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Marriage, relationships & families

Discuss the MoneySaving implications of relationships and family life.

MoneySaving mums

A place for mums with kids of all ages to discuss parent MoneySaving matters.

971 discussions 13.8K comments Most recent: Money Moral Dilemma: When should I tell my son I can't afford for him to go to a private school? by pomcycle 26 September at 2:34PM
MoneySaving dads

A place for dads with kids of all ages to discuss parent MoneySaving matters.

371 discussions 4.1K comments Most recent: Child maintenance increase by Northern_Wanderer 12 September at 9:50PM
Deaths, funerals & probate

Get MoneySaving help at the time of bereavement - discuss wills, inheritance tax, estate planning and more.

12.8K discussions 134.5K comments Most recent: Probate - how long? by purplepardalis Today at 12:53AM
Pets & pet care

For MoneySaving questions about taking care of your cat, dog, parrot or other animal companion, including vet fees and pet insurance.

15.9K discussions 250K comments Most recent: Doodle Dog Buying Advice / Health Issues by Pollycat Today at 2:42AM

Travelling the unknown path of dealing with Mums passing
This thing called life continually throws spanner’s in the works. Twists and turns we don’t expect and those that we do, but still catch us by surprise. i have never had to deal with someone’s passing through the process of registering a death etc. yes I have dealt with grief, Dad passed in 2015. But my brother dealt with…
dating sites or apps recommended??
i havent looked for a long time but would like to try and meet someone nice online, can anyone recommend any sites. i dont mind paying if it stops fake profiles etc i dont carr about distance either. thanks for any recomendations?
So called free initial consultations - divorce financial agreement
Hi, I am looking to hire a divorce lawyer to discuss the potential outcomes of a financial settlement should I wist to go ahead and separate. I would like to know if anyone here has made use of the so called free fifteen minute consultations that some firms offer? Do you actually get to discuss the ins and outs of a…
Proposing
I’m planning to propose to my girlfriend of 5 years. I’ve done the worst bit… asking her parents. They were delighted. I don’t see them on my own very often so had to quickly ask for their blessing whilst out shopping and my gf went to try clothes on! Anyway, I said I have the ring but I’ve not decided when I’m going to do…
Parents’ Finances
My dad is in a Home and has Dementia and my mum has just died. They have a joint account and all bills are paid from this account. I live at the rented accommodation with my mum and do all the food shopping etc from their joint account. Now she has died and dad can’t manage the finances, what do I do about using the joint…
Freeloading friend, was I right to say anything?
Hello, I have a friend who’s a free loader and only realised this recently. My friend was a my +1 at a wedding and my mum picked her up (I can’t drive due to a disability) and dropped us off on day of at wedding. The agreement was she’d pay £20 petrol for my mum doing this. She hasn’t paid it. After, she left I text her re…
Ring fencing savings
Hi there, I am after some advice please. Is possible to ring fence finances from my husband in case divorce is on the cards by creating a joint account with our son (5yo). I would need access to it as it would be funds for a rainy day (freelancer).
Changing name by deed poll in 2025
I want to change my given name; my only reason for doing this is that I have never liked my first name and want to make a fresh start. I don't mind paying for this...a lot of money if that's what it takes, but no more than is necessary. No unnecessary faff either. The UK government deed poll site describes enrolled and…
New neighbours (Chinese) What is the correct thing to do.
We have new neighbours, a young couple who I think are Chinese. They are a young couple and have moved here from around 30 miles away so probably dont have family round here and i want them to feel welcome. They have been working on the house and until today I wasn't sure they had actually moved in. I had seen them outside…
Power of Attorney online tool STILL not live – here's how the process is set to change in future
An online tool to apply for Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is still not available despite being announced over a year ago – and the Government has confirmed that it doesn't have a launch date. This means a tricky paper form remains the only way to apply for this crucial protection. Power of Attorney online tool STILL not…
Money Moral Dilemma: Our child won a Premium Bonds prize - should they share it with their sibling?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... We've bought Premium Bonds in the names of both our children as a way of saving for them. It's been going well, with both children winning small prizes most months. Recently though, one of them won a much bigger prize, so they now have much more saved than the other. Should…
Lasting Power of Attorney Witnesses
Sorry if this has been asked before. I am setting up LPAs for myself. I have read conflicting reports about the number of witnesses allowed on an LPA. Some reports suggest that only one witness should sign for all the donor, attorney and replacements. The Gov.uk site suggests that each person can have their own witness…
ISA and HIT
Good evening. I'm going over the HIT400 etc., the calculations sent by my solicitors and noticed that the share ISA has not been included, only the Fund & Share (with some other shares).I read here https://www.gov.uk/individual-savings-accounts/if-you-diethat 'There will be no Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax to pay up to…
Medical Negligence Claim
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to post this but would be grateful of any advice. A parent of mine has recently died and from speaking to others they seem to think that there is a strong case of medical negligence and advised me to get in touch with one of these "no win no fee" solicitors. So I called one online…
Mandatory disregard and care home fees.
Hi I am not sure of this is the right place to post but can't think where else to go. By the end of this year we will have to go to the council for help with dads care home fees. He started as CHC and is now self funding. I'll be 63 and the house is the only home I have ever lived in but he is the owner. I have been told…
Kids school fine - do old ones count?
I can’t seem to find an answer to this anywhere and thought maybe someone here had experience they could share. With the new system in place for unauthorised absence during term time, I am aware the fine price increases on the second fine. We were fined last year and I now wonder whether that fine counts towards the new…
Reasonable Divorce Arrangement?
Firstly, the irony of my username is not lost on me… My wife and I are separating after 15 years of marriage, though we have a 7 year old child. We wanted my wife to keep our jointly owned home as she will be the primary carer of our son, however she cannot get close to the required remortgage level that would have given…
Parental responsibility and C100
Good afternoon, I am posting this on behalf of my son in law. He recently won residency of his son aged 4 after the mother decided after 2 years that she didn't want to look after him any more. They were never married, hence the need to go through the courts to secure his rights. Cafcass said that under no circumstances…
Any ideas for grocery shopping when elderly parent can no longer drive?
Long story short, couple where he drives, she doesn't, but he is currently having treatement and can't drive anymore. Both elderly, and not massively IT savvy. One basic problem is that they used to drive to the supermarket, but this is no longer possible. There is a reluctance to do online shopping. She still wants to…
How much rent to charge a sibling.
back story, we jointly inherited a home last year which has now been transferred to my sole ownership. now my sibling wants to buy (or at least says so) but doesn't appear to be in any rush to find somewhere. fyi its a room and garage (which i want for my own car!) and is in a not so cheap part of the country now i do want…