It's not a lot, but it's enough

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone,

I can't quite believe it's Thursday already.

Yesterday I had football training although I was 15 minutes late as I couldn't find the place!! I'm still getting used to the area and I had no idea where I was. My phone maps and my cars sat nav were telling me 2 different places, I even had to stop and ask a guy walking his dog. Anyway, I found it and I will know for next time.

I tried a Jamie Oliver recipe for 1, chicken and butternut squash and it was average. Tonight's dinner is sweet potato, bacon and kale hash, Another new recipe so goodness knows how that will turn out.. I've been cutting out all the bad (tasty) sugary stuff that I adore so much and I'm craving it so much. It's actually my determination not to ruin a NSD which has stopped me. I've then got another game of football 9-10 tonight and not much else planned.

Today is NSD 7/17!

SpekySquarehead

Morning everyone,

Happy Friday too!!

Yesterday, after work, I maintained my productivity and done some other bits and bobs before playing football. I then couldn't sleep after, probably because I'm still cooling down from running about in the cold for an hour. Another NSD.

This meant I opted for a longer lie this morning as opposed to the gym. Put a washing on over night and I've got my whites in now. Tonight I'll visit the gym and then I'll back for my overnight stay back with my mum on Saturday, not that I'll need much.

I actually remembered to pull something out from the freezer for tonight, tuna steak, that I'll have with LO veg. Today should be another NSD - 8/17.

Chandelier.

Afternoon Speky!

Sounds like you had a busy time over the festive/new year period. How is Manchester treating you?

SpekySquarehead

Chandelier. wrote: »

Afternoon Speky!

Sounds like you had a busy time over the festive/new year period. How is Manchester treating you?

Hey, good to see you back.

Manchester so far is really good, thank you. Works good, my colleagues are nice, my flat is nice and close to work and the area seems nice and safe too. Its only been a couple of months but I think i've made the right decision.


Good morning everyone and happy Monday.

I had a lovely weekend visiting family and friends back in Glasgow.

First, on Friday, I couldn't shake my craving for something sugary and with nothing in the cupboards, I caved and drove past Aldi on the route home and spend £2 on some sweet. Thus ruining my NSD.

I left early on Saturday to arrive at my dads party at 1 and got there shortly after. I say party, it was more a gathering of the immediate family members. He's not really able to acknowledge it's his birthday, or even what a birthday is, never mind the fact that he's 60! Anyway, it was nice to see him and the family. I do really enjoy spending time with that side of the family.

From there I drove home and had a nice dinner with my DM and SD then visited my friend around the corner after. Bagged myself a NSD!!!

I had a relatively lazy Sunday morning before having lunch with my gran and then headed home via a Tesco in Scotland given that they'd all be shut by the time I got down. Got in for 6ish and made my soup for the week ahead (butternut squash) and then my dinner (sticky blood orange chicken stir fry). Given I'd spend on groceries, I also decided to use the spend day by buying 2 pairs of glasses for £15, using the code in the MSE newsletter. They were on the list of things to buy at some point so I wanted to make the most of the offer.

I had a terrible nights sleep and so I'll visit the gym after work today. Sage, leek and bacon risotto for dinner, which I've never made before. Got some frogs to eat to including; sending back some clothes my dad didn't like, organising letters I've received, visiting the post office for a parcel I missed and hoovering the flat too.

So the weekend took me up to 9/17 NSD's and today will be 10.

Hope everyone has an awesome week.

SpekySquarehead

Morning everyone,

I'm in work early to make some calls into Asia again. I think this going to be thing for every Tuesday. I don't mind particularly, as this is time I should be getting up for the gym but I just need to remember to leave early otherwise I'm doing a crazy shift!!

Speaking of which, I'll head to the gym after work then home via the post office. Easy chicken wraps for dinner tonight and I'm not entirely sure what else.

I went to the gym after work yesterday, so at peak gym time and it was crazy busy. Everything was being used, and i mean everything. There was a queue to get in to the gym and a queue to get out. I'm not so keen on all that so I was in for all of 15 minutes and left in frustration. I'm sure that'll die down in a few weeks as all the new year resolution people drop off.

Have a good day everyone!!

SpekySquarehead

Morning everyone and happy hump day,

Yesterday was good and productive. Finished work around 4ish, went to the gym for a bit, then darted to the post office before it shut at 6 to send back some of the clothes my dad didn't like, collect a parcel which I missed (turned out to be my contact lenses) and send back a letter which was sent to me wrongly. Home to make some dinner and then I had a couple of hours to myself before bed. Played some xbox and started watching a film.

Had a dream that Michael McIntyre brought me up on stage and there was a few hecklers when I went up, shouting things at me and so I was sent to the back of the crowd for my safety. I'm sure that has some subliminal meaning.

Today I've an important meeting in the afternoon with an external potential client. I hate them being later in the day because I find myself thinking/worrying/planning all day for them, other things don't get my full attention, you know? Anyway, after that I'll nip to the gym for a quick run then home before football training 9pm-10pm.

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone,

Where has the week gone!

Very busy and positive day in work yesterday. It meant that I stayed late in the office but needs must. Went home quickly ate my mussels and left for football training. Probably didn't get to sleep till closer to 12.

