2008 - Live on £4000 for a full year.

looby-loo_2

...but I have just checked off all the reciepts, statements etc and found that I have missed loads off my spreadsheet - mostly DH popping into the shop on his way home. Don't mind as most of the things we need but I do resent the chocolate bars and biscuits when there are home made cakes in the tin. And the small bags of potatoes when he passes the farm selling 12.5k for the same price.

However, I have noticed that my internet has taken the direct debit twice in Feb so good thing I checked. I think the reason is because the number on the credit card changed and I had to set it up again.

It's my wedding anni. tomorrow. I've forgotten to get a card. I've just written one from my 'card box' that I hope will do:o , well it has flowers so...

I've emptied and cleaned two drawers in my kitchen freezer mostly by using last summers fruit so this afternoon I've just peeled and stewed the very last of the autumn apples (they haven't kept quite as well this winter), enough for three puddings.

sophiesmum that is lovely of you - even if it is your job

flowerofthewest

Hi all, you've been busy while I've been away
Got back from Scotland on Wednesday, and have to say I have a great time. Never been on a coach holiday before and really enjoyed not having to worry about where I was going or what I was going to do every day. Visited St Andrews, Stirling and Blair Atholl as included excursions and also went on half-day optionall trip to Pitlochry.
Usually when I go to Scotland it's to visit family and I've always "done" the outer edges before, so not really seen much of central area, so this was great for me.

On the frugallity side of things - this went completely out of the window (well - I WAS on holiday! ). Didn't have lunche while I was out 'cos knew that I could survive on a snack until evening meal at hotel - unfortunately snacks were as follows: hot chocolate and scone, hot chocolate and dumpling, hot chocolate and carrot cake (anyone else notice a theme here?). My food diary is looking a bit odd. On the plus side - I didn't binge once while on holiday and am very happy about that.

I've decided that none of the money I spent while away is going to be included in my £4,000 as it is all pure luxury money and most of it was paid for by savings as stated previously, although I did end up taking extra money out of the current account.

Have had 2 NSDs since I got back and have only spent £5.07 in Tesco.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Take care
Fi

redglass_2

looby-loo wrote: »

Oh dear - You've made me feel guilty now.

Sorry! That definitely wasn't the intention. I agree about cracks and lines adding character - my face is a lot more characterful these days....

Jay1_2

flowerofthewest wrote: »

unfortunately snacks were as follows: hot chocolate and scone, hot chocolate and dumpling, hot chocolate and carrot cake (anyone else notice a theme here?).

Please can you reassure this English girl that a dumpling in Scotland isn't the same as what I think a dumpling is. Or did they run out of gravy?

elantan

sophies mum that is a truly wonderful thing you do

bails

Fi, it's great you had such a lovely time and did so well with your eating!

Just got back from Brum, had a pretty frugal time I think, will update tomorrow as the kitten wont let me type as he's desperate for a cuddle

MarkyMarkD

mah_jong Our estate of houses was built with darkish brown bricks and stained wooden frames, which I think looks nice and is how the houses were meant to be. But now over half of them have been replaced with UPVC. Our neighbours have repainted their wooden frames white, but at least they haven't gone for UPVC. So now we are one of the few remaining ones with original wood-coloured wooden frames!

working forever Nice to see you on MSE. I think you'll get a better response to your post on a different forum than this, but I will have a bit of a go at answering first whilst pointing out that I am not a tax expert.

As I understand it, up until 5 April 2003, tax credits were paid through the tax code and instead of the tax code ending in "L" (which it does for most normal circumstances) tax codes ending in "A" or "H" were used. If your tax code for years from 6 April 2003 continued to contain an "A" or "H", then two things should have happened:

- your employer should have noticed it was wrong, because an instruction was issued by HMRC telling them so during 2003;
- and failing that, HMRC should have noticed at the end of the tax year (i.e. April 2004) and told your employer it was wrong.

(Out of date tax codes

The Inland Revenue has issued a reminder to employers that, if they are still using suffix tax codes ending "A" or "H", they should contact their Inland Revenue office immediately to obtain a revised coding. These tax codes went out of use at the start of the current tax year when the tax allowance known as Children's Tax Credit was abolished and replaced by direct payments of Child Tax Credit.
(Source: https://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/employers/stoppress.htm )
...back to 28 November 2003)

I'd be interested to know what tax code was used for each tax year from 2003/4 onwards - your P60s would show this or your payslips, if you have either of them.

If you've paid the wrong tax due to a coding error, I can't see it being written off. But if it was your employer's fault, you obviously have a lot of mileage in asking them to give you an interest-free loan to repay HMRC over quite a long period given the amount involved.

Hope that helps - come back if it doesn't.

sophiesmum_2

elantan wrote: »

sophies mum that is a truly wonderful thing you do

Thanks, I like to think it makes a difference in their lives, it's my little way of putting something back into the little community I live in:D
I also get to pick up lots of frugal tips from people who lived through the war and had to make the most of everything.:D - sausage stuffed jacket potato anyone???:D

Anyway tea is now over and I have acquired a piece of roast pork big enough for tea tomorrow, even after sending everyone home with a bit for sandwiches:D

elantan

it's amazing how helping others can be so rewarding for our selves isnt it

mumzyof2

Jay1 wrote: »

Please can you reassure this English girl that a dumpling in Scotland isn't the same as what I think a dumpling is. Or did they run out of gravy?

To me a dumpling is what you have with stew... stew and dumplings lol