Learning to walk before I run

edinburgher

Alchemilla said:

Your Ma sounds cool, Ed.

She is Al, a real classy lady, has very much mellowed into being a super chilled out young at heart retiree  

I sometimes feel that I'd like to spend more time with her, but I don't begrudge her her fun in the sun There will be plenty of time for that.

I am all out of sync this week as my exercise classes have moved to different days (the nightclub used for them is showing live sports on some days next week). I need to get up at 05:30 tomorrow, but have managed to get my grocery shopping done tonight. Unfortunately I spent quite a lot, but the fridge and freezer are groaning with delicious things. I'm making a mahoosive pastitsio this week.

QueenJess

badmemory said:

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.

That’s good to read. I once tried to report someone for tax fraud as was so annoyed that they were blatant about it and then had the audacity to complain they wanted more money for everyday life and also complained about various services that their taxes would be paying for (if they had actually paid any). Can’t believe how difficult it was and how much information they needed (basically impossible to know unless you were their accountant or something) - I had no confidence whatsoever that they were investigated.

edinburgher

I have been pottering about in the background getting real life and financial things done, including a payment of £200.57 to my CC today. Because I have been paying off so much debt (which in turn reduces the amount of money reserved in our budget to pay for it), the gap between the money we have on hand and our liabilities has been shrinking quickly. This was in the region of -£5,000, but it's now down to roughly -£300. Considering that includes money for a loft conversion and a good chunk of EF, that's not at all horrible

Karmacat

That's a big shrinkage, good for you!

edinburgher

Tiny bit of savings interest and cashback withdrawn, payments of £1.46 made to CC/OPs/ISA. Feels like picking up pennies in front of a steamroller in the current climate of risks to living standards, but what choice do we have other than to plug on?

I referred Mrs E to Rev0lut, my UK fintech bank thingy for a rather fabby £55.05   Not bad for me mucking about with her phone for about 20 minutes and buying 3 baby things we needed anyway. Unfortunately the referral offer was very short lived and not really one that can be shared, so just mentioning it here as a good news story, not one that I can use again!

edinburgher

£277.54 paid off CC, we are now in the black assets vs liabilities

Suffolk_lass

Ooh, reminiscent of @Busy_Mee, who we have not seen for a while. Neutralising debt. You know my preference is to go further and use that achievement as the confirmation that you can reduce the actual liabilities to free up the cash flow they need

edinburgher

@Suffolk_lass - liabilities to which I refer are debt repayment itself, reduced income during mat leave, Emergency Fund. I'm not sure how I could absorb/reduce those as they are what they are? 

edinburgher

My hamstring "popped" doing sprints this morning 

Currently lying in bed terrified I've torn the muscle 

Anyone experienced similar who wants to try and tell me it will be OK? 

savingholmes

Ouch sounds painful. Hope you recover quickly.

Well done on shrinking your liabilities.