My Mortgage Free Mountain - A 7 year expedition to climb to the top

~FlowerPot~

craftingmad said:

I done a quick search for PA surveys but nothing comes up - do you happen to have a referral code or a link so I can take a look please?

https://www.prolific.co/

thats the link, looks too short, but it is correct. I think there might be a waiting list, but still worth signing up x

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

craftingmad said:

I done a quick search for PA surveys but nothing comes up - do you happen to have a referral code or a link so I can take a look please?

https://www.prolific.co/

thats the link, looks too short, but it is correct. I think there might be a waiting list, but still worth signing up x

Thanks FlowerPot.
Apparently I am already on the waiting list so I shall sit patiently (not something I'm good at ) until they want to accept me  
How are you today?

craftingmad

Good morning the sun is shining so I'm feeling happy but terrified about my trial shift in the chippy this afternoon! 
I woke up with sweat pouring off me at 5am this morning dreaming that I was covered in chip wrappings and I couldn't breath! I'm sure I will be fine though - what could possibly go wrong  

I got good news from our daughter last night that she is doing her last 2nd year placement at the local school in our village so that means I won't have to run her backwards and forwards in the car thus saving a ton of diesel and she will also be happier (hopefully) as she will have shorter days now her travel time is literally 5 minutes each way. I cannot wait to have her home but not looking forward to the electric bills given she loves to take Loooooonnnnngggggg showers each day ;(

And also good news on the school tie front - although we have not found it, son's mate has lent him one of his spares so he can use that for the last few weeks he has left and it saves me spending a fiver. No doubt on his last day of school it will turn up again!!! 

Anyway now got to pull son out of bed so he does not miss the bus so wish me luck - no wonder I'm shattered before 8am every day!!!! 

Here's today's little list:- 

1. Play on Mistplay -  DONE 472 points today - I'm just 400 points from another £5 Amazon voucher  
2. Complete FB order received yesterday from enquiry - urrgh my printer is not playing today! It has taken me 2 hours just to print 5 sheets of paper!!! I hope this is not a sign of how my whole day will be!!!!
3. Reply to enquiry regarding logo design on FB - DONE fingers crossed it will result in a £38 order Will hopefully find out later today or tomorrow
4. Complete a Nectar survey or two - 2 completed for 40 points each and timed out of 3 so another 6 points. Also completed my 3 surveys in 5 days so will get an extra 150 points  
5. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders as I really need some - DONE advertised my lucky gnomes today so fingers crossed somebody needs some luck  
6. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders - commented on two so far
7. Check free postcode lottery - DONE not a winner
8. Minimal heating on - I have already stopped myself turning it on as its freezing here today  this morning. My slippers and blanket jumper are on instead and I'm feeling toastie again
9. Find a small way to save electric - DONE used OH's plate he used for breakfast for my own brekkie thus meaning less washing up for the dishwasher  
10. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target) - DONE 53 earned today andreached first target so another 3 bucks as well
11. Enter 3 competitions - DONE 18 Country Living comps entered
12. List an item on FB Marketplace
13. Look into selling on TikTok
14. Complete a task on OhMyDosh - DONE signed up for survey site and earnt £1.60 in my cashpot
15. Complete a survey on Shopper Thoughts - no surveys available sadly  
16. Investigate the ways to make an extra £25 I came up with yesterday and sign up for them
17. Get quotes for breakdown insurance (renewal came in for £180!! - £80 more than  last year!)
18. Get quotes for car insurance
19. Read Martin's newsletter to see if I can save/earn a little bit extra - DONE 7 different things to look into so these will be added to my list over the next few days
20. Complete trial shift at the chippy - DONE
21. NSD (apart from chips I will be bringing home after shift - sort of hoping I might get them for free) - DONE and not a penny spent Transferred £23 into OP Savings pot for NSD and free chippy dinner

 

~FlowerPot~

good luck with the trial at the chippy, I hope it goes well.

 Been a funny sort of day DD having a bad day which means the day is hard for all of us!

need to get a bottle of wine in me thinks esp as Ive finished work for the week!!

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

good luck with the trial at the chippy, I hope it goes well.

 Been a funny sort of day DD having a bad day which means the day is hard for all of us!

need to get a bottle of wine in me thinks esp as Ive finished work for the week!!

