Move mortgage mountain project

scubaangel

Not at all J, it makes perfect sense to me, you want to control what pet you have in your home, nothing worse than an animal you dislike for whatever the reason might be!

January20

It's won't appear bitter and twisted to people who have followed your story over the past year or so. In any case, pet should not be brought as presents, and you are right to stand to you guns and get a pet that will be suitable for you and your lifestyle

Brighton_belle

Glad to hear you are standing firm on the puppy Juliffe. I would even go a far as explaining to DD if she pushes for it that it is animal cruelty to leave a young dog on its own all day. Someone who truely loves animals would not contemplate owning a dog in those cirqs.
Also of course -would you be happy for your DD2 to be walking the dog on a winters night? Otherwise it is you who has to do it. If he does buy one, do not let it into the house, it has to stay at dads.

Quite agree that you get to choose what cat lives with you. It is not bitter and twisted. It is another example of his manipulative behaviour and poor financial decision making if he were to impose a cat on you.

You are doing really well though, gradually getting organised. I find it so much eaaier when I meal plan. It cuts down on stress big time when you come in tired from work: you don't have to think!
And well done on the renewed contract.:T

As for your b-i-l setting up th energy saver - I'd use any help on offer,lol. You do a lot as it is.

julliff

Hi all

Thanks for your replies, and encouragement.

I have had a bit of a sucker punch today. I got a letter from the taxman, addressed to both my X and me, telling me that I have to pay back £274 child tax credit. I have to admit, I am totally confused as to how they calculate this each year.

Bit for the year in question 09-10, I had a lower income than I have had for year! X was not working, or contributing, I was taking a lower salary from my company than I used to earn as a "permie". I don't get it.

The only thing, is that I told the tax office that x & I were not living as a couple from Aug 09. BUT, I was still supporting him, even though we barely spoke.

Anyway, I am a bit gutted, and I know that I will have to pay all of this, even though it is addressed to both of us.

On a positive note, I am out tonight, for a big family celebration. Younger sis is here for the weekend, so it should be a good time. Tomorrow I am doing dinner for her and her two boys, as well as my Mum.

Sooo, meal plan looks like this:

Sat: Out
Sun: Roast Chicken
Mon: Curry (with left over chicken)
Tues: Tuna & pasta bake
Weds: Toad in the hole
Thurs: Chilli
Fri: Fish & chips (home made)

This pm off into town to sort out Lloyds Vantage current account. Also banking £50 worth of 50p's & 20p's

Take care everyone

julliff

Hmm,

Didn't have much luck opening my LLoyds account.

The letter I received from Lloyds stated:

"Take your documents into a branch and they will copy them and open your account straight away" (I have a sort code & number as I applied online). "They will then copy them and your account straight away".

I even rang the helpline beforehand to say, I wanted the Vantage account, and they told me that when I popped into the branch they could sort that out

Unfortunately the branch staff had other ideas. They said I had to make an appointment. I told them I had come into town specially, and thet the letter did not mention that I had to make an appointment, and they just said, "Well, we are closing soon, so you will have to make an appointment".

I told them not to bother. I work all week, and I was less than impressed with the customer service, so I think I'll take my money elsewhere!

So,wasted £2 on parking!

Had a lovely night out last night. Wasn't too expensive either!

julliff

Gave in this weekend, and turned the heating on! I was trying to wait until October, but it was soo cold, and I had house guests!

Also, got another 2 requests for money from the school, bringing the grand total of money paid to the school this academic year to £218. :eek:
(This does include music lessons for this term).

Decorator starts tomorrow, so I am looking forward to that being finished. We agreed a fixed price,so there should be no surprises there.

vandanfc

Sometimes it never seems to stop this constant outflow of money. Good news that you will soon have some decorating finished, will make you feel much better.

Eager_Elephant

Hi Juliff

This Tax Credits thing can be a bit of a nightmare sometimes.

Overpayments tend to fall into 3 main categories, the first one is where people do not return their renewal form and so you get an OP for the whole year.
Did you complete a renewal form for both the joint claim and the single claim? On the joint claim did you and ex both sign the form.

The second is people who have earnt too much maybe by doing a bit of overtime not realising that it would affect things.

The third is people who have a change of circumstances which is not notified in time - this is because some people are paid weekly and some are paid 4 weekly so if you have had a coc's in mid Aug but did not notify them until end of Aug (after you received payment) then you will have been overpaid by 2 weeks.

I think you should contact them to find out the exact dates as unfortunately the notices they send out just say the year, if you ring they will tell you the dates and then you will know where it has come from and can query it if need be.

The figure that had been overpaid is that the same as your weekly or 4 weekly payment or no where near so it could be an error?

If you need any more help give me a shout.

EE

julliff

Hi all

Eager elephant, thanks for taking the trouble to reply. I didn’t do any overtime. I am a contractor, and I have my own limited company. I asked my accountant what my income was for last year, salary & dividends, which I then supplied to the tax office. This amount was lower than my salary for the previous year. My x was made redundant in April 09, and did not sign on. I told the tax office that we stopped living together as a couple in Aug09 (he was still living at the house, but not contributing anything, so I suppose it depends on the definition of living as a couple). He moved out in Feb 10.

Looking at the demand for payment, it says that it is for the period up to Aug 09.

I think I will ring them up, and asked them to explain it to me, because I can’t see why, if my income was lower (x was not working, and my own income was less), I have been overpaid. I was receiving £40 odd every 4 weeks.

On a more general note, I’m not doing very well on my MFW L

Request for another £15 from the school, as non-refundable deposit for a locker for DD2! Plus, a ski-ing trip She did manage to get her Dad to agree to pay half, but it is still gong to be a lot of money to find. I know I could say no, but it is a fantastic opportunity, and life is also for living.

I am determined that the next time I post, it will be with some positive stuff towards my MFW quest!!!!

julliff

OK

so it is about time I updated this. I have been struggling with anxiety for a few weeks, so I have not been very active.

anyway:

• Opened a Halifax Rewards current account. I will get £5 per month, a £50 one off payment for transferring my direct Debits, and save £12.95 on my fee paying a/c (when my 12 months are up at the end of the year);
• Sold some stuff on ebay. OK, I only made £30, but it all helps;
• Cancelled my Outnow subscription,saving £7.99 a month (have been threatening to do this for ages;
• Silly one this - I have soup and bread at work everyday. I have started to take my own bread, so that I only have to buy the soup (saving 45p a day - wooo).

I have also acquired two kittens however, so it is going to cost £150 for their vaccinations, and then more for the spaying/neuturing. :eek:
I didn't want two, but like an idiot, I gave in to pester power. The female was the runt, and I think the owner was worried she would not get a taker for her. Poor thing, she is so timid, she runs from us even after 2 weeks at our house;

The hall and landing are decorated, and I am very pleased with the result. I went to get a quote for a carpet, just for stairs and landing, and was shocked that it will be over £400. I think I am living in the past. Actually, it was not really the carpet as such, but the fitting charge (£50 + extra £35 for stairs), delivery charge - £35, which made it really add up.

I have been panicking about the university fee rises. I just want to pay down my mortgage so badly, so that I can help my girls. I even thought about paying some off and paying the penalty for doing so (I can't get my head round what the actual "cost" of doing this would be.