A Beginners Money Diary

Jon

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End of month update:

Selling: £135 (old phone plus dress)
Prolific ac: £15.29
Curious Cat: £4.10
VYPR: 3850 points
MTurk: $4.10 (in 10 days time!)

Still looking into transcribing etc, but just got a new laptop (this week), and need to sort out word etc. I would like to earn as close to £400 next month as possible, so starting up a new routine for October, and really going for it.

Talked to husband about matched betting, he didn't know about the betting 'against' yourself bit, but perhaps it was the technical jargon. Tried to talk to him about each of us putting £50 in, and creating a separate account, and trying to see how much we could make, but he said all betting was a gamble, and that (looking at the offers), betting shops were tightening up rules to stop it. Is this true?

I wish there was a matched betting guide for dummies! Lol

I still have hope that I can figure it out, and maybe have another go at convincing my husband, but if I figure it out, I might go ahead without him anyway, as I have not previously signed up to any places, so I have a clean slate.

Your husband is wrong. It's not a gamble, it's math. If it wasn't math the thousands upon thousands of people who do matched betting would be losing money endlessly which they aren't.

I've covered the 'dummies' guide to matched betting here - https://slummysinglemummy.com/2015/09/09/earn-up-to-1000-tax-free-every-month-with-matched-betting/

It even includes a video that explains the simple math behind why matched betting isn't gambling
 

Countrymadegirl

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Your husband is wrong. It's not a gamble, it's math. If it wasn't math the thousands upon thousands of people who do matched betting would be losing money endlessly which they aren't.

I've covered the 'dummies' guide to matched betting here - https://slummysinglemummy.com/2015/09/09/earn-up-to-1000-tax-free-every-month-with-matched-betting/

It even includes a video that explains the simple math behind why matched betting isn't gambling

I'm not accusing anyone of lying Jon, and I didn't even say I agreed with my husband, just that I was still trying to get my head around some of the jargon, and, again, maths isn't my strong suit.

I have read the guides on here, and will read them again, but I also feel like the point of this diary is to chronicle this journey into creating a 'job' for myself, and trying new ways to earn money, so I don't really understand why I'm being snapped at about my husband.
 

Jon

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I'm not accusing anyone of lying Jon, and I didn't even say I agreed with my husband, just that I was still trying to get my head around some of the jargon, and, again, maths isn't my strong suit.

I have read the guides on here, and will read them again, but I also feel like the point of this diary is to chronicle this journey into creating a 'job' for myself, and trying new ways to earn money, so I don't really understand why I'm being snapped at about my husband.

I'm not snapping at your about your husband and I do apologise if it came across in that way but sometimes you can just overead everything and it can appear far more complex than it is. It doesn't matter if it Web Search Evaluator work blogging or even Matched Betting. Over reading can be counterproductive sometimes and it can be best to just go in with both feet and see how thing work.

If your husband watched that video on the page linked above I'm sure he will understand the math behind it which should put his mind at ease that it's not gambling..
 

Countrymadegirl

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I'm not snapping at your about your husband and I do apologise if it came across in that way but sometimes you can just overead everything and it can appear far more complex than it is. It doesn't matter if it Web Search Evaluator work blogging or even Matched Betting. Over reading can be counterproductive sometimes and it can be best to just go in with both feet and see how thing work.

If your husband watched that video on the page linked above I'm sure he will understand the math behind it which should put his mind at ease that it's not gambling..

I understand your point of view Jon, but I suffer with Anxiety (diagnosed 4 years ago), which means I cannot help but overthink, and be worried about starting something new. I think in some of my other posts I've been pretty open about my mental health, and the affect it has on me and my life, so when you say to 'just try it' and 'stop overthinking' it's kind of like telling someone with a broken leg to just 'run'.

This is not the first post where you have been blunt with me, even just reading through this diary, and maybe part of that is tone, or it's come off the wrong way, but I don't see you making some of these comments to others. I usually see you congratulating and uplifting others about their progress, and encouraging them, and I can see why that might be frustrating to you when I'm asking stupid questions, or sharing someone else's opinion, but if I'm honest it makes me feel discouraged.
 

Jon

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I understand your point of view Jon, but I suffer with Anxiety (diagnosed 4 years ago), which means I cannot help but overthink, and be worried about starting something new. I think in some of my other posts I've been pretty open about my mental health, and the affect it has on me and my life, so when you say to 'just try it' and 'stop overthinking' it's kind of like telling someone with a broken leg to just 'run'.

This is not the first post where you have been blunt with me, even just reading through this diary, and maybe part of that is tone, or it's come off the wrong way, but I don't see you making some of these comments to others. I usually see you congratulating and uplifting others about their progress, and encouraging them, and I can see why that might be frustrating to you when I'm asking stupid questions, or sharing someone else's opinion, but if I'm honest it makes me feel discouraged.