Oh no I totally get that. When your kids have a bad day - you have a bad day!
My son is starting his GCSE exams on Monday so pretty much everyday seems to be like this for us at the moment.
Hope today is better for you all x

The chippy went really well - I actually loved it and I don't think I was that bad as they have said I will go on the rota from next week for probably two evenings and one lunchtime shift so fingers crossed that I do actually hear from them again  

craftingmad

Good morning everyone. The sun is shining and I'm still on a high from my chippy shift yesterday. I loved it!!! I think they liked me too as I was told I will be on the rotas from next week and they did not tell the other girl (she was a teenager) that so I did feel a little bit bad for her. It sounds like I will be doing two evening and one lunchtime shift a week which will amount to 8.5 hours (£88.57) so fingers crossed I could possibly pay £30k of the mortgages over the 7 year period if they keep me on. Honestly I am so happy - it was lovely just getting out of the house and talking to people face to face yet alone getting paid for it as well  

Anyway until I see the rota come through, I'm trying not to get too excited - but I'm struggling to contain my enthusiasm

Hopefully my (not so) little list will help keep my mind focused today:-

1. Play on Mistplay -  DONE 232 points today  Hopefully I will be able to cash out another £5 voucher tomorrow  
2. Complete FB order received - fingers crossed my printer plays ball today!!! - DONE
3. Complete a Nectar survey or two - DONE two surveys completed for 100 points in total  
4. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders as I really need some
5. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders - two commented on - still looking for more  
6. Check free postcode lottery - DONE not a winner
7. Minimal heating on - slippers are on already! - DONE no heating on and its 3pm - hoping to only turn it on for an hour if needed this evening  
8. Find a small way to save electric - Reused knife and plate from hubbies breakfast this morning
9. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target) 
10. Enter 3 competitions - DONE 24 entered
11. List an item on FB Marketplace
12. Look into selling on TikTok
13. Complete a task on OhMyDosh - DONE signed up to InboxPounds for £1 plus earned a sign up bonus of £1 on actual survey site and completed a £1.50 survey on survey site as well  
14. Complete a survey on Shopper Thoughts - no surveys available but I did leave a comment to be entered in a prize draw  
15. Investigate the ways to make an extra £25 I came up with yesterday and sign up for them
16. Get quotes for breakdown insurance (renewal came in for £180!! - £80 more than  last year!)
17. Get quotes for car insurance
18. NSD - DONE £5 transferred in OP savings pot
19. Sign up and explore Shopimum - joined up - now just need to explore  
20. Take a survey on Opinion Outpost - DONE two completed for 35 points in total Only another 65 to go until I can cash £10 out  
21. Pay in cheque received from Royal Mail on banking app - DONE £20.90 waiting to clear (will add to total once showing in my cleared funds)  
22. Complete next step in the savings account saga as got verification code through today - DONE now waiting for a verification email - I have never had to jump through so many hoops!!!
23. Sign up to Supersavvyme - DONE request free panty liners and to be considered to test facial skincare items  

    

~FlowerPot~

Well done on the chippy trial, thats really good news, i do hope they come back to you with the rota soon.

Good luck to your DS with their GCSEs. We have one doing A levels and the coursework assessment has already started, they have 15 hours, but its a bit all spread out. But when thats done that subject will be done and they can then focus on the other 2 which are sciences and blinking tough. Way beyond what I could ever do!!!

craftingmad

~FlowerPot~ said:

Well done on the chippy trial, thats really good news, i do hope they come back to you with the rota soon.

Good luck to your DS with their GCSEs. We have one doing A levels and the coursework assessment has already started, they have 15 hours, but its a bit all spread out. But when thats done that subject will be done and they can then focus on the other 2 which are sciences and blinking tough. Way beyond what I could ever do!!!

Thanks FlowerPot - I've still heard from them so am beginning to get concerned that they don't actually want me anymore. I will try and wait until tomorrow lunchtime and then give them a quick message/call/pop in I think. I cannot wait longer than that - I just want to see it in black and white that they want me  

DS had a meltdown today at school and when I picked him up after school. The pressure is really getting to him poor boy. Fingers crossed tomorrow will be a better day.

I know exactly what you mean - I remember my daughters A levels and it was like it was another language being spoken!! Don't get me started on her Uni course - even when I talk to her now she bamboozles me I console myself with the fact that I must have given all the brains I had to the kids which is why I no longer have one   

craftingmad

Morning everyone. It's a grey day here so that will be my excuse for staying in the warm and not venturing out. It means more time for all my little MSE things to help get rid of our mortgage mountain as quickly as we can wink:

I've still not heard from the chip shop and the wait is killing me - he told me when I finished the trial shift that they want me but I cannot help thinking they have changed their minds. I have found the bosses mobile number on the FB page so will drop him a quick text today I think so I know one way or the other. I'll try and hold off as long as I can so I'm going to try and complete a very long list today to save my mind worrying about whatever will be.

I'm also hoping son has a better day today. It's so hard for them with all the pressure that is being put on them - I just want to wrap him in my arms and never let go - but of course being 16 that is his worst nightmare and would only enhance the angst he is feeling at the moment!!!! 

