Judicious January Jangling & Juggling *blows budgeteering bugle*

[claretandamberforever]

Sorry, couldn't resist going overboard on the J's

Happy new year y'all. Welcome to expert budgeteerers, newbies, lurkers and de-lurkers. We're a very friendly, non-judgmental bunch so please use this thread as you choose whether it's as a spending diary, to confess your money sins, ask for help or have a general whinge at the cost of living.....

Fluffy at the cat food saga! My car gets what's it given unfortunately.

Well a NSD here. We get milk delivered so that arrived this morning and if I can make it to Thursday without needing anything else then I will have gone a whole week without a top up shop.
Have started saving £1 coins in DS piggy bank. Am hoping that I can build up a decent amount to put in his bank account.
Am putting more stuff up on eBay tonight. Have £110 in my PayPal from there so far this month. My target is to get to £380. Then I will be able to get everything I need for DC2 arriving in September without having to touch the current account. That's the plan anyway

*cat not car!

Erm, Fluffy it's a cat, no way would I have given up my dinner. One of my dogs tríed it on once, she'd had a couple of days of beef/fish/chicken scraps in her food. She held out for a day and a half before she accepted the fact that not all meals are going To be to her exacting standards

Am out today, will update later.

£10.75 on the last of the food shop.

DH has two interviews this week. Tax return and scary big tax bill paid. NSD today.

Hope the interview went well NK.

Adora But he's the furry over-lord!

Hey helena great news for your DH! Good luck x

ellis you sound really organised and well planned ahead (I suppose you need to be with LO on the way!) that's a great amount in your paypal account.

I spent a little today. Blummin bought lunch again why can I organise lunch for dd and dh and then get to work and have nothing for myself? £1.35.

Also took cash out near work and was charged £1.90 which I am accounting for in this months budget as I should have planned better, however the money taken out was to pay dd's February nursery bill. Good to start the new month knowing that is already paid.

I've been doing a little thinking ahead myself...for me, March is going to be a tough month. Really high nursery bill, boiler service, dd's birthday, weekend break and three long motorway return journeys. Ideas for extra income welcome! I'm thinking of switching my account to Halifax for the £100 incentive and will try to get some overtime too.

NSD for me.

Made bread today. Delicious but I'm not convinced that it's the cheaper option for me as I just get cheapo bread for things on toast. Also, im crap as slicing bread so not good for the waistline.

turnoff I did the Halifax switch and it was easy peasy.

We switched both our current accounts to halifax. £100 always comes in handy.

thanks ohhelp (I was dead excited my first time too ) we already do childcare vouchers. My nursery is great, only pay term-time, it's just that March has no holidays! On the plus side, because of Easter, we won't pay any 'cash' (ie after vouchers) for April.

I am seriously thinking of the switch, have never switched before. I do get breakdown cover and a large overdraft facility for a £7pm account fee from my current account but we really should change breakdown cover as it covers me personally rather than the car (not sure what we'd do if DH broke down solo) and I am rarely in my overdraft, it's just good to know its there for emergencies.

Dh has an overdraft on his, you could get breakdown cover via tcb for about £30-40.

Ohhelp - I have a lot of stuff left over from when DS was small but I really want a co sleeper cot this time. Hence the saving as they are pretty pricey.

turnoff autoaid do breakdown cover for £39 a year, so £3.25 a month. It covers both you and dh. We've never had to use it thankfully but they have good reviews on money saving expert. If you feel you need an emergency fund have you thought about an interest free credit card? There are some out there with really long 0% terms. Switching accounts is really easy and £100 is useful.

How old will your dd be and what are you doing for your weekend away? We may be able to offer some cost cutting options.

Ellis My third is due in a few months. It's so much easier after the first as you know exactly what you do and don't need. Well done for for starting your preparations. It feels good to be in control with some kind of plan doesn't it?

Ohhelp - thanks for the recommendation I'll have a google of that

Iam- yes definitely feels better to have a plan!i am determined not to get caught by the mat leave money trap! Am planning on trying to save enough so that I can pay in full for things like car ins, car tax and tv licence to try and keep our DDs down as well. I currently have lots of lists and spreadsheets!

Ohhelp- I just renewed my breakdown cover and I did it on topcasback paid £32 for AA roadside and home assistance and got £14 cash back

at financial nesting

I did my tax return before christmas and ticked a box saying they could take it out of my pay (it was only £240 extra tax so I though that would be easier)- I haven't heard from them again after finishing the process, do I assume that they'll just start taking it when it suits? I don't want to miss the payment deadline and get fined

Same here Artemis, I haven't heard anything back from them yet either. I did noticed the initial letter said they'd take it out PAYE if it was possible.

Mine is only £45 for the year but I still don't fancy getting a fine if they haven't received it.

Hi, I've done this before when I was self employed alongside being employed and at some point you'll get a letter saying your tax code has changed which means the tax owed will come out of your salary that financial year. I wouldn't expect to hear anything before then.

Well done getting it done. Still catching my breath after my unexpected extra tax to pay - all to do with clients paying in advance of work to be done. But it also means I have to pay more tax in advance for next year.