Worrying about new things is honestly the norm. We all do it, especially when we are venturing into something new. I suppose I say 'just give it a go' as a way to get you to see it from a different point of view, if it's not for you then that's fair enough ;)

I promise you your questions aren't stupid (or even coming across as stupid) and are no different to what everyone asks on here when they are starting out and trying to find their feet.
 

Countrymadegirl

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Update 1

Prolific ac: £3.38 (plus more that hasn't been approved yet) [£18.67 balance]
Curious cat: £0.89 [£4.99 balance]
VYPR: 170 points [4020 balance]

£4.27/£150

I have joined the money making challenge for the first time, and set myself a modest target of £150 for my first month of 'doing it properly', and hoping I make some progress with it!

I have applied for Appen today, though I am a little concerned that I might not be considered for social media evaluator due to having only 13 friends on Facebook (I literally only have people I know and speak to a lot on there)! Did anyone else find they got knocked back from Appen for this?

I have also been exploring my career options here in the countryside, for something a bit more permanent, and it seems to come down to these two: bookkeeper/accountant (freelance), or a proofreader/editor. Both of these options requires training, and neither are particularly cheap. SFEP is charging around £180 for a beginners course in proofreading, which doesn't qualify you to work as a proofreader, but allows you to take the next course, at £270 which would enable me to start working, as a beginner, at proofreading. And even though I am fairly bright, I am not at all confident in my mathematical ability, which is putting me off shelling out a couple of hundred (which I don't really have) to train as a bookkeeper.

Does anyone on here have experience in either? Or can direct me to their previous posts about the day-to-day, real life experience they have with these?
 

Countrymadegirl

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Update 2

Yesterday I cashed out £6.78 from Curious Cat into my savings, and cashed out my Prolific ac account with £28.17.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are my weekend because those are my husband's days off, and I can't get anything done when he's around! So yesterday was the start of my 'working' week.

Despite a slow couple of days, I'm feeling pretty positive about my first week, but even more determined to focus and get things done during the next few weeks, including selling my iMac, which would hopefully net me around £400.

£34.95/£150
 
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Countrymadegirl

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Update 3

Prolific Ac: £4.10
Curious Cat: £0 (since I've cashed out I've not been eligible for any surveys, and they have stopped giving me the one point as a reward for when I'm screened out of surveys. Anyone else noticed this?)
Populus Live: £3 (I know I will have to wait for the £50 cash-out for this though!)

Last night I sighed up to the following, adding them to my daily rotation from now on: Qmee, QuickThoughts, Panelbase and Opinion Hive. I have dropped MTurk because it was messing with my Amazon account, and is only vouchers ($4.10).

£42.05/ £150

I purchased a GCSE workbook for spelling, grammar and punctuation to help me build confidence in these areas. I have a 2:1 in Creative Writing, and did much of my own editing for that, but I feel some gaps in my earlier education with regards to some of the more basic rules, so am going to teach myself. I'm also still contemplating doing a proofreading qualification through SFEP, but its £180 for the introduction for non-members, and want to be sure it would be a viable career. Is there enough of a call for proofreaders for me to get qualifications?
 

Arika

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"Is there enough of a call for proofreaders for me to get qualifications?"

Hello. Maybe search for proofreading positions and see what qualifications they tend to require.

Also, for SFEP, do they have a forum?
 

Countrymadegirl

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"Is there enough of a call for proofreaders for me to get qualifications?"

Hello. Maybe search for proofreading positions and see what qualifications they tend to require.

Also, for SFEP, do they have a forum?

I've just been looking at job sites, and have noticed two trends: all of them want you to be really experienced, without offering any experience, and they seem to combine proofreading with administrative tasks, and copy-writing, and even translation.

I then looked at my area, and it's mainly shops and pubs, there is no call for either bookkeeping or editing/proofreading, so perhaps I need to consider that I am in the wrong area for my skillset.
 
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Countrymadegirl

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Update 4

Prolific Ac: £6.20

£48.25/£150

After a positive start, I am starting to feel a bit down about my progress. Still haven't received the £28.17 into my Paypal from Prolific, and it said in the email that it should take no more than 5 days, and usually much faster, but it's now Tuesday and no sign of it!

I think there is a lot of fear/discomfort attached to trying to make money. Fear of taking a chance on things that involve an initial outlay, like Matched Betting, thanks to scams on the internet. Perhaps I'm showing my age, but there used to be all these get rich quick schemes, that always involved spending money to make money.

So I've decided to sign up to a bunch more sites, including some user testing ones. I plan to record my daily earnings here much more specifically for the rest of the month, in order to assess which ones are worth doing (for me). I have also decided to take the plunge with matched betting, using whatever I make this month, and recording what a hopeless beginner can make in a month (November). I'm even toying with the idea of making a blog about it, if I find it fun to record my endeavours here for the next couple of months!
 
