The Great 'Bit on the side... revisited' Hunt

iamcscott

ska_lover wrote: »

Martins spread sheet? Some mentioned martins spread sheet..can someone advise/point me in the right direction plse?

Yes, like Andrea said, it was the budget planner but not the one that I can see available. It was a plainer version, I got it via the 03 January 13 email, I did manage to find it again a couple of months later and showed it to friends but I've searched all over the site and can't find the same one. It was monumental, rather than looking back at what I have spent and then budgeting, I write everything down as I spend it and we keep within what it says we have left for the month.
It has morphed into something massive now, and it is the first time in my life I have known exactly what I spend money on and where I can save it.
I always lived to the bottom of my overdraft and rather shamefully went crying to my parents when things got desperate. Now I'm saving towards big expenses like insurances and oil as well as future plans like my 7 year old daughters first car (£37.04 a month for her first car, lessons and first years insurance! I'm hoping for change from £4000 but not expecting it).
I hope you find it and enjoy it and learn as much as I have.

System

rebeccajlsk wrote: »

Freelance writing and proof reading, online surveys, Cashback, selling my unwanted items

Ooh, how do you get into freelance writing and proof reading? Sounds ideal.

mushtiff

portman_blue wrote: »

I work as an invigilator at several local secondary schools. No particular skill required - just the ability to stay alert for an hour or two at a time. Can be very boring, though. Contact the Exams Officer at the school.

I thought this was what invigilating was like before I did it. I soon realised it's an important, responsible job. You could need any or all of these skills: know exam regulations and your own centre's policies, keep accurate paperwork, accurate time-keeping for several exams at once, have good observation skills to spot malpractice, be able to deal with stressed or difficult students without disrupting the exam for others, know when to be proactive and intervene with students and when to stand back, manage the behaviour of large groups, give out clear announcements, invigilate practical and online exams which have different sets of rules, know when it's appropriate to use your own discretion to deal with an unusual situation and when to call in help. All this as well as having the commitment to, as portman_blue says, stay focused and alert for what could be up to 3 hours.

Yes, it is a great job to fit round other things, but I'd say, don't go into it for the money, go into it because you want to do a good job. That's what exam officers are looking for. Exams in schools will be even more important when students only get one chance at them, and invigilators are vital in creating a calm exam room in which all can do their best. End of sermon, sorry - I also train invigilators and exam officers, and sometimes get carried away!