No gym this morning, I'll go after work if time allows. Another game of football tonight too although my dodgy knee is starting to play up a bit, so I'm might have to take it easy. I'm making a big batch of chilli tonight, so I'll probably have 3 or 4 bags put in the freezer for future use. I kind of wing it, and just chuck in the meats that like (chorizo and bacon), but it turns out quite nice - or to my taste at least.

I had a brief conversation with my boss yesterday as he had questions about PAYE. I work for a start-up and all of the staff, apart from me, are on contracts. So they invoice the company at the end of the month for their services. My boss told him that this saves him £10k a year doing it this way. Something seems a bit off with this system. Does anyone know more about it??

Jenjenjen17

Hi Specky

I don’t tend to comment much but always enjoy catching up on your thread, I work in tax, not paye but have done some exam questions on the above and your boss should probably be careful about what he is doing.

The above arrangement is referred to as a personal service company and means they are self employed rather than being an employee of the company, this is fine if that is the actual case but HMRC have cracked down on this in recent years and lots of business’ use it as a way to avoid paying tax.

If HMRC were to investigate they would weigh up the evidence to consider whether your colleagues are employed or not. They will consider things like ‘is computer equipment supplied?’ employees will be given a computer but someone self employed will use their own. Also do they have fixed hours? Employees will but if you are self employed you can work to your own scheduled. Other things will be how many different companies do they invoice, if they only work for one that indicates they are an employee. Also a company can send anyone with the appropriate skills to do a job but if your boss only wants specific individuals that would point to them being employees.

It’s not black and white, probably best that your boss gets some advice from an accountant as not a good idea to get in the wrong side of HMRC.

Sorry for the long post, hope that’s helpful.

Have a nice weekend
J

SpekySquarehead

Jenjenjen17 wrote: »

Hi Specky

I don’t tend to comment much but always enjoy catching up on your thread, I work in tax, not paye but have done some exam questions on the above and your boss should probably be careful about what he is doing.

The above arrangement is referred to as a personal service company and means they are self employed rather than being an employee of the company, this is fine if that is the actual case but HMRC have cracked down on this in recent years and lots of business’ use it as a way to avoid paying tax.

If HMRC were to investigate they would weigh up the evidence to consider whether your colleagues are employed or not. They will consider things like ‘is computer equipment supplied?’ employees will be given a computer but someone self employed will use their own. Also do they have fixed hours? Employees will but if you are self employed you can work to your own scheduled. Other things will be how many different companies do they invoice, if they only work for one that indicates they are an employee. Also a company can send anyone with the appropriate skills to do a job but if your boss only wants specific individuals that would point to them being employees.

It’s not black and white, probably best that your boss gets some advice from an accountant as not a good idea to get in the wrong side of HMRC.

Sorry for the long post, hope that’s helpful.

Have a nice weekend
J

Hey and thanks for swinging by again, with an incredibly helpful post. I'll head your advice and speak with an accountant, one which I've sourced myself (through a family friend) to ensure that all I am doing is legal and above board. I really do appreciate your help and advice.


Morning everyone,

I've not been able to post since Thursday as everything has been quite busy. Not that I am complaining.

On Thursday, my boss told me he had over promised a client and as such was on a really tight deadline. I offered to help, which meant I was still working at 1am. Went to back and back in the office for 8am to complete everything. His client shared feedback that night and seemed appreciative.

At the turn of the year I decided to get cardio fit again. Every since I hurt myself at football a few years ago, I resigned myself to playing 5 or 7 a side, but since I came down to Manchester I thought that joining a team would be a good way to meet new people and also to motivate myself to get fit and importantly, fix any ailments. Nike have a cool app that will create a plan for you based on some stats you provide, so I've been trying to keep to that. It asks that I run 3 times a week, at various distances (very short for now). So I managed to squeeze in a couple of runs on Friday and Saturday.

Also on Saturday, my landlord came to fit new lights for under my kitchen cabinets and he fitted the Phillips Hue style. So I now have an app on my phone which controls all my lights and can change to any colour I like. My mind is blown and I've had of lots of fun with it. Just need to be careful it doesn't look like my flat is part of the red light district now!!

Got a check through from the council in Scotland as i had overpaid my council tax, which is a nice little gift to receive. I'll need to cash it tomorrow as I forgot to bring it with me to work.

Last night I prepped my soup for this weeks lunches (leek, bacon and chicken) and some small desserts for after my dinners (strawberry fools). I've got all my ingredients in for the week ahead, so don't plan on spending until Saturday again. Frustratingly, my Sunday NSD was scuppered as I realised I was missing coconut milk as part of a recipe for dinner!!

Right, well I best get on for now. Have a good day everyone.

SpekySquarehead

Morning early risers,

Cold, dark and windy here in Manchester this morning.

Yesterday after work I nipped into the gym, made a quick dinner and went to bed for 9 but tossed and turned for a bit. Even woke up during the night for the toilet which is unlike me.

It's Tuesday, which is why I'm on the compute at this time of day, to make my calls to the Eastern side of the world. I'll finish a bit earlier, round 4pm and quickly go to the gym before heading home and attempting a poached cod recipe from Jamie Oliver.

Yesterday was NSD 13/17 and I see no reason why today won't be one either.

My MSE list;

- Phone to arrange a DD for my water bill
- Arrange a smart meter
- Cash the cheque
- Compare landlord insurance
- Compare breakdown cover

That'll keep me busy.