Travelling On

badmemory · 14 January 2022 at 12:48PM

Just a smallish 3 bed modern terrace. BUT I need it warm or I land in too much pain to move, my son has some issues so takes 30 min power showers which also means that an extractor fan doesn't work so we have a dehumidifier which is great & has a very large computer which needs more than one cooling fan. About the only thing that would reduce the bill (other than what is obvious to everybody else) is replacing our very old freezer & even older fridge, which it appears are using about 3 times what new ones do. In the plan for this year.

Karmacat · 14 January 2022 at 1:09PM

That's rough, badmemory, I feel for you. For me, my feet are freezing for a lot of the day (like now) especially if I haven't moved around much - but I can tell the air is warm, and the thermostat tells me so too. If I haven't moved, I feel cold - but if I go outside for a walk, in this weather, I'll get the shingles after effects in my face for the whole day, and I won't be able to concentrate on anything. It's a pain, getting old, isn't it - and I've only just acknowledged I'm not middle aged any more

Good luck with your plan to modernise the appliances, you're right, that could really help.

Karmacat · 14 January 2022 at 1:13PM

Right, tax return is the priority. I entered the figure the nice SSE call handler gave me. Next came the amount of state pension - I mean, it's from a government body, can't they tell? Well, they can't apparently, so .... the wording is important, they wanted to know what I was **entitled** to, which is very different from what I actually got - it's paid 4 weekly in arrears, for starters. Sussed it

after which a whole load of meaningless-to-self-employed-me questions about my P45. Now, all that's left is the UK interest section, so I have to check the Net Worth spreadsheet, to know what accounts I had open. Thank heavens for historic spreadsheets

I'll still have to check the provisional form to make sure I haven't entered the French tax twice, but that's easy peasy. I hope.

Cheery_Daff · 14 January 2022 at 2:02PM

Gosh, energy bills really are extortionate, aren't they?? Our electricity DD is £72 a month although we were ahead of their estimate last time I submitted a reading, and I'm going to submit one when they ask this month so we'll have an accurate record of this month's use. Gas bill is harder as we just pay when we have the LPG tank topped up - which is when they're in the area with a truck, roughly 3 times a year. I think I worked it out as about an average of £160 last year, but we had a massive hole in the ceiling and various other things - should have improved by now...

badmemory · 14 January 2022 at 2:24PM

You are right to watch the state pension figure in your SA KC. The figure that the DWP give HMRC is often wrong (an overestimate) as the first week is often less than the other 51.

Karmacat · 14 January 2022 at 3:47PM

Gods above

I think I sussed the pension declaration, badmemory ... not a clue now, I'll be honest. I'll write down the methodology I remember on the right year spreadsheet, and let it go from there.

Been collecting statements - a few are actual pieces of paper

which feels strange these days. Anyway, because my ISAs are nice and chunky, interest earned on cash accounts that have to be declared is only £135.

Action note for February
Going to take those SSE shares and put them in an S*S isa.

ETA - Cheery, I bet your bills are really different now that you don't have a hole in the ceiling and whatnot! That's some great pieces of renovation you did there, your place is going to be lovely.

Karmacat · 14 January 2022 at 4:11PM

This is great, I've checked the French tax is in the right place, I haven't double declared or double claimed or anything of the sort, all's well. And nothing to pay, of course, my income was teeny weeny tiny. Still, I'll leave it over the weekend, to let it all gel, I know I can make mistakes (eg there was a massive interest payment from the PO Regular Saver, but I can't find the supporting paperwork, just my own note about it. Dozy duck. Still, I included it, so no harm done, but that's why it pays to take my time on submission.

Out for a walk now! Woo hoo!