Joyce Ibitoye

You can only stretch money so far. At some point, more has to come in.

I know this because I have lived the first half well. Budgets, debt payoff, savings, all of it. Those skills saved me.

But they cannot earn for me.

So I am doing something I have never done properly. I am putting online income methods to the test. As a chartered accountant. With a spreadsheet. Over 90 days.

Not hype. Not hope. Evidence.

Next post: how this investigation started and what I am actually testing.

What would change for you if an extra £200 came in every month?

What we focus on tends to increase.

I have spent years focused on Part One of personal finance. Budgeting. Cutting costs. Living below my means. It worked. I cleared £40K of debt on a £21K salary.

But Part Two, the income side, has never had my full attention.

I have tried blogging, YouTube, affiliate marketing, coaching, bookkeeping, Amazon FBA. Made small amounts from some. Nothing meaningful from most.

So for the next 90 days, I am putting Part Two under the same scrutiny I gave Part One. Accountant's discipline. Proper testing. Real numbers.

If it works, I will show you how. If it does not, I will tell you that too.

Follow along. The investigation starts this week.

Which side of your money equation needs more focus right now?

I’ve tried many ways to earn outside the nine-to-five.

The skill I kept avoiding?

Visibility.

Because people can’t buy from me if they don’t know I exist.

What skill are you avoiding?

My savings didn’t just protect me when redundancy came.

They gave me time to think, rebuild and choose my next move without panic.

What would you build if you had more time?

Managing money gave me control.

But increasing my income is what will give me more options.

I’m now putting far more focus on the second half of personal finance.

Which side needs more of your attention right now?

Online, people make it sound quick. It wasn't for me — it took two years between my last job ending and earning again for myself.
Save for the gap. It's longer than anyone online will admit.
What's the worst money advice you've been sold online? Tell me below 👇

Can we trust you? That's all a credit score has ever asked. 💳 "
The 5 Things UK Credit Checks Actually Look At

Paying on time
Biggest factor, by far. Late or missed payments hurt the most.
How much credit you're using
Keep it under 30% of your limit. Under 10% is even better.
How long you've had credit
Older accounts help. Don't close your oldest card.
Being on the electoral roll
Register at your current address — it's free and it matters more than people think.
How many times you've applied recently
Too many applications in a short time looks risky to lenders.

Avalanche or Snowball, which should you choose? Snowball is like a starter pack. New to debt repayment, you want quick wins. Avalanche, big guns, get rid of the debt costing you the most. If I had to pick one, I'd pick Avalanche. Which would you pick? Drop it in the comments.