Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Well, aren't tax credits mean this year! I assumed as our income has already dropped and will drop a lot more this year due to maternity we would get a little extra help - no chance! :mad:

From what i could work out you need a joint income of <£25k to get help with nursery costs. The difference between me taking 9 or 12 months off is an extra £500 a year in tax credits but obviously income be a lot less but i won't have to put 2 children in nursery for 3 months as when i go back DD will be 4 and in school nursery.

Did have £10 ish arrive in bank account (must be amazon or TCB but i think i will use that to pay the minimum payment on my CC this month)

I have heard the television refer to today as 'worse off wednesday', they're not kidding!

Anyway - onwards and upwards!

yukkibear

I hope it's not moved to <25K to get help with nursery costs. We'll be up the stream without a paddle if it is. we're only on about £30k between us and so far we've been getting help towards nursery.

CathT

yukkibear wrote: »

I hope it's not moved to <25K to get help with nursery costs. We'll be up the stream without a paddle if it is. we're only on about £30k between us and so far we've been getting help towards nursery.

I hope so too, this is what i don't understand. Even with our income less than 30k we still only qualified for £874 CTC a year with no nursery help. I need to ring them this week tho as hopefully as this years income will fall they will amend our payments straight away.

Have you tried the calculator to check your entitlement?

yukkibear

The calculators NEVER come up with anything near to the actual figure I always end up getting so I don't bother anymore. I just make sure I give them the correct info and say thank you very much for whatever I receive.Can't even pretend to understand how they work it out.

CathT

ah, maybe the calculators are a little pessimistic, think i will give them a ring.

sarahevie

The calculators are off for us to the tune of £100 a month - they reckoned we would be eligible for council tax benefit, but we weren't.

This childcare thing is a nightmare, and the main reason working is not very viable for me. I've got 2, 2 and under - so I'd really have to be earning to pay the £80 a day nursery fees (no family to help out.)

CathT

Have just changed my mobile phone tarriff and cancelled my insurance - must keep an extra eye on my i-phone now! But I have just saved myself £17 a month! I used the budget calculator a few people have mentionned and i think based on NI contibution changes i may be about £25 a month better off!

I am still trying to debate whether to take 9 or 12 months off, what a complicated decision to make!

Still need to do this week
1) Ring tax credits
2) Sort out new breakdown cover
3) Confiscate DD toys to stop her throwing them all around the living room - you would not believe the mess this morning!

CathT

Well i still haven't got around to doing the things i needed to! Worked OT again yseterday which i dreaded as the weather was so beautiful but it was another £120 earned for giving up my afternoon. I still need to work out our projected income and ring tax credits, i shouldn't delay it really as we will be losing money.

DH and I have been discussing plans to extend this house (should we ever be able to afford it!). We agreed that we don't fancy moving house with 2 children. When we bought this house (3 bed 70's detached with gargage) we thought it was our dream home but we have really outgrown it. We converted the garage 18 months ago so have a lovely big playroom but the problem lies with the 3rd bedroom (6'1x6'6). When we bought this we were given plans for an extension which we got out last night, the original plans double the size of the house making it 4 beds with sunroom, study, utility and large hallway for about £45k but i think we could just build the bits we need!

Plan is a full width double storey extension on the back which would double size of kitchen so i can have my kitchen-diner, a sun room and an extra bedroom upstairs as well as making bedroom 2 a lot bigger. Bathroom would be moved and that would almost double in size. I think if we could do it for £30k ish it could be an option for the future.

Up to 970 points on GTM but no survey invites at the moment and i missed loads over the weekend!

CathT

How mean, GTM just sent me a survey invite for 15 points! still 15 points to go!

yukkibear

House plans sounds lovely. We're outgrown our house too but we're mid terrace so not a lot of option to extend without losing all the garden we have and that's not an option.