The grand plan for Catzpaws ... can it be done?

Emma285

I'm sure 6 weeks is better than nothing but still a big drop after that. I always thought it was a much better deal than MA, but obviously not.

Oooh, what kind of buisness are you thinking about?

Lemon_Tree

we do get enhanced maternity pay at our place as long as we return within 2 years, and stay there for at least 3 months, otherwise you have to pay the enhanced bit back. Really we have to cover 3 months because we can't drop down to statutory pay especially as i'm the main bread winner, and we can't survive on just OH's pay and SMP. next june i should have paid back one of the loans i have which i'm planning on rolling into the next one (along with the extra i'm saving each month currently) which would pay that one off the following year, but if we end up having a child, everything would all slow down as we wouldn't really have any choice but to move. It not a problem but if we could save the shortfall on my wages then we would continue to clear the debt at this rate and life would be better for us all.

Catzpaws

Emma285 wrote: »

I'm sure 6 weeks is better than nothing but still a big drop after that. I always thought it was a much better deal than MA, but obviously not.

Oooh, what kind of buisness are you thinking about?

Yes, it is a huge drop - and, it's subject to tax and NI still! :rolleyes:

The business idea...well! I've always wanted to have my own business (on whatever scale) and I'm thinking about selling unique, stylish wedding accessories and stationery online. I know that when I was getting married, I spent hours sifting through lots of very generic products before I found stuff that I truly LOVED. Of course, the idea of selling wedding stuff isn't new, but I think there is room for a great company that offers lovely unique products and fab service... and with great marketing.

What do you think????

Anyway, lots to think about...!

EDIT: must have put the frowny face on post by mistake... !

Catzpaws

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

we do get enhanced maternity pay at our place as long as we return within 2 years, and stay there for at least 3 months, otherwise you have to pay the enhanced bit back. Really we have to cover 3 months because we can't drop down to statutory pay especially as i'm the main bread winner, and we can't survive on just OH's pay and SMP. next june i should have paid back one of the loans i have which i'm planning on rolling into the next one (along with the extra i'm saving each month currently) which would pay that one off the following year, but if we end up having a child, everything would all slow down as we wouldn't really have any choice but to move. It not a problem but if we could save the shortfall on my wages then we would continue to clear the debt at this rate and life would be better for us all.

It's a lot to think about, isn't it? If I do happen to go off on maternity leave before we become debt free, it'll become SO much more difficult to clear things. Probably nigh on impossible, unless OH's wages jumped substantially.

Catzpaws

I bit the bullet today and repaid my library fine - £20. And, OH had fine too - £12. God, what are we like :eek:!! Note to self: bl00dy take the books back! Anyway, found out that my local library is actually open late on Tues and Weds, so can always drop them off there on the way home... NO EXCUSES!

Anyway, it was a good visit to library. Got lots of 'start your own business' books, which I have been skimming through in the X Factor breaks .

Went to Starbucks for frappacino with OH - totally not MSE - but very yum, nonetheless. £6.50

Spends were:

Boots - make up £10
OH's beer/food for tonight/deodorent - £7
OH's Contact lenses - £18
Getting watch fixed - £10 deposit (need to pay another £15 next week)

Also, OH rang to close Mint card and to get the £37 credit balance sent back to him.... and he was told that £35 was used on a 'card protection policy' insurance thing...:mad: . News to him! Anyway, he needs to ring back to talk to another department... V fishy.

Need to minimise spends tomorrow... as, when all added up, we spent quite a bit today

CP x

Emma285

The wedding stuff sounds like a great idea. When we got married i struggled to find anything particularly nice within our budget - loads of great stuff if you had a fortune to spend, so we ended up making our own stationary. It was not only great fun but i was surprised at how easy it was to make stuff look professional / personal. Spent a fortune in places like hobbycraft though :rolleyes:.

I'm an acupuncturist so get paid to stick pins in people (and usually make them bettter too), but the only major bit of advice i give out to other students (as i work out of a acu college) is don't pay an accountant unless you really want or need to. All the relevant information is avail on HMRC website and unless your buisness is really complicated, then you'd pay an awful lot when you could do it for free yourself. If you'd like the security of an accountant - do your own books for the year and just get them to check over and submit any tax return for you - costs a lot less. Anyway, i guess you're a little way off this point - but just thought i'd mention.

