So now what?

debtfreeoneday

So I made the first batch of butter yesterday and it went down well with the family. The cream cost me £2.65. The spread we buy is around £2.40 so I reckon the enjoyment of making it and the reduction of anything unnecessary in the spread is worth 25p. One batch in the fridge and two batches in the freezer. 

It did lead us onto conversations about the need to probably replace the food processor / mixer this year which gets used an awful lot in our house. 

Survey sites were a bit more active yesterday and a YouGov alert has just popped up so off to complete that one. 

Have a good day all. 

debtfreeoneday

Ended up having a very finance heavy night. Our income is looking like it’s going to change by about £500 a month worse. I’ll know more on Monday. I’ve sat and reworked the budget worse case scenario. We will be ok.  

It did create a discussion about whether council tax is best paid monthly or 10 monthly. I like the two ‘free’ months as we have nearly £400 extra to use / save elsewhere.  DH is of the just pay the same amount every month. It would save us £30 a month if we spread it across 12 months. Any thoughts?

£3.47 claimed from TCB and found a Mr T gift card for £2.31 I’d claimed from there before Christmas and forgotten about. 

South_coast

Sorry to hear the money news, at least you don't have to think about a mortgage any more though. 

I am a massive advocate of the 12-monthly council tax, changed about 4 years ago and have never looked back. It never made any sense to me that I was overpaying 10 months of the year. Just wish I could get my water rates to do the same (they will only go over 12 months if you have a meter, but I can't have a meter 🙄)!

smetf

Ouch, a loss of £500 a month is hard. Glad to hear your budget can stand it, and hopefully the worse case scenario budget won't be needed 🤞🏻
I like the 2 months of not paying CT, boosts our OPs in Feb and March, but seeing all the discussion on it does make me think I would be better just spreading between 12 months and slightly upping OPs every month...

debtfreeoneday

smetf said:

Ouch, a loss of £500 a month is hard. Glad to hear your budget can stand it, and hopefully the worse case scenario budget won't be needed 🤞🏻
I like the 2 months of not paying CT, boosts our OPs in Feb and March, but seeing all the discussion on it does make me think I would be better just spreading between 12 months and slightly upping OPs every month...

Yeah I guess if you were OPing then the payment would benefit sooner than waiting until the end of the year. 

I’m in two minds. For now I’ve got two months coming up where I don’t have to pay it. Though the money is already earmarked for something. 

debtfreeoneday

Having a chilled day here. Doing surveys, baking bread and having a board game afternoon. 

The budget change is in a strange way welcome as it lifts some pressure off us if we do lose the income. So I’m being positive about it. Budget had enough wriggle room in it, gym membership will be stopped but we were debating not renewing that anyway so no great loss. Other income has gone up £200 with a pension kicking in any day now. 

Smaller amounts for home reno and EFs but I’m used to tightening the belt and generating some side income so it’ll all be ok. 

Have started to look round for jobs today. I’m fortunate that I don’t have to rush and so could take my time looking for something I really would enjoy. 

RedLipstick

smetf said:

Ouch, a loss of £500 a month is hard. Glad to hear your budget can stand it, and hopefully the worse case scenario budget won't be needed 🤞🏻
I like the 2 months of not paying CT, boosts our OPs in Feb and March, but seeing all the discussion on it does make me think I would be better just spreading between 12 months and slightly upping OPs every month...

Same here! I was considering even paying it all at once when the bill comes to get rid of the D/D altogether but since all these discussions I have been wondering whether I should just spread over 12 months as well - currently paying over 10 months with the idea of extra savings/OPs in Feb and March but it never really works in practice as I have other annual D/Ds that are taken in these months so money goes to different things. The've removed the council freeze so wondering how much it will cost per month. Shall see!

debtfreeoneday

RedLipstick said:

smetf said:

Ouch, a loss of £500 a month is hard. Glad to hear your budget can stand it, and hopefully the worse case scenario budget won't be needed 🤞🏻
I like the 2 months of not paying CT, boosts our OPs in Feb and March, but seeing all the discussion on it does make me think I would be better just spreading between 12 months and slightly upping OPs every month...

Same here! I was considering even paying it all at once when the bill comes to get rid of the D/D altogether but since all these discussions I have been wondering whether I should just spread over 12 months as well - currently paying over 10 months with the idea of extra savings/OPs in Feb and March but it never really works in practice as I have other annual D/Ds that are taken in these months so money goes to different things. The've removed the council freeze so wondering how much it will cost per month. Shall see!

Hope it’s not too bad. I’m toying with changing it to 12 months and investing the £30 which would be £360 saved somewhere. It’s not like the budget can’t take it in those last two months. 

debtfreeoneday

£2.78 cashed out from TCB and £5 voucher from ipsos. Fair few surveys on PA and 1P. Plus £1.25 in free nectar points so not a bad day.  Snow came down quite heavy so think it’ll be a home day tomorrow. 

debtfreeoneday

Another snow day as the road wasn’t anywhere near thawed enough. Had a nice few hours with my book and then fell asleep mid afternoon. Whoops!

£5 in from Vypr and £9.18 cashed out from PA. 

Hoping to get out tomorrow as rain is forecast which hopefully clear the remaining snow.