This month I am going to be proper skint and it?s the first time in a few years that I?ve said that. I?ve spent out quite a lot in the last month on doing up the kitchen which included oven, hob, sink, taps, worktops, plumbing, and even then I?ve still got to buy the finishing pieces such as kickboards and upstands which will all add more. I?m now a regular in Wickes, picking up items here and there, and it surprising how it all adds up with even a small trip for a few items costing a fair bit.
I do think that I?m over the main costs now though (central heating + kitchen) and can concentrate again on decoration with plastering, wallpaper, and painting coming in a lot cheaper due to my material costs. I still have the council tax to pay (due on 7th) and then I have to pay a gas engineer £85 tomorrow to connect my gas hob which will eat further into the remainder of my wages which I only received on Friday.
I know that once the refurb is complete then my costs will reduce again to the level I budgeted for myself but even then it will take a few months to reach an equilibrium. So I?m tempted to try and earn some more money. Getting a second job is out of the question as I need my spare time to work on the house, so I?ve opted to try out some online surveys! I know it?s a bit of a tinpot solution but looking around I could get a few quid here and there just for putting info in. I?ve set up a special email for it so that I can delete it if I?m getting too much spam, and will see how it goes. I can probably predict that it won?t be worth it, but any extra money will help.
I?m also having a look into Google adsense and will see how it fits in with the blog. If it?s just a small banner on the sidebar then fine, but if it?s too intrusive then I won?t use it.
Other ideas for raising cash are ebay, but I don?t have anything worth selling, or seeing about getting in a few quick web-design jobs through my Thanet Media site.
And as a last resort?.
There are loads of sites out there mate, some good, some bad.
Some sites to use:
Yougov ? Very good but don?t pay out until you reach £50 and that can take a loooonnnng time.
OnePoll ? Payout upon reaching £40
Lightspeed panel ? pay out in vouchers
Valued Opinions ? ditto
Pigsback ? ditto
Valued Opinions ? ditto
Get yourself on http://www.moneysavingexpert.com and have a look around ? there are plenty of great ideas on there.
I?ve been using Adsense for about two months and reckon I now have enough to buy a breakfast in New York (since their paying dollars) for me and Mrs Me although I think only one of us could have the full monty which is Ok as Mrs Me rarely has a cooked breakfast preferring to scowl at me from a bowl of cornflakes.
The amount is trivial but the way I see it is, if the moneys there you should take it. A few weeks ago I got offered £75 to plug that new ferry service, but decided against it as Google terms appear to prohibit commercial use on blogger except I assume for Adsense.
Still today I received a handful of tea bags worth, as a thank you for mentioning some satellite TV show I?m not sure whether that now makes me a paid writer.
It?s car boot sale season. A little investment can reap rewards. I bought a nomad shirt for a quid last Sunday that I know will rake in about 15 pounds on Ebay. If you can rise at an unearthly hour and get to a big one ? or even the smaller one near Manston ? it?d probably be worth it.
You?re getting creative! I have nothing to offer or donate but my well wishes. That you can have for free. Good luck with this!
Ha hA? I didn?t expect any donations but I have now added Google Adsense to the blog and will see how it works and if it doesn?t interfere too much.