Halving our income and still aiming for mortgage free!

smetf

Hi chicker,

Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Prolific is my best earner overall, I quite like premise as it's really quick and usually a minimum of 25p a day. OnePoll is usually quite quick but only pays out at £25 and it's pretty slow for the money to come through. Swagbucks I find a bit hit and miss so depends if I'm bored! Curious Cat is the same, I've recently set a challenge to reduce social media time so it's one of those things that I tend to do when I am waiting for something or at the same time as surveys on the laptop! 
I will have a look at influence too.

We only took DD out in the final term of Year 10 so she's covered the majority of the work, we're mostly focusing on revision and exam practice (with ups and downs along the way). But she is so much happier and positive it feels like it's been a good decision overall.

S

smetf

A good week this week, building up a couple of survey sites so think I'll be able to make another small OP this month. Need to sort out a couple of FB/ ebay things as well but they've been on the to do list for a while...

We booked a trip to Paris in the Eurostar sale and with restrictions on travel to France lifting decided to get accommodation and train travel within the UK booked (plus travel insurance), it's all fully refundable and feels like a big treat to look forward to especially as all 3 kids are coming too. Am hoping to cover it through normal monthly budget but the home improvements fund has got more in than we need so can always help us out! We've gone for an apartment as that gives us plenty of flexibility as well as being a good price for 4 adults and a child.
   
DD has her final exam of this series on Monday so looking forward to that being done!

Hope you're all having a good weekend!

killerpeaty

How DDS exam goes well!

I love the idea of you all going to Paris. Hope you have fun!

smetf

10.73 OP today thanks to surveys. 

Not going to be an NSD as heading to a lovely bakery to get treats for post half marathon (DH) and eldest's last breakfast before heading back to Edinburgh this afternoon. Just need to go for a run before heading to bakery and finish line.

smetf

Hi all,

Hadn't realised it had been so long since my last post. Didn't get the bakery treats as they were on holiday but funnily enough bought some yesterday after our weekend plans were disrupted by Storm Malik! No Newcastle meet up with friend and eldest ended coming back to York so long story short all requests for train ticket refunds have been made and the bakery treat seemed like a good option. 
No other OPs made in Jan, but today is payday so have started February and paid £160 we'd usually pay for council tax, in addition to the standard OP of £167.19 which goes out tomorrow. Topped up the savings a little too, biggest expense this month is fees for the next 2 GCSES which I have just paid (338!!).

Should be a NSD today, leftover curry for lunch between jobs.
Might drive to second job though, not sure if it's post Covid fatigue or the impact of cycling to work more frequently but am shattered!
Will update signature and MFW 2022 later.
S

smetf

Quick pop in to add 25.49 in OPs, surveys (prolific and premise) plus an ebay sale of A level textbooks that were gathering dust. Frustratingly, I put on the suggested postage but it was about £1.50 short. Luckily it didn't go for 99p and will teach me to be more careful!
Might have a sort of any other textbooks lying around whilst they're still relevant!
Happy Thursday all.
S

smetf

Afternoon everyone,

Had a chilled out morning with yoga, and a few surveys. Realised I'm getting near next cashing in total for SB so that has spurred me on this morning.

Last night we realised we were still holding a friend's money for a Covid cancelled concert. She'd said to keep hold but it's been a year so transferred that over.

Today's jobs:
Couple of work bits (so I can have tomorrow properly off with DH and nephew)
Paint round light switch
Order composter - want to use a £10 card I have so need to work out how, this is my birthday present!
Bake something
Clean something
List something on eBay
Uni work

Is there an environmentally friendly board on MSE? We are trying to make switches, particularly money saving ones!
Happy Sunday all
S

powerspowers

Well done on the OPs smetf. There is a green money saving board which I nose at occasionally. I try to make up a new green habit every month, as I felt overwhelmed by changing everything at once! It seems to be working. I’m not sure how much impact it has in the grand scheme of things but it makes a difference to me to control what I can in my sphere of influence. Good luck!

smetf

Thanks powers, I will have a look. We had a push on making some changes to be greener a couple of years back and I feel like I need another push. I like the habit a month idea.
DH currently looking into switching to safety razors. Most successful switches for us have been liquid soap to bars and shampoo bottles to bars. These also both save lots of money!
We switched to glass milk bottles a few years ago but am seriously reconsidering as it's currently quite a big outlay from our food budget and more than double Aldi prices.

Have bought the composter! Managed to use my £10 card (from surveys) to buy membership which saved me £13 and then got a £5 voucher for joining. £21.02 under the budget that can head to OP.

smetf

Popping in to report another £40 OP, the composter savings above plus 3 lots of survey accounts hitting £5.
Small steps definitely the mantra.
S