Cherry takes the reins

badmemory

Tax code looks about right.  Normal tax code is around 1257L which give you an allowance of 12570.  Basically just add a zero.  So an extra 300 in allowances would give you an extra 30 in your code.  Do you remember the HMRC advert about tax shouldn't be taxing?  If ever there was an advert that should have been complained about to the advertising standards agency that was it!

Cherryfudge

Thanks @badmemory, good to know it looks right! My old code was 1257L so that all makes sense now.

Cherryfudge

Friday was lovely - a day off in lieu as a way of taking the annual leave I can't carry forward. We woke up to snow again, and as it was too cold to go for a walk I asked H if she'd like to come over in the afternoon. We'd already arranged I'd babysit while she went o an appointment. Anyway I decided I needed to do some preparatory tidying, as a result of which I was late to do my share of cleaning. I still fitted in a couple of hours - it's practically a workout! H then met me and I suggested we had lunch out as my treat (which gives both of a us a decent lunch, and means I don't have to think about either feeding us or whether the house is presentable).

The lunch was nice but I've contacted the company this evening to ask them to review the way they clean their crockery and cutlery. I'd had to ask a member of staff to take some knives away from the cutlery drawers as there was fresh food on one which had spread to others! Then the glasses weren't clean either and the saucer under my cup was tacky to touch... which is something I've come across before in this cafe. Yet it's a popular place, and the food is quite good. I'm really surprised as you'd think the food hygiene insection or customer inspection would pick up on things like this.

After lunch - which we enjoyed despite the above - I had the baby to myself for a while as H had her appointment, and she slept till the moment her mum arrived back. timing was amazing! DH was just finishing work so we had another nice hour and a half chatting and playing with DGD.

Dh is doing quite well recovering from his dental work though he went out for more painkillers today. He's hoping he can decrease them after tomorrow. He bought groceries for dinner but I don't know what he spent.

This evening it was cold but clear so we had a short walk and it's definitely a good way to avoid putting the heating on as much. I've also cleaned out the fish tank (realised the poor fish was overdue) and nearly finished my knitting after five months.

The first day of the new energy prices is fighting for headline space with the war in Ukraine. I'm trying not to waste electricity by using the hob instead of the oven, putting lids on pans and switching everything off that's not actually being used. There's a flask by the kettle for spare hot water so I don't need to boil it every time I go to make a drink. At the moment I know we aren't in as bad a position as many, but it makes no sense to be careless as it's all an expense and that has an impact on other expenses of course. 

Spending:
Medical ?
Housekeeping ?
Entertainment £14.20

Tonight I'm thankful for DH recovering well, time with H and baby, good exercise this morning and a day off to enjoy all the above. Not sure what we'll be doing tomorrow: Dh doesn't want to do much till he's off the painkillers and I'm not sure it's really car boot weather.

Honeysucklelou2

So lovely that you had a day with your DGD and H.

Cherryfudge

It's still cold today, but it's been sunny and there's only a trace of white on the hill tops. You can feel it in the wind, though - blowing calmly but from the north with that edge to it that tells you it's blown over snow.

We did our usual Saturday trip to the car boot sale, which was sparse due to the temperature. A few hardy stall holders in their winter coats but nothing there that really interested me. DH bought a painting which he will sell on (£15). When I got home I thought I could have bought a tiny Delft cup and sauced which would be very sweet on my dolls' house shelf. It might be there next week though.

We had our fish and chips at lunch time out of habit and because I'm deferring to DH over meal choices till his mouth heals up... and I love fish and chips. However it's jumped up in price from £7.50 to £8.20! A good reason to plan ahead for next week and have something easy but cheaper.

DH went for a cycle ride after lunch and I made progress on the knitting - all the actual knitting is finished so I'm weaving in a mass of ends. I've worked out that if I follow the shape of the stitches, I can thicken some of the areas where the intarsia is a bit tight, so there are fewer little holes round the edge of the pattern.

I had some shopping to get and managed to go round every single supermarket in town. Result: my cappuccinos at their cheapest price, and near exhaustion till I'd had my tea. I did find some books in a charity shop for £1 each which will be suitable for someone at my work so I'll donate them to the book box.

We've been watching that programme about people trying to live like the Amish, and it inspired me to get the ironing pile out of the way in the spirit of serving the community. We'd had two loads on the line today so it's nice to have them all finished, but alas, the birds have been too close so about four items are back in the wash. On a less annoying note, all that 'dashing away with a smoothing iron' has meant the heating hasn't been put on as I'm warm enough and DH had an extra walk which has probably warmed him up. I'm not sure this will last as it's going to freeze again tonight. Money-saving-wise, DH has baked a cake and I've been using hot water from the flask instead of re-boiling every time I want a drink. It's not hot enough for tea so I'm being healthy and drinking hot water instead. Not so MS - I'm almost out of data on my phone and I didn't think I'd used much. I'll have to top up as it doesn't refill till 23rd.

Spending:
Pets £4
Donation £3
Housekeeping (DH's ?), £9.66
DH - hobbies - £15
Phone data £3 (minimum package has gone up from £2.50)

This evening I'm thankful for the sunshine (again!), knitting turning out better than I thought, tiny daffodils flourishing in the verge alongside the car boot sale, fish and chips.

