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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for June 2007

Money Saving Gone a little wonky
Picked up a bargain yesterday in my local Comet store, a managers bargain offer , 14" portable teletext TV for £24.99 perfect condition, 12 months warranty no packaging, no remote and no instructions. No problem thinks me, I have got a few universal remotes hanging about in drawers. It's also the perfect size for my…
advice please - protecting matt paint on walls
Hi Mugglewump I know exactly what you mean. I have used clear sealants in my house. In the kitchen and shower room I used a clear gloss varnish, and in the family room, a matt finish on top of the painted walls. Same reason as you, it was very handy for scraping off the baked beans and muddy hand prints. I don't have any…
Jewellery repair problem
I had a ring repaired about three weeks ago by a local goldsmith. It had snapped on one of the shoulders of the setting but he said he could fix it no problem so I paid him the (IMO) exorbitant £25 and was pleased when I got it back the following week. The problem I have now is that its started to crack in exactly the same…
stripping varnish off internal doors
hi guys we are thinking about stripping our internal doors (original panel doors). They have been stained/varnished a mahognay at the moment. Hubby has took one down to a local dip and strip place, at £14 per door, but has been told they couldnt do them as them have been done previously (this guy uses a hot dip or…
Bricking up Outside "Shed"
Isn't there some sort of "proper" insulating material that's used in cavity walls?
Limescale problem with our washing machine (I think)!
Hi Wonker, You should be able to track down what it is in this section of UKW there's most of the main causes of this covered as well as a lot of advice on how to put it right or avoid it. HTH K.
Neff electric cooker not working
Can be caused by a lot more than a faulty element I'm afraid. ;) You need to sit with a multi-meter and work it out if it's not obvious, although sometimes an element failure is fairly easy to track down. K.
Induction hob clearance
You NEED the ventilation prescribed or you run the risk of damaging the electronics in the hob and this is a very common failure as installers don't read the instructions and allow adequate ventilation. If the boards go, I can assure you, it's not cheap to fix. HTH K.
What is this part called on a curtain pole
I think I will buy new brackets maybe they are an inclusive part to that. Thanks anyway
Driveway Farce
Hello, I had a driveway installed nearly 2 months ago, and have had a number of problems with it - pooling of water in mini ponds, sinking where the car is parked and now weeds. I spoke to the guy who laid it and he said he is going to come back in a couple of weeks to relay it. He said that the problems have been caused…
Furniture dents in the carpet - please help
ice cubes really do work. try it twice then when still a bit damp agitate the pile back up with your fingers. has always worked a treat for me.:T
no power to washing machine problem
I have a Bosch washer dryer and a couple of weeks ago I noticed that it wasn't spinning properly and called in my usual repair man. He said there was nothing wrong, and maybe I just thought the clothes seemed unusually wet, but maybe I was mistaken, so he left without charging me. I did a few more loads, clothes still…
Neighbour's CCTV pointing into my garden
Grow something to block the view.
creative alternatives to a ladder for a loft bed
being a 27 year old female i was just thinking i could try have something that's a bit more stylish if you know what i mean.
dog has ripped sofa fabric...
Bless. some Dogs chew things. It doesn't know any better. Yet. Has it got chews and bones and stuff? How many walks a day does it get? Presumably you were out? Does it have seperation anxiety? HAve a safe room you can leave it with nothing (important at least) to destroy.
Dulux Trade versus DIY store Dulux
Hi peeps, is there anyone out there who can tell me the difference between dulux trade centre paint (approx £40-42 5l tin) and the homebase/b&q dulux - same colour for £26 5l tin? Have just had whole downstairs skimmed and am about to go for it paint wise! thankyou.......
Installing CCTV and other ways of protecting our house?
Schools usually have laminated glass. It is not unbreakable, but is a little more resilient and if it does get smashed you do not get shards of glass everywhere.
Patchy grout, advice please!
HiI had a large area tiled the last two evenings. Tiler did 1 half first night, tiled other half last night and grouted the lot with grey grout. He told me to wash it over before bed to get rid of surface grout on tiles. This morning the grout looks patchy as if 2/3 is dry but 1/3 is darker as if it's wet.Am I panicking…
Something to stop varnished stair treads being slippy?
Ooh what a good idea - I'll definitely give that a go on a small area and see how it turns out - can always sand it down (yet again! :D ) if it doesn't work. Brill, thanks! :beer:
pups have ripped all the rattan off cane suite...

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

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