The Journey to Financial Freedom

[Stims]

I'll start by introducing myself to the forum;

I'm a 23 year old marketing graduate who is shall we say, a little strapped for cash. This is due to many poor money decisions while being at university - i don't regret them all as i had a blast, but i could have definitely been smarter.

Since graduating last year, i have only had 2 temporary jobs which didn't work out. For this reason, i have slowly but surely exhausted all my funds to the point i've signed on to JSA to help me survive until i find employment (i wish i signed on earlier, as this has so far been a positive experience). I have recently been reading a lot of blogs and posts online regarding earlier retirement and have seen various reports of people retiring in there 30s or 40s because they have spent the last years working hard, saving, and earning money to enable them to do so and from this i was inspired to take control of my own finances: this thread was born!

So what are my goals?

- Find suitable employment (the most urgent matter for me as i want to stop lodging and get my own flat with a friend)
- Clear my debts (£500 credit card with Vanquis, £300 arranged overdraft with HSBC and a £1500 interest free overdraft from Santander)
- Start creating a regular income from the internet
- Work towards creating a passive income

In this thread i will post daily if possible, outlining what i have done, what i have earnt and any new goals i have.

Currently i am in the process of searching this forum and deciding what sites i want to sign upto and start investing my time into. So far i have:

-Clixsense
-Qmee

 

[Jon]

I'll start by introducing myself to the forum;

I'm a 23 year old marketing graduate who is shall we say, a little strapped for cash. This is due to many poor money decisions while being at university - i don't regret them all as i had a blast, but i could have definitely been smarter.

Since graduating last year, i have only had 2 temporary jobs which didn't work out. For this reason, i have slowly but surely exhausted all my funds to the point i've signed on to JSA to help me survive until i find employment (i wish i signed on earlier, as this has so far been a positive experience). I have recently been reading a lot of blogs and posts online regarding earlier retirement and have seen various reports of people retiring in there 30s or 40s because they have spent the last years working hard, saving, and earning money to enable them to do so and from this i was inspired to take control of my own finances: this thread was born!

So what are my goals?

- Find suitable employment (the most urgent matter for me as i want to stop lodging and get my own flat with a friend)
- Clear my debts (£500 credit card with Vanquis, £300 arranged overdraft with HSBC and a £1500 interest free overdraft from Santander)
- Start creating a regular income from the internet
- Work towards creating a passive income

In this thread i will post daily if possible, outlining what i have done, what i have earnt and any new goals i have.

Currently i am in the process of searching this forum and deciding what sites i want to sign upto and start investing my time into. So far i have:

-Clixsense
-Qmee

sounds great!


As always - the earning online beginners toolkit this should be your starting point!


http://blog.themoneyshed.co.uk/working-from-home-toolkit/

 

[Stims]

Thanks, on my way to check out the toolkit shortly! Got some websites to sign upto now, i will update this thread appropriately.

 

[toastking]

So have you decided on any other websites to get working online with? Will you be doing a blog or just getting skilled up to then start a business to provide your passive income?

 

[Stims]

So have you decided on any other websites to get working online with? Will you be doing a blog or just getting skilled up to then start a business to provide your passive income?

For now my sites will be:

- WhatUsersDo (Just signed up so awaiting approval)
- Clixsense, mainly the surveys on peanutlabs
- Roamler (when i get an invitation code)
- ClicAndWalk (awaiting my confirmation code)
- OnePulse (on mobile, a mini survey app)

I will be looking into other sites and hope to find out the best ones so i can focus my time on a select few.

As for a blog, i've considered making one but i really don't think it will attract many visits as there are so many out there, although i could be wrong. I'm looking to start a business eventually when i get a good enough idea, or something worth investing my time in but for now i'll be focussing on getting a job and building my capital.

 

[toastking]

I do quite a bit of mentoring so if you want some help on the getting a job front I'm happy to help review CV's, job profiles and cover letters and/or your route to the job market.

Mainly the people I've worked with have been on DLA, other benefits, jobless since uni or been ideal for freelancing but I've also helped 1 or 2 take more traditional routes into work.

