The top 12 market research agencies to join or how to make your £1000 per month in UK

 

 

Now without further ado, here are the top market research companies to sign up to. We've chosen these based on feedback from users, as well as our own experiences when we signed up.

1) Saros – a big, well-established agency

Established agency Saros typically pays £40 to £100 cash for two hours' work. We've also seen projects that involve taking part in WhatsApp groups for a few weeks pay over £200. 'Like' its Facebook page to get first dibs on the latest opportunities.

Typical payment per project: £40-£100
Where does it run groups (normally)? Most face-to-face research takes place in the major cities such as London, Manchester and Birmingham, but it runs telephone, online and in-home research too.
How is it currently running projects? People can take part remotely, including by telephone, chat forum and Zoom video call.

 

I have done a couple of things for Saros in the past, got paid on the day in cash. Whoop-peee, £40 or £50 straightaway.
- Forumite Danielle1977

2) Angelfish Opinions – good for fun online projects

With plenty of online projects (even before lockdown), Angelfish Opinions has great Trustpilot feedback. Tasks are often on fun subjects – we saw it offer £50 for an online fantasy sports task and £70 for an online forum about travel. Its Facebook page is full of current opportunities.

Typical payment per project: £40-£200
Where does it run groups (normally)? Face-to-face groups are UK-wide.
How is it currently running projects? Methods include telephone, Google Hangouts and Zoom.

3) Research Opinions – one of the higher payers

Based in Manchester, Research Opinions runs focus groups across the country – often for tasty sums. We saw £200 offered for a two-hour luxury car focus group and £120 for an online forum about chocolate spread on pancakes (sign me up...). Join its busy Facebook and Instagram pages for a heads-up on new projects.

Typical payment per project: £50-£200
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide, with many online sessions.
How is it currently running projects? It's interviewing people by phone or by Zoom and Skype video calls.

 

I attended a focus group with Research Opinions for two hours (drinks and snacks provided) and was given £50 cash. All I had to do was sit in a room with five other people and give my opinion on a certain well-known brand.
- Forumite Needeasymoney

4) Market Research 4 U – good for people in the South East

When we checked, Market Research 4 U had heaps of opportunities on offer, from £50 for a one-hour chat on joining the Royal Navy, to £70 for a two-hour chat about nappies.

Typical payment per project: £50-£150
Where does it run groups (normally)? The vast majority take place in London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
How is it currently running projects? You can take part by telephone or video call (often Google Hangouts).

5) QMR – good for heaps of opportunities

QMR is a well-established agency that had tons of opportunities when we checked. Shout-outs included £85 for a three-hour focus group on snacks and £135 for an online project on beer.

Typical payment per project: £50-£200
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide, with lots of online projects.
How is it currently running projects? Methods include phone or Zoom video calls.

6) Trend Market Research – high payer with lots of projects

Trend Market Research is another good bet, with reams of well-paying projects. We saw £230 for a three-hour discussion on cars (car discussions are often one of the top payers if you fit the bill) and £50 to taste a meal and give feedback. Join its Facebook group for alerts.

Typical payment per project: £40-£200
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide, but mainly London and the Home Counties.
How is it currently running projects? It depends on the project but methods include chat forums, over the phone and by Zoom video call.

7) Focus Force – good for Londoners (plus has online projects)

Holding most of its groups in London, Focus Force typically pays £50-£100 a survey. When we signed up to test it, there were a host of projects, from £50 to test cooking a meal to £60 for a two-hour chat on 'your perceptions of Africa'.

Typical payment per project: £50-£100
Where does it run groups (normally)? Mainly in London venues, but it also offers online and telephone projects.
How is it currently running projects? It depends on the project, but often via Skype.

8) Talking Point Research – high payer with lots of projects

Another established agency, Talking Point Research is well worth a join. When we checked, projects included £60 for a one-hour group on fitness and £40 for a telephone interview if your child has a skin condition.

Typical payment per project: £40-£100
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide, but mainly London and the Home Counties.
How is it currently running projects? You can take part via Whatsapp, telephone and chat forum, depending on the project.

9) Bunnyfield – good for research on fun topics

With decent feedback from MoneySavers, Bunnyfield runs focus groups, as well as many online and telephone projects. Topics are often fun – we saw £50 offered to talk about days out and £50 for an online forum about football kit.

Typical payment per project: £50-£150
Where does it run groups (normally)? London, Oxfordshire and Sheffield, but it also has online and telephone projects.
How is it currently running projects? Methods include Zoom and Google Hangouts.

 

I've done focus groups for £50-£100. Better still are the telephone/live web ones where you don't have to leave the house. Bunnyfield's good for this.
- Forumite MollyDolly

10) Focus4People – runs groups in the South East (and online)

It's possible to earn £30 to £150 per session with Focus4People. Recent projects included £40 for a one-hour video call on news and £50 for an hour's in-person chat about holidays. Like its Facebook page to see the latest projects.

Typical payment per project: £30-£150
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide, though most projects are in south east England. It also runs telephone and online sessions, so it's worth everyone joining.
How is it currently running projects? Most are taking place over telephone and Zoom video call.

11) Fresh Thinkers – worth joining for belt and braces

While it had fewer projects than some of the other agencies we signed up to, Fresh Thinkers is worth signing up to for belt and braces.

Typical payment per project: £40-£100
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide
How is it currently running projects? We have not seen Fresh Thinkers offer many projects recently.

12) Research Helper – join if you're keen

Another site worth joining if you're really committed is Research Helper. When we joined though there were only a couple of opportunities currently available, including £20 for a telephone interview on groceries.

Typical payment per project: £20-£50
Where does it run groups (normally)? UK-wide
How is it currently running projects? Video call and telephone.

