Pollyanna

ChopinonaBudget

I've supposedly got a work day today, but in reality that means 1 lesson at 6pm, one last try at exporting the finishing video edit before I throw in the towel and call a mate, and s*d all else!

ChopinonaBudget

Total earnings: £15.

Yup, that'll pay the £725 rent and the rest of the bills! :rotfl:

ChopinonaBudget

£61 has gone out to pay off the M&S credit card so Sig has been updated
My overdraft is back on again, but there's nothing I can do about that until I start earning again in September, so I'm just keeping calm. I'm not updating my sig on that as it changes every time a bill goes out or money goes in from teaching so it's not worth it, but if it's still a problem later on I'll take the PAID symbol off it and start again

£61 was a lot for a minimum on £2.5k; if I'm right then it's the £25 minimum plus the transfer fee. Should be back down next month

ChopinonaBudget

As much as I hate to even remotely go there...

I added up my spare credit last night and I have enough on all the credit cards (plus my tax savings and the ISA) to pay my January tax bill if I can't get my tax savings up in time.

I'm not going to do it unless I'm in dire straits, but I've only just started putting money aside for tax etc so I'm not sure yet how it'll pan out. My spare credit is still my safety net until I can build up one made up of my own money.

Money aside is so far:

£2.97 per week for NI
16% of gross income from self employment for self assessment (this roughly equates to the 20% after expenses minus the small amount of tax I'll have overpaid erroneously on my PAYE jobs) it's a complex equation that got me to the 16% but I think it's about right

ChopinonaBudget

Question for anybody reading this...
I'd like to take my daughter on a holiday next year as we have never been. Seriously, never. Long story involving an ex that I'm not getting into.

Needs to be UK as I can't yet afford passports.
For 1 week or under
Summer holiday time
Preferably Gweek in Cornwall (or driving distance from gweek) as I'd like to take her to the Seal sanctuary.
Self catered cottage as she hates the idea of a caravan (don't ask), I have back problems so I'm very dubious about camping, and she has strict medical dietary requirements so hotels/b&bs would be a potential nightmare.

I can do the shopping around online for a cottage, but I have no idea how much I would need to start putting aside in a holiday fund for this... How much would I need to cover the whole week as a general guide? If I can get a rough idea, I'll know whether it's do-able

Any idea anyone?

ChopinonaBudget

Super cheap lunch! Pitta bread from last night's tesco reduced aisle (10p for five, so 2p) with jam given as gift, and some butter. I paid full price for the butter

ZTD

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

Question for anybody reading this...
I'd like to take my daughter on a holiday next year as we have never been. Seriously, never. Long story involving an ex that I'm not getting into.

Needs to be UK as I can't yet afford passports.
For 1 week or under
Summer holiday time
Preferably Gweek in Cornwall (or driving distance from gweek) as I'd like to take her to the Seal sanctuary.
Self catered cottage as she hates the idea of a caravan (don't ask),

I can see her point of view. I once went for a week in a static caravan. It was like living in a Tupperware lunchbox that had been left out in the sun.

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

I have back problems so I'm very dubious about camping,

That depends on the kind of cot you're sleeping on (it's not all airbeds you know... ) but those tend to be heavy.

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

and she has strict medical dietary requirements so hotels/b&bs would be a potential nightmare.

I can do the shopping around online for a cottage, but I have no idea how much I would need to start putting aside in a holiday fund for this... How much would I need to cover the whole week as a general guide? If I can get a rough idea, I'll know whether it's do-able

Any idea anyone?

It depends on the cottage. Size, location, time, facilities and even which way the wind is blowing all play a factor - sometimes a huge factor.

Just have a look and see how much it will cost.

http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk/

http://www.helpfulholidays.com/

ChopinonaBudget

Jam sandwiches are BRILLIANT! Dunno why I shunned them for so long!

ChopinonaBudget

ZTD wrote: »

I can see her point of view. I once went for a week in a static caravan. It was like living in a Tupperware lunchbox that had been left out in the sun.



That depends on the kind of cot you're sleeping on (it's not all airbeds you know... ) but those tend to be heavy.



It depends on the cottage. Size, location, time, facilities and even which way the wind is blowing all play a factor - sometimes a huge factor.

Just have a look and see how much it will cost.

http://www.english-country-cottages.co.uk/

http://www.helpfulholidays.com/

Brilliant thanks! I'll trawl through them all I need to look at the school dates as I may be able to make a saving as we are in Wales so might be able to get into the holiday season before the English season begins. Also, daughter isn't in school next year, although I teach to school terms, but my last week of term is so full of cancellations it's barely worth sticking around for.

Any idea of a spending budget for a holiday for two? Will bring own food (have to anyway) but eat out a few times and do some animal related stuff like the seal sanctuary...

I know it's a bit like asking how long a piece of string is...

ZTD

ChopinonaBudget wrote: »

Any idea of a spending budget for a holiday for two? Will bring own food (have to anyway) but eat out a few times and do some animal related stuff like the seal sanctuary...

I know it's a bit like asking how long a piece of string is...

It is, unfortunately. Budget what it costs to live in your own home in terms of food. Some places charge for electricity, but since you'll be out all day, and won't be running heating, it should be quite minimal.

I found one of the biggest costs was petrol, but you'll probably do less travelling than me, and more "going into attractions".

Do an itinerary first, that should at least help.