Still frugaleering into Autumn.....

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

New thread for us all to chat, support each other and hopefully save some money!!

Oh also dh's boss doesn't offer childcare voucher scheme as it's home him and dh hence why he also doesn't have a pension

Ah I see :( that's annoying

If you have food & a roof how much does he really need?.

Would he do extra work to bring in cash? It's not fair you have to parent three of them.

He already works six days a week usually. Not much overtime going at the moment unfortunately

I will sit down with him and redo our budget though

My 2 best friends both owe tax credit. One owes £2000+ and the other owes about £1500. Both were completely honest and regularly contacted them with updated info because they were worrying about being overpaid. It's a disgrace that they do this so often to hardworking families. How can a substantial overpayment be so "standard".

We get A LOT in tax credits. I'm also terrified of it all going wrong. We are a long way under any kind of threshold. I would love a decent job that paid me enough not to need them, but thats not going to happen. We work flat out at the shop for basically nothing, dp and I both work separately at home (at night) to make wages.

I read a thread last week about someone that has just had tbe exact same thing happen wreck and all the replies were the same. Made me feel so sad, and a bit sick. I would try calling them to get some clarification, and also say (so its on your file if that will help at all) that repayment must be at £10 or £20 a month as it will cause financial hardship etc, but thats only if they can prove and show you where and why the overpayment was n't .

Is your dh aware that they are his children too?

Popped out as ds was out of lollies (he lives on lollies and strawberry cornetto's) and spent about £20.

Turns out music lessons have to be paid in advance from now on (so I'm not the only one who got a massive bill), £120 a term x 2 dd's. Ugh. Next year is going to be incredibly tight. No change there then.

When does any of this get easier? Does anyone know?

They should lie through their teeth & live the life like others do

Yes, good idea. Figures are very stark in black & white.

We're quite far over the threshold now but we got be childcare element when I was paying loads for childcare the past few months I'm not going to worry about it. It is what it is and like you say I'll just pay it back at a small amount and get tips on matched betting! I feel calmer now thanks everyone. Have also meal planned and will write a list so I don't spend too much shopping.

That's good wreck the frugaleers are all behind you, you'll be ok :)

5.0 reading an hour after dinner, I'm pleased as aim is below 7.8

DSD is visiting and she asked what we have got for the baby so far, made me realise just how much we still have left to get! And quite possibly in as little as 6 weeks

Cag that's a fantastic reading! Well done!

Wreck - glad you are feeling calmer I hope it's an error. Collie that's awful re your friends too.

Wreck pleased your are feeling calmer. Contact them and ask for the working out. Get names, dates and times of calls to agents. Try and make notes on the call and if necessary follow it up in writing. YY be very clear they cannot take a lump sum.
Deep breath, your can do this.

Just caught up with y'all. Nsd yesterday. Today will be spendy as going out with the girls

Spends this morning €4.99 on iTunes on an EP for my race tomo & preordered pinks new album €13.99 on oct 13th

Just did my nails & already had the box of nails! I'd a broadway deceptions box & was short an appropriate size for my middle finger

The middles the most usefull finger for non-verbal communication too

Ds is having a free trial of football training today hope he enjoys it. Then I need to go food shopping and dh is playing football this afternoon.

Morning.

wrecked, I'm sorry about the TC. I don't know anything about them I'm afraid. What I do know and I've told you this before so I'm going to shout now

YOUR DH's EMPLOYER HAS TO PROVIDE A PENSION FOR HIM. IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT HE IS THE ONLY EMPLOYEE, ITS CALLED A WORKPLACE PENSION.

Your DH is missing out on contributions from the employer and the government.

Have a look at the gov.uk website, google WORKPLACE pension.

Not sure about spends today, we have a beer festival to go to but it's a village one so stupid cheap. I'm driving anyway as DD has a party later that I need to pick her up from.

www.gov.uk/employers-workplace-pensions-rules

Wreck I'm a bit lost on the tax problem as I've got behind. Is it possible that it's just a calculation error that could be corrected? My db is a tax accoutant. I can ask his advise if you can explain exactly what's happened, if that would help. If I'm totally misunderstanding then do just ignore me. Sorry to hear you're dealing with that.

Cag I loved the extra iron bit of being pg. I had black pudding for breakfast every single day, and it was great. I had never eaten it before. Enjoy your steak. :-)

We're still plotting how to manage if dh goes away to the US for two and a half glorious days. Everyone I ask says "Hey that's easy", totally misunderstanding how life is here. Makes me realise that other people just have very different children and very different expectations of their own health. If only @Creme were here. Exciting anyway.

Loving the nails mammy, I'm having a break at the minute, but I'm missing having lovely colours on my nails for sure.

:o very true fluffy

Aw thanks wreck :)

Busy day today, getting train to attend a family birthday at a farm. Entry has been paid for by host and we are all taking picnics. I will have chicken legs and salad instead of sarnies

Shouldn't need other spends but really ought to think about getting some stuff on Amazon as I started writing what we still need for the baby (and a few bits for me like raspberry leaf tea) and it is a scary list

Need dh says that his boss reckons he's exempt for some reason. Honestly it's ridiculous I just can't talk to him about it! I might get his mum to talk to him!

Sunny we got tax credits from the government because we were paying lots of childcare I've told them the childcare has stopped and they've now said they overpaid us. I thought I did it right but maybe I did it wrong? I worked it out as if we would be paying it all year even though I knew it was short term but I told them exactly how much we will earn this year and told them when it stopped so I don't know really. I have to wait another four weeks probably for them to update again with our new childcare costs and see where we stand then.

Bless you, I hope you don't think I was being mean, I hope you know me well enough to know I care, that's all. I don't know any employer that is exempt now.

Initially, there were exemptions for businesses with less than 5 (I think) employee, but not now. I'd be tempted to shop his boss anonymously, I accept it's an extra business cost, but you have a duty to be a responsible and fair employer in my view, or don't be one!

Aah sunny I totally hear you. It might be nothing to most families but it isn't for you and that's ok, we are all different :) I hope you can all figure something out as it sounds like a great opportunity. Is there anything you and DS can eat that can be bulk cooked before DH leaves for example, so you could just reheat them (am guessing with the allergies that actual ready meals are a no go)? Could you even do stuff like lay out all clothes for each day at the start of the trip, so as to save any morning panics? Will he be able to FaceTime/Skype you regularly while there for moral support? I am just chucking ideas about really (and huge apologies if any of this sounds patronising as it's not meant to) but hopefully there are lots of little things you can do together to make the time a little easier

Nails look great mammy like need I'm also having a break. Midwife said no gels or polish in case they need to monitor my oxygen levels with the clippy thing. Nails were painted shiny purple polish. It's chipping off so must remove.

Had a v uncomfortable nights sleep. Just could not get comfy. Dh came to bed at midnight. And I woke up as I needed a wee. Mentioned I needed a wee. He said "we'll hurry up then and go!!" I grumped at him last night. This morning have had to explain that "hurry up" and "fast" are not speed settings which function with me right now. Haha!

Out for breakfast with a friend in a bit. Should cost me £15 for mine. Which is a lot but it's a naice place and does include: bacon eggs sausage and pancakes. Then toast. Then pastries and fresh fruit. Fresh juice/Buck's Fizz tea and/coffee. So actually good value for money.