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In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving

Archives for August 2016

Help, tarmac driveway repair
I've removed a car port and the base was a big raised slab of rubble, bricks, cement and slabs. This has left a 10m2 hole that I want level to use as driveway space. Can anyone advise on what would be the best course of action here please? I don't mind it being visually different, just durable. I appreciate any repair may…
Heat Pump Tumble Dryer Problem
I have bought a new heat pump tumble dryer. It keeps jumping to the end of a cycle after a few minutes. I don't understand why. Anybody else had this problem?
Howdens kitchens - Insurance
Hi all, We had a bad flood in our house a few months ago and are finally at the stage where it is due to be declared dry and we can have a meeting with the loss adjustor and builder to discuss the works.I spoke to the builder today and he said normally the insurance company will give us a budget so they will say we can…
Help! Is this affordable to fix?
So I am in the process of buying a 1930s semi and just had the homebuyers report back. Now, I correctly own a Victorian terrace so am not afraid of damp/ cracks etc but the survey has thrown up a few large issues and I really need to know if they are as bad as they sound/expensive to fix. Here goes: "The current owners…
Leaky toilets
Both our loos at the moment after you flush them, the valve isn't closing off properly so a trickle of water continues to run into the pan. They have a float system rather than ball valve, for the life of me I cannot work out in my mind whether I need to raise or lower the float level in order to stop the leak. Can…
Wet n Dry vacuum cleaner........
Does anyone know of a Wet n Dry vacuum cleaner that can clean wet spillages and carry out normall carpet cleaning without having to either swap filters or set it up to do one type of vacuuming or the other ? At present, an elderly relative has wrecked two normal vacuum cleaners, one being a Dyson by "vac'ing" up liquid…
New Patio - How much did yours cost?
Hi Just trying to get an idea of how it costs to put in a new patio? If a few people could list, size, materials and cost it would be really helpful. I'm on a bit of a budget so I don't want to drag trades people in for a quote unless I can afford it. Thank you.
Cladding facade, tile missing, 1960s house.
Hi, Please tell me what is the name of this type of facade? Please also tell me where would I buy tiles to replace one that is missing (top window, right hand side) Is there any new PVC type of way replacing it? Does anyone has similar one? How do you maintain it guys? Thank you!
Loft Condensation,Vapour Barriers,Paints etc
Hi All.I know this isn't the first thread about loft condensation but wanted to start a new one in case there were any new products etc. We had a multi burner stove fitted last winter and noticed several weeks later that we had a really bad case of condensation in the loft. We were among those who had cavity wall and loft…
Honeywell Accenta G4 - House Alarm
Hi All I moved into a new property last year which was fitted with an accenta g3 house alarm however the previous owner damaged the panel and it was on tamper lockout. I went online and made a few enquiries before purchasing the accenta g4 panel and lcd keypad. I took photos of the old panel and copied the wiring on both…
Carpet moths and a difference of opinion.
We have just discovered carpet moths in our sitting room carpet. That's the bad news, but the good news is that we are having an extension built on to this room, the carpet was old and we were going to put down a completely new floor in a couple of months time when the building work is finished. When the building work is…
Washing machine working ok?
I made a thread before about it having some clothes with white powder on after so I cut down the amount I used to a half cupful. But around same time as I noticed the white powder on the clothes I noticed clothes were fading at first a 1 month old pair of jeans, but also some black t shirts that were getting colours washed…
Selling your garden for housing pro's and con's.
Hello. I need some advice about my dad's options for selling his most of his garden to a developer. At the moment there are 6 semis 4 year old houses to the left of his house that were built in 5 peoples back gardens. The 2 houses on his left are owned by a HA and the same for the 2 homes on his right. Yesterday he was…
steam mop?
I'm looking to purchase a steam mop for the house? Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations. Searching amazon and they're all very similar. Just need some help please!
How do you dispose of your cooking oil when cooking?
Hi folks, Usually when cooking I use crisp n dry and drain what little I use (say when frying onions) down the kitchen sink. Probably should drain it over a bin or some other thing, but been doing that for a while now, easiest to do when you are hungry. If using a lot I would put it in bin. Anyway the downside is at waste…
Reasonable cost?
I have a large (over 8 foot) bookcase that I have to remove temporarily. It's too big to move so will have to be knocked apart, and the nature of the construction means this the various parts will have to be labelled so that they can be put back together in the right order. It's not fancy - made of pine, but it's perfect…
Under Stairs Storage
have seen some amazing ideas of under floor storag from companies like smartstoragesolutions and was wondering if anyone had had work done through them or similar companies. Is it ludicrously expensive. Also interested how much independent carpenters would charge :money: thanks
repairs to driveway help
Be grateful for advice on this. part of the paved block driveway has dropped in place giving a small puddle here and there- nothing drastic - so I thought I would lift and put some grit sand in and relay. My problem is this the area in question covers 15' by just over 2'. Do I take the whole of the sunken bit up in one go…
Please Recommend me a cordless Vacuum cleaner
Hi, we have a dog who is shedding for the whole world. Anyone has a personal recommendation or a which recommendation? Don't want to spend more than 150, if possible. Will help if it works on carpet and hard floors.
Huge tree, moaning neighbours
Not sure if this is best sub forum or not but let's see. Neighbours behind me are complaining about my willow tree being too big and obstructing their light and dropping leaves in their garden Bit of background...man lived there before I moved in my house but has recently been joined by lady friend who is the voice. Tree…

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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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