Watch out there's a badger about...

Amara

Hi!
Tip from the challenge I run , "1 debt vs 100 days chapter 22"
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5433920
was included in weekly email. Can I have "I've been Money Tipped!" badge, please?

Former_MSE_Andrea

Congratulations Amara

Amara

Hello again!
I submitted my tax return yesterday , I put costs of washing my uniform into cost against profits. Can I have "Uniform washer" badge, please?

Westin

Long time MSE forum member and contributor but never actually got around to setting up an Avatar or collecting badges. As I hit my 750+ post the other week and seemed to acquire a bit of green ribbon to go with my three stars against my username that gave me the push along to look at the badges that others had against their name. Time for me to catch up I thought....so...

Dear Mr. Badger,

Please will you consider me for the following badges: -

Mortgage-Free Glee!
No mortgage debt as savings in my off-set mortgage now balance and clear the money owed. My story can be found in post #588 on the Mortgage Free Roll of Honors here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/493240

Newshound
The one I would like to put forward for this badge is when changes were made to US ESTA's at short notice. After posting I spoke with MSE Lucinda and helped with her news report that subsequently was carried by MSE as a news story. Weeks later the mass media picked it up. The original thread is here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5422756

(I also broke new of the Low Cost Holidays collapse an hour before MSE published it - do I get a bonus point https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5494785 )

Uniform Washer
I haven't had to wear a uniform at work for some years but both my grown up children do. I helped both of them with letters to the tax office using the MSE template and both now have tax rebates/credits. My son has since shared this with others at his place of work and so at least five other of his friends/colleagues have also benefitted.

Holiday Haggler
I don't smoke, drink only a little but Mrs.Westin and I enjoy our many overseas holidays. Holiday Haggling is the norm. We will sometimes go on package deals, sometimes making our own arrangements - the key is to price things out, look for deals but always also consider what can go wrong. Saving is good but not at the detriment of having a safe and secure holiday. We for example knew about Low Cost Holidays moving their operation overseas some years back and no longer having bonding. I wouldn't use them for that reason. I research travel companies in advance and would not use many based on negative reports from others. We will shop on line, talk to our travel agent and call tour operators directly. We will not waste their time but will politely ask if they can improve on a price or offer us an extra. Call centre agents I have often found will have sales targets. Towards the end of the month they can often be very keen to hit a sales target and will be keen to close a sale and get your booking. Many Operators give call agents "sales enablers" - we have managed to get free airport lounge passes, a room upgrade and money off simply by pushing the agent politely and saying "if I book with you now - can you give me something to close the deal". Suggest something reasonable and often I have found it will be granted. Touch wood it always seems to work.

OK - that's my badge crawling bit.

Now for a suggestion.

For a new badge, how about one for a large discount or substantial amount of money off an item by using a coupon or voucher. Might seem obvious and I think we have all used money off coupons once in a while but I can't see a badge for that. How about some great stories of massive savings similar to those people you see on certain TLC TV shows who seem to get their weekly shop for free from clipping half a dozen coupons from the Radio Times.

Finally - I also take some credit for getting you to change one of your badges. Do you remember those badge acknowledgments for the number of postings (before they changed to the current coloured circles). I think they were designed to look like a certificate but they were so small it was impossible to tell. I remarked on a forum that they looked like margarine lids and questioned there look. They changed shortly afterwards to the current icon. Perhaps that one you might hold against me :rotfl:

Thanks for reading Mr. Badger.

Westin

Mr.Badger was working late tonight.

Thank you for my new badges

edwink

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5282209

Dear Mr Badger

I started the above thread last July and it was mentioned in one of the MSE weekly newsletters but even though I contacted you and sent you the above link I never got my badge. I did not know I was entitled to a badge until one of my regular posters (Queen of Cheap) told me. In fact she also contacted you because I was having trouble sending you the link. ETA. And it still looks like I am having trouble with the link. Just tried it and it is wrong again. Mmmmmm!! If at first you don't succeed try and try again. Yay!! After trying about 8 times I think I have finally managed to add the correct link to my thread. Hoorah!!

Please may I have my badge? Pretty please.

Thank you

Edwink

12_month_challenge

Hi Badger


I have just managed to upgrade my OHs mobile phone using the link from :money:


We have bagged a Sim only deal with EE giving us unlimited texts, unlimited Minutes and 16GB data AND a £90 Amazon voucher, all for £19.99 a month :eek:


Thank you for the tip :money:


Is there a badge for this Badger

MothballsWallet

Actually, would I be due a badge for switching energy suppliers:

2014: switched to E.ON via Cheap Energy Club (CEC)
2015: stayed with E.ON, switched to a cheaper tariff after checking comparison sites and CEC
2016: will do something similar this year, but the annual gas usage estimate will be interesting as we had a new A-rated boiler installed 2 months ago (compared to the G-rated one we used to have).

I'm afraid I can't remember the savings, but E.ON reduced my monthly direct debit from £57 to £45 due to reduction in our usage.

fredandwilma

My tip was included in the weekly email. Can I have the "I've been Money Tipped!" badge, please?


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5529795


Thanks

f&w

FOREVER21

MothballsWallet wrote: »

Actually, would I be due a badge for switching energy suppliers:

2014: switched to E.ON via Cheap Energy Club (CEC)
2015: stayed with E.ON, switched to a cheaper tariff after checking comparison sites and CEC
2016: will do something similar this year, but the annual gas usage estimate will be interesting as we had a new A-rated boiler installed 2 months ago (compared to the G-rated one we used to have).

I'm afraid I can't remember the savings, but E.ON reduced my monthly direct debit from £57 to £45 due to reduction in our usage.

If changing suppliers counts then I too should qualify,

2010-2012 with Scottish Power ( No problems)
2012 Switched to EDF
2013. Switched to M & S Energy ( via Quidco with cash back)
2014. Switched to Co-Op Energy ( least said about this the better)
2015 Switched to E-On via MSE,changed tarrif with them 2 in 2 weeks as they kept bringing out better deals. Still with them with a fix till March 2017, but I will change again if a better deal comes along.