The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

ginnyknit

Years ago when Hubby was a builder he came home minus his antique (was his aunties) thick gold band I told him it was in a skip along with the wallpaper he had just dumped - Lo and behold it was :eek: the next time he lost it it was in the washing machine pipe along with £2.47 in change and was acting as a seal preventing the washer from emptying !

Stilty, forgot to send congrats on exams and wonder kiddies

Just knitting tiny Christmas puds....why?.....so much stuff....:rotfl: they are cute though.

Kittikins

Fuddle - well done on the job and the move and everything (I'm a lurker most of the time....).

With your new job and the mileage: at the end of the tax year, you can claim back 15p per mile from the gov't. That is the difference between what your new employer is paying you and what the IR say you can have. I did it this year as my last employer didn't pay me the full 45p/mile and it came through really quickly


Here is the form: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/p87.pdf

lobbyludd

are you sure it's not that you get tax relief on 45p per mile no matter what rate your employer gives for it, and can reclaim that if you've been charged tax on it to begin with? no idea of Fuddle's tax situation but I get more than 45p per mile but have to pay tax on the amount above because it's classed as income not expenses.

monnagran

Well done on exam results, new jobs, walking 'one handed' and Christmas preps well on the way (hangs head and proceeds in the direction of the naughty step).
My day spent learning to make the cushion covers was brilliant fun. There were only 2 of us doing it so lots of attention from teacher! If I ever finish it I'll post a pic.

Tomorrow is the only day I have to write the church magazine so I expect to start at 9am and finish sometime in the early hours of the next morning.

I'd better go to bed now.

x

mcculloch29

Great news on the job Fuddle! My friend lost her mother's engagement ring and then months later, found it in her make up bag when we were on holiday in St Ives. She had taken it with her on a weekend away at a friend's place and popped it in there for safekeeping, then completely forgot about the safe place, as you do.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Feeling knackered and haven't even started yet. OH has a very important observation today and only got back from parents evening at 8:30 last night so he has been wound up. I have an especially long day today, but nothing particularly special just all of it at once. Tonight's dinner is a complete cheat and not particularly healthy at that, but sometimes we just need a break. I've got pies to bake tomorrow afternoon and I'm hoping to deep clean the bathroom before we head off to the Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday. OH has been doing it, but I think he has *ahem* different standards. It looks clean, but it smells strange. Doesn't help that the radiator in there still doesn't work despite loads of visits from various plumbers and heating engineers. We keep the window open, but it doesn't really get dry in there so I think its things like skirting boards etc. that need going over.

Right. I believe it is time for me to get a wriggle on. Hugs to all.

fuddle

Thank you both for the mileage/tax info. I don't yet understand and suspect tax will be a nightmare to begin with (previous employer had me down as having 2 jobs with them which was false but turned my tax code to BR) so I will be talking very closely with them to ensure they don't take more than they should. They still have my dinner nanny tax and 6 weeks nursery tax which, as far as I'm aware, they should have because I was way under the earnings threshold. I requested that back in the summer but nothing yet.

I can claim uniform washing too can't I?

Another trip to letting agents today as clerk hasn't dropped off our inventory or keys as she should. Need to request former tenants come and remove their rubbish from the garden. Also a call to council to confirm those school places.

Thinking of sausages onion gravy yorkshires and carrots. Struggling with an electric hob - takes ages to heat up then have to act quick as it suddenly is too hot. I'll get there.

Wondering about a microwave. I was fine without it before but I'm wondering if it would cost more to heat a tin of beans or some hot choc milk on an electric hob than it would in a microwave. I seem to have the ring on for an awfully long time.

[Deleted User]

FPK it's the reality of teaching in 2013 isn't it? DD1 is a department head, school trips organiser, activities co-ordinator, runs D of E and also seems to be first point of contact whenever there is a problem throughout the entire senior school. Add in to that she is always the first one asked to do front of house, meet and greet, deal with parents, is involved in the enrichment programme, taster days for prospective new pupils and lots more so it's no surprise that her day generally begins in the department office by 7.30 am and if she doesn't have an evening commitment for the school (rare occurence) she's rarely home before 7.30 in the evening when she has to tackle marking, lesson planning, development etc and has to use her weekends catching up on the department admin!!! Then the government keeps moving the goal posts and changing what to teach, how to teach it, what's in the curriculum, and the exam make up at the end of the course of work, not an easy job is it? The sad thing is that most folks think teachers have an easy life only working from 9.00am to 3.30 pm amd have all those holidays off, if only they could see the reality of it! Lyn xxx.

PRINCESSX87

Morning everyone.

Its dark & chilly here at the moment. Yesterday seemed to become mild in the afternoon. It was warm right up to 7pm, When suddenly turned cold!

Early morning start for us. OH at work, I’ve got some bits & bobs to hurry up and get sorted. It seems never ending amongst paperwork, Bills, debts.

Slowly running down the kitchen. Freezer is starting to show its bottom and its making me anxious. I have no idea how you OS run down without worrying that you’ll go hungry?

Until Christmas, I’ve decided to just create basic meals that will last a day or two. Because our aim is to do one last shop this year. I’ve also got everything crossed because we took an offer with Sky to refer a friend and receive £75 worth of shopping vouchers. Ideally, I would like to use those for the Christmas shop - But with our luck, I can see them being something for the new year.

I need to contact Sky this morning, Because our discounts have ended on our account and the monthly bill is now nearly £70 a month of a basic package. This is just something we cannot afford. Therefore I hope that a quick look on the boards will give me the heads up as to what to expect when I call them midday.

Anyways off to make a start.

WELL DONE FUDDLE XXX

HUGS TO EVERYONE XXX

savingqueen

Morning all,

Good luck with the mag Monnagran, plenty of cuppas and biccies needed today! Forget other posts sorry, will be back later to re-read.

Woken to a poorly household, DS7 better but not right (think it is a bug rather than anxiety this time), DS9 has an awful hacking cough and DH is feeling rotten. DH is staying home but is catching up on study as is behind. I think the commute alone would wear him out today.

Keeping boys off today, think DS7 could possibly go in but school like 48 hours after a bug (which is technically tomorrow as well but he will be back then I'm sure) and DS9 has carol practice, a session in the school woods and PE - not the best combo with a chesty cough and temperature.

I am the only well person though feeling a bit jaded, not time to be properly ill though! Lots to do and not motivated at all. Will venture to local shops soon to get some different cough mixture, post a belated birthday card and see if any Dally Mirrers have the Allydees vouchers - reminders folks!

Princess I am running our Mr Chesty freezer down and I do feel slightly panicky at the lack of supplies but also pleased I am using up the oddments. As soon as time allows I am going to defrost - with cold weather will put freezer remains in cool bags outside. If your freezer is nearly empty and you have any empty plastic bottles, fill with water and bung in - cheaper leccy costs that way. I think you can use newspaper as well?? Ours looks fuller than it is with all the frozen bottles. Looking forward to getting our winter supplies in both frozen and store cupboards.

I think I will do bare minimum chores today (and still be loads to do) as feel so tired and concentrate on the poorlies and Xmas - see what I can order online.

take care everyone
sq