Learning to walk before I run

themadvix

Now I want a roll from a greasy spoon for breakfast!

 The present for your mum sounds spot on. Consumables (especially nice ones) are always welcome in my minimalist house!

Suffolk_lass

edinburgher said:

Plasterer finished already - strewth! Mrs E says they've done a good job, but I'd assumed a whole day job based on the price. Hey ho, I hired based on glowing feedback, not cheapness

Got my free £50, spent most of it 

First builder showed up. Seemed credible, but they're all very tax avoidy... 

They always were - HMRC has a Construction Industry Scheme whereby the main contractor deducts from sub-contractors for their tax. They put lots of effort into reducing fraud in that industry a few years ago. I suspect the Furlough Fraud work is taking precedence these days

killerpeaty

Suffolk_lass said:

edinburgher said:

Plasterer finished already - strewth! Mrs E says they've done a good job, but I'd assumed a whole day job based on the price. Hey ho, I hired based on glowing feedback, not cheapness

Got my free £50, spent most of it 

First builder showed up. Seemed credible, but they're all very tax avoidy... 

They always were - HMRC has a Construction Industry Scheme whereby the main contractor deducts from sub-contractors for their tax. They put lots of effort into reducing fraud in that industry a few years ago. I suspect the Furlough Fraud work is taking precedence these days

When I used to do little accounts like that you would get one looking to get a mortgage and suddenly two or three years of earnings should rocket. Shocking that.

Recently I even had a builder put through the repairs to his own roof as business expenses. I love that they think we don't notice these things!

Also finally managed to read through your thread ed! Sorry to hear about feeling poorly but glad you've managed to knock out the various millstones at work!

badmemory

I've got a friend in a different trade altogether who got so fed up with being asked for a price for cash that he started asking cash or cheque from the start.  Then quoted exactly the same price whichever they chose & paid over the VAT.  He always said it was far too easy to get caught, he had been investigated over 30 years ago.  They even followed him from one of his businesses to another to make sure he didn't use it for personal use.  After weeks they still didn't find a thing, but it got really unpleasant.  Just not worth it.

edinburgher

My Council Tax bill has come in at +3.5%. As we're in Band E and not eligible for any sort of reduction, it averages out at almost £200/month across the year

This morning I got up at 05:30 as I had a horrible sleep (shoulder pain from an overly challenging exercise at yesterday's class and Mrs E can't shift her post-Covid cough). She has been an absolute trooper and refuses to take any kind of medicine, has been the same throughout her pregnancy. But my word - that cough is annoying!

I've done very little today. Took DD to drama, did the obligatory march up and down the big hill on the main road, dropped off some stuff for the foodbank and took her for a wee cheap lunch out before bringing her back home to go out with Mrs E for her art class and a party. It can be a very good life when you're a kid

Other than that, I'm taking it easy, getting the April budget ready and starting to look forward to my birthday and a trip to a spa hotel with family at the end of the month. We're taking Mrs E's folks out for lunch tomorrow, suspect our presents budget will be depleted after that.

Suffolk_lass

My council tax (also Band E) for 22-3 is £235 for 9 months but April is a bit more as it is always the evening out month - and ours doesn't include water (another £25 across 12 months). Up 3% I hope you feel better about yours. 

I don't think we did more than one thing extra a day with DS. I wonder how all that will be with a second, and each of you needing a bit of downtime from family life. Having a pup now I seriously question how we coped with a child...

edinburgher

@Suffolk_lass - it is very arbitrary. Sibling (bigger house worse area, but newbuild, so probably more accurate tax) lives less than 10 miles away but will pay c. £700 less this year.

DD takes part in a lot of activities, but she also appears to have near-boundless energy! After school drama (free), Rainbows (basically free), swimming, drama (paid) and art (paid). Mrs E is keen to reduce Saturday down to one extra-curricular activity, but DD effectively missed a chunk of her childhood because of Covid restrictions and I'm happy enough to let things run to a natural conclusion (like all children DD tires of things eventually).

Speaking of near-boundless energy, we're going swimming in about half an hour

£209.20 paid off CC

South_coast

I won't tell you how much my council tax is Ed, but with a child in school and who probably goes to the park every now and again, you're probably getting better value for money from it than I am!

killerpeaty

My flat (two bed) costs the same as my mum's house (three bed) only a mile apart, same council. (Ignoring my single persons discount).

Alchemilla

Your Ma sounds cool, Ed.