Modified to add: I am not talking chargeable work here! Just advice...

 

[Stims]

I do quite a bit of mentoring so if you want some help on the getting a job front I'm happy to help review CV's, job profiles and cover letters and/or your route to the job market.

Mainly the people I've worked with have been on DLA, other benefits, jobless since uni or been ideal for freelancing but I've also helped 1 or 2 take more traditional routes into work.

Modified to add: I am not talking chargeable work here! Just advice...

That sounds awesome! If you don't count the two short term telesales jobs i had then i've pretty much been unemployed since uni. I've been put on a graduate academy course to help with employability through the jobcentre but i'm keen to get any extra information and guidance i can to broaden my knowledge and increase my chances!

I could send over my CV to you later on today when i start working on the employability again perhaps?

-----------

Started today with a clixsense survey to make sure i reach my daily goal of at least $1.00 earning for now... steady and small but consistent

 

[toastking]

Go for it, we can use PMs to provide contact details etc. so that they are not on an open forum.

Now I am not a scammer or anything, but remove personal details like your address + tel number when getting help with these kinds of things. Never know what kind of weirdos you get online!

 

[sparkleandshine]

good luck with achieving your goals

 

[Stims]

good luck with achieving your goals

Thank you

So i have contacted Roamler and Clic and Walk and got my accounts running which should provide a little extra over the weeks

I can't do much on CAW at the minute as the only one available to me is £2.50 to go and buy a coca cola in a pub or bar. I may do that when i get some money and hopefully pick up a cheap drink!

The Biscuit Checks on Roamler are way too far for me so i'll have to give them a miss, but i will try and get a banana check done in the next few days. Other than that i will keep working on building my exp on both apps for now.

 

[Karonher]

Good luck. Its great that you have started to do this at a young age rather than wait until you have massive debts.

 

[Stims]

Good luck. Its great that you have started to do this at a young age rather than wait until you have massive debts.

Heh yeah my debts are small compared to some people, but i want to get rid of them!

Checking through all my sites and apps now to see if there's anything new to complete today! I will update later with my totals.

 

[sparkleandshine]

I think it's great that you've already realised a job isn't the be all and end all and you are already looking into creating other income streams for yourself. It's great when you have your own business as it's something no one can ever take away from you, unlike a job, where you can be made redundant at any time. You usually have to be prepared to work very hard for very little money when starting out though! But I see you are also looking for a job which you can work at alongside your business and other money making projects, so you seem to me like you have your head screwed on right

 

[Stims]

I think it's great that you've already realised a job isn't the be all and end all and you are already looking into creating other income streams for yourself. It's great when you have your own business as it's something no one can ever take away from you, unlike a job, where you can be made redundant at any time. You usually have to be prepared to work very hard for very little money when starting out though! But I see you are also looking for a job which you can work at alongside your business and other money making projects, so you seem to me like you have your head screwed on right

Yeah i like to think i do. I mean i've been stupid in the past but i can put that down to being young. I've seen my parents take on stupid debts to try and get by and my dad work a job he hates for what seems like forever and decided i want to try and avoid a similar fate.

I see many younger people complaining about money but few actually working hard to do something about it.

I have now made a spreadsheet to keep track of all my earnings and will be posting a weekly update in this thread. My to do list is:

-Register at at least one cashback website
-Re-create a tailored CV for the recruitment industry (where i want to work i think)
- Send off some more job applications

 

[Chammy]

I think it's great that you've already realised a job isn't the be all and end all and you are already looking into creating other income streams for yourself. It's great when you have your own business as it's something no one can ever take away from you, unlike a job, where you can be made redundant at any time. You usually have to be prepared to work very hard for very little money when starting out though! But I see you are also looking for a job which you can work at alongside your business and other money making projects, so you seem to me like you have your head screwed on right

Yeah i like to think i do. I mean i've been stupid in the past but i can put that down to being young. I've seen my parents take on stupid debts to try and get by and my dad work a job he hates for what seems like forever and decided i want to try and avoid a similar fate.

I see many younger people complaining about money but few actually working hard to do something about it.