So here is my long list for today:-

1. Play on Mistplay - only 72 points today but gong to keep going in my spare minutes
2. Complete initial designs for logo design ordered from my website yesterday (it came from one of the enquiries I answered at the start of this week) - DONE
3. Answer enquiry received for display cards - DONE awaiting hearing back with more details so I can provide a quote She got back saying sorted already  
4. Complete a Nectar survey or two - DONE one 60 point survey completed and timed out of 2 so another 4 points to be added - currently at £15.82 so they are adding up nicely  
5. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders as I really need some
6. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders - one commented on - struggling to find more  
7. Check free postcode lottery - DONE not a winner
8. Minimal heating on - slippers are on again already - briefly turned on this morning for showers as it was so cold but no plans to put on for rest of day -my wearable blanket is on again  
9. Find a small way to save electric - waited to charge phone until down to 1% - usually I charge every day  
10. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target) 
11. Enter 3 competitions - DONE 14 entered today from the comps board:)
12. List an item on FB Marketplace
13. Look into selling on TikTok
14. Complete a task on OhMyDosh
15. Complete a survey on Inbox Pounds - DONE two surveys for 20p each completed  
16. Complete a survey on Shopper Thoughts - no surveys available today  
17. Investigate the ways to make an extra £25 I came up with yesterday and sign up for them
18. Get quotes for breakdown insurance (renewal came in for £180!! - £80 more than  last year!)
19. Get quotes for car insurance
20. NSD - DONE £5 transferred to OP savings account
21. Check bank account and make sure enough money in there until payday and see if cheque paid in has cleared - DONE good news - hubby has been paid today so no need to transfer any money back from savings account and have transferred the remaining balance for the month of £1200 into the OP savings pot - bad news - the cheque has not cleared yet  
22. Take a survey on Opinion Outpost - DONE 5 points earnt - only another 60 to go and then I can cash out  
23. Look for next verification code in the savings account saga - should have been received yesterday but no sign last night  - DONE moved £1000 into account - waiting for this to show up before depositing the other £13k I want to earn interest in there Confirmation received but apparently I can only transfer £5k a day from the account into this new one so that is now done and I will transfer £5k again tomorrow and then £3k the following day   
24. Text chippy and get confirmation that they still want to employ me - DONE my fingers are losing circulation as they are crossed so hard for a reply!!! 
25. Freezer inventory

    

craftingmad

Good morning everyone. The sun is shining and I have heard back from the chippy saying that they still want me so I am feeling very happy today. I now just have to wait for the rotas to be issued as it sounds like they are taking on a couple of new people as well as me so I may not get as many hours but I'm ok with that I think I'm just happy that I will be getting  out of the house and getting paid to do it I hope my first shift is soon as I don't want to forget everything I have been taught so far

The OP savings account has now also hit the £10k mark so that will be a lovely amount to knock off the mortgage when the term ends in 2025 

The battery booster for the van has not managed to start it sadly but we are now trying a battery charger on it and hubby hopes that it will be saveable so fingers crossed - really don't want to buy another battery if we can help it as sure it will not be cheap!!! I will keep you informed of developments.

Hubby has a day off today so we are going to have a day out somewhere seeing as the weather is so nice but currently waiting for teenage son to wake up!!! Whilst I'm waiting (and lets face it - it could be sometime!) I'll tackle my little list for today.

So today I hope too:-

1. Play on Mistplay - DONE 272 points earned today and now got enough to cash out a £5 voucher
2. Cash out voucher from Mistplay and add to savings pot - DONE
3. Complete a Nectar survey or two - DONE one completed for 40 points and timed out of 2 so 4 more points as well Balance is now over £16 so building nicely  
4. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders
5. Check free postcode lottery - DONE not a winner
6. Submit shop and scan barcodes and receipts for week - DONE - over half way towards next voucher now  
7. Minimal heating on - woke up to find heating was on  so quickly got up and turned off so same does not happen tomorrow - no more heating today if I can help it!!!! - DONE
8. Find a small way to save electric 
9. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target) 
10. Enter 3 competitions
11. List an item on FB Marketplace
12. Complete a task on OhMyDosh
13. Complete a survey on Inbox Pounds 
14. Complete a survey on Shopper Thoughts 
15. Check bank account and see if cheque cleared - DONE it has so £20.90 transferred to OP savings account
16. Take a survey on Opinion Outpost 
17. Transfer £5000 into savings account to gain interest - DONE
18. Use £25 voucher for Macro sent through post (need toilet rolls, foils etc so came at just the right time) - DONE £25 transferred to savings account
19. Small Asda shop to get last stamp for £5 added to cashpot (need diced swede for tomorrows dinner from there anyway) - DONE not so small shop as spent £44 but did use Blue Light Discount card as OH was with me so £4.33 added to Overpayment savings pot  
20. Freezer inventory

Think that is plenty for today - today is really about having fun and enjoying being together