Mortgage Free for a better life for me (and the family)

craftingmad

Morning all,


My little things for today will (hopefully) be:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 50/50 bonus 5 swagbucks
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE no new jobs in area
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE YouGov 50 and Nectar 40
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 20 competitions - DONE 22 entered so far
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE no new ones found
7/ GiftHulk - DONE 1228/700 inc 70 bonus
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE Gammon and all the roast trimmings
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 2
11/ Maximiles - DONE 25
12/ Gift Hunter
13/ Find more items to sell - currently up to 97/300 -
14/ List decluttered item to sell on Facebook
15/ Make some handmade Christmas presents and/or more stock for craft stall -
16/ Upload an item into my Supermums online craft shop
17/ Promote handmade craft item and supermums shop on Facebook
18/ Go through fridge, freezer and cupboards and make a list of food we already have and then meal plan and write shopping list - DONE Fridge & Freezer list done, small shop carried out and meal plans done for next two weeks
19/ Add on Tesco Clubcard points from wombled receipts when I go shopping for bread - DONE 36 extra Tesco Clubcard points added from Wombled receipts
20/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening -

craftingmad

Good afternoon,


Its been a funny day here today as we lost all power to our electric sockets last night so had to call an electrician in and wait for him to arrive. When he finally arrived the sockets were working ok again (luckily he didn't charge us anything and we got to run our fridge/freezer, tv and chargers on the neighbours electric for about 12 hours) - there are some small mercies

Anyway I'm determined to start on my little things now so here's the list:-



1/ Swagbucks - DONE 20 earned
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE no new jobs in area
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE 12 Nectar points earned from spin the wheel no other surveys available
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 20 competitions -
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE no new ones found
7/ GiftHulk - DONE 244
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE Lasagne and left over spag bol with garlic bread
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 114
11/ Maximiles - DONE 25
12/ Find more items to sell - currently up to 97/300 -
13/ List decluttered item to sell on Facebook
14/ Make some handmade Christmas presents and/or more stock for craft stall -
15/ Upload an item into my Supermums online craft shop
16/ Promote handmade craft item and supermums shop on Facebook
17/ Renew library books due back today to avoid fines - DONE
18/ Add on Tesco Clubcard points from more wombled receipts when I fill up with petrol - DONE 93 extra Tesco Clubcard points added from Wombled receipts
19/ Fill up with fuel using Tesco fuel savings before they run out - DONE 78p saved
20/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening - DONE

craftingmad

Hello


My "little things" today:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 74/60 bonus 6 swagbucks
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE no new jobs in area
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE 10p OnePoll
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 20 competitions - DONE 20 entered
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE no new ones found
7/ GiftHulk - DONE 4008/800 inc bonus 80
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE Left overgammon from Sunday with handcut chips and fried eggs
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 102
11/ Maximiles -
12/ Find more items to sell - currently up to 97/300 -
13/ List decluttered item to sell on Facebook
14/ Make some handmade Christmas presents and/or more stock for craft stall -
15/ Upload an item into my Supermums online craft shop
16/ Promote handmade craft item and supermums shop on Facebook
17/ NSD - DONE
18/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening - DONE

craftingmad

Good morning,


I'm a bit sore today after being knocked off my bike by my son. I've got a grazed knee, elbow, shoulder and hip but even worse I've hurt my ankle and am hobbling around


Anyway little things for today include:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 2nd target met 120/115 12 bonus
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE no new jobs in area
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE Nectar10, You Gov 75 and ISay 25
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 20 competitions - DONE 20 entered
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE no new ones found
7/ GiftHulk -
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE Pasta Bake with last of left over gammon
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 4
11/ Maximiles - DONE 25
12/ Find more items to sell - currently up to 97/300 -
13/ List decluttered item to sell on Facebook
14/ Make some handmade Christmas presents and/or more stock for craft stall -
15/ Upload an item into my Supermums online craft shop
16/ Promote handmade craft item and supermums shop on Facebook
17/ NSD -
18/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening -

craftingmad

Well I'm a couple of days late so playing catch up buts it's a new month so it must be time for my small things summary for September


SEPTEMBER SUMMARY

Loyalty Points earned

Nectar -
Tesco Clubcard - 1170 (thanks to wombling lots of receipts) (£35.10)
The Works 255 (£2.55)

Savings

Checkoutsmart app - £1.54
Coupons Used - £37.00
Shopitize - £1.70
Forraged Food - £4.50
Other Savings (buying cheaper brands than normal, not going out for meal for my birthday, no presents on birthday etc) £47.80

Survey Sites etc

Gift Hulk - 24,792 (£14.88)
I-Say - 1160 (£8.12)
Pinecone - 1500 (£15.00)
Swagbucks - 1671 (£10.03)
You Gov - 950 (£9.50)
Superpoints - 630
OnePoll - £10.35

Earnings


Mystery Shopping - £6.00
Facepainting - £25.00
Craft Sales - £52.00
Declutter Sales - £10.00

Misc

Competitions entered - lost count
Competitions won - 1 (prizes totalling £3)
NSD - 12


Actually Saved /Earned / Cashed Out In June 15

£ 37.00 using coupons
£ 52.00 craft earnings
£ 25.00 facepainting (the rest is in our business bank account)
£ 47.80 other savings
£ 4.50 forreged food
£ 10.00 Isay
£ 5.00 Nectar points cashed out
£ 10.99 Boots Advantage points cashed out
£ 1.10 Words card cashed out
£ 17.00 GiftHulk cashed to Amazon Vouchers
_______
£210.39

craftingmad

October little things for me as haven't posted for a couple of days:-


1/10/15


Swagbucks 20
GiftHulk 53
One Poll 30p
Superpoints 3
NSD


2/10/15

Pinecone (waiting credit)
You Gov 50
Nectar 24
One Poll £1.10
Comps 5

craftingmad

Todays "little things"


