably more than full time hours most weeks) I just takes the job that I really enjoy...but there's still always part of me that wants to take every job. In fact it's probably a little bit sad that I'm having an extra long weekend next week and I've booked a day of phone shop and bank visits in my home town. Although in my defence everyone who I know will be at work that day so I may as well earn some extra money.

misssarahleigh

mimi1234 wrote: »

Hahaha, I started off like you, only doing what I wanted. Then I started getting circuits fitting shops in I was not too bothered about doing ever before. It's all good fun. I love the adrenaline rush.

Tomorrow I am doing a car wash, and I have ALWAYS been petrified of car washes. My uncle used to take me as a child and I would scream the car down. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

I hate to rain on people parades, but I am quite interested in how u do a car wash when u don't own a car????????

supermonkey

sparklysaver wrote: »

Well, I went to the HMRC workshop today on expenses and capital allowances and am officially none the wiser on the whole reimbursement thing. The tutor basically said that everything you have to spend is an expense, and that's that. I'm not 100% sure she got my explanation though, since other people kept chipping in with not-really-related examples and confusing the matter. Ah well, I'm just going to carry on regardless and if anyone ever audits me and tells me I'm doing it wrong then I'll take the hit.

I am very glad I didn't submit my tax return without learning about how much I could charge against capital allowances though. Probably the most profitable 3 hours I've spent in weeks, that was.

Thanks for reporting back.

I think where assignments I have made a profit, I will include the spend as an expense. Where I have made a loss (because of bringing others with me) I will not treat as an expense (because arguaably I did it to get a cheap meal with friends and is a personal beneift). Taking into account the fuel expense to visit these places (based on 2012 45p per mile) I then end up with a modest profit.

mimi1234

misssarahleigh wrote: »

I hate to rain on people parades, but I am quite interested in how u do a car wash when u don't own a car????????

You borrow your brothers car.

whitelabel

did first 3 helion jobs the other day too, very simple reports and quick feedback 3 x 10 )
as long as pay in reasonable time and i dont get too screwed on the exchange rate, thumbs up from me too
shame there is a limit on the jobs.
i recon they wont allocate backups till near the end of the period or someone else drops the job

Beki88

mimi1234 wrote: »

Hahaha, I started off like you, only doing what I wanted. Then I started getting circuits fitting shops in I was not too bothered about doing ever before. It's all good fun. I love the adrenaline rush.

Tomorrow I am doing a car wash, and I have ALWAYS been petrified of car washes. My uncle used to take me as a child and I would scream the car down. Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Hope it goes ok mimi, I hate them too they freak me out so I let OH treat the car to hand car washes haha

Oh and NIM thank you for your help via pm, I haven't responded as been super busy but wanted to let you know it is appreciate

Appy birthday to whoever it was that mentioned, sorry name has escaped me

DPJames

mimi1234 wrote: »

You borrow your brothers car.

My van's too big for carwashes, so I use our lasses car. I remember going through three washes in a row one day, and was worried the paint was going to come off on the last one.


And a couple of years back, my mate went through a wash and ended up having his car wrote off.
The car in front of him had had it's ariel ripped off and it was stuck in the rotating thing that goes across the top.
When he drove out there was a huge scratch right across the whole length of the car. It was a right mess.

I always worry about that every time I go through now.

Afternoon off today to start packing boxes for the house move. But full schedule tomorrow. See if I can spot NIM at TSide Park.

Have a top weekend everyone, whether working or playing :beer: