*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Wow, January is a loooooong month, isn't it? Another 2 weeks until pay day and it's boring having no money and not being able to eat nice food due to shifting the festive fat. I don't subscribe to dry January, because that would finish me off :rotfl:

Busy week ahead, I'm on a training course for a few days and then a couple of family Birthdays are coming up, so loads to keep me busy.

Doing ok with the budgeting, but I'm definitely looking forward to our pay coming in at the end of the month as I've spread the money quite thinly to recoup from Christmas. No major outgoings left for the rest of the month, all DDs paid, so just treading water really

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Spendy week this week, I've got to go on a training course for work. It's costing £30 a day in train fares and I've got to pay them! No money in department budget apparently. Very unimpressed. As it's only 3 days, I can't even make a saving buying a weekly ticket, so £90 gone
I bought lunch too today as had to be out of the house by 6.45 and that was painful enough without making lunch to take in. Would love to say I'll do better tomorrow, but that would be a lie

First week back from holidays, all the kids clubs need subs. I make it £160 to be paid, trying to decide if it's cheating to 'forget' this week and pay them all by cheque next week so cheques don't clear until after pay day? :rotfl:

Chrystal

How on earth do your employers get away with that????

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Apparently, there's no obligation for them to pay... even though my job depends on me attending. Very annoying. I've got to go for one week a month until the end of the year, so will cost me over £1K in train fares. Sad times.

wishingthemortgaheaway

That's shocking.

What would happen if you didn't go? Are you in a union? Would they intervene on your behalf? Even if they only cover the additional cost compared to your 'normal' commute - I bet the bosses don't have to pay for their own travel.

The only thing I can think of is that you complete a tax return and claim it back that way. My company (charity) only pay 40p per mile travel, so I have to claim the other 5p per mile (to take it up to the hmrc rate) through my tax return.

For £1000 it would be worth the faff if the system.
That way, you could look at the expense as 'savings' and you'll get a lump sum back

savingholmes

I agree - the hmrc route could be a way to go.

You sound like you've got on top of the grocery budget. Talking about your DH's bonus - I would clear the £1500 that lingers and start from scratch. I personally would pay off family as I think it adds a level of discomfort. Our DS owes us money at the moment and it is really annoying - even though we don't mention it often. We do struggle not to begrudge what he is spending his money on in preference to paying us. Just keeping it real...

ohdearhowdidthathappen

wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »

That's shocking.

What would happen if you didn't go? Are you in a union? Would they intervene on your behalf? Even if they only cover the additional cost compared to your 'normal' commute - I bet the bosses don't have to pay for their own travel.

The only thing I can think of is that you complete a tax return and claim it back that way. My company (charity) only pay 40p per mile travel, so I have to claim the other 5p per mile (to take it up to the hmrc rate) through my tax return.

For £1000 it would be worth the faff if the system.
That way, you could look at the expense as 'savings' and you'll get a lump sum back

I'm probably being thick, but how can I claim back through HMRC if this is for my PAYE job? More than happy to give it a go.
I am a member of a union (radiography). It's a tricky one; they're paying my full salary while I'm training, plus paying the £9K course fee. Their 'isn't that enough?' stance is understandable. But I'm '£100 a month for excess travel is A LOT'. Not sure how much to push it.

savingholmes wrote: »

I agree - the hmrc route could be a way to go.

You sound like you've got on top of the grocery budget. Talking about your DH's bonus - I would clear the £1500 that lingers and start from scratch. I personally would pay off family as I think it adds a level of discomfort. Our DS owes us money at the moment and it is really annoying - even though we don't mention it often. We do struggle not to begrudge what he is spending his money on in preference to paying us. Just keeping it real...

I agree, it would be nice to clear the £8.5k family loan, although we wouldn't then be able to clear the £1500 lingering CC balance.
FIL is loaded, he refuses to take over and above what he's agreed with us to repay. OH has a brother who constantly has his hand out and step-MIL has 3 daughters who also have their hands constantly out. They never repay what they take, whereas we always do. I think he finds it hard to accept our repayments when he knows the others aren't doing the same.
We'll wait and see what bonus is and then have the discussion with him again

mark55man

The HMRC is complex - I use self assessment so it forms part of that. If you don;t I'm not sure what the mechanism is (call HMRC to find out) but the entitlement is real namely

If you are travelling to somewhere that is not your normal place of work (which is different from your base office) for less than 40% of the time or less than 2 years duration from whenever you expect it then you can claim the difference between the HMRC rate (45p a mile for first 10000 miles) and what you are actually paid - in your case 0 but for others may be some indeterminate rate.

So say you did 10000 miles in a year you would then be able to offset £10000*45p from your allowance or £4500. If you were a basic rate taxpayer that would save you £4500*20% = £900.

If you were a Higher rate taxpayer that would save £4500*40% = £1800.

As I said I claim the above via self assessment, but I think there is a shortened mechanism where you let them know.

Once you have done this the HMRC may change your tax code as it will assume this is a regular occurrence so you can get caught out if you don't do the same amount of miles the following year

if you need more details I would ask on the tax forum - they are very knowledgable and quite friendly

enthusiasticsaver

I agree with Mark in that you are entitled to claim tax relief on work expenses which are not being reimbursed particularly if this will be a regular thing in the same way some people get a work clothing allowance on their tax code. Ring them up and I think they will adjust your code as you are PAYE.

I would lean towards paying off arranged amount with FIL, clearing that CC so that it doesn't wipe you out each month and putting the rest in savings.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thank you both.
I'll give them a call and see what they say, anything back would be nice really.