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Arika

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Have you considered writing as an earning option? There's a lot more demand for writers than proofreaders, and the experience required is more varied.

Proofreading can be a somewhat tricky one to get into (though there's a real need for it).
 

Countrymadegirl

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Have you considered writing as an earning option? There's a lot more demand for writers than proofreaders, and the experience required is more varied.

Proofreading can be a somewhat tricky one to get into (though there's a real need for it).

I would love to get paid to write, but this is something I have no idea how to get into legitimately. I have previously signed up for freelancer etc, and been discouraged by how little people want to pay for copy-writing jobs, and since I'm agoraphobic, I'm not best placed to make connections, and develop work opportunities that way.
 
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Countrymadegirl

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Update 5

So as per my previous post, I've decided to record my efforts slightly differently from this point forward. I will keep a running tally of all the sites I'm using, how much I've currently earned/have in the 'bank' for them, and a separate section for how much I have earned that is in my savings account, i.e. the amount I have earned and withdrawn into my bank.

Panel Opinion: £0.62
Prolific Ac: £12.25
Populus Live: £5.00
20 Cogs: £31.00 (14 cogs to go)
VYPR app: 4970 (10,000= £5)
YouGov: 1162
Top Cashback: £0
MTurk: $4.10 (not really using this)
Curious Cat: £0.49
Opinion Hive: £0
Qmee: £1.58
Quick Thoughts: £1.50
Inbox Opinions: £1.41 (got a sign up through Curious Cat)
Crowdology: £0

In The Bank: £39.96

Today I plan to sign up to the following: Crowdsurf, Pinecone, and McMoney.

I know it doesn't seem much, being on day 12 of the month, but as it is the first month I've started trying to earn from the beginning, I feel pretty good about it. I'm still looking for more ways to make money at a reasonable rate, and without any financial outlay!
 
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Arika

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I would love to get paid to write, but this is something I have no idea how to get into legitimately. I have previously signed up for freelancer etc, and been discouraged by how little people want to pay for copy-writing jobs, and since I'm agoraphobic, I'm not best placed to make connections, and develop work opportunities that way.

There's a site called Metro: https://metro.cnetcontent.com/. They're looking for writers. From what I can see, it's mostly for short product descriptions. You have to take two tests: an English one and a writing one. I found the first one easy, but found the second difficult, so didn't complete it. You might have better luck as everyone's wired with their own writing strengths and weaknesses.

If you decide to go for it, good luck.
 
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Countrymadegirl

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There's a site called Metro: https://metro.cnetcontent.com/. They're looking for writers. From what I can see, it's mostly for short product descriptions. You have to take two tests: an English one and a writing one. I found the first one easy, but found the second difficult, so didn't complete it. You might have better luck as everyone's wired with their own writing strengths and weaknesses.

If you decide to go for it, good luck.

Thank you for sharing this! I'm pretty much the opposite in terms of strengths, I'm more of a creative writer, and sometimes worry my grammar etc isn't good enough, but will sign up today and see what it's like!
 
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Arika

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You're welcome :)

All the best applying. Your strength might come in handy for the job.
 

Jon

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Thank you for sharing this! I'm pretty much the opposite in terms of strengths, I'm more of a creative writer, and sometimes worry my grammar etc isn't good enough, but will sign up today and see what it's like!
Are you using grammarly at all?
 

Countrymadegirl

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Are you using grammarly at all?

I haven't used grammarly before, but may give it a look. I think my problem is confidence to be honest, as I got a high 2:1 for my degree in creative writing, but lack confidence in my abilities. I am working on it! ;)
 

Countrymadegirl

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Update 6

Feeling slightly disheartened, I won't lie, because I am not seeing much change in the figures, but it's been the weekend, so I know it will have been busier. I'm determined to get up bright and early tomorrow and WORK!

Panel Opinion: £0.69 (up by £0.07)
Prolific Ac: £0 (requested cash out of £12.25, but not sure with charges how much I will receive in bank!)
Populus Live: £5 (no change, no surveys)
20 Cogs: £31 (No change: 14 cogs to go, and most of them gambling ones)
VYPR: 4970 (No change)
YouGov: 1162 (No change)
Top Cashback: £0.24 (No change, still pending)
MTurk: $4.10 (No change, have not been on)
Curious Cat: £0.59 (up by £0.10)
Opinion Hive: £0 (still not received a survey, but I think it is weekly?)
Qmee: £1.68 (up by £0.10)
Quick Thoughts: £1.50 (No change)
Crowdology: £0 (No change, no surveys for me)
Pinecone: signed up!
Inbox Pounds (I thought it was Inbox Opinions!): £1.46 (up by £0.05)

In The Bank: £39.96

Today I plan to focus on more sign ups for writing/proofing type jobs that have tests involved that I have been putting off! At the end of the month I will drop anything that isn't earning well I think, as I don't want to have too long a list for things to check everyday!
 
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