make do and mend for tougher times

Byatt

Possession wrote: »

We have some sun too!
I will ask DH exactly what the scheme is and if it has an official name, but yes you should claim it from the first time you do your accounts and it is a small fixed percentage that supposedly covers everything - much much easier than trying to work out actual percentages used for business from real bills. Will get back to you.

***Grrr*** about the sewing. I hate sewing! I'm going to be thrown off this OS board, I can tell. How can I be an OSer if I don't sew?!

Fuddle it is relatively common to have a daily charge, at least it used to be. If you look on moneysupermarket etc at the different tariffs, some will say no standing charge and some won't. Might be worth giving them a call to see if you can go on a different tariff now you've got your arrears down a bit? Have to admit the whole area confuses the hell out of me.

If you don't mind Possession I'd be interested in knowing too about the official term please. I have to do my first accounts this year.

Possession

Byatt wrote: »

If you don't mind Possession I'd be interested in knowing too about the official term please. I have to do my first accounts this year.

No probs are you registered as a sole trader?

Byatt

Possession wrote: »

No probs are you registered as a sole trader?

Yes, a sole trader.

Mrs_Chip

Posession - we are a self-employed partnership.

Possession

Mrs C a partnership is different to being self employed for tax purposes. DH is unsure if you would be able to use the fixed percentage system. It is called the Use of Home allowance and is meant for employees who are required to work from home as part of their employment contract, however it is 'ignored' if used by a sole trader because the amounts are so small -
2010/11 - £3 a week
2011/12 - £3 a week
2012/13 - £4 a week
So Byatt you could use that but Mrs C you would probably be better in any case claiming a percentage of what you use.

One thing you need to watch is declaring anything in a tax return which suggests you have a room exclusively for the use of the business because then you could have to pay capital gains tax when you sell.
Examples of allowable business expenses:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM47825.htm
If you're not using the flat rate of £3/£4 a week, you need to keep proper records, ie bills, for a number of years, and you need justification for the percentages you have used.
claims are allowed for any expenses so long as they are "wholly and exclusively" incurred for the business and for no other personal benefit.

smileyt_2

If you're sewing it on, why bother with the sticky stuff? Just get non-sticky velcro and that at least will mean you don't have to battle with stickiness. Could you wunderweb it on or would the velcro melt when you use the hot iron to press it on?

Talking of stickiness .... my boy visitor has gone home, leaving a trail of stickiness in his wake. Sigh. Tea-stains down the cupboard door (I never do this!), sugar on the kitchen floor which is now gacky and sticky, grease on the worksurfaces from the chinese takeaway he had last night and has left behind for me to get rid of. He's a lovely, lovely lad, not a mean bone in his body,
but he is so grubby it's unbelievable. I did try to housetrain him whist he lived with me but some boys are just untrainable. I dread to think what his flat is like.

I'm sorry. I know that sounds awfully b*tchy. It's not a moral judgement on him but I have an almost physical reaction to sticky dirt, it literally makes my skin crawl. I can cope with dog-related mess but human grubbiness turns my stomach.

Anyway, now I've had a moan and a cup of tea I'd best get cracking and clean up. Hope everyone has a good day today. The sun is shining here but I don't know how long for - there is definitely an autumnal smell in the air!

Byatt

Possession wrote: »

Mrs C a partnership is different to being self employed for tax purposes. DH is unsure if you would be able to use the fixed percentage system. It is called the Use of Home allowance and is meant for employees who are required to work from home as part of their employment contract, however it is 'ignored' if used by a sole trader because the amounts are so small -
2010/11 - £3 a week
2011/12 - £3 a week
2012/13 - £4 a week
So Byatt you could use that but Mrs C you would probably be better in any case claiming a percentage of what you use.

One thing you need to watch is declaring anything in a tax return which suggests you have a room exclusively for the use of the business because then you could have to pay capital gains tax when you sell.
Examples of allowable business expenses:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM47825.htm
If you're not using the flat rate of £3/£4 a week, you need to keep proper records, ie bills, for a number of years, and you need justification for the percentages you have used.
claims are allowed for any expenses so long as they are "wholly and exclusively" incurred for the business and for no other personal benefit.

Thnak you. :T:)

fuddle

Smiley? I have I got this right? Your ex-lodger now has a place of his own and still comes to you when he's in need and poorly. Smiley. I think you're lovely. Moan away about grotty boys but we know you're doing some good in your little corner of the world

Right I've made a decision. My towel storage shelf is being moved to the children's bedroom for their toy storage. My towels are getting containers for under the bed. The cupboard that stores the toys and camping stuff in the spare room is no longer going to store the toys... they will go on the moved shelf in their room.

That leaves me the camping cupboard that is shelved throughout, to add to my food stores.

I was going to have a lazy day today :cool:

RANT!! Why is my greaseproof paper not greasproof!? :mad:

Pooky

Fuddle - the site we used was http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/

Thought I'd take the plunge and stock up on a few more bits, washing powder, fabric conditioner, washing up liquid, cooking oil etc have at least 6 months supply now. The dry cat food we buy was £4 a bag but reduced to £1.50 so cleared their shelves.

I stood for ages deliberating over candles and costing out price per burnable hour, my life is thrill a second I tell ya!

Got some big bags of YS peppers £1.59 down to 59p, will freezer a couple of bags down, sliced but will do some savoury rice type thing and stuff the others for dinner tomorrow.

The stick on Velcro is pretty useless to be honest, once the glue gets warm it just goes slimy.

Got asked today why we're not spending some of DHs lump sum on a holiday. Why is everyone so obsessed with holidays? Are they that incapable of relaxing and enjoying their own home? DH was a forces baby and has lived in some amazing places, spent the majority of his childhood between Eccuadore and Australia but he's all travelled out now and just enjoys being here. Same for me, nothing more relaxing than pottering in the kitchen or garden. Try explaining it to some people though and they look at you as though you're mad. :mad:

smileyt_2

fuddle wrote: »

Smiley? I have I got this right? Your ex-lodger now has a place of his own and still comes to you when he's in need and poorly. Smiley. I think you're lovely. Moan away about grotty boys but we know you're doing some good in your little corner of the world

Right I've made a decision. My towel storage shelf is being moved to the children's bedroom for their toy storage. My towels are getting containers for under the bed. The cupboard that stores the toys and camping stuff in the spare room is no longer going to store the toys... they will go on the moved shelf in their room.

That leaves me the camping cupboard that is shelved throughout, to add to my food stores.

I was going to have a lazy day today :cool:

RANT!! Why is my greaseproof paper not greasproof!? :mad:

Fuddle, he was staying the weekend because he was working in a bar for the Manchester Gay Pride weekend and he lives too far away to get home and back. Staying at my house meant he would have the chance to get some sleep. I dread the thought of him ever becoming homeless again because I just wouldn't be able to cope if he turned up at my door, so I'm not that lovely I'm afraid! I put two pillowcases on his pillow and I'm still going to have to throw that pillow away because it smells of unwashed boy. I don't know how to mention it to him so I avoid the subject but moan on here instead! He did have a couple of baths whilst he was here but obviously did not wash his hair! I'm not very tidy but my bathroom is spotless and my kitchen is usually very clean and the dishes etc are also always spotlessly clean, clothes and bedding washed regularly etc. I have a real problem with smelly people and it's a physical reaction that I struggle to control - they make me physically nauseous.

I have no idea why your greaseproof paper isn't greaseproof, I'm afraid! :rotfl:

Right, I am off to do some cleaning (waves mop and cleaning cloth in an insane manner ....).