Looking forward - Debt Free in 4 years

Karmacat

I wondered how you were getting on (with the shingles) ... aren't tax returns complex! Well done for getting yours finished, sorry OH has more to pay, rats!

Ali-OK

Well done on getting the tax returns completed, a good job out of the way and 2 of them as well!

I second arnica cream, really good stuff - got mine off the shelf in Boots, but probably there are cheaper places that stock it.

I hope you find some relief from the Shingles.

How did your online course go? Was it this weekend?

mizmir

I've postponed the start of the course for a week - participants have been great about it - but I wanted to be fully fit for it as the first week is quite intensive for me. It is an 18 week course so will keep me busy through to May. But once it is going it is just a case of keeping up with posts in the forum - I have all the materials prepared.

Tax returns are a pain but at least they are almost done - and OH has just given me more receipts so her tax liability isn't quite as much as we thought! The good thing is we have the money set aside for this so even though we are not really getting anything back, we are not out of pocket either.

mizmir

Well pain is back up again - this is a very frustrating illness. I am keeping things quiet today. Will file OH's tax return now we have finalised the details and pack up my eBay sales. Total about £32 before fees. Am also expecting someone today to pick up OH's old electric guitar - turned out to be something of a collector's item so we are getting £260 for it - cash! :j

Aside from that I am going to take it easy - perhaps do some routine work on my online course/website but not if the pain continues.

I'm determined to stay positive so am taking up an idea from Karmacat's thread and noting three reasons to be grateful:

1. We have the money in the bank for the tax bill
2. We are clearing clutter and getting money for it
3. I am my own boss and able to take time out to heal

Karmacat

There's quite a bit of good news in that there post, but the pain of the shingles .... I have every sympathy for you, mizmir, I really hope you can get rid of it soon, but it takes as long as it takes, really. I'm glad they were understanding about delaying the course - clever you to have prepared everything already! Thats forethought.

Loving your gratitudes, especially the one that refers to the guitar

mizmir

Karmacat wrote: »

There's quite a bit of good news in that there post, but the pain of the shingles .... I have every sympathy for you, mizmir, I really hope you can get rid of it soon, but it takes as long as it takes, really. I'm glad they were understanding about delaying the course - clever you to have prepared everything already! Thats forethought.

Loving your gratitudes, especially the one that refers to the guitar

Thanks Karma - it is just frustrating. If I felt ill then I would just curl up on the sofa but I don't - I just can't do anything because movement makes it hurt and I can't get comfortable because any contact makes it hurt! Anyway enough whinging. I do appreciate the support!

So tax bill paid and only a couple of hundred over expectation - so that has been transferred from our "overpay" pot. But this isn't counting my rebate so once HMRC get round to paying we should be able to replace that and more. I am not counting it until it is in the bank but once it comes through I will either be able to overpay on the cards or be able to pay the bills for February - depending on how the income targets are looking next month. Anyway all good.

I am so enjoying YNAB - what a great bit of software. I love the fact that I can juggle budget pots and be very clear how much money is available for each thing. It really does take the guess work out of things and it is always there on my phone so works so well for me. In fact I can't wait until OH gets paid at the end of the month so I can do a proper full month budget!

StressedSteph

Afternoon Mizmir,

Sorry to hear that the Shingles is still giving you pain, good news that you were able to slightly post pone the start of the course. The last thing you want to do is start off badly with it, especially as its such a long course.

Well done with the tax returns, thank heavens for your other half finding some more receipts :T.

So glad you are settling into YNAB well. I had developed abit of a bad habit though , I keep adding in future wages and bills to see how it pans out during the coming months, but it is really silly because it tends to do nothing more than cause me confusion.

I was so happy this morning when Dh's wages went in so I could share out the wages into all the little pots to make sure this weeks money was spent as effectively as possible.

Unfortunately we are not in a position to add any money to our little savings pots yet. I have created 5 (Christmas, Birthdays, Car, Emergency & bank buffer). Fingers crossed, as long as we have a very quiet February. then we should be in a situation to start adding money to those pots in March.

I just can't wait to be adding to the savings pots, I know that will become very addictive. I will also feel alot happier once those pots start filling up because then I know I have a safety net.

Thank heavens for your safety net, helping out with the tax bills.

I have yabbered on too long, so I will leave you in peace.
Be kind to yourself today and rest up. xxx

mizmir

Well he turned up for the guitar - and noticed it had a tiny crack in the nut (note the lingo!) - I hadn't even noticed but it was cracked right across.

We checked the price of replacing and agreed £200 - still £200 we didn't have before. I suppose we could have fixed it ourselves and got more for it but to be honest am just glad to have it out of the way - it has been in the attic for years!

So off to put that into YNAB and give it a job paying off some debt!

Ali-OK

I take the same view, it's clutter gone out and money come in.

3 of my 4 items sold totalling £55, after PP fees, eBay fees and postage for 2, have made £41. One item is cash on collection tonight.

Zapper are checking my 28 items I sent them as well, so fingers crossed all good there.

I will stop worrying when everyone is happy with the items

The more I read from you and Steph about YNAB, the more I want to try it! No room in my budget this month though :rotfl:

And Steph - I play with my budgets for 12 months in advance just to see what things might look like and where I might need to hold overpayment money back so I can cater for a big bill

Karmacat

Thats excellent, miz! You've already had the hassle of finding a buyer, you don't want the hassle of getting it repaired and finding *another* buyer.