The Advice Thread

[t3ch]

well keep in mind that was like 20 years ago, so not as exciting as you think. and I was way more active, she didn't show up beyond a random spot or two on google. I claim priority.

now t3chs seem to be running amok. I sometimes have to use my internets full name (t3chvest) to register for services when t3ch is already taken. :icon_mad:

 

[Tredman]

Way to make me feel old. I still have an original xbox which still has a t3ch xbmc version on it, so he's still a legend in my eyes.

 

[t3ch]

hey man if you're old I'm right there with you. :icon_lol: :tiphat:

my screen name is old enough to drink (in america )

 

[Wombat del combate]

Related to my query above, should I stay as self-employed given that my earning potential from freelance work for 2018-19 is currently likely to be next to nothing? As a contractor I had PAYE deducted at source and the same with my new job, assuming that I've passed probation as that expired in January and I received a pay rise, so just need to do a return on the few shekels I took in between times.

 

[Tredman]

Anyone on here ever had artificial grass fitted?

Had enough of our garden looking like a fourth division football pitch in December and decided to get it done - had one quote so far and its come in at £2900 for an 8x6m area, I thought it would be way cheaper than that!

 

[MARKakaJIM]

From limited experience, few 4G pitches on projects at work, there will be a hell of a lot of money goes into the build up so potentially some savings to be made there depending on how you want to use it.

A guy I worked with had it in his garden a while back, he only wanted it for aesthetics when his real lawn went to shit so he did a lot of the prep work himself and think he essentially concreted the whole garden then had turf laid on some sort of underlay or bed of sand, he came to regret that shortcut when they had a kid as it was really suitable for any use in that format and didn't really offer any greater protection than falling on the paving.

 

[Tredman]

The quote I had was one of the franchisees for these guys:

http://wonderlawn.com/installation/installation-process/

To be fair he spent an awful lot of time talking about the preparation process and how they don't use sand (as apparently that is crap?). I'm happy to pay for a decent job, as it needs to stand up to a lot of abuse from the kids, but equally don't want to overpay!

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Wolf Hunting is also getting this done.

I'll ask him if he knows anything about the process that might save you a few quid

 

[nimrod]

Related to my query above, should I stay as self-employed given that my earning potential from freelance work for 2018-19 is currently likely to be next to nothing? As a contractor I had PAYE deducted at source and the same with my new job, assuming that I've passed probation as that expired in January and I received a pay rise, so just need to do a return on the few shekels I took in between times.

you could probably close the self-employed piece and just report sundry earnings separately on your return somewhere, but makes sense to call HMRC and tell them the situation so they've blessed it.

as for query above, if you're not working from home from June you wouldn't get rent/utilities as a deduction after that date. in fact that link i posted highlights under the quick method that you need to work a minimum number of hours from home per week to be able to claim anything.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Thanks. I started my return on Saturday and claimed everything up to the end of June, then only the specific items (mobile, bank account, website etc) between July and March, so I suspect that's as good as it will get.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I'm off to London for a wedding next month and due to being on a tight schedule to make it to the wedding in time, when we arrive in Marylebone we need to get onto the tube pretty sharpish.

I don't know anything about Oyster cards really but for those of you that do know - rather than faffing around at the ticket machines am I better off getting an Oyster card in advance?

 

[YoungWolf]

An Oyster costs £5 (which you can then return and get the money back), or if you have a contact-less bank card just use that, there's no difference in price I don't think.

I use an oyster because I have 30% on trains because of my railcard so that's the only real benefit for me.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Unless you're arriving at rush hour then you're unlikely to experience a huge queue to get a ticket. I'd save the £5 per card or whatever it is that an Oyster card costs and put it towards December's trip to Thomas Land.

 

[Tredman]

Just use your contactless bank card - costs the same and you just need to tap in and out.

 

[Langers]

Just use your contactless bank card - costs the same and you just need to tap in and out.

Yep, do this. You won't have to faff around buying a ticket. Pretty sure it charges you the lowest price as well?

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I didn't know you could use your contactless bank card. I'll probably only be using 2 tube journeys on the Saturday as I'm going to the wedding but the wife and kids will be travelling around London all day, is it cheaper to get them some sort of day pass?

I'd save the £5 per card or whatever it is that an Oyster card costs and put it towards December's trip to Thomas Land.

You're not going to let that go are you? :icon_lol:

 

[Tredman]

I didn't know you could use your contactless bank card. I'll probably only be using 2 tube journeys on the Saturday as I'm going to the wedding but the wife and kids will be travelling around London all day, is it cheaper to get them some sort of day pass?



You're not going to let that go are you? :icon_lol:

Its automatically capped at the same as a day ticket IIRC:

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/what-is-capping

And ignore DW Thomas Land is ace, but perhaps not in the winter...

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Cheers, we'll do that then. Kids under 11 are free too which is a bonus.

And ignore DW Thomas Land is ace, but perhaps not in the winter...

The whole point of going in the winter is the Christmas theme and to meet Santa. I don't enjoy freezing my balls off but the wife/kids love it so it was a sacrifice to make them happy. I don't think we'll be going back this year though!

 

[Trips]

T-dan if you're getting the train into London you should be able to get the tube routes (up to a certain zone) on your train ticket

You can get Zones 1-6, outside of that is extra but you're going to the very edge of London after zone 6

 

[The Bear]

If you have Apple/Android Pay on your phone then that works on the contactless TFL system too.