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 2nd target met 99/81 8 bonus
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE no new jobs in area
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE none yet
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 20 competitions - 8 entered
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE - no new ones found
7/ GiftHulk - DONE 976/750 including 75 bonus (also cashed out $10 paypal)
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE Spagetti Bol with garlic bread
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 7
11/ Maximiles - DONE 25
12/ Find more items to sell - currently up to 97/300 -
13/ List decluttered item to sell on Facebook
14/ Make some handmade Christmas presents and/or more stock for craft stall - two pom poms made towards snowball fight kit
15/ Upload an item into my Supermums online craft shop
16/ Promote handmade craft item and supermums shop on Facebook
17/ NSD -
18/ No heating all day
19/ Contact Nectar as cannot log into my account or add any coupons
20/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening -

craftingmad

Oops sorry, cant believe I haven't posted on here since 3rd October - slapped wrists for me!


Things have been hectic in the craftingmad household this month -illness has struck and my mum fell over and had to stay in hospital for a few days so I have also been looking after my dad (not easy when he lives about 50 miles away!).


I have still been doing as many little things as I possibly can and the totals are slowly creeping up but it is now half term here so also want to spend some quality time with my kids as I firmly believe that sometimes things are more important than counting the pennies


October 21st was payday for us (and with a reduced amount coming in due to an overtime ban at my hubby's work) so have signed up to BudgetPulse (similar to YNAB I think but free) to keep on track of our money and make every penny count. The budgets are done and I've also signed up to online banking for the first time in my life and am loving being able to see exactly what our current balance is and what has already been paid etc.


I've also decided that as of 1st November I will be getting up to date balances and interest rates on all of our mortgages (including the 3 BTL's) so that I can keep a good track as to how I am actually getting on.


Some big news I have is that I have managed to get a better rate on our electricity saving us 13 per a month and also negotiated a £15 saving per month with Sky for the next 6 months so hat is already helping our reduced income situation.


Although I seem to be so busy at the moment my aim is to always try and do at least 5 things a day to help save/earn money so that we can hopefully start reducing these mortgages as quickly as possible. That and post on here everyday as well of course


Sorry to whittle on but just wanted you all to know that I'm still here and plodding along on the path to financial freedom

craftingmad

So here's todays efforts:-


1/ Swagbucks - 18/60
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE none
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE 100 Nectar Points
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 10 competitions -
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE - no new ones found but have goe through my purse and sorted what I already have and cut out some sent in post yesterday (also made 3 scrap notepads out of the envelopes and extra paper)
7/ GiftHulk - 171/850
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE quick and simple pasta with cheese
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 2:)
11/ Go through Hallowen costumes and find something for kids to wear to save buying new - DONE Dracula or pirate zombie found for son and velvet cape found for daughter. Also found 3 Halloween dresses which daughter could not fit into now so going to list those on Facebook
12/ List decluttered outfits to sell on Facebook
13/ Make some handmade Christmas presents - Salt dough handprints and hearts made -just waiting for them to dry before painting
14/ NSD - DONE
15/ Hang washing outside to hopefully dry a bit and smell nice (washed using half normal amount of powder and conditioner) - DONE sadly went to get it in at 3pm and it was wetter than when I had put it out Now hanging on airers inside
16/ No heating on until 5pm - DONE now 6pm and still not on (not even feeling cold)
17/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening (currently reading ausperity which is full of money saving tips-


BONUS of the day - took the kids out for a play in our local park and finished up with a lovely walk. On the way home we found a house offering some windfall apples for free Some turned out to be a bit manky but have just made sewed apple ready for a homemade apple pie for the very first time It tastes yummy so may not even make it into a pie - it might be dessert served with some cream or ice cream - yum yum

craftingmad

Good evening


Well we've had a lovely day today visiting a town nearby where we have never really explored before. My daughter had a physio appointment for her knee there so I decided that we could make a day of it and explore as well. We found an amazing library which the kids loved (and me because it was free ) and also looked in some lovely little shops (didn't spend anything and the kids didn't ask so I am very proud of them ) and then bought some pies for lunch (with enough left for dinner for tonight) from Morrisons so all in a cheap day out and the physio session went really well


Anyway just because we were out enjoying ourselves today there is no excuse for me not doing a few "little things" so here's my list for today:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 70/70 bonus 7 swagbucks
2/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE none
3/ Check for any surveys - DONE One Poll 10p and Isay 10 (which gives me enough to claim another £10 voucher)
4/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
5/ Enter 10 competitions - DONE 15 facebook competitions entered
6/ Check for new coupons - DONE - no new ones found Did gain 3 Dorset Cereals coins on their games - up to 11 now - need £20 to get £1 off coupon
7/ GiftHulk - DONE 267/850 - better than none
8/ Plan meal for today - DONE Steak Slices (ala Morrisons) with homemade chips and salad
9/ Turn mobile off while at home - DONE
10/ Superpoints - DONE 3
11/ List decluttered outfits to sell on Facebook - DONE
12/ Check banking online and update budget spreadsheets with today's spends - DONE
13/ No heating on until 5pm - DONE 5.30pmand still no heating
14/ Read book in bed instead of play on tablet this evening - DONE


BONUS of the day - FREE parking at local town - all day If we would have gone to nearest town (only a couple of miles away) it would have cost £7 to park all day and in the closest city to park and ride would have cost £6