Light the fire...

woodfired

I've completed my VAT return today and its a suprisingly low amount I owe so very happy with that.

SIL/accountant rang to say she has done a bit of jiggery pokery with the accounts and reduced my tax a little bit which is also good news. I have paid the majority of the tax to HMRC this week but left a bit outstanding which is handy now its going to be slightly less than first anticipated, I should have it mostly saved and can start next week with a clean slate. Need to see the exact figures first though as she hadn't finalised them.

I had good news from the bank. Bought a coat online from what appeared to be a reputable british supplier, a little boutique shop it seemed to be. The delivery time was unexpectedly long and when it turned up it was clearly chinese rubbish. Badly fitting and terribly quality, almost like a lined shirt not a winter coat. On reading some reviews people had success using the chargeback system through the bank so I gave it a go and the payment was back in my account within 24 hours! They were trying to charge me £40 to return it so that was a win.

Elsewhere I've had a paddy and cancelled my business energy DD. Its a long story but they keep charging me enormous amounts based on estimates 3x my actual usage and can't seem to give a reason why. Ive emailed twice and called countless times, a manager was supposed to ring back but I haven't heard anything so I cancelled the DD. Figured they might get in touch if I stop paying!

edinburgher

There was an article recently (I think on the Beeb) about Chinese sellers pretending to be lil ole boutique shoppes, lots of AI fakery etc. The message was that there was a lot of it about, with many people duped, so don't feel bad about it. Well done on getting things sorted with your bank 💪

woodfired

Thats interesting edinburgher! Honestly, they seemed very boutique and I really expected a quality product, it was very disappointing. L@angford & Blake in case anyone is tempted by the lovely ads!

Energy company have been in touch, still not to address my complaint but they have noticed I've cancelled DD. Email did not say I was expected to reinstate it, only that they advise me to keep enough credit on my account. So I've sent a payment of £430 which should cover the month up to 2nd Feb (bill was estimated at £1500!!) and I will submit meter readings religously twice a month going forward to prove their estimates are ludicrous. At least they cant keep taking these huge sums without authorisation any more.

I have billed new industrial unit tenants for water and buildings insurance payments so that will be a few extra pennies into the pot plus I've submitted final meter readings to water company so the new tenants can take over the account and sub meter billing for the unit next door. One less job for me to do.

Today has been beautiful, sunny and warm and it finally felt like spring might be just round the corner, Juanuary has been a very cold, dark and wet month. DH and I have been for a lovely long walk after work and then bathed the (wet, stinky) dog. Now sat by the fire appreciating the lighter evening with a cup of hot ribena (me) and tea (DH). Yellow stickered finest burgers for dinner so low effort which is nice for a change. Life is good and I'm looking forward to this year now January is out of the way!

South_coast

I'm jealous of your pleasant weather! We have had a few bits of sunshine this afternoon, but a LOT of pouring rain in between!

woodfired

Without wanting jinx anything (touching lots of wood) the final week of Jan has felt more positive on the finances front. Accountant SIL had good news on the final calculation and as I have already paid most of the tax I was expecting to owe, we need to request a refund of £800 which was an unexpected win.

I have overpaid the accounts package invoice by one month so next month is free.

Car was serviced and MOT'd for only £245, I was expecting double based on our previous garages pricing.

I finished my VAT return yesterday and again, was expecting it to be high as the christmas period delayed some large invoices going out so less VAT to offset but it was the lowest amount we've paid in a while so that was another nice suprise.

I was expecting to end the month a few thousand in the overdraft but I think we will be just about in the black which is a huge relief and we can really get going on rebuilding our savings again. Really, really pleased with this outcome after a big wobble a few weeks ago.

Sadly our lovely weather didn't last very long, back to cold and damp today. Feeling very jealous of Mum and Dad living it up in sunny Barbados. Sigh.

We have taken MIL & FIL to a motorhome dealers today to look around and DH and I spent a while dreaming of upgrading ours! If we win the lottery that is….

woodfired

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81858973#Comment_81858973

Ah it did not last long sadly, it was a very welcome interlude though! I'm longing for spring! x

greent

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81860652#Comment_81860652

Me too - partly because I want to get away in the motorhome more and a weekend in the winter squeezed jn between working weeks isn't as much fun when it's all wet and windy everywhere

woodfired

Ah same here Greent, I don't love motorhoming in the winter, although it is more palatable on a dry sunny weekend. I dream of cooking outside on a warm spring evening, it will soon come around.

A nice weekend so far over here. Played doubles padel yesterday with sisters and my friend then out to local last night for karyoke with gang of friends. Lovely time had. Made beef stew in the interim with mashed potatoes and that will be tonight's tea.

DH and DD walking today with BIL and nephew so I have attacked our bedroom. Ruthlessly decluttered clothes, reorganised wardrobe and made a mental note of holiday clothes whilst doing so as we are away for a week in Feb. It looks so much better and I have some actual space in my wardrobe which is a first. I've also been doing loads of laundry as I've gone on and actually hung some outside for the first time in a very long time, once I'd tracked down the clothes pegs that is! They are about 80% dry but its starting to look a bit ominous out there so they might need bringing in fairly soon.

In other good news I found lots of jeans and a few tops that I had put away as too small but some weight loss over the past year means most now fit once again, it's like going shopping but for free. Kept hold of my fat clothes just in case though, they are put away in the 'slimmer' clothes place 🤣

A couple of pairs of jeans are still way too small and I've accepted defeat on those, will declutter to sisters if they want them.

woodfired

Really busy weekend at work which is good news. People have returned to their profitable habits of drinking & eating after a very lean January!

I have had some money in from the tenant for the water charges and a payment a friend owed me so swept both into savings, balance now £118. Going to keep track of these savings this year and see how we do. Weekly savings towards next tax bill are separate and automated so I'm not including those or my stocks & shares account which has a small deposit dropping in every month.

Eaten cheaply this weekend again, spun the beef from Friday out and its being served for the last time tomorrow with some dumplings. I've used the last of the mashed potatoes to make potato cakes which were breakfast yesterday and I've had the last couple with boiled eggs for a quick dinner tonight.

woodfired

A quiet weekend spent getting ready for our holiday. No new clothes bought for any of us which is pretty amazing. Found plenty of suncream in the motorhome and most other toiletries sorted from stores, aside from a new eyeliner that I need as I can't find my existing one and I assume it has fallen off my shelf in the en suite into the bin.

I have spent the day washing all of the clothes in the laundry baskets, ironing our stuff and getting the cases down from the attic. I haven't actually packed yet as I find I keep adding extras 'just in case' if I pack too soon so I've got piles for everyone all ironed and just a few bits to add that are still drying.

No takeaways or eating out this weekend, in fact pretty much a no spend weekend I think. Swept a few more pennies into savings, balance now £220. Dinner last night was homemade chicken kebabs and tonight I am going to repurpose a leftover white wine/cream/garlic sauce into a pasta sauce with the addition of some leftover chicken from last night and bacon from breakfast. Will have with some fresh tagliatelle that is in the fridge and might garnish with some leftover roast potatoes if I smash them up a bit and season with some garlic then roast again? A kind of crouton perhaps? That should empty the fridge a bit at least.