Giving every £ a job

lucielle

Well done on the under spend. 

L

EssexHebridean

Great underspending! 

I'm struggling a bit with extra earnings at the moment - I keep forgetting to check Prolific at the right times, and have got very slack on other survey sites to - I need to kick myself up the proverbial I think! I can't be doing with online selling - I've tried to force it but it just creates misery, so it's not for me! 

Blackcats

Thanks all.  I was pleased with the underspend.  "Analysis" of the spends across my categories was interesting though.  We overspent AGAIN on eating out which had a knock on effect of creating a small underspend on groceries.  Underspend on petrol and a refund on some clothes balanced out overspends on gifts and toiletries.  All good learning for future months but the underspend was more by luck than judgement.

@EssexHebridean I don't like online selling either.  Vinted is easy to use but prices are low and even then buyers make cheeky offers.  I won't be using it very much more but it's ok for clearing out some items.  MrBC is very good at ebaying .... when he gets around to listing things. There's a long list in his virtual pending pile.  

I remember commenting (moaning) on here about what felt like very high amounts of tax being deducted last year when I first took my pension whilst still working part time.  Well I am delighted to say that I'm due a refund and it's a significant amount.  Even better I had squirrelled some money away in case I had a tax bill.  

I haven't got the refund yet and I haven't planned how to use the money yet.  Not so long ago I would  spent the money and more as soon as I got my hands on it.  

We have one planned extravagance this week which is funded from the entertainment pot. We plan to spend Saturday afternoon watching Wimbledon with champagne and fancy sandwiches and strawberries and cream.  It's become a bit of a tradition, although more recently the champagne comes from Lidl 😇

Sun_Addict

The Wimbledon afternoon sounds fabulous 🥂

savingholmes

Lovely Wimbledon tradition.

Fabulous news on the tax situation.

Blackcats

Thank you SA and SH.  We enjoyed the tennis extravagance - there was enough champagne left for the epic Djokovic match last night.  

Aiming for a blend of productivity and relaxation this week.  We have a few days away later in the week so I've been busy doing bits and bobs today.

I'm so happy to report that after many fails I have finally succeeded and have grown sweet peas -they are my favourite flowers and I have my first little bunch on the coffee table -so pretty and they smell divine.

productive activity .....

tax papers signed and posted so fingers crossed the refund will arrive into my bank soon.  We have started a plan on how to use the money - all very sensible ideas but not signed off yet at a Blackcat financial summit - will wait til I've actually got the money.

Withdrawn the Vinted and quidco money - just over £20 which has gone into the Christmas pot.

focussed on my spreadsheet for holiday costs/spends etc.  confessing that the October holiday is still underfunded - will need to deal with this over the next couple of months.  Note to self - this is not legitimate use of a tax refund.

lucielle

Excellent news on the tax refund. Dreading paying ours as it’ll be this time next year before it’s all done and dusted. I love sweet peas as well, enjoy. 

L

savingholmes

I think the holiday would be a great use of the money 

Blackcats

Just coming to the end of holiday number 1 - which is the budgeted for holiday.  Well .....I think the budget will be sufficient but it has surprised us how much prices have gone up.  Will do the final totting up when we are home.
going to enjoy a sandwich on the beach now - an inexpensive and delightful way to have lunch on a Monday 😎

lucielle

Hope you’ve had a great time!  

L