 

(inspired by MoneyMakingExpert.com)

 

Learning about cryptocurrency

Motto:  '' I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.'' 

(Leonardo da Vinci)

I don't know about you, but i have plenty of time at the moment, and i use it to learn. As the cryptocurrency is the latest trend, i will put some interesting links for you.

ZEN coin website - very interesting courses based on your level: begginer, average and expert. 

Binace exchange - quite an expensive range - interesting bits of knowledge related to main subjects in the crypto world.

EDX.org - this is my favourite website to learn, and you can find enough computer knowledge here to keep you busy for years to come. 

ODEM website - they got many courses, and quite few of them are free. 

The strategy that i use is to look around, find something that interests me and just put the video on, usually when i do my strength training, or put some interesting music and start reading the text. I had enough of TV now, and i am not proud to say that i've seen most of Netflix by now. So this is a nice change. 

I hope i will give you some ideas on how to keep busy. Have a good week!

G.

End of the month report - 1st of May

Total portfolio: £33830 (+2582)
Debt: 0 (-800)
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £33830 (+3382)

Investments UK: £26841 (+2435)
Investments overseas : £3934 (same)
Cash: £2432 (-357)
Pension: £12996(+904)

Total Income: £1510 (main job)+0 (second job) + 93= 1603
Passive income: £94 (5.87%)
Savings rate: 49.37%

Side hustle 2 profit: £0.25
Side hustle 3 profit: £ 10 (Betting in March £1508)
Side hustle 4 value: £3720 (Funds spent in crypto:5067)
Side hustle 5 profit: £6.78

This was a good month, but only on the paper. Anyway, i paid my short term loan, and i have no debts, once again. The net worth had an £3382 increase, mainly due to the market recovering and the  crypto increasing as the third halving is approaching. Cash is slightly lower than the previous month, but not with much. My side hustles and side gigs are almost inexistent, no extra work, no match betting or anything like that. Crypto is on an ascendent trend at least, but still nowhere near the 2018 levels (£3720 in May 2020 versus £5067 value in 2018). But staying at home has some benefits, as i am training 4 days a week in stregth and endurance, and i just published another book, about our gut intestinal flora and the inteligence of our beneficial microbes. I try my best, but i still spend quite a bit in front on the computer and sometimes Netflix. But, in my defence, i am learning Spanish and guitar.

Hope you are all good! Stay safe and live brightly!
G.

End of the month report - April 2020

Total portfolio: £31248 (-1985)
Debt: 800 (-82)
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £30448 (-1863)

Investments UK: £24406(-2257)
Investments overseas : £3934 (same)
Cash: £2789(+337)
Pension: £12092(-2283)

Total Income: £1534 (main job)+0 (second job) + 1519 = 3053
Passive income: £1519 (49.75%)
Savings rate: 6.55%

Side hustle 2 profit: £3.38
Side hustle 3 profit: £ 1508 (Betting in March)
Side hustle 4 value: £2451 (Funds spent in crypto:5067)
Side hustle 5 profit: £7.37

March was a very eventful month, with a full blown financial crisis on the top. I got almost 2k wiped out from my net worth, mainly due to the £2283 decrease on my pensions. The shares also got a hit, so overall most of the investments slightly decreased, even the cryptocurrencies lost around 4% of their value.

But, and happily by pure chance there is a but, i was very lucky with my betting on Cheltenham, right before everything (football, racing etc) got cancelled, having a nice 1500 made on the horses. Now everything else seems to stop, even the timeline. I am working to get the money i paid on the July holiday back, as i do not think that this will happen anytime soon.

And i was stuck in the home most of the time, with not much to do. I did a deep clean of the house, i did everything that i was supposed to do in the garden.

Hope everybody is well!

G.

March 2020

What a month!

So many changes to my actual lifestyle, and so many unknown factors added to the equation. I will do my monthly report very soon.

See you. Take care.
G.

Coronavirus self-isolation journal

I have always wondered how retirement early could feel, in terms of doing different things and having all the time in the world. Apparently, my wish was granted, under stranger than life circumstances. I was sent home for 12 weeks, and i am being paid, so this can be like a test for my future early retirement plans.

The conditions are not optimal, the market seems to sink faster than Titanic, but i have 3 months to fill up. We will see what is next.

The link for my journal is here.

And if you, like me, hate the fact that the gym is closed, this is my alternative for training at home (link). The website is quite good, and they also got phone apps for weight training, training at home, running and nutrition. I started 64 months ago to train with them, and they keep improving.

See you soon.
G.

Monthly report - February 2020

Total portfolio: £33233 (+2085)
Debt: 882
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £32351 (+1203)

Investments UK: £26663 (+1549)
Investments overseas : £3934 (same)
Cash: £2452 (+352)
Pension: £14375 (+226)

Total Income: £1556.38 (main job)+0 (second job) + 404 = 1960.38
Passive income: £404 (20.61%)
Savings rate: 10.20%

Side hustle 2 profit: £0.43
Side hustle 3 profit: £ 385 (Betting in January-February)
Side hustle 4 value: £2557 (Funds spent in crypto:5067)
Side hustle 5 profit: £18.84 

This is looking a bit better, but i am still far from what i want to do. The debt is a holiday that i need to pay before 3rd of June 2020. I had few expenses related to Valentine's Day (wink-wink), but otherwise last month was quite uneventful. Slightly increasing on every mark (even if everything took a fall lately in relation with the Coronavirus scare).

Healthwise, i am a bit cranky, as i try to eliminate all the sugar and the caffeine from my diet. I started slowly with only one week at the time. I will see how it will go. My focus this year is on saving enough for a deposit to get a studio or a flat for rent before next year wedding. If i manage to do this by the end of the year, i will be pleased.

See you all next time!
G.