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MeandO

So it turns out that I opted to switch my utilities 6 days ‘too early’ (despite current provider sending me a letter saying ‘switch now’) and would have incurred a charge, so have cancelled the switch for now and will do it in a week or so. 

The £25 SO has transferred to the emergency fund today, so there’s now £1250 in there, I doubt very much there’ll be any more savings stashed this month as the bank account is looking sparse. There’s only a week to go until payday though and we really don’t need anything at the moment, so we’ll be fine. 

I did have a bit of a frivolous spend of £20.63 over the weekend on a couple of cookbooks, a sweet treat for us all and an extra gift for OH’s birthday. This sort of spending was the norm for me a few years ago, but it felt so strange and slightly wrong to be spending on these things we really didn’t need - it was an eye opener as to how my attitude towards spending and money has changed. 

The storm is still raging here outside so DS and I won’t be venturing too far today. I only have a couple of days with him this half term but I’m so looking forward to the next two days of chilling out a bit and doing what we please.

MeandO

YNAB all updated today with the last few days spends. 
Last night I took OH out for his birthday meal. I'd budgeted almost £80, but we didn't go to the place we'd intended to and stayed where we were initially having drinks as we were enjoying, so only actually spent just under £20... he's a cheap date!   
The remainder of the money has been spread between the diesel budget and the groceries pot as there was more month than money in both and the car needs filling and I need to pick up some groceries today.

I've re-switched energy companies today now that I'm within the 'switch-allowed' time frame. That should hopefully net £130 in cashback too. I'm feeling a bit 'stuck' at the moment as there's no money spare and I really would like to pay a bit more off the mortgage or build the savings up a little. It's payday early next week, so I guess I'll just have to be patient until then...

MeandO

I've had my student loan deferment application through the post recently (I don't earn enough to repay it - old style loan).
I'm filling it in today and just checked my tax credits for the next few months, looks like they'll be going down by over £50 a month from April. I have no idea why, there's no change in my circumstances, but looks like it's correct according to the tax credit caluclator. I'm gutted. That's a lot of money to me and I really can't see how I can squeeze any more out of my budget to cover it. That will be my monthly mortgage OP gone, or I'll have to reduce the emergency savings pot.

Sarahwithlove

MeandO said:

I've had my student loan deferment application through the post recently (I don't earn enough to repay it - old style loan).
I'm filling it in today and just checked my tax credits for the next few months, looks like they'll be going down by over £50 a month from April. I have no idea why, there's no change in my circumstances, but looks like it's correct according to the tax credit caluclator. I'm gutted. That's a lot of money to me and I really can't see how I can squeeze any more out of my budget to cover it. That will be my monthly mortgage OP gone, or I'll have to reduce the emergency savings pot.

It's because your tax allowance increases so the amount you can earn before tax increases so your take home pay should in theory as a result but they haven't increased the cost of living this year at all so therefore as far as the tax credits are concerned you will earn extra even if you want really notice the difference yourself. 

MeandO

Thanks for the explanation Sarahwithlove, I’d guessed it had something to do with the new tax year but wasn’t sure exactly what. 

I was feeling quite defeated about it most of yesterday. My budget is so tight but I know I’ll manage, because I have to. I’ll figure out where to squeeze the extra money from when I can sit down and face the task. 

On the up side, a neighbour presented me with a bottle of wine last night In return for a favour last week. I was also given a couple of huge fresh fish that he had caught - OH was over the moon as he loves seafood. He prepped them and we gave one to his uncle as he has been very good to OH lately and helped him out. It’s nice to pay the favour on.

MeandO

DS has only wanted to play on his console, watch TV and ‘chill’ today   so I’ve been a bit bored and fed up tbh. I started sorting my clothes out - I barely have much that fits me now - but quickly got fed up with that so only did two drawers and lined them with some smelly drawer lining paper I was given over a year ago. A few bits that I’m never likely to fit in again have gone into the charity bag so at least it was a tiny bit of decluttering done. 
I have also listed a few things on eBay that I have been meaning to do something with for well over a year. It is difficult, because they are items that belonged to my late grandparents and late auntie, but my parents gave them to me to sell or get rid of before they charity shopped them. Most are of very little, if any, value and none of the items really have sentimental value - I don’t recall ever seeing most of them in their houses, but there is still that bit of guilt about getting rid of things that belonged to them. I have listed 6 items for now, it would be nice if they sell and bring in a little bit of money, but I’m not overly optimistic.  A few other items that I’m pretty sure won’t sell are in the charity bag now too. 

I’ve also baked some cookies and cakes this afternoon, both from ‘kits’ that have been in the cupboard for some time and I wanted to use up. I have had moving house on my mind today and feel the need to de clutter and get rid of stuff we don’t want/need or that needs using up. It’s daft, but it makes me feel like I’m doing at least something slightly positive. Anyway, DS is doing a fine job of polishing off the cookies I’ve made and he delivered some of the lemon cakes to our elderly neighbours. 

Last night I made a huge batch of Cajun goulash - a recipe from some seasoning meal kits I bought OH for his birthday. It was lovely, but made absolutely tonnes! We have frozen 3-4 portions for work lunches and possibly another evening meal for both of us next week. I also made a lasagne for DS one night this week with 3 portions of that now in the freezer too. 

I have loosely meal-planned for the coming week. I have a menu-style chalk board in my kitchen now and find it helpful to jots down meals for the week on it. The freezer is full so I am concentrating on using some things up and making some more space. 

I had to buy diesel last night as the car was running on fumes. I only put just over £20 in there instead of filling it up as I don’t have enough in the bank to do that at the moment. In fact, there’ll only be around £2 left in there until payday on Tuesday. It’s a good job we don’t need anything.
Happy weekend all. I hope I’ve managed to snap out of this low mood by tomorrow.  

crazy_cat_lady

Lots of love  

Hope you feel a bit better tomorrow 

Sarahwithlove

Because you can earn more before you pay tax you should see a slight increase in your wages in April to help offset some of the tax credits loss. Downside of course is that council tax is going up.  Will you get a pay rise at all at work? 

MeandO

Thank you CCL, sending love right backatchya xx

MeandO

Sarahwithlove said:

Because you can earn more before you pay tax you should see a slight increase in your wages in April to help offset some of the tax credits loss. Downside of course is that council tax is going up.  Will you get a pay rise at all at work? 

Thanks Sarahwithlove. Unfortunately no pay rise on the cards for me. I work in public sector (not at senior level either) and pay rises are famously non existent, frozen or .5 to 1% in my world. I’m also at the top of my pay scale for my position (although being part time, it doesn’t feel like it!) so no increase for me. 

I barely bring home £20k a year these days, but am quite proud of how I manage to cover everything on that on my own. It’s not easy though and is getting noticeably harder year on year. 

Ironically, I’m also living in one of the most expensive counties for council tax in this part of the world, not that the area reflects that!