The final countdown... and a newbie in the DFSD house!

debtfreesomeday

I've just processed hubby's childcare vouchers account so that is all set up for when we start paying Ds's nursery. £243 will come out of my wages a month and £130 from hubby's. We don't get taxed or pay N.I. On this amount as far as I'm aware. Seems it's hardly going to be worth me working! My pay slip is going to look very depressing every month!

wantabetterlife

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/wtc2.pdf

Hi DFSD this is a link to a detailed explanation on tax credits etc. Just to let you know for every week that you were on statutory maternity pay you can deduct £100 from your income for that year...so 12 weeks would be £1200 if you know what i mean. Also pension contributions are also deductable as far as i know...might help you get a few more pounds. At least you are only going back 2.5 days which is great...but i do know what you mean about it hardly being worth your while...the childcare vouchers will save you roughly £20 in every £100 of childcare you pay. Have a good weekend too

debtfreesomeday

Thanks so much WABL, I'll take a look at that link later when Ds is in bed.

debtfreesomeday

My folks have left today so am feeling a bit blue. Ds also still not right, so have been back to the doctor both on Friday and today with him, we're still no further better off though. He's also gone back to waking several times a night, crying, so all in all i'm a bit shattered today.

It was lovely spending time with my parents this weekend. I have, however, spent too much money. Nothing extravagant, just groceries; a top for work for myself in a charity shop; a couple of kitchen bits in a sale for £6 and, today, two pairs of boots for myself from the m&m direct 70% off sale. Albeit, the two pairs only came to £31 so not bad, but it's money I could do without spending. Unfortunately, it's a must though as the one pair of shoes I wear every day have holes in and are pretty unrepairable. Oh, I also bought a cardigan in tesco in the 25% off promotion as I'm embarrassed to say I only have two jumpers/cardigans and they're pretty ill fitting. I get so embarrassed about what people must think of my clothes as I don't have many options of what to put on in the mornings so often wear the same two or three outfits.

Oops, Ds needing my attention!

Chocforever

Hi DFSD

Sorry to hear DS is poorly again so you are both getting little sleep. I hope he settles down again.

Good to hear you had a nice weekend with your family. I know what you mean about feeling blue when they have gone - the house always seems quiet and empty for a while until I adjust back to the usual routine.

When I was trying to minimise my clothes spending, I bought a bit on Ebay. Provided you know what size you are at a particular store (and the sizing is reasonably consistent), it is quite easy to pick up some bargains. I still buy certain brands on there (like B0den) where people sell things new with tags for about 25% of the original cost. I also got some M&S bargains as there is always loads of M&S stuff on Ebay so the postage is usually more than the item goes for. Provided the photos are decent, I can tell just by looking whether they will fit (saves much trying on time in shops!) Of course there have been some mistake buys, mainly when the fabric wasn't quite what I had in mind (shiny satin finish anyone?)

Anyway, it's good to get some new stuff - it is always nice to have new clothes and shoes, and you can't have holes in your shoes at this time of year!

On tidying the house, I have discovered that I am shoe lady with lots of spare pairs and some that no longer fit. I would pass some to you except I know you are quite a bit taller than me so they wouldn't be suitable. I have very narrow feet and I knew it would be a struggle to find someone who could use them. I wasn't bothered about the money, it's just that as they are quite expensive to import (hence I buy a few pairs at a time), I wanted them to go to a good home. I put one pair on Ebay and eventually someone bid on them. The buyer sent me a nice note saying they fit very well and how she struggled to find suitable shoes that she could afford. So I surprised her and asked if it was OK to send her another 3 pairs!

debtfreesomeday

You are such a lovely lady chocs, how wonderful of you to surprise the eBay buyer like that. I bet she was over the moon too and do shocked! People like you restore my faith in human kindness; I feel honoured to 'know' you.
Great idea about the eBay clothes hunt, I shall take a look and see what I can find. Talking of boden, my heart leapt a little when I walked into a charity shop with my mum at the weekend to see 3 beautiful brand new Boden tops staring at me... It quickly sank though when I realised they were a size 12 and, well, I am not! Someone will have a lovely bargain there. I have to take Ds to nursery again tomorrow for another 'settling in' hour, so may wander around the local charity shops then. I really hope he's not hysterical again when I go to pick him up like he was last time, I felt so bad.

Onto money making, and I've been doing surveys tonight. One has earned me £3, the other two, points towards another amazon voucher.

I have also listed 32 identical BIN items on eBay at 4.99 Inc postage, which works out at about £1.20 each. One item has sold, another 31 to go!

Chocs - thanks so much for the PM, I've literally just noticed it but see you sent it ages ago! I don't know how I missed it.
How is the flat- clearing going? Have you tackled those 'emergency hide everything away in quick' cupboards yet?!

X

debtfreesomeday

I worked out our budget a bit more precisely now I have a better idea of what our income and outgoings will be. It is not good! Presently, it will leave us with around £100 once everything, including credit card repayments, has been paid for. That's with an allowance of £200 each for both petrol and groceries.
So, I need to look at ways of making more money. I've just joined yougov survey site and will rejoin a couple of other I let slip a while ago if I'm able to.
I have more stuff to eBay which I need to sort, photograph and list next weekend. I have also taken photos of the bits I need to sell via the notice board at work. Tonight hubby and I need to somehow make meal planning more viable and get a plan on paper and in action!

debtfreesomeday

Whilst Ds was at nursery today I wandered round the 4 or so local charity shops in the village, looking for some more clothes for work. Unfortunately I didn't find anything suitable, but I did find a couple of items which may make some pennies on eBay. I found a lovely per una skirt with a £39 tag still on it for £3, and a pair of designer jeans for £1. I feel a bit bad about making money from things bought in charity shops, but then the miserable old trout who served me soon made me feel slightly better about it! If you don't like proletariat, why volunteer to work in a shop?!
I also found a lovely cardigan that was exactly my MIL's style. It was also brand new with tags on and was priced at £5. I bought it as I know she'd love it. I'm contemplating giving it to her for her birthday but is that terrible? To buy someone's birthday gift from a charity shop? Hubby wouldn't like the idea, I know, so I'm not going to tell him where it'd from!

Itsadogslife_2

Hi DFSD - Hope you are OK. I have to say I have never really been a charity shop shopper apart from books (which I can't seem to stop buying at the moment :mad: - can't say no to a book for £1.00). But lately with the realisation of the situation I have started browsing a few bits on the rails. I went to Solihull a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at the difference in the contents of the charity shops compared to the local town to where I live. It seems the affluent location was a definite bonus, I came away with a White Stuff a-line skirt, a Hobbs knitted tank top and a gap cardigan for the grand total of £15.00 - this stuff would have cost me in excess of £100.00 had I bought it new. I felt a little bit embarassed about rumaging in the charity shop but once I had got the things home and washed them, it soon passed when people told me they liked what I was wearing. I don't think you should feel bad about selling the things on because at the end of the day everyone is a win win situation, the charity shop got their money and you also make a bit. :cool:

Personally I wouldn't tell OH, what he doesn't know wont hurt him, and if it has still got the tags on - no-one will ever know and you will look like the really lovely daughter in law

It is something that if i had more time on my hands, I would really like to help out or volunteer at a charity shop but at the moment there isn't enough hours in the day.

Sorry to hear DS is not right.

Chocs - you are an angel sent from heaven, I bet the buyer didn't know what had hit them

debtfreesomeday

Hi itsadogslife

I've never really been one for charity shops either to be honest, never been 'anti' them, but rarely wondered in one. Now I guess I kind of like to rummage and hopefully find a gem! Sometimes gems are hard to find though!