Just turned 30 and decided I need to sort my life out

Wannabehousebuyer

Naomim said:

@Wannabehousebuyer - Great start on Prolific.  Just make sure when you cash out you put it to good use.  Also every now and then go back into the "about Me" section as they add further questions, the more they know about you the more you're offered that suits you. 

I usually have the app open but when I'm working I only do the 5 -10 minute ones. I've told my boss I'm doing them.

Naomim

I'm torn between using it for splurge items which im worrying how i will pay for them- or chucking it at debt- which is the sensible answer and is the better answer however, i am not sure yet. I need to work out how much longer i am going to be living here. my lease ends December and i think the others would like to extend however i cant afford to buy/rent by then, so i would stay too but i REALLY want my own space but even if i stayed in and didn't leave the house and didn't eat i couldn't have the deposit in time.

Applewood1

Just wanted to comment on the cleaning products - I LOVE ecloths. They are kinda pricey generally but they are SO good and great for the environment. An investment in my book. I got a bumper pack for £10 from TKMaxx and they have a 3 year guarantee. The pack included cloths for different purposes - e.g. 1 for windows, 1 for bathroom purposes, 1 general purposes etc! You just put them in the washing machine as needed and then add water to clean. Seriously, they are a revelation

Mr87

Applewood1 said:

Just wanted to comment on the cleaning products - I LOVE ecloths. They are kinda pricey generally but they are SO good and great for the environment. An investment in my book. I got a bumper pack for £10 from TKMaxx and they have a 3 year guarantee. The pack included cloths for different purposes - e.g. 1 for windows, 1 for bathroom purposes, 1 general purposes etc! You just put them in the washing machine as needed and then add water to clean. Seriously, they are a revelation

No idea what ecloths are but I'm another advocate for reusable cloths. We have 4 microfibres from lidl we use for cleaning, dishes, etc etc and just chuck them in the wash. So much better than those rubbish j cloths or whatever, or single use wipes. Saved loads. And we don't have a system on this cloth for this, this cloth for that... Trust in the wash 👍 having young children does this to you 😂

By the way had you already mentioned you get stuff on cashback? I use topcashback and it's BRILL

[Deleted User]

Wannabehousebuyer said:

Deleted_User said:

Why are you paying leasehold management frees when you rent? Surely that's for the landlord to pay?

I dont know it is just in our contract that we have to pay it?

It just sounds like something the leaseholder would pay, and that is usually the person who owns the property. 

Drawingaline

As someone who cleans other peoples houses as a job I use reusable cloths. I get packs of 10 face cloths from IKEA, around £4ish? I buy around 40 at a time and use them until they go thin then give them to my dad who uses them as rags in his garage. I find them just the right size and I like to use a lot of cloths when I clean. I use them for glass, polishing, kitchen, bathrooms. They get run through the washing machine and then use the next day. Often they don't need much detergent when I wash them as they tend to have flash Bleach on them anyway!

I use mostly branded sprays with clients, I find the own brand sprays are not as good personally, but things like limescale remover lidls is fab. And for floor cleaner, again lidl is good. Places like home bargains do good deals on cleaners and often smaller independent pharmacies will carry products for £1 each. Staples used to be amazing too, shame they have gone.

I he worked for clients who liked me to use the bathroom wipes, it just felt so wrong using a disposable product. However I do agree that the flash mop is amazing! Although I use a normal cloth mop head for most of my clients.

Shopping wise, there are certain brands we don't compromise on (beans, Ketchup, Pepsi, coffee, chocolate!) but most other things are own brand, or basic/essential ranges. Find out which things you won't compromise on, bit of trial and error lol.

And you shouldn't be paying the leasehold fees if you rent. Obviously the landlord can up your rent to include this, but it is a bill for the owner of the property, not the tenant, might be worth a discussion about that. 

monetxchange

Good advice about the leaseholder fee. You're not the owner, so I think the landlord is being a bit cheeky here. Maybe wait until contact renewal time to bring it up if you feel a little wary. I know how some landlords can get when you try to point out something you've always agreed to. I once rented a place that made us pay £80 a month for water for a tiny flat as "that's just what it costs". Turns out they'd read the meter completely wrong and we were massively in credit. Took a lot of pushing back on being told repeatedly we were wrong though.

I don't want to bash Mrs Hinch either. Good luck to her. But a lot of her videos are her cleaning an already spotless thing that she's obsessively scrubbed using products she's sponsored to promote, so take it all with a pinch of salt!

Mr87

monetxchange said:

I don't want to bash Mrs Hinch either. Good luck to her. But a lot of her videos are her cleaning an already spotless thing that she's obsessively scrubbed using products she's sponsored to promote, so take it all with a pinch of salt!

A pinch of dishwasher salt, surely? 😉

Wannabehousebuyer

Applewood1 said:

Just wanted to comment on the cleaning products - I LOVE ecloths. They are kinda pricey generally but they are SO good and great for the environment. An investment in my book. I got a bumper pack for £10 from TKMaxx and they have a 3 year guarantee. The pack included cloths for different purposes - e.g. 1 for windows, 1 for bathroom purposes, 1 general purposes etc! You just put them in the washing machine as needed and then add water to clean. Seriously, they are a revelation

oooh will certainly take a look!  sounds right up my street x

Wannabehousebuyer

Mr87 said:

By the way had you already mentioned you get stuff on cashback? I use topcashback and it's BRILL

Yes, suprisingly I have always used it - and quidco - it always seems funny to not buy something without it as you get free money - you have to wait an AGE to get it though, the £30 i have just got from pet insurance i took out end of December has only just come through! craziness!

Wannabehousebuyer

Drawingaline said:

and you shouldn't be paying the leasehold fees if you rent. Obviously the landlord can up your rent to include this, but it is a bill for the owner of the property, not the tenant, might be worth a discussion about that. 

monetxchange said:

Good advice about the leaseholder fee. You're not the owner, so I think the landlord is being a bit cheeky here. Maybe wait until contact renewal time to bring it up if you feel a little wary. I know how some landlords can get when you try to point out something you've always agreed to. I once rented a place that made us pay £80 a month for water for a tiny flat as "that's just what it costs". Turns out they'd read the meter completely wrong and we were massively in credit. Took a lot of pushing back on being told repeatedly we were wrong though.

Will certainly bring it up with the landlord, i just never really thought about it, we are in a house on a new devlopment, and just thought it was part of the protocol.