The single track road - life on a different path

Levi-

I just remembered that I still haven't shown you my drawers! I'll try and remember to take a snap at the weekend!

I'm not sure I'm in a good position to weigh in with anything valuable on
the relationship front - its all such a complex minefield to me that I'm honestly amazed that anyone makes it last. I'm actually not sure we're even designed to be in long term couples but what I do know is that you and your ex are doing a great job of a messy situation and that O has two great parents who will continue to do the most important job of all - raising him - whether that is in one house or two

Great news about your 0% shenanigans - always feels good to have stuff on a 0% with no pressure for quite some time to sort it all out. I find it helpful work out the 0% months that you have divided by the total amount owed and (provided you aren't spending on that card) to then make a payment of that figure to the card every month which leaves you 100% guaranteed to have paid off the balance by the time the offer runs out. But then again, with the good credit you have, by that time it is highly likely that you will be able to transfer to another 0% deal if you want to.

Regarding O and the brat at school - sadly it doesn't seem to be that uncommon for that age group to experience bullying and that is a part of why I really didn't want LL to go to school too early (although he has) because he is also not good at standing up for himself and has a few 'differences' that would immediately set him apart (accent, no mother etc) ...touch wood so far nothing seems to have happened with him but I do keep an eye on that quite closely and it would horrify me to find out he was dealing with any of it so I can imagine how you feel. This is your baby and you never want someone to even harm a hair on their head, even if that someone is a 4 year old brat. I hope it blows over but you and ex are doing exactly the right thing to make the school aware and have them monitor it too. I'm sure Oscar's confidence will develop in due course bless his socks he has only just turned 4.. and is dealing with emotions new to him both at home and at school. I don't have much faith in schools to handle things like this well but maybe as they are so young 'nipping it in the bud' with this one child (perhaps by bringing his parents in too) will help get it sorted out before he starts ruining the lives of all the other kids.

I've been interrupted at work so many times since I started this post I now have no idea what I've been waffling on about or if any of it even makes any sense so forgive if not! Keep doing what you do sausage, you rock. :heart2: Levi... x

Levi-

PS I had the same question about tax credits as my salary has changed in the new year, I put a letter in with my application to express my confusion and seek clarification but also gave them next years figures just in case (on the letter) the form only let me fill out for 2013/2014 I think:huh: ..it doesn't take much to confuse me mind you

liltdiddylilt

Boys and girls, tax credits are easy. They are based off your last years P60 return. Now, should you have such a dramatic change (£3000-+) in your income, you must immediately inform them of this, as you must inform them of any such changes over the year. However unless it is more than £3k they still base it off your last years salary.

So, for example, when I went on maternity leave, I started on the 9th April 2012. I came back to work January the 8th 2013. Part time. My tax credits were worked out based on 3 days at full time salary, 6 weeks at 90% of full time salary, the remaining 33 weeks at statutory sick pay, followed by the period from 8th January to 5th April on my part time salary.

Because this was a dramatic decrease compared to the previous years salary, they used this for both my 2012-2013 tax credits and also my 2013-14 tax credits. So I got effectively 2 years tax credits based on £6000 per year after the statutory removal of £3900 of my 'salary' amount because of the legislation on tax/maternity pay. They knew what I had earned in the previous year and in the following year, but they made decisions because of the dramatic decrease.

Hope that makes sense?

Next: I am in love with your purchase Me&O... you are such a bad influence!!! :rotfl: - I like the superhero for dads one too!!! xxx

MeandO

Levi- wrote: »

PS I had the same question about tax credits as my salary has changed in the new year, I put a letter in with my application to express my confusion and seek clarification but also gave them next years figures just in case (on the letter) the form only let me fill out for 2013/2014 I think:huh: ..it doesn't take much to confuse me mind you

Yes, my salary will be changing from September too, and as I was part time for part of 2013/14, my earnings were drastically different then than my current salary and the self-employment side of my earning can vary so much, so I really hope it doesn't mess anything up too much, I know they're notorious for overpaying people and it really worries me that I'll end up owing them money. I've given them the correct figures for everything, but I'm dreading receiving a 'you owe us' letter, which is actually what put me off applying for so long.

And your previous post made perfect sense and was very reassuring, thank you lovely Levi xx

P.S. Don't tell everyone you're showing me your drawers, they'll all want a look!

MeandO

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

Boys and girls, tax credits are easy. They are based off your last years P60 return. Now, should you have such a dramatic change (£3000-+) in your income, you must immediately inform them of this, as you must inform them of any such changes over the year. However unless it is more than £3k they still base it off your last years salary.

So, for example, when I went on maternity leave, I started on the 9th April 2012. I came back to work January the 8th 2013. Part time. My tax credits were worked out based on 3 days at full time salary, 6 weeks at 90% of full time salary, the remaining 33 weeks at statutory sick pay, followed by the period from 8th January to 5th April on my part time salary.

Because this was a dramatic decrease compared to the previous years salary, they used this for both my 2012-2013 tax credits and also my 2013-14 tax credits. So I got effectively 2 years tax credits based on £6000 per year after the statutory removal of £3900 of my 'salary' amount because of the legislation on tax/maternity pay. They knew what I had earned in the previous year and in the following year, but they made decisions because of the dramatic decrease.

Hope that makes sense?

Next: I am in love with your purchase Me&O... you are such a bad influence!!! :rotfl: - I like the superhero for dads one too!!! xxx

Oh, I haven't purchased it Lilty, I can't figure out who I'd give it too (where I can go and look at it often lol!).

Have bought the superhero one for the ex though for O to give him for Father's Day - there's a bit of a wait for them, so I'm thinking ahead. :cool:

As for tax credits, I've read it twice. I *think* it makes sense.... but as I am a picture person, not a wordy person, I'd be ever so grateful if you can draw a diagram for me pretty please?!
I'm useless at putting things into words, but whenever I am trying to explain something to someone, I always start with 'I'll draw it for you...' lol:rotfl:

MeandO

I've posted some furniture for sale on a local selling page now, a few bits we were keeping for the ex's house which don't really fit, so if sold, that will net around £100 which I'll split with the ex.

I also had my updated council tax bill yesterday, with the single person discount applied. It is 'down':eek: to £148 a month, but only £110 for next month as I've overpaid apparently. That will help a little as I had to take a day's unpaid leave last month to cover childcare, so my wages will be down a bit this month.

Levi-

Lilt - you lost me at' tax credits are easy' :rotfl:

Levi-

question: how do they know what to give you like *now* if you're just starting on a new (lower) salary? this is hurting my head. and now MeandO has started making me worry about being paid too much too! :P

MeandO

Oh Levi, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry. I just work with two people who have had that happen to them and they're paying it off, so it plays on my mind a bit. One was because her income had changed to £5 over the threshold of whatever it was, the other, I'mnot sure if she had declared everything correctly, so it may have been her fault.

Levi-

Only kidding, I'm perfectly able to worry without much help, I'm sure I would have got around to that one eventually heh heh :Dx