I have now made a spreadsheet to keep track of all my earnings and will be posting a weekly update in this thread. My to do list is:

-Register at at least one cashback website
-Re-create a tailored CV for the recruitment industry (where i want to work i think)
- Send off some more job applications

Top Cashback are giving away 500 bonus Tesco Club Card points for signing up under a referral today...I feel cheeky posting mine so if you are interested then you can get their via my blog in the sig or there are many others lurking around on the forum haha

 

[Stims]

I think it's great that you've already realised a job isn't the be all and end all and you are already looking into creating other income streams for yourself. It's great when you have your own business as it's something no one can ever take away from you, unlike a job, where you can be made redundant at any time. You usually have to be prepared to work very hard for very little money when starting out though! But I see you are also looking for a job which you can work at alongside your business and other money making projects, so you seem to me like you have your head screwed on right

Yeah i like to think i do. I mean i've been stupid in the past but i can put that down to being young. I've seen my parents take on stupid debts to try and get by and my dad work a job he hates for what seems like forever and decided i want to try and avoid a similar fate.

I see many younger people complaining about money but few actually working hard to do something about it.

I have now made a spreadsheet to keep track of all my earnings and will be posting a weekly update in this thread. My to do list is:

-Register at at least one cashback website
-Re-create a tailored CV for the recruitment industry (where i want to work i think)
- Send off some more job applications

Top Cashback are giving away 500 bonus Tesco Club Card points for signing up under a referral today...I feel cheeky posting mine so if you are interested then you can get their via my blog in the sig or there are many others lurking around on the forum haha

Well that would be beneficial.. only i don't even have a clubcard

So today i have sold an old xbox and old TV giving a grand total of £25! Haha... Also done a quick survey on ProlificAcademics for £2 and a Clic and Walk task for £0.50

 

[Chammy]

I think it's great that you've already realised a job isn't the be all and end all and you are already looking into creating other income streams for yourself. It's great when you have your own business as it's something no one can ever take away from you, unlike a job, where you can be made redundant at any time. You usually have to be prepared to work very hard for very little money when starting out though! But I see you are also looking for a job which you can work at alongside your business and other money making projects, so you seem to me like you have your head screwed on right

Yeah i like to think i do. I mean i've been stupid in the past but i can put that down to being young. I've seen my parents take on stupid debts to try and get by and my dad work a job he hates for what seems like forever and decided i want to try and avoid a similar fate.

I see many younger people complaining about money but few actually working hard to do something about it.

I have now made a spreadsheet to keep track of all my earnings and will be posting a weekly update in this thread. My to do list is:

-Register at at least one cashback website
-Re-create a tailored CV for the recruitment industry (where i want to work i think)
- Send off some more job applications

Top Cashback are giving away 500 bonus Tesco Club Card points for signing up under a referral today...I feel cheeky posting mine so if you are interested then you can get their via my blog in the sig or there are many others lurking around on the forum haha

Well that would be beneficial.. only i don't even have a clubcard

haha I do but I shop in Tesco only if I REALLY have to...and then it's only because I am desperate (and in town where it's the only supermarket)

 

[chw86]

You sound very determined & definitely on the right track, good luck!

 

[chw86]

Oh and also, get a Clubcard! I've managed to save enough to swap for Goldsmiths vouchers to buy a Tag watch in the past, by taking advantage of deals and using their credit card for all of my outgoings (then paying off the same month). We also regularly eat at Pizza Express for free with the vouchers too. It can really rack up and they have some great partner deals. You can also convert cashback from TCB into points, which is a great way of amassing points.

 

[kajama]

Oh and also, get a Clubcard! I've managed to save enough to swap for Goldsmiths vouchers to buy a Tag watch in the past, by taking advantage of deals and using their credit card for all of my outgoings (then paying off the same month). We also regularly eat at Pizza Express for free with the vouchers too. It can really rack up and they have some great partner deals. You can also convert cashback from TCB into points, which is a great way of amassing points.

I have 'a few' clubcards and spend money using all of them to try to get to 250 points a quarter on each so that I then get sent a variety of coupons.