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Marriage, relationships & families

Archives for August 2008

Pregnant friend worried
Friend told me today that she is pregnant...she is 45 with 2 teenage kids and a hubby who has just been made unemployed (they live in town with a lot of unemployment in North England). Her mum has just been diagnosed with secondary cancer (weeks to go) and husband is blaming her for getting pregnant and telling her to get…
What safety stuff before baby crawls/ walks?
Hello, I have an almost-9 month old baby girl who is thinking about crawling and/or walking and/or rolling and/or shufflebumming - she can't decide! I am looking at baby proofing the house in preparation. I've been on a website and have been overwhelmed - what do I need? I have socket covers for the empty plug sockets and…
Help with my rights.
Hi Hope I can get some info. Me and my OH (we aren't married) currently have a joint mortgage. I dont want to be with him anymore for various reasons. We have 2 children (1 mine and 1 ours). What are my rights if I ask him to leave and he wont. Do I have any at all? Thanks in advance.
advice needed
my dad has just been diagnosed with cancer and i have a brother and a sister who we have not had any contact for 25 years,my dad hasnt got long but he dosnt want me to contact them he says they didnt want to know him and my mother when he was ok why now? at the moment i dont know how i feel or what to do i know its his…
Maternity Tens Machine
Hi Does anyone know where the best place to get a cheap maternity tens machine from? I want to buy one not rent. Delivery would need to be asap! Also do they realy help with labour??:rolleyes: and is there any diferance in there effectiveness between the different brands? If so can anyone recommend the best one to get?…
School uniform - shall I be bloody minded?
As I've posted previously I can only by DD school uniform i.e. trousers/skirt, PE kit & Sweatshirt from the school shop. All trousers/skirts must have the school logo embroidered into the top of the trousers so I cannot buy elsewehre as they do regular uniform inspections. As the shop is located in the school they…
Lost birth certificate
Last week I applied for my baby's first passport. I used the Post Office's check and post service. However, today I received a letter from the passport office saying that the birth certificate is missing. I know that I definitely gave it to the guy at the post office who served me. His job was to check that all the…
Hairdresser tips?
How much do you tip your hairdresser? I'm going to have my hair cut tomorrow and i never know how much to tip. It's going to cost £19.50. Do you tip a percentage or just a couple of pounds no matter what or £5? Thanks
Divorce settlement
Hi, I'm due to see a solicitor next week but just thought I'd check to see if anyone can help me before then. I'm planning to divorce my husband, maybe a Deed of Seperation first, I'll have to see. But, my problem is whether we can come to some arrangement financially without solicitors. We have only been married for 4…
childcare vouchers and pensions
hi, is it true that if you take childcare vouchers and you have a pension then because your salary is lower then both you and your employer will pay less into your pension plan? thanks
Family occasion - how can I get all these people together at the same time?!
Hi all I have been thinking for a while about holding a naming ceremony for my two LOs. Me and my ex were never religious so chose not to have them christened but I think it would be a lovely ceremony for them. The last year or so has been very hectic, a lot of change for them at such a young age (they're 4 and 2) and I…
childcare vouchers (when child turns 3)
Hi my son recently turned 3 and will start recieving the childcare vouchers for september. He currently goes to nursery 3 days a week 8-6. £32.50 per a session. We recieved an invoice for september the other day and they have only given us a discount of £56 for the month and I thought it was going to be higher than this I…
Baby gate
Does anyone have any recommendations? We had a couple before, didn't seem to get on with them that well though, but perhaps it was the wrong kind of stairs. Also do you think should get one or two - i.e. just for the top of the stairs, or at the bottom as well?
It's that friday feeling
I know it's not MSE but my dad just emailed this to me and it did make me smile
Assistance with Funeral Costs
Sadly my mother passed away today and I have taken it upon myself to arrange her funeral. She was living in a care centre following an accident that left her severely mentally and physically disabled requiring 24 hour care. The local health authority had been funding her care whilst she was in the care centre. Having never…
I just don't know what to do
I am sorry if this doesn't really fit within the moneysaving category but I am just so confused and hope that someone will be able to offer me some practical advice. I am about to return to work after maternity leave and feel like its the end of the world. I hate my job in any case, but now that I have to leave my daughter…
Clarks..
I take my children to Clarks every couple of months and get them measured and if need be buy them new shoes. On the last 2 occasions, after asking a member of staff to measure them, they have then asked "what size are they now" :confused: Isnt this a bit odd, it feels like they want to say they are bigger so I buy more…
Divorce settlement
Hi, Looking for a wee bit of advice with regards to financial settlements after divorce. My wife and I were married for 12 years(no children), with both of us earning very close to the each others salary. I am a nurse and have an NHS superannuation pension, my wife has worked for several organisations and has never…
Junior bedding?
Anybody know of a good place to get junior bed sheets from?Have duvets,duvet covers but no sheets.Need 140cm X 70cm.Looking for a 3 yr old boy.Thank you.
Messed my hairdresser about - what to do?
Opinions please? Apparently I had a hairdresser's appointment today. Hairdresser phoned to see where I was. :o I feel really bad, this is the second time I've done this to her. The 1st was about 8 months ago (ish). She was nice about it but was obviously (and understandably) not delighted. She booked me in again and joked…

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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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Marriage, relationships & families

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