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Sarahwithlove

MeandO said:

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 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! 

I know that feeling. Ours has been capped at 1% for last 2 years and this year they haven't agreed on a rate with union yet so probably won't know until the summer. It gets backdated but still a pain. Then even if you do get one they take most in tax, NI and pension contributions. 🙄 That's only good thing about public sector is the pension scheme. 

MeandO

A small win to report this week - I picked up some pyjamas and slippers in a sale this week for my niece’s birthday. It’s way off yet but will they were half price and only cost me £8.50, so I will put them away as it will save me money later in the year. 

I need to buy something small to go with a birthday present in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully no more than £10 is needed as I bought half the present in the post-Christmas sales but it’s not really enough on its own. Thankfully, after that, I don’t have many birthdays to cover for a good few months so will hopefully be able to build the Christmas and birthdays savings pot up. It’s currently empty.  

I’ve just had a shower, washed my hair and am off to bed. The shower is not not draining properly so that’s another issue to report to the builders, on top of the various outstanding issues they’ve yet to fix.
It’s supposed to be getting windy again here during the night and our house is very exposed. I hope we make it through the night relatively unscathed and with a decent sleep under our belts. The way this house has been built, I have very little faith that all will stay where it is supposed to in this current awful weather we’re having.   

Night all x

MeandO

Sarahwithlove said:

MeandO said:

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 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! 

I know that feeling. Ours has been capped at 1% for last 2 years and this year they haven't agreed on a rate with union yet so probably won't know until the summer. It gets backdated but still a pain. Then even if you do get one they take most in tax, NI and pension contributions. 🙄 That's only good thing about public sector is the pension scheme. 

I think we must work in similar fields Sarahwithlove, the above all sounds very familiar!

MeandO

Urgh. The wind woke me up at 2.30am this morning and DS was up and bright as a button from 6am, so I’m shattered this morning. I’m currently sat with a cuppa, listening to the gale outside and trying to keep my eyes open.
I’ve checked the bank account this morning, no-one has gifted me large sums of money overnight unfortunately, but no need to spend any money now for the next two days anyway. 

Time for more tea... Happy Sunday all.

MeandO

Two items DS no longer wants have sold via FB for £25 if the buyer collects in half an hour as promised... DS will be putting it towards something else he is saving for. 
I’ve also listed another item he no longer wants on eBay, the money from which will be transferred into his savings if sold. 

MeandO

The buyer did indeed turn up so DS is £25 richer and a couple more items no longer required have left the house.
I have listed another item on ebay and one on FB, hopefully they both sell. Neither will make me rich, but it's a bit more decluttered and a few more pennies in the pot. 

Yesterday OH helped me take 2 heavy black bag fulls of 'stuff' to the charity shop, it feels good to see them gone from my spare room where they have been sitting for a while whilst being gradually added to. There are lots of kid's books left up there which I will offer to DS's school. I looked at ziffit but the amount they were going to give me was negligible. I'd rather give them away for good use.
I also took a tin of paint I had left from two houses ago(!) over to OH for him to use for some decorating he's planning to do this week. It's been sitting in my garage for a couple of years (thankfully it's still ok - I checked ), will save him money and is another item decluttered and off to a useful home.
I picked up some paint rollers in B&M yesterday, paid for with change from my purse (as there was nothing in the bank!). OH and I went halves on a big pack as we both needed some, so only cost me £2. I also splurged and spent £5 on an unexpected meal out and drink with OH, also paid for with change. 
CB has hit the bank account today, my wages should be paid tomorrow. I feel like I will be able to exhale again then, it's been an extremely tight month. I think the tax credits will be paid on Wednesday, so I need to make it all last the month again what with it all falling at being paid at the beginning of the 'payday' month.

I've got a joint of ham cooking in the slow cooker for DS and I for tea tonight, Leftover will be shredded and frozen or used as something else tomorrow. OH gave me a few goodies to use up this week that he won't get round to using, so that was my breakfast sorted this morning and lunch tomorrow or later.  

MeandO

Mortgage @ March 2019 £107K, now £101,000

Mortgage OP's 2019: £2291.68/£1800

Savings: EF £1275; H2S £1150 (+£575 bonus); PB’s £300 = £3300

Finally it's payday!
I've topped up the savings accounts and have managed to pay £100 off the mortgage as an overpayment, I'm so pleased. Current figures are as above. 

I froze the remaining cooked ham yesterday to use at a later date and have taken some chicken out of the freezer, ready for a Jambalaya tonight. I've made DS a hidden-veggie sauce for his pasta tonight, so we will both be eating relatively healthy today.
I have also taken a portion of the goulash made at the weekend out of the freezer for my work lunch tomorrow and have even calorie counted the lot, so am feeling mildly organised. I'm now on a mission to lose weight - went for a check up with the nurse today and my blood pressure is a bit high - no surprises. I spoke to her about my concerns over my weight and she was really supportive which spurred me on - was probably all I needed to be honest - so have also spoken to OH (ie. please stop buying me treats!) and am now on a mission to improve my health and feel better about myself.

I've tackled the oven today as it needed a good clean. I don't know anyone who actually likes that job, but at least it's done for a while now. I've also chased up the builders - again - and tried not to look on zoopla and dream about moving house too many times today.

I listed another big bulky item on FB last night that I don't really use any more. That will bring in £30 if sold which will go towards a savings pot. There has been lots of interest, but the usual 'disappearing' people when you confirm it's still available, so we'll see how it goes. 
No further bids on my ebay items yet, but a few watchers on some of the items so hopefully more bids will be received nearer the ends of the auctions.

Sarahwithlove

Well done on the overpayments you're doing great. 

MeandO

Thank you Sarahwithlove. 

MeandO

I’ve just had notification that my 2 year help to save bonus will be paid out soon and, I didn’t realise, it will be paid into my bank account and not the help2save account. I’ll stash it in the premium bond or Lloyd’s saver account.  

I’ve done really well with the diet this week. I haven’t gone over my daily calorie allowance at all and have been cooking from scratch daily, planning ahead and making sure everything is prepped so it’s relatively easy. I’m hoping to see a good weight loss at the end of the week so that it spurs me on. 

I’ve spent very little money this week, in fact, I haven’t touched the grocery budget yet but will need to get some shopping this weekend.

The tax credits have been paid in and allocated to the various pots. Need to make that last now. I transferred the council tax money to the credit card to pay off the house insurance I had to it on there too. 

Other news - I have an estate agent coming next week to value the house. One on this site has sold recently for £10k more than it was sold for new less than a year ago. I’m not anticipating this house doing the same as it is larger and more expensive, but it won’t hurt to see how much they think it will sell for. If it’s not a huge loss I will consider selling up. I have had enough.