Coffee, Cake, Yarn - New Start

joeyjimbles

Another site like Shoppix is Shopprize - essentially the same sort of thing though they give you between 5 and 60 points for logging in each day whether you photograph a receipt or not. Its a slow build and you get £5 Amazon for 1000 points, but it's just habit for me now. I click on it first thing every morning then do the photos for Shopprize then Shoppix each time I get one.
Nectar points can also be spent at Argos, Debenhams etc so might be useful against things that break or sale shopping.
I do Nectar and Qmee surveys, the not an acorn one and Prolific Academic - PA is good as they never screen you out as all the qualification is done up front. They pay quite well too and they're far more interesting than most of the rest. I also do Crowdflower tasks on their Elite site but only if I find a decent task and have some time on my hands, typically when watching tv.

Mumof4 - I actually have a little tick list in my notebook, but will pop into all of them throughout the day as and when I have a little time.

CoffeeCakeYarn

It took me so long to get to 5Euro on crowflower I gave up the will to live


I've tried to find shopprize on the app store, no luck. Also the prolific academic website doesn't want to work for me. Not my lucky day lol.

joeyjimbles

CF can be like that. I have long phases of not doing but overall I've done it for years and made several hundred pounds doing it so I often go back. I've made about £100 over December just doing the odd few tasks every day - when I do it I aim to make at least £1 a day - sometimes if there are good tasks I'll just run with it and I was lucky to get 4 days of over £10 with some really decent tasks - quite rare though recently.

joeyjimbles

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shopprize.app.uk&hl=en_GB

CoffeeCakeYarn

Thanks Joey, as every your contributions are a big help I managed to get on PA and already banked a little 18p. Baby steps and all that! It was really different, I hope they all follow that theme and aren't just, 'How does this packet make you feel?' kinda thing

CoffeeCakeYarn

Morning all!

NSD yesterday, and my new account card turned up so I set up all my little pots ready to go when the card reader device thing comes. Not money saving as such, but helps me feel a little more organised. I like the fact that I can keep everything in one place clearly labelled, not in four different savings accounts all called savings account.

Another few quid in the car pot and another couple of nectar surveys, I'm going to use the points on actual food for the next few months until I'm on a bit more of an even keel. Anything to keep me away from the CC. And given the amount of meat still in my freezer it's only veg and salady bits I need, so a little should go a long way, fingers crossed!

Got the envelope for my broken phone today, hopefully if that goes through it should be an extra £40 ish in the pot. Probably not enough to cover it all but at least it's a dent.

Still no word from a hole.

Very quiet weekend planned, so far it looks like the only place I will need to go is sainsbos. That may change but I won't know until later tomorrow. Even if it's not it will be a few drinks only (and this is one I really can't get out of) having already said no to the expensive I really don't want to go event.

Another NSD planned today. Small steps

CoffeeCakeYarn

Another NSD another dollar or two in the car pot. Feeling a bit disheartened as even though I have now made enough to cover the filter and hire car costs, if the repair isn't covered under the warranty the money I've made will pale in comparison. I need to get back positive so here some positive MSE type things for me to consider.

Since payday on 22nd December I have filled the freezer and sorted the majority of my months food for £41, this includes protien powder that will last 3 months. I anticipate only spending £20 for the rest of the month, making me about £20 under budget
I haven't used a credit card since before payday.
I have £50 to cover some car costs
I've only spent £19 on entertainment since 22nd (a Pizza)
I have £123.32 left in my monthly spends (Food, petrol, fun) and 21 days until payday
I have overpaid my CC by £36.36
This week I have earnt an extra £23.29 (all gone in the car pot)
This time next week the car will be over and I'll know what damage is done and can start acting to minimise.

And some non MSE positives
3 gym sessions this week and didn't die
lost 2lbs as a result (not trying to lose, but if it happens I'm happy!)
Productive minimal stress week at work (Rare!)
A lovely lay in to look forward to tomorrow

Don't know why I'm in a funk today. I know I'm doing everything possible I just am losing sleep over the car. I've a horrible feeling its going to be hundereds on the CC and I'm going to take 12 steps back. I've been proactive though, and taken up a 0% spending offer on one of the cards just in case I do need to use it. And if the last few months haven't been a wake up call to sort myself out this certainly is.

Hope you are all having a lovely evening, and sorry I'm a negative nancy moany winge bag right now.

MeenaM

morning coffee, I hope you are feeling more positive this morning, i have everything crossed that the car cost wont be as bad as you imagine

onwards and upwards you are doing so well !

CoffeeCakeYarn

Morning Meena! Thank you, having people cheering on really helps so much. A little more positive today. I was laying in bed last night thinking that since I started this, the very only thing I could have changed was the pizza, and maybe the vape, but the sum total of cutting both of those this out would be £37, and that's not make or break in my situation right now. I know I've only just started, and sometimes there will be bumps along the road, I just need to use this oppertunity to realise and put things in place so I'm never here again, losing sleep over an emergency cost. Just wish it hadn't come so soon.

I think I'm frustrated because I've been here before. I never thought I'd have to do it again and I should have learnt from the first time. Last time it was so much easier, having two incomes and a rental income, and my ex shouldered the burden. Right now it's just me, none of my friends know what's going on, it feels quite isolating so each and every comment I get is so valuable, it really does help to know I'm not alone.

I think it's a bit unrealistic on my budget to expect myself to never have to touch a CC for emergencies whilst I haven't got and emergency fund, and it is what it is. I need to relax about it, and keep the focus. And build a blinking car fund and an emergency fund!

Today is still uncertain with plans. I'm going to do a little pamper, or attempt to, with stuff that's in th cupboard. I'm not sure if I'm out tonight or not yet, will find out later, but it may be a meal instead of drinks which I will prefer, I feel like it's more of a treat. I know it sounds like I'm making excuses and shouldn't be out after all the above ramblings, but this one I really can't get out of. That's the only social spend now until payday week off, and I'm still owed a take away which will defo come in useful at some point this month

Going to crack on with a few surverys for now. Still baby steps but doing whatever I can is helping me stay a little more positive. Have a good day all x

ToTheBatcave

Delurking just to confirm what others have already said. I think you're doing fab. It may not seem like you've made much progress at the moment but you're just at the beginning of this journey. It may also help to think about how much more difficult your budget would be now if you had carried on building debt as you were before.

You're doing absolutely brilliantly!