Cherryfudge

Today was church from home (online) followed by a roast dinner. I'm not confident with the multicooker yet so i used the oven and even though I packed it as full as I reasonably could (chicken, roast potatoes, roast veg and baked potatoes - these last for the freezer - it still seems a lot to have it on for two and a half hours. Oh, and I wared the plates and dried out a bottle in the afterglow.

The dinner was very tasty, and the oven heat helped me keep the heating off till DH got in at lunch time. It was off last night too. I'm sure a lot of temperature tolerance is habit!

I followed someone's tips from a recent post (sorry I don't know whose but I think it was on the fuel-saving thread) about defrosting in the fridge overnight to save fuel. It worked well as I had sprouts to use up and the earlier batch I'd made were all leathery and revolting! The slowly defrosted ones hadn't dried out and were much better. I have a lot of 'winter veg' that needs to be used up and the freezer and fridge both need a bit of an audit.

This afternoon we walked my friend's dog - cautiously as she's tested positive. She isn't feeling too poorly at all, which is great but I don't want it just the same! Lots of hand gel and a face mask when near her door...

DH went to a free concert in a local church this evening - he said it was superb. I could have gone but I'm wary of crowded places for the time being.

Nothing spent. Things I'm thankful for: blossom on my greengages and damson tree. I love damsons and didn't get any to speak of last year though the greengages always fruit well. All the colour that's starting to come in the gardens now. Slightly warmer day! 

Sun_Addict

 Lovely positive post 😊

Cherryfudge

I've stayed at home all day today and spent nothing, though DH has been out and about, so I expect he's bought fruit as he always seems to do that. Money has left the account though - DS2 is saving into one of those ISAs where the Government gives you 25% extra up to a certain limit so he can buy a house one day. For various reasons, although he had the balance of his money to pay in, it was stuck in his account so he risked losing the 25% extra. Enter bank of Mum and Dad, but it doesn't really count as an expenditure because he will pay us back as soon as it clears the account.

He's the most financially savvy of us so I took the opportunity to blag a bit of advice about my pension!  

Other than that, it's been a milder day so the heating's been mostly off and we've got a few jobs done. DH had his volunteering afternoon and I cleaned the fish tank yet again before dosing the fish with the 'medicine' I bought him the other day. It won't cure his tumour but it will help him otherwise. I've deep-cleaned the dishwasher, which isn't a favourite job but it's nice when it's done, and I've spent some time on here looking for good advice.

The knitting and weaving in ends part of making the blanket is now all but done, so I'm thinking through how to line it. I've also been in the garden admiring the onions we planted a couple of years ago and never harvested! They are now little bunches of onions so perhaps I split them up and keep feeding them? DH has mown the grass for the second time this year and helped me out by drilling drainage holes in a bird feeder. After a few days of heavy rain the seed inside was sprouting!

Another friend has tested positive but work cases are going down.

I'm at work tomorrow so I need a good night's sleep if possible.

Things I'm thankful for: days off, getting a bit done in the garden, pie for tea (DH's pastry!), people getting better after Covid.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday - Tuesday - I heard that work has had a couple more Covid cases. Staffing was consequently short and I offered to help out with the sleep in... then with a few hours in the morning as I'd forgotten I was on training all day. I can claim for these though so apart from feeling a bit weary, it was actually quite profitable and the training was interesting.

I did evening shopping for groceries which was a bit indulgent but I sometimes wake in the night at work and want something to eat. Half of it is still in my bag as I didn't wake hungry or have to stave off sleep with coffee and snacks during the course.

The downside is that someone I was working with this morning is now possibly down with Covid. I was wearing PPE but it doesn't offer total protection. Meanwhile the two definite new cases put us back into outbreak status so I have to keep testing daily.

I also heard today that DD now has Covid and has been in bed all day though her other half has kindly let her have the kettle in with her. Good they have sorted that one! Priorities. She is sad that her birthday meal this weekend has had to be cancelled, but hopefully she can rebook it. I was wondering what to wear to it so at least I don't have that decision to make. As we can't go to see her on that day, H has asked us over for the afternoon. We were going to the birthday meal together so both of us are free that day and I think DH is too.

Nothing much to report apart from that DS2 has paid us back and I've paid off my CC (never thought to pay his loan via CC which is a shame as it would have netted me some cash in loyalty points, but hey ho, never mind).

Spending:
Housekeeping £7.25
Household £3.99
Gifts (DD's birthday) £38.50

Tonight I'm thankful for a peaceful night last night with more sleep than I really expected. Also for DH discovering a new food option (mackerel with honey in case anyone is looking to vary their diet), and for me getting cut-price apple turnovers last night for treats! Oh, and for Lidl selling a favourite drink which Tesco stopped doing a while ago.

Sun_Addict

We get a daily email at work telling us how many cases have been reported. Unsurprisingly since we started going back in the office the cases have risen rapidly. Sorry to hear DD will miss her birthday meal but I'm sure she'll enjoy the rebooked one just as much. Hope she feels better soon, this new strain seems to affect everyone differently, some are fine, others are bedridden.