Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

in_need_of_direction · 8 February 2019 at 11:35PM

but if it meant you could change suppliers, could there be a bigger saving?

HairyHandofDartmoor · 9 February 2019 at 9:49AM

Possibly there could be a bigger saving over time, but at the moment the £400 is more precious to keep in our account as it's a mortgage payment. Just a short while ago our essential bills were going unpaid and I'm worried that might happen again.I'm going to make sure I give them weekly meter readings though to make sure we're paying the right amount.

Perhaps if we get any PPI in then we could pay off our debt to NP0w3r. Or if I get a job (the holy grail!)

We've realised we still owe £350 in vat due to mistakes in previous years, so I want to pay that next week, I'll be so glad to get shot of the vat once and for all :mad:.

in_need_of_direction · 9 February 2019 at 10:01AM

Sorry to sound like a broken record but I still think babysitting could be a good option for you. You have the police checks, I’m sure you’d get a good reference from the school and it’s flexible. Even if it was only once a week, that’d clear your power bill arrears in less than 6 months. The fact that you could help oversee homework’s would be a bonus

[Deleted User] · 9 February 2019 at 10:04AM

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Possibly there could be a bigger saving over time, but at the moment the £400 is more precious to keep in our account as it's a mortgage payment. Just a short while ago our essential bills were going unpaid and I'm worried that might happen again.I'm going to make sure I give them weekly meter readings though to make sure we're paying the right amount.

Perhaps if we get any PPI in then we could pay off our debt to NP0w3r. Or if I get a job (the holy grail!)

We've realised we still owe £350 in vat due to mistakes in previous years, so I want to pay that next week, I'll be so glad to get shot of the vat once and for all :mad:.

I can understand your thinking on the electricity situation. Fuel prices are rumoured to have a likely increase in the near future though. It's a never-ending cycle of checking the tariffs and switching suppliers

I'm so pleased that you convinced DH that being VAT-registered when not essential was a waste of money (and your own time;)). I can't follow his reasoning that being VAT-registered would impress customers. Most people I know of, including ourselves. would run a mile from a small business charging VAT. It's different with a big company where it can't be avoided:(. Maybe DH can now lower his prices slightly which in time could greatly increase his client-base. Let's hope ditching the VAT will be a boost for the business:beer:

Enjoy your Saturday Saunter and coffee with Stepdad if the gales haven't made you cancel your plans. The wind was horrendous here all night and still is:(. All sorts of things blown about all over the garden. OH has just been out for a quick salvage operation picking things up and putting them safe. Some minor tree damage too.

Stay safe:beer:

teafor2 · 9 February 2019 at 1:32PM

Morning HHD, just thought I'd let you know I got the guarantor form through the post this morning. Nothing to let me know by e-mail or text that I'd passed or failed though. But one of DD's flat mates parents has heard she hasn't got the OK. Possibly because she's already guarantor for another DC who's at Uni? Anyway, hopefully it won't belong before you hear something.

Have a nice weekend. xx

doingitanyway · 9 February 2019 at 1:56PM

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Sorry to sound like a broken record but I still think babysitting could be a good option for you. You have the police checks, I’m sure you’d get a good reference from the school and it’s flexible. Even if it was only once a week, that’d clear your power bill arrears in less than 6 months. The fact that you could help oversee homework’s would be a bonus

I like INODs idea. Are there any children that need a stop-gap after school for a few hours until their parents finish work. You could even offer reading with them or help with homework. You would be terrific and your reputation at the school will help.

HairyHandofDartmoor · 9 February 2019 at 5:10PM

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Sorry to sound like a broken record but I still think babysitting could be a good option for you. You have the police checks, I’m sure you’d get a good reference from the school and it’s flexible. Even if it was only once a week, that’d clear your power bill arrears in less than 6 months. The fact that you could help oversee homework’s would be a bonus

doingitanyway wrote: »

I like INODs idea. Are there any children that need a stop-gap after school for a few hours until their parents finish work. You could even offer reading with them or help with homework. You would be terrific and your reputation at the school will help.

It's something I could bear in mind. Although the school may do an after school club, I could find out. I'm not sure how I'd find the parents who needed babysitters. I could advertise my services somewhere I suppose.

HairyHandofDartmoor · 9 February 2019 at 5:18PM

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I'm so pleased that you convinced DH that being VAT-registered when not essential was a waste of money (and your own time;)). I can't follow his reasoning that being VAT-registered would impress customers. Most people I know of, including ourselves. would run a mile from a small business charging VAT. It's different with a big company where it can't be avoided:(. Maybe DH can now lower his prices slightly which in time could greatly increase his client-base. Let's hope ditching the VAT will be a boost for the business:beer:

Enjoy your Saturday Saunter and coffee with Stepdad if the gales haven't made you cancel your plans. The wind was horrendous here all night and still is:(. All sorts of things blown about all over the garden. OH has just been out for a quick salvage operation picking things up and putting them safe. Some minor tree damage too.

Stay safe:beer:

The vat registration wasn't just to impress customers Carboot (it was to give the impression that we were a larger and more successful business), we can claim back the vat that we pay on business expenses, like paper, printer ink, business cards and our accountants bill. We don't provide services to individuals, we provide services to businesses, many of whom are vat registered.

However we buy less business related goods and services than we used to, and it would save our smaller non vat registered customers 20% as we won't have to charge them vat. We will no longer be able to claim back the vat we pay on our own business expenses, but it will save us getting fines for late payments and our accountants bill may possibly be cheaper as they won't have to check our vat returns. It would also save us having to buy the new sofware and learn how to use it.

The vat issue is fairly complex, but I think de-registering is right for us at this time.

I did go fo my Saturday saunter thank you

.

HairyHandofDartmoor · 9 February 2019 at 5:24PM

teafor2 wrote: »

Morning HHD, just thought I'd let you know I got the guarantor form through the post this morning. Nothing to let me know by e-mail or text that I'd passed or failed though. But one of DD's flat mates parents has heard she hasn't got the OK. Possibly because she's already guarantor for another DC who's at Uni? Anyway, hopefully it won't belong before you hear something.

Have a nice weekend. xx

Thanks for letting me know TF2

. We haven't heard from ours yet :eek:. Right Move are the ones dealing with DS3's rental.

I expect you'll be going over the small print with a magnifying glass :rotfl:. Let me know how you get on

.

HairyHandofDartmoor · 9 February 2019 at 5:28PM

I went for my Saturday saunter today

. It was a bit windy but nowhere near as bad as yesterday and it stayed dry. I met stepdad for coffee and wandered around the charity shops. I didn't find any books today but it's fun to look. I got bananas and curry sauce on the way home (curried bananas anyone? :rotfl:).

I bought DH a box of chocolates and a card for Valentine's day, so £7.50 spent there, he deserves it though

. Stepdad paid for coffee. My bus fare was £2.40 and I spent about £.80 on curry sauce and bananas. So not too spendy a day.

Since I've got home I've cleaned out the furry moron, emptied all the bins and put some bedding on to wash. We need to cut the furry moron's claws, but I've been waiting for DH to come off the phone to his sister as it takes three of us to do it as he's such a wriggler :eek:.

Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

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