Any ideas for more moneysaving?

lilrowan

Couldn't you get a lower membership to the gym, like off-peak user or something like that? That might cut spending a little?

Spendless

Re the childcare costs. How old is your son in nursery? At 3 he should get 12.5 hours per week funded for him in term-time.

Also if you don't qualify for help with childcare costs via the tax credit system. Does either of your employer offer childcare vouchers such as Accor or Busybee? You can salary sacrifice upto £50 a week in return for childcare vouchers and the money sacrificed is exempt from tax and NI. If both your and your OH employer offers childcare vouchers then you ccan both salary sacrifice to pay the costs for the same child.

homersimpson_3

risk assessment would have identified steps management need to take to comply with health and safety. if employers not doing what they should suggest you contact union reps- you can ask for your name to be kept out of it. if they have no joy they can go to health and safety executive if necessary.

ring up water company - they will give you idea whether cheaper. if you agree to having meter installed can ask for it to be removed during first 12 months. after this it stays there.

brummiebabe

Spendless wrote:

Re the childcare costs. How old is your son in nursery? At 3 he should get 12.5 hours per week funded for him in term-time.

Also if you don't qualify for help with childcare costs via the tax credit system. Does either of your employer offer childcare vouchers such as Accor or Busybee? You can salary sacrifice upto £50 a week in return for childcare vouchers and the money sacrificed is exempt from tax and NI. If both your and your OH employer offers childcare vouchers then you ccan both salary sacrifice to pay the costs for the same child.

I previously used the busybee voucher scheme, but I know that the rules changed in April 2005. If I only get the basic level of child tax credit - does that mean using vouchers won't impact upon my claim for CTC? The whole system is slightly confusing!!(I currently get nothing due to being overpaid:rolleyes: ) Does anyone out there know? I'd hate to be overpaid (AGAIN!) once my payments do restart in MArch 2006!!

My son is 3 in Feb 2006, so I know he'll be able to get some money off - my sister (who's daughter goes to the same nursery for the same amount of days) is around £100 per month better off! I could put all that towards the debt - GREAT IDEA!!!!:j

brummiebabe

homersimpson wrote:

risk assessment would have identified steps management need to take to comply with health and safety. if employers not doing what they should suggest you contact union reps- you can ask for your name to be kept out of it. if they have no joy they can go to health and safety executive if necessary.

ring up water company - they will give you idea whether cheaper. if you agree to having meter installed can ask for it to be removed during first 12 months. after this it stays there.

I actually checked the trust policy on mobile phones today (I didn't even know there was one!) According to this, we should ALL get a phone on our team, due to working alone most of the time and spending 40% or more of our time out of the office!!! Am going to fill in the request form tomorrow and will let all my colleagues know about it too!!!!!:D However, still has to be authorised by Budget Holder (who is the woman who has apparently said we can't have them!!) Worth a try though - if not will consult union!!!!!

Spendless

brummiebabe wrote:

I previously used the busybee voucher scheme, but I know that the rules changed in April 2005. If I only get the basic level of child tax credit - does that mean using vouchers won't impact upon my claim for CTC? The whole system is slightly confusing!!(I currently get nothing due to being overpaid:rolleyes: ) Does anyone out there know? I'd hate to be overpaid (AGAIN!) once my payments do restart in MArch 2006!!

My son is 3 in Feb 2006, so I know he'll be able to get some money off - my sister (who's daughter goes to the same nursery for the same amount of days) is around £100 per month better off! I could put all that towards the debt - GREAT IDEA!!!!:j

BY basic level CTC do you mean the family element of CTC £545p.a or roughly £10 a week?

From what I understand if you qualifyfor childcare costs help via tax credits you should use them.
If you don't qualify for childcare help from the tax credit system then there isn't a problem if you use vouchers instead.

The voucher scheme did change April 05. I think though i'm no sure that previously it was only NI exempt, it changed to the first £50 eing both tax and NI exempt.

With a Feb birthday your son should get the 12.5 hours funding sometime after Easter.

We also have a cutting tax and a benefits board if you need more help with the voucher/tax credit being explained.

Spendless

I've just thought of how you can work out whether you get childcare help via tax credits. Put your household income and details in here https://www.entitledto.com
put your figures in giving your childcare cost details and make a note of amount you should receive. Then do it again using same details but without any childcare. If figures are same both times you don't receive childcare help from tax credits, if they're different you do.

king_brum

fellow brum

first you need to do is see if you can maximise your income

have you tried to appeal against the overpayment of the child tax credit due to all the problems they have had they will start writing off overpayments

do you need income protection as a public sector worker (nurse) you will get six month sick pay at full rate the same as your income protection.

shop around for cheaper phone, water, gas try uswitch.com or which internet site

hope it helps

brummiebabe

king_brum wrote:

fellow brum

first you need to do is see if you can maximise your income

have you tried to appeal against the overpayment of the child tax credit due to all the problems they have had they will start writing off overpayments

do you need income protection as a public sector worker (nurse) you will get six month sick pay at full rate the same as your income protection.

shop around for cheaper phone, water, gas try uswitch.com or which internet site

hope it helps

My income protection doesn't kick in until after sick pay finishes ( get 6 months full then 6 months half pay (I think!)) Not sure that I do need it? Anyone got an opinion on this?

I am going to look to switch gas/electric providers & will also look into phone (although I don't hink £16 per month is excessive?)

The CTC thing is maddening!! We gave them all the information, as & when they've requested it, but they didn't update their system etcetc so we're now suffering as a result of their incompetence!!:mad: Don't know if we can appeal against it? Has anyone else done this???

KatrinaC_2

Hi Brummiebabe,

can you actually claim your mileage after one month? The trust I work for refuses to pay out expenses not claimed by the fifth of the following month. I've literally lost about £300 in a year because I've not been able to get the claims in. :mad:

You are definitely right about goodwill propping up the NHS.

Kat