Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

Hettyhound

Oh just reading fleagate and itching! I regularly treat my 2 cats and the dog but when I was combing Hetty a couple of weeks ago I saw flea dirt but no fleas. Whole house got a going over with Indorex so fingers crossed. I don't get bitten but I know poor Hetty must have had at least one :eek:

I joined the NT last week but only annual not lifetime! Have used it already as I live about 5 miles from a NT property

themadvix

Morning folks,

It's been over a week since I updated, not sure why.

Had a good weekend - a combination of jobs getting done, a nice walk (although it was super hot) and seeing relatives on the Monday for a lovely lunch (even if I do say so myself!). Have been finishing up the leftovers for the last couple of days, so will have to actually apply my brain as to what we're going to eat tonight! Still plenty of food here as veg box arrived yesterday.

I have received my inheritance, and I will split it three ways, but for the moment it's bolstering a savings account with a terrible interest rate.... I just can't quite commit to 'spending' it all straight away!

The big project I was waiting for throughout August *still* hasn't arrived (technical difficulties apparently), but I'm now busy (at last!) with the regular stuff that always makes September busy. Which is good - but it's definitely a stretch for my brain after the last month!

My FD RS has matured - £97 interest there, so that's good And have received £30 of leisure vouchers this morning in the post too. Lots to be glad about!

I need to get organised as September is looking to be a very busy month, both workwise and socially, so it'll go much more smoothly if I have meal plans etc. in place (even if only for the next week). So that, along with a bit of cat-related-product research and work, is my plan for today. We were meant to be going to a TV recording tonight, but had completely forgotten about it and neither of us (DH is off today) could be bothered! So we've cancelled and will have a relaxing evening instead!

MS things:
* Lots of dosh!
* LV arrived
* Clicks done
* Actual work and getting on with it too!
* Ordered prescription from the vet for flea tabs - much cheaper online!

Gratitudes:
* Lovely to see DH's rellies at the weekend
* Nice to have company at home for the day
* Some good new recipes tested at the weekend and love eating up the leftovers - no effort required!
* Handed over the last of the Brownie stuff yesterday - more space in my house and my brain

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

Hello themadvix, I am just back from hols and catching up. Regarding pension payments and tax relief, you can pay in up to 100% of your annual earnings and receive full tax relief on all of it up to £40,000 in one tax year, at the rate you normally pay tax. This is subject to a Lifetime Allowance of £1.1m for your whole pot and includes any DBs (if you ever worked for an employer and have accrued benefits that are frozen (but index-increasing) these can really begin to mount up), also SIPPS, DCs or other personal pensions.

KC is right about £2880 as the limit for anyone who is not earning anything. And if you had already started drawing your pension (like me!) the limit of £40k drops to just £4k.

Lots of people use extra payments into their pension to keep their prevailing rate of tax at the lower level, and get the tax relief on the bit they save.

Anything beyond that and your ISA is the place but don't forget you could split the contribution over two tax years if needs be. You (one) could just pop it in a "holding pen" with a bit of interest until then.

themadvix

Ooh, thanks SL. I'd forgotten I'd asked about this. Sadly it's not so much (nowhere near!) that I'd need to split it, but that's really helpful information. So, presumably, they're not really interested in whether it's earnings or not that the money has come from?

Knowing that they keep changing the goalposts about pensions (even accessing private ones) is why I'm putting a chunk into my ISA - then I can still access that when *I* choose to retire!

PS Hope you had a good holiday!

Busy_Mee1

Sounds like a great weekend. We've also been eating leftovers all week and have finished them today. Not sure what we have for tea.

I always think it is lovely for younger people to get an inheritance ( obviously sad that you lost someone to get get it) But so often inheritance comes later in life when you don't need it so much. It is far more useful at your age.

themadvix

Thanks Busy Mee. It is sad. I've been very fortunate (??!) though, as the eldest in my family, I was around before a lot of my elderly relatives died - in some way or another something was put aside from them for me (and I was not allowed to touch), which helped hugely with my deposit for our home, as I was and had been earning *very* little for a long time. My sister and younger cousins haven't had this benefit so much - so I do appreciate it.

The money from Nan (which technically has been tripled by generous contributions from Mum and Uncle) is not life changing (although the NT membership is, I guess, effectively!), but will help bolster my savings for the future and help pay down the mortgage. As Nan was very much not an extravagant person (and apparently my grandparents saved very hard to move to the house we have just sold), I know she'd appreciate my 'sensible' attitude to it. (And I still have the 'leftovers' from my NT membership (i.e. it was £1730, so the remaining £270 out of that £2k), which I might just blow on something fun!).

I'm sure the money will be hugely appreciated by my sister and cousins - who all are yet to get on the housing ladder (my Aunt and Uncle will be vaguely hopeful at this point I think - some cousins are not *that* much younger than me and still at home).

Not only do we not have leftovers, but we don't seem to have many store cupboard staples - pasta, rice etc. My monthly trip to the zero-waste shop is looming this afternoon. Not too much needed though - will try to run the cupboards down a bit this month - feel we have a lot in at the moment!

newgirly

Hi vix, glad the flea issue is improving!

I remember clearing out my grans it’s so hard isn’t it lovely idea to get the membership with the money though, lots of happy days to have because of your nan

Suffolk_lass

themadvix wrote: »

Ooh, thanks SL. I'd forgotten I'd asked about this. Sadly it's not so much (nowhere near!) that I'd need to split it, but that's really helpful information. So, presumably, they're not really interested in whether it's earnings or not that the money has come from?

Knowing that they keep changing the goalposts about pensions (even accessing private ones) is why I'm putting a chunk into my ISA - then I can still access that when *I* choose to retire!

PS Hope you had a good holiday!

Not interested to the extent that you must have actually earned it to claim the tax back, but as to how you use your money, no, that is your affair.

Very prudent to spread your money into ISA too - who knows what changes a future Chancellor might make

We had a fab holiday thanks; three weeks - just brilliant. Money a nightmare but at least the housekeeping was under £20 for August [smug icon]. Back on the regular eating plan now too

Karmacat

You're doing so well I can understand not wanting to make final allocations just yet, but you're really building a great future with what you're doing
ETA: Hiya SL!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Newgirly - no more flea bites, so I think we're good! :T

Thanks for that SL - I technically won't have paid income tax on it, but I guess they'll work that out from my tax return and the calculations will be made then. Our holiday will be about 3 weeks too (certainly for the cats!) - it sounds like an awfully long time. Diet will definitely be needed on our return! :eek:

Thanks Karma

Not much to report here. Had a good use-it-up stir fry last night, so feel a bit more in control of the contents of the fridge. T'was yummy too.

Watched the women's football last night and booked to go and watch the England v Germany match at Wembley in November. £30 for two tickets - bargain. Have never been to a football match before, so it'll be a new experience

MS things:
* Clicks etc.
* PA survey
* YG survey

Gratitudes:
* It's a bit cooler today
* Dad popped round for a cuppa yesterday evening, was good to see him
* DH got some jobs done yesterday while he was off - gate fixed and some finishing of tiling - all looking good

Have a good day all!