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in " AIlIIIILI I a i ■ le i pr It's
Page 15
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money talk this week, as L Radley explains what she has to fork out for in a typical week
Being away from home and hearth all week costs me. I wake up and get out of bed. The bedding is over and above that which is on the bed at home, and which is also used every night by my husband. I have to buy and maintain that bedding, as well as washing it.
My work uniform, and the laundry bag In which it festers all week; have to be washed.
Breakfast, lunch, evening meal — the cups of coffee on the road, all have to be paid for. As does my daily shower — and the phone calls to and from home. An hour's worth of TV, either through a set subject to constant damage, or with an online dangle; is all costing me money. Nothing In life is free. Except perhaps Radio 4, whICh is my lifeline.
For all these extra expenses I am paid a night-out allowance. That allowance is tax-free, since HMRC agrees that they are reasonable and do not need to be receipted My expenses do not include worrying about the security of the truck or load, and paying to park them.
If HMRC can understand that night-out money is not there to pay parking, then why can't the truckstop owners and everyone else who reckons drivers avoid paying to park to pocket their night-out money? Because, trust me, by the time you've covered your basic human rights, there's bugger all left to pocket!