Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

thriftylass

Hello,

sorry to hear all the bad news recently regarding relatives and pets. Not much better here atm (Bf's mum was put into hospital last week, but hopefully she'll be strong enough this week to conintue with chemo). One can only hope and keep positive...

Totally diffenerent topic. I started crochet again and got a few requests from friends now but also thought I make up a wee stash to sell maybe at 3tsy or similar at some point. Just to confirm since I have a main job (>£6000 or whatever tax free level is) I do need to register as self employed and do the forms for paying tax on my profits etc?

Someone mentioned the CH word again as this year challenge nears it's last quarter. :eek::D:T I have to say I'm really looking fwd to it this year. Not so much the stress and present finding but the whole atmosphere of the next couple of months - kinda warm and fuzzy, sorry hard to explain.

Thanks a lot

P.S. congratulations Aeb :T:T:T

cw18

I believe that even if you didn't have any other income you'd still have to register - you just wouldn't get a bill for tax if your total combined income came in under the personal allowance.

I actually find the Inland Revenue bodies very helpful with these kind of queries - I was registered as an employer for a few years (getting people in to look after the children during school holidays), but never had to deduct any tax or NI due to the weekly pay (NI) and total pay for 'year to date' (tax). It was simply a case of (initially) completing and returning a monthly slip with details of any salary paid - then they changed me to an annual system as a 'small business' which said me and them a lot of time and effort

Frugaldom

Well done, Thrifty, I hope you manage to make your hobby into a little enterprise. Like CW says, the Inland Revenue are extremely helpful but you can do almost everything online now - link for self employment is here

I've just been doing a tally on food supplies in the newly refurbished pantry and cannot believe how many jars of preserves I have in stock! There are almost 70 assorted jars of home made produce! This has confirmed my desire to attempt another stage of my quest for a self-sufficientish lifestyle. For 2010, I am going to attempt to go the full year without buying:

01) jam, jelly, marmalade or pickled goods.
02) bread, cakes or biscuits
03) laundry detergent (using homemade gloop & soapnuts)
04) pasta
05) eggs
06) lettuce
07) frozen chips or potatoes
08) cigarettes
09) alcohol
10) ?

I need to think of one more thing to make it up to a nice, round 10. I'm not quite at the stage of adding in any other veggies or fruits as the garden isn't established enough for that yet. Anyone got any ideas?

PS: I don't often buy alcohol and I have still quit smoking but have the occasional one for celebratory purposes. I bought 20 during the wedding weekend but still have some left, which is great, considering there were 5 other smokers visiting. We didn't even open any of the 'real' wine, we drank homemade champagne instead.

shaz_mum_of__2

Nyk what about potatoes for number 10 or clothes

feel a bit guilty about number cruncing or lack of it i do fill in spending diary for everything we buy (except when hubby forgets receipts) but i dont break it down like others i am happy in the knowledge there is money in the bank on pay day that i can transfer to the Isa we have nearly used hubbys allowance for this year so mine is next.

Following this challenge definitely works we have had 2 holidays and bought lots of essential gardening and self sufficiency gadgets (including a potting shed) normally we lived paycheck to paycheck but not anymore

The area i struggle with most is groceries mainly because of my hoarding tendencies and love of cooking I hate cooking the same food in a month we usually have different meals and i like trying new things so spices feature heavily in my pantry

The garden has been my biggest saviour though no salad stuff or veg apart from carrots has been bought all summer

Whitewing my relative never got caught !

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

I need to think of one more thing to make it up to a nice, round 10. I'm not quite at the stage of adding in any other veggies or fruits as the garden isn't established enough for that yet. Anyone got any ideas?

meat ? could bring down the grocery bills

or sneak a cow and/or goat to the garden and add milk to the list

sophiesmum_2

Nyk - How about compost? That's one of my aims for next year.

lyndasharp

Congratulations Aeb and family! :j:j:j

slowlyfading

Congratulations aeb on the new additions! glad everything went okay xx

Savvy_sewing

Hello everyone, I have been trying to catch up since I went to Oxford for the weekend. Extended time. Got to page 83 but my wrist is aching with the button clicking etc. So I will have to bow out, and come back to it tomorrow.
Sorry to hear about the bad news, about your Dad, Sophie's Mum. Thoughts go with you.
I have been working on a new budget today. (Well started it this morning before I became taxi driver this afternoon). Have done 300 miles in the new car and I am just on 1/4 of a tank! Yipee amazing. Wish I had changed the old car months ago now. Although Twin2 has heard that she may have a flat next week, so could have done with the old car to move her! Means I will not be helping in the move, except for maybe taking her and the baby over. She will have to call in favours from friends and her Dad to help this time.
Now i really need to go, I am getting far too tired.

Blairweech

Check it out



Much hilarity was had

Now, where's the recipe for crab apple jelly (or similar)