Catzpaws

Emma285 wrote: »

The wedding stuff sounds like a great idea. When we got married i struggled to find anything particularly nice within our budget - loads of great stuff if you had a fortune to spend, so we ended up making our own stationary. It was not only great fun but i was surprised at how easy it was to make stuff look professional / personal. Spent a fortune in places like hobbycraft though :rolleyes:.

I'm an acupuncturist so get paid to stick pins in people (and usually make them bettter too), but the only major bit of advice i give out to other students (as i work out of a acu college) is don't pay an accountant unless you really want or need to. All the relevant information is avail on HMRC website and unless your buisness is really complicated, then you'd pay an awful lot when you could do it for free yourself. If you'd like the security of an accountant - do your own books for the year and just get them to check over and submit any tax return for you - costs a lot less. Anyway, i guess you're a little way off this point - but just thought i'd mention.

Hi Emma

Oooh, accupuncture? :cool: Must feel really satisfying to help people get better. My job is much more commercial - and definitely not satisfying at the moment. Boo hiss, it's Sunday today and I have to go back tomorrow!

Yes, I'm definitely some way off - as just an exciting idea at this stage - but definitely good to know about the accountant thing. Lots of ideas buzzing around in my head, I couldn't sleep the last two nights thinking about stuff. Even imagined being able to wear my wedding dress at a wedding show again (in the name of being in theme!) . I told my hubby and he couldn't help laughing... as he knows I prob would!

So, are you self-employed? Guess you are, if you're doing tax returns...

Emma285

Catzpaws wrote: »

Hi Emma

Oooh, accupuncture? :cool: Must feel really satisfying to help people get better. My job is much more commercial - and definitely not satisfying at the moment. Boo hiss, it's Sunday today and I have to go back tomorrow!

Yes, I'm definitely some way off - as just an exciting idea at this stage - but definitely good to know about the accountant thing. Lots of ideas buzzing around in my head, I couldn't sleep the last two nights thinking about stuff. Even imagined being able to wear my wedding dress at a wedding show again (in the name of being in theme!) . I told my hubby and he couldn't help laughing... as he knows I prob would!

So, are you self-employed? Guess you are, if you're doing tax returns...

I had to laugh at the wedding dress bit - i know exactly what you mean, i'd love to wear mine again but never thought / sort of hoped i'd get the chance IYKWIM! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Yes i am self employed - and my work is more satisfying than previous jobs i've had, and very flexible! It's just that you don't get any holidays, maternity pay or pension contributions etc..

Catzpaws

Went shopping yesterday - and went £1 over the grocery budget. :rolleyes: Was very annoyed, despite it being only a pound. I think I need to relax!

Spent £11 in Aldi on various items, but made the mistake of going without a list, so will be a bit more difficult to make the meals this week. OH might end up having a grumble... but hey ho . We have LOTS of potatoes and rice, together with prob a week's worth of fresh/frozen stuff but no staples like cheese, chopped tomatoes or stock cubes... I feel I'm going to get extra creative this week with our evening meals... don't want to go food shopping again!!!

OH will hopefully soon be reimbursed £1500 off work for last year's fees for his masters. But, then he will have to pay 3 x £500 (between now and summer) for this year's course fees... Hoping that he can claim this back as each payment is made rather than waiting until the end of the year... Fingers crossed as this will help with the old budgeting.

Plan for today is:

• Re-register personal domain name (one I used for job-hunting is about to expire... it's the one I've used on CV so need this one live!)
• Clean bathroom (also needs a soda crystal job on the drain as it's started to get more clogged up again)
• Make lunch for tomorrow
• Research business idea further
• Free scratch cards
• Vacuum house
• Quick tidy up of spare bedroom

OH is studying tonight, leaving me free to tackle all the above - in theory, at least.

CP x

Catzpaws

Re-register personal domain name done - cost about £13 - oh dear
Clean bathroom done
Make lunch for tomorrow done
Research business idea further done a little
Free scratch cards done - won 35p
Vacuum house done
Quick tidy up of spare bedroom done a tiny bit

Phew!