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Learning to walk before I run
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Oh ed - it never rains........ I overheard a convo in the queue outside school this afternoon, which involved pusscats, catfights (presumably amongst the felines, and not the fellow-parents... 🤔) and a figure of £750 was mentioned.... as was lack of insurance 😟
I hope any O/T can be balanced - giving you reward, without sapping your energy.
Greying XGrocery spend March 2026 £83.09/£195
Non-food spend March 2026 £34.98/£80
Bulk Fund 2026 Month 3/12 - £0/£114.50 (reducing balance - start £120 pa)
""Mother Nature don't draw straight lines
The broken moulds in a grand design
We look a mess but we're doing fine
We're card carrying lifelong members
Of the union of different kinds..."
"Union of the Different kinds" - R Christie & T Gilbert, Fisherman's Friends4 -
Thanks @Greying_Pilgrim- I share your hopes! Nothing happening until the end of next week at the earliest, I can enjoy the last of the rugby first.4
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Boo to the cat.Yah to limited overtime.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 20 months left.5 -
Sorry to hear about the cat. We had spate of bad luck with our cars last year. Just one thing after the other. I think we spent around £2000 in total. Desperately holding on to mine now to get my moneys worth.
Good news about the overtime.2017 - mortgage of £140,000 and interest rate of £10 a day
Feb 2021 mortgage of £103000
November 2021 mortgage of £93000
December 2022 mortgage of £79000
December 2023 mortgage of £73000
March 2024 mortgage of £70000
May 2024 mortgage of £68000
October 2024 mortgage of £65000
February 2025 mortgage of £63000
March 2025 mortgage of £45000 and interest of £6.07 per day
November 2025 mortgage of £41000 and interest of £5.62 per day
March 2026 mortgage of £38000 and interest of £5.22 per day4 -
De lurking to use this linky: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-side-hustlers-as-300000-people-to-be-taken-out-of-tax-returns-government-announces
Side hustle threshold tripled, announced 2 days ago. Does this include Scotland? 🤞🏼Debt Free 🍾 since 6.8.13 £32kSaving for 🎄 🎁 2026 £218/£730 29.8%6 mth 🆘 fund £10kMortgage offset fund £23.2k/£30k 77.3%It turns out the answer to my problems wasn’t at the bottom of this tub of ice-cream, 🍨 but the important thing is that I tried...4 -
Can I check my understanding of the changes re side hustle? My reading of it is that threshold for paying tax isn't changing, the requirement will still kick in at £1k but the difference is that a tax return / self assessment won't be required until £3k. Between £1k and £3k there will be a simple form to fill in rather than completing a full assessment.
https://news.sky.com/story/no-more-tax-returns-for-side-hustlers-selling-clothes-on-vinted-or-making-money-from-tiktok-13326386
"To simplify the complex tax return system, the government also said a new online form will be introduced to declare cash earnings up to £3,000 for self-employed work."
I'll be very happy if I've got it wrong though!3 -
@CCW007 - Oops - looks like I got it wrong
Easy come, easy go, will still be good to avoid a tax return! 5 -
Hmm, modernising and simplifying systems, I seem to remember exactly the same objectives after HMC&E was merged with IR back in 2005.
For me, it is honey sales. I will stick to my doorstep selling and the small number of outlets I use.
Oh yes, pets. Our cat is not insured. The dog is part of a plan where he is checked regularly, with worm and flea treatments, annual vaccinations, weigh ins and claw clipping, if needed. The Accident only insurance, taken out for the third party liability insurance? nobody is offering that now. Yes, I could pay £34 a month for £2000 of vets fees with a big excess, but it was principally the 3PLI I was after, so he is no longer insured.Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £2870.61 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £568.34 and most of my March purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here5 -
How’s your cat now? Recovering I hope … 🤞
KKAs at 15.02.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £220,873
- OPs to mortgage = £12,881 Estd. interest saved = £6,203 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 20 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 7th March.
Produce tracker: £51 of £400 in 2026
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.5 -
Thanks for the birthday wishes over on my thread - I trust you will be celebrating a day early for yours? - I would.

Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £2870.61 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £568.34 and most of my March purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here6
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