Lulabelle's MFW Diary

lulabelle1

Opened an Amex platinum as the cash back rate is better than the current CC that I use for all spends. Some retailers still don't accept Amex, so will use the other cash back CC for those that don't accept Amex.

May also use it for my business expenses. At the moment I use a different Amex - the beauty of that one is that it's paid straight from the company account, but I never benefit from it as it just earns points which my business partner always spends, lol (he is the main account holder).

Supermarket spends are currently running just under £300 for the month - I'm hoping to keep it under £600 for the entire month - this will be a big improvement

Just about to review finances a little and arrange for the company to pay straight in to my SIPP by means of salary sacrifice. But, still want to save for another B2L in the future and also OP the mortgage - difficult to know how to allocate/split it.

lulabelle1

CathT wrote: »

24 hour trip in the sunshine sounds fabulous.

most of the time was spent travelling Cath - but I had a couple of hours yesterday which was lovely and very much appreciated

lulabelle1

Gosh, no update for 6 days...

Bad Things:
-Self assessment completed and have a small fortune to pay in tax. All due to my own oversight in regards to Company Car Tax.
-Since the self assessment has only just been done, it means that the damage is already done for 2015/16 - so a bit bill for next year too (some of which is due by the end of this month as a payment on account). Deep joy. Not.
-I've bought a pair of leggings, two striped tops (one long sleeve, one short), a cardigan and a sweater.
-I've ordered shampoo and conditioner that i really don't need from look fantastic because there was a deal on for the one thing that i did need
-It's a slow month money wise with the company (although pipeline is good)
-I've loads to do work wise, not enough time to do it in (much of what i need to do is stuff that I don't like doing, but I need to get on with it)
-financial markets seem to be crashing so S&S ISA, SIPP & JISA's are doing pants - must stop looking
-I really can't have the Company car anymore - now I've realised my mistake, I need to sort it out pronto - options are to either buy the car from the company or to lease something completely different. Yes, I could buy an old banger, but I travel a lot of miles on my own, much of it late at night or very early in the morning (to/ from airport etc) and then meetings and I want a safe, comfy and reliable car to do it in.
-Buying a car means a chunk of cash now and then a couple of payments later to the company (need to charge interest on it otherwise it's classed as a benefit in kind). Can't even buy the car for a good price, as guess what - it's classed as a benefit in kind if I do.
-Need to find a smaller chunk of money if I decide to lease

Good Things
-Supermarket spends are under control - and we still have lots of meals left, so don't need a big shop until next week
-Once I've got the car situation sorted, I will stop throwing away a fortune on tax
-Income will reduce to a level where I can claim for child benefit again (by getting rid of company car - not actually reducing my net income)
-I will be able to start claiming 45p per mile which will contribute to the cost of either buying the car or leasing one
-Surely it most be pay day soon - so, I can pay the self assessment tax and get it out of my way, although I'm sure I'll be angry with myself for much longer
-the B2L tenant didn't have anything go wrong in the last month

Erm, that's it. A cr*p week if I'm being honest.

lulabelle1

As per the Tilly Tidy thread, I've got my designated account for the tidies and it has a grand sum of £4.85 in there. Goal for the end of the year is £100.

lulabelle1

Another good thing... I spent my designated lunch break making a chicken curry for dinner. It smells lovely and I just had a little taste and it is totally yum! Enough for 2 meals... winner winner chicken dinner. Shame the kids won't eat it, grrrrrrrrrrr....

lulabelle1

Hmmm, for whatever reason I'm having problems with my TT's - it keeps coming up with an error message saying that the minimum amount to be moved needs to be £1. Doesn't exactly help me with my tidying plans.

Savings depleted - tax bill paid.

Roll on pay day (whenever that might be) - accountant too busy with his clients self assessments to do the payroll... humph.

Chicken curry last night was lovely - the rest is in the freezer for a meal next week.

Need to do a food shop on Monday, so currently putting the next menu plan together..

gallygirl

lulabelle1 wrote: »

Savings depleted - tax bill paid.

Oh dear, I bet that hurt .

lulabelle1

gallygirl wrote: »

Oh dear, I bet that hurt .

Yup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lulabelle1

Made the first payment to buy the car yesterday... That hurt almost as much as the tax bill.

I did however take great pleasure in updating the gov.uk website stating that I no longer had a company car, yippppeeeeee!

HelenDaveKids

It often feels one step forward then one back, we were MF before we moved then extended. Its all been worthwhile though.