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Living Large, on a Small Income, by the Sea.

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  • dawnybabes
    dawnybabes Posts: 3,433 Forumite
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    I did a 6 week course at the local college on basic plumbing and electrics, was a bargain at £30 plus I got a student union card 🤣🤣🤣
    Sealed pot challenge 822

    Jan - £176.66 :j
  • Sun_Addict
    Sun_Addict Posts: 24,206 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm not surprised you were upset about the broken china, I would be too.

    I hope you manage to get the tax demand sorted, often it's something simple that needs to be clarified. A few years ago I had an old pension scheme wind up and I took the money as it wasn't a large amount on which I paid tax. This generated a new tax code as HMRC thought this was going to be my monthly pension. It was easily clarified with a phone call and a follow up letter with a copy of the letter from the pension company clarifying it was a one off payment. It stressed me out no end until it got sorted though. 
    I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)
  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 10,141 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    edited Today at 10:05AM
    Thanks for the commiserations @beanielou and @Tresinia511 :)

    Thanks @Seasidegal58 I relate to your post about ex partners! This is exactly why I want to build savings, so I can 'just pay them' straightaway when issues arise...not there yet, but I will be  :)
    I did a 6 week course at the local college on basic plumbing and electrics, was a bargain at £30 plus I got a student union card 🤣🤣🤣
    Well done you!

    Thanks @Sun_Addict I seem to be at the bottom of the tax issue...

    Yesterday I cleared and repotted plants at the front of my house. I have purple salvia, a mauve wavy plant I don't know the name of, a white and a purple butterfly bush and low planted violas. I am back to getting compliments from passersby and smiling when I walk through my front door  :)

    I called re my tax at 7ish just to check the number was correct. I was surprised that it went straight through, so they are open before 8. No holding on at all. I do owe the tax, not income but to do with interest when I was waiting to buy the house. I set up a payment plan. I am paying beyond their 3 years, a small amount. I am not paying any interest. I had to do an I and E over the phone. I am sharing this because all their information says you have to pay within 3 years. Not true,  it can go beyond if you have a low income. Anyway, all done now and feeling lighter in my head and my pocket!

    I have a chicken stew in my pressure cooker. I ate poorly yesterday again. When I have a soup or stew ready to eat I generally eat well.

    A little rain here...

    I threw away some old boots that always hurt my feet

    I need to check my cc for the grand reveal today  :o

    There is a part time job I will be applying for today. I very much doubt I have a chance, but you never know and the application form will keep my brain engaged.

    I will be walking to the GP surgery as they phoned to say I am anaemic  and they want to do further tests to work out why. I already eat to maximise calcium and protein now I have another issue to consider! No one post to suggest liver as I won't be eating it!

    Have a good day all  :) 
    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 800/1000
    Buffer fund 0/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/072025
  • Tresinia511
    Tresinia511 Posts: 222 Forumite
    100 Posts Name Dropper
    Dia, a productive day indeed! To find out what your plants are,  take a picture then run it through Google  lens,  if you've never used it, it's easy and brilliant.  Load your picture in your photos , click the 3 dots top left and click Google lens.  It searches a database and gives you information on the image.  Good tips re tax office.  Well done on getting rid of bad fitting boots! I find it really hard to part with shoes and boots,  messing about with stretchers and insoles,  when I should just accept that they don't fit  haha. Good luck with job application and anaemic tests.  I always used to get rejected for giving blood years ago as I was always anaemic , never found out why
  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 10,141 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Thanks @Tresinia511 :) I also struggle to get rid of ill fitting footwear as I never compromise on footwear, so I pay lots of money for footwear, but as Conran says 'a poor purchase is not redeemed by keeping it!'

    ....One of my best friends is a horticulturist and knows the Latin names of all plants. I'm not bothered with not knowing, but good to know how to if I am wanting to know information about other plants, like the conditions it likes to grow. 

    Thanks for telling me about your anaemia as I won't be too concerned if they can't find out!
     
    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 800/1000
    Buffer fund 0/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/072025
  • greenbee
    greenbee Posts: 17,911 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I've only just found your new diary, so have been catching up! I'm very impressed with how much you have achieved - and how brave you have been having lodgers. It's something I consider every time I move but never actually do. I'm not sure it would work here as I'm too rural - it would have to be upmarket B&B which I really don't think I could manage. 

    I also had the shock of tax to pay on the interest from money sitting in the bank between selling one house and buying the next. Luckily I'd been warned, so hadn't spent it all. It was sad to have to hand it over though.

    With anaemia, it's worth looking at Vit C to increase absorption, but you probably want to wait until you've spoken to them as there might be a cause (particularly if it's recent). With women it can be gynae issues, or it could be something like coeliac disease. Good to know they're investigating rather than telling you to eat steak and spinach!


  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,024 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Wow. So well done on the frog eating. 
    Sorry about the anemia. 
    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. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 10,141 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Thanks @beanielou
    Thanks @greenbee I am glad I had the lodgers over the summer. It was a learning curve! But I cleared debt and built an EF so it was worth it to me. I am conscious of diet so it is a surprise to find out I am anaemic. Thank you for your insights and for reading/posting  :)

    Checking back over FROGS and to do lists

    FROGS
    • Checking land registry and speaking to solicitor (checked LR and sent a chase email to solicitor)
    • Checking credit report and registering for alerts
    • Chasing TP (and getting registered online)
    • Chase solicitor for response
    • Order new sim 
    • Minted
    • Check if current phone data is being saved
    • NEW for FROG LIST: speak to neighbour re their broken gutter
    TO DO
    • exercises/supplements
    • find lamp and set up on other desk
    • find wrist supports and connect to my work table
    • find a book to use as a bullet journal and day book
    • laminate yoga poster
    • clean bathroom
    • hoover stairs and landings 
    • read

    Today after my tax I called a pension scheme where I have a very tiny pension. I now have confirmation that I will receive a very tiny annual pension equal to a few bottles of champagne, or a nice meal out annually. There is a lump sum of not very much! It won't do anything now, so I will leave it until I am of pensionable age  :)


    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 800/1000
    Buffer fund 0/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/072025
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