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Original poster

I have just added up all my direct debits and it comes to nearly 5k a month!

225 replies

LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 10:11

I cannot believe it's so high! No wonder my disposable income is so small. £4667 a month!

I've included all fixed costs that I can't do anything about (but NOT petrol and commuting costs which I also can't do much about, or food which is about £600 a month)

It wasn't as bad as this a few months ago but that bloody HMRC thing where they now make self employed people (who earn more than £1000 a year profit) pay on account - actually in ADVANCE of earnings has totally fucked me! Why the hell am I paying tax on money I've not even earned yet!

I'm looking through them and there's not much I can do anything about unless I want to not have my house insured or dogs insured.

OP posts:
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 14:20

I'm not putting the money aside for tax. HMRC now give you the opportunity to do it all by direct debit in advance.

My payment includes the tax calculated for last year plus the tax in advance for the next year.

Getting the grocery bill down should be easier as there's a new Aldi opening up a mile from my house. At the moment we get Tesco or Ocado.

It's definitely expensive because of the oat milks, vegan 'cheese'. We try to buy as much vegan as possible.

OP posts:
clary · 01/08/2019 14:21

Well fruit and veg are vegan and they are cheap as chips in Aldi

Passthecherrycoke · 01/08/2019 14:22

I feel for you OP. I’m on maternity leave and put mat leave savings are having to go on the tax on account. I will probbaly have yo go back to work soon

LoafofSellotape · 01/08/2019 14:34

Aldi is open until 10 where I live and I think that's standard opening hours. When I switched from tesco to Aldi I cut £40 off my weekly bill.

Passthecherrycoke · 01/08/2019 14:35

I don’t save any money at Aldi or ASDA and my family hate Aldi food. I really like ASDA food but end up spending a fortune and theplastic waste is disturbing. Ocado is a cheaper option that both for us.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 01/08/2019 14:40

HMRC now give you the opportunity to do it all by direct debit in advance.

Then don't take the opportunity? Why would you?

Passthecherrycoke · 01/08/2019 14:41

You have to start paying in advance, you just don’t have to do it by DD. It’s a good idea, but year 1 when you pay tax both. In Advance and arrears is a killer

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 14:48

I don't finish work til 10 unfortunately. So I do have to wait until the new Aldi opens before I switch - dh can then go on his way home from work in the car.

I use Ocado and Tesco mostly. And the 600 covers everything. We eat mostly stir fries/ noodles/ rice. I think the replacements are the most expensive- soya bread, nut or oat milks, vegan cheeses.

I think the bottom line is it's costing me a fortune to stay in work (I have crippling arthritis, scoliosis) so I'm spending over £400 on just me - personal trainer who's also a physio, health club for specific exercises, injections, hydrotherapy Sad
All to keep me mobile

But since the alternative is taking pain killers (a lot of them) and staying in bed and not working, I think I'm going to carry on.

Though I have just counted it up. If I gave up work and didn't pay for any work costs, didn't pay to help my health and didn't pay for doggy daycare - then I'd be in roughly the same position Shock

OP posts:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 01/08/2019 14:49

Yeah but OP isn't talking about payments on account as far as I can gather (pennies are slowly dropping...) she's talking about paying into a budget plan to put money aside for her tax, which she hasn't yet earned the income for, so the simple answer is stop doing that! A quick google shows you can cancel the budget scheme at any time, so as long as she continues to save her tax % that will be fine and take the pressure off. The tax on account should have been paid yesterday anyway, so surely that's that part done too?

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 14:49

Because Lonny - id still have to pay all of it including the advance in December - I am no good at saving up £8k Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 14:49

I am talking about payments on account with HMRC

OP posts:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 01/08/2019 14:50

Well no, because by December you would have earned the money!

MarshaBradyo · 01/08/2019 15:41

It’s just the opportunity to do it? Got to agree with Lonny, why would you?

Double tax - nightmare

Yabbers · 01/08/2019 15:41

Move to a cheaper house.

Why do people suggest this as of it is easy to do.

Being told on a forum to prepare to have your arse kicked (and other similar words) is just trolling and bullying

No, having your arse kicked for daring to earn decent money (or not being a pensioner apparently 🙄) is trolling and bullying. Pointing out it’s going to happen is not.

Floralnomad · 01/08/2019 15:50

Basically you live beyond your means £430 per month for a dog is ridiculous if you are getting overdrawn , as is buying vegan foods , you need to find cheaper alternatives .

CloudRusting · 01/08/2019 16:03

Op you just said:

“Though I have just counted it up. If I gave up work and didn't pay for any work costs, didn't pay to help my health and didn't pay for doggy daycare - then I'd be in roughly the same position”

If this is correct then your business is only profitable after tax to the tune of £750 pm (400+350). Is this right?

MyDcAreMarvel · 01/08/2019 16:06

The £600 on food covers everything - cleaning, laundry, all toiletries (including stuff the uni students nick grin), £80 on dog food.
That’s still ridiculous we spend approx £400 a month for food toiletries etc for 8 of us, two adults , one teen four primary and one pre schooler.
All from Morrisons delivered. Pass £30 a year.

DogHasEatenTheSqueaker · 01/08/2019 16:11

The tax thing screwed me too, i feel your pain. I was paid for a one-off project (marketing a business launch) on a six month retainer, which completely skewed my annual income one year. I saved the tax for the project of course, But HMRC assumed id earn not only the same, but a similar increase y-o-y for the next tax year, and calculated my tax prepayment accordingly. Absolutely crippled me. Accountant was brilliant in clawing it back the following tax year, but still, bloody hurt at the time!!!

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 16:12

Probably Cloud - but all work would be the same due to my health issues. I earn 40-50k a year.

OP posts:
Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 16:15

Sure doggy daycare is expensive but I can't give her the exercise myself as I'm working or doing my own exercise so I can work.

I could stay at home and do fuck all and not need daycare.

OP posts:
SkydivingKittyCat · 01/08/2019 16:22

Get a second hand mobility scooter or get your husband to walk her.

Wtf is soya bread? A 23p value loaf is vegan. If you're vegetarian, stop buying vegan cheeses and buy regular cheese, or go without, you clearly can't afford it.

Original poster
LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2019 16:29

Thanks for that Hmm

I eat mostly vegan. I don't eat value white bread, I try to eat really healthy bread - the one I'm eating is soya, linseed, loads of seeds bread.

Yes, I want to afford it. I could eat utter shite, but since I've got health problems I try to eat well.

OP posts:
SkydivingKittyCat · 01/08/2019 16:37

But you clearly can't afford all your outgoings, so something has to give. So far you've come up with an excuse for every single suggestion, so what are you looking for?

furrytoebean · 01/08/2019 16:44

I eat entirely vegan. My shopping for me, dh and two cats is £70 a week and that’s for EVERYTHING
We eat very very healthily and I never scrimp. I just get it all delivered from Tesco with a £3 a month delivery pass.

Seed bread is very expensive, I make my own it’s honestly not hard and when you get into a routine it doesn’t take much time.

furrytoebean · 01/08/2019 16:45

THREE cats Shock

I left out a cat.