Life is a minestrone as the song says - my new diary

teapot2

Well the online selling accounts took longer than I expected as is often the way but they are done now as are the self employment accounts. I'll log in to HMRC tomorrow, I seem to remember there was a bit of a stooshie getting into the site last year so I hope its straightforward.

I went for a walk after lunch and it was good to get out, the woods are quite muddy at the moment so mostly skirted round them and followed a less muddy path through for the last bit of my wander.

Was just settling down to tackle more paperwork when the family appeared unexpectedly. I was about to put the kettle on when I hear a squeak from the oldest tiny human and looked over to see them about to scribble over the open page of my account book :eek::eek::eek:. No harm done but a close one, their fave form of art work is scribbling furiously until a hole appears in the paper .
I steered them away from the table and my teetering piles of receipts also remained intact phew.

Didn't realise what the time is, need to head to bed I think

Karmacat

:rotfl: yikes to the tiny human artworks!


I'll be interested to know about what your hmrc experience is - I too remember the faff last year. Good luck.

teapot2

Karmacat wrote: »

I'll be interested to know about what your hmrc experience is - I too remember the faff last year. Good luck.

All went smoothly thanks KC, they did have to text me a code as additional security when I first signed in but that was all. The tax return has been submitted so just got the NI to pay by the end of the month but will leave that till a bit more money comes in.

teapot2

After I finished the tax return, I had a break then looked at finding a new broadband deal as mine with beeT is ending this month. It was previously in OH's name and when he died I got it put into mine but wasn't really in a state to be haggling so I've been paying quite a lot since then. I'm going with the PO deal which works out around £15 a month once the reward is taken into account, the cheapest BeeT were going to offer was £24 a month :eek:. I did look at a cashback site as well but the deal through MSE had a bigger reward. So have signed up for that, bit nervous about setting up a new router etc but will hopefully manage. I'd checked my credit score before I applied and am pleased to see its climbing nicely again.

Doing my tax return for April 2018 - April 2019 was a bit of a sobering experience. I wasn't in a position to work for more than a couple of months in that whole year. The beginning of that financial year was still close to OH's death and then in the April I had a knee replacement operation with subsequent 10 weeks recovery period. I had the second op in November that year so was just returning to work in March 2019. I still had work expenses to cover when I was off including room rent, professional fees [reduced rate], work mobile, insurance etc so I made a grand total of £150 that year after expenses .

I think all in all I've not done too badly coming out of that with 'only' £3000 in CC debt. I'm in a better position now having built up my self employment again over the last year and am hoping to consolidate that in the coming year and to begin to get some sense of financial security back as it all still feels a bit 'skin of my teeth' at the moment.

I want to get an emergency fund in place as I know only too well how important that is. I had a very expensive flat roof leak last year and family offered me some money towards paying for it as I didn't have enough. The good news is that they have recently said they don't want me to pay any more of that back which takes a lot of pressure off as it was nearly as much as my CC debt. They are in a good financial position and have a number of properties and big pensions so I'm grateful for their generosity.

I'm back to work tomorrow so will get all my 'stuff' together for that later on. As I didn't manage to get out yesterday, I'm going for a walk shortly, theres a new sculpture at the edge of town by the guy who did the Kelpies so am going to have a look at that and on will call into @sda on the way back as I need bread and am out of veg for making soup as well.

the_cross_rabbit

Love the kelpies, on my list to visit .
CRx

Karmacat

Walking out today sounds good, yes - an especially good idea as doing the accounts was a bit triggering

Good financial news in there, actually, comparatively little debt from that bad year, and the writing off the flat roof debt, thats a lovely thing for them to do.

If there are any kelpies in that new sculpture ... say hello

beanielou

What a lovely financial gesture.

teapot2

the_cross_rabbit wrote: »

Love the kelpies, on my list to visit .
CRx

They are spectacular close up and definitely worth a visit if you get the chance.

Karmacat wrote: »

If there are any kelpies in that new sculpture ... say hello

No Kelpies , its a 5 metre high bear to honour John Muir. He was born in the town and moved to the US where he was instrumental in conservation and developing the national parks.

teapot2

So I did go out and had a lovely walk as it was nice and sunny. Wildlife spotted included Oyster Catchers, a couple of squirrels and a bear ;)

After visiting the statue I went for a coffee and a scone then to @sda where I bought bread, blueberries, celery and a stew pack of veg to make soup for £4. I've got scotch broth mix soaking so will make that tomorrow when I get in from work. Those are my first spends of 2020 so 4 NSDs so far. I could have got cheaper bread but I'm trying to buy food that doesn't contain palm oil and so far a seeded Hovis loaf is the only one I've found locally.

I hoovered and tidied when I got back and have put all the paperwork from my tax return away. I wrote some overdue emails and caught up with a friend on the phone.

Veg curry and rice for tea, will be enough left for tomorrow's tea. I've been compiling my list of 20 things for 2020 and nearly there - didn't think I could reach that many but am up to about 17 now so will keep thinking.

Am back to work tomorrow so got my bag ready and going to head off now for an early night. Happily its not a particularly early start to break me in gently

teapot2

That's the first day back at work done and dusted. Luckily I got there early as first person I was meeting turned up half an hour early as they'd got their times muddled. Took a packed lunch with me so no spends. Came home to a few work related emails, and texts to respond to and meetings to arrange so that is all done.

Also sent in a meter reading as new tariff kicks in this week. Am hoping I won't have overspend having been at home this last couple of weeks.

Had left over curry for tea but am a bit fed up with it now so will freeze the last portion. Thought I'd finish it tonight but no..... Also made a pan of scotch broth and a meal for the family to pick up tomorrow.

Am going to leave extra early for work tomorrow which is a pain but due to the high winds forecast, the dual carriageway nearby is closed for about 10 miles and all traffic is to use the old road. Thats the one my bus uses so I imagine it will be very busy and slow. When there were high winds in December quite a few lorries were blown over on the dual carriageway and one landed on the bonnet of a police car - nobody hurt though :eek:. Its the first time they have preemptively closed the road as it usually only happens after a couple of lorries have blown over :eek::eek:.