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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.

968 discussions 13.7K comments Most recent: Property Income Excluded from Free Childcare Hours by ileven1225 2 June at 7:39PM
MoneySaving dads

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

367 discussions 4K comments Most recent: Increase in child custody from 40/60 to 50/50 by marcia_ 9 June at 1:46PM
Deaths, funerals & probate

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

12.5K discussions 131.6K comments Most recent: Probate referred to a specialist team by valuepack Today at 6:15AM
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 249.9K comments Most recent: Anallergenic/hypoallergenic/hydrolysed wet cat food? by Lavendyr 28 June at 12:21AM

Power of Attorney and access to on-line bank accounts.
I'm currently doing my LPA for finances and property. I have named 2 attorneys. Have I understood correctly that my bank, HSBC, would either give one of my attorneys OR me access to my current account but not both of us or both of them? Does this depend on the bank? Thank you.
Advice on girlfriend moving into my mortgaged property
So a little bit of background I purchased a property in my name around 2 years ago, the house is mortgaged and has 3 years left to run on the fixed rate (so not looking at moving or buying again anytime soon). I put a large deposit down on the property so there is a lot of equity already in the house (£85k+) as it has also…
What am I doing with my life?
I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but it seems to fit best here. I am a 44 year old male and I am trying to work out what I am doing with my life and where I am going. This post may sound like I am unhappy or depressed, but I am not (I don't think!), just unfulfilled and it is probably fuelled by the time of year. I…
Can this be fair? How how would you go about it?
So I own two properties and have about £120,000 in equity across the two. I would want to keep both of those properties whilst moving in with my partner. He claims he is asset, rich, but cash poor, but actually, neither of those are true, really. He earns about the same as me, but the truth is he Mortgage up to the…
Care home following stroke
Trying to find out some info for a friend whose father enter a care home after being in hospital. The financial form has been submitted to the council and are waiting to hear back. There are certain things I understand but do have gaps in my knowledge. When is the needs assessment made? would that have been decided before…
Deceased fathers care home fees
Hi thanks for listening and possibly advising. My dad went into a care home on a temporary basis on 27th December 2022 and was only made permanent on 1st December 2023. He sadly passed away on 9th December. Financial Assessment Team are only now undertaking a financial assessment. He has just over the threshold of £23250…
Legal Rights if not Married
Hi My ex partner and myself were together for 25 years but never married, we purchased our home in 1991 with an Endowment Mortgage. My ex partner was never good with money and got himself in serious credit card debt on several occasions and in 2001 he also stopped paying the Endowment without my knowledge. When I found out…
Evicting family member from residential property
I've had a close relative reach out for help, sorry, this is not investment related. The retired couple have their 50 year old son, his wife and two children (aged 9 & 11) live with them, the son's never paid rent or many bills, effectively lived free. The son never moved out and when he got married moved his wife in, he…
marriage tax allowance company
My 89 year old father had a call involving the marriage tax allowance refund yesterday. He was struggling so I told him to give them my number. It was the Tax Refund Team (01254 791 674).I have just realized they were not the HMRC and I'm kicking myself for not spotting this.They had both my parents National security…
Helping Mum Power of Attorney or Alternatives Question
Hi I hope someone can help me. My father passed away last year, leaving my mother to manage her finances. My mother primarily used an account book and is hesitant about online banking and digital payments. While mentally competent, she's uncomfortable handling bills, insurance, and account management. So the responsibility…
Divorced or not? How to find out.
Hi there. My partner and I have booked our wedding. We have both been married twice before (3rd time lucky??) We need to take our last divorce papers to the registry in 2 months time. My partner cannot find any papers for his second divorce. They married in 1993 and they split up 6 months later. They have not seen each…
How can I obtain a copy of my lost decree absolute super-quick!
My partner and I finally decided to get engaged after decades together and are looking to get married in April - no point in hanging around! However, I cannot find my divorce certificate anywhere! I called the court where I thought the divorce was finalised, but they couldn't find a record of it and said I had to go…
Legal separation tax on property purchase
I and my husband are going to separate amicably and we are thinking of legal separation but we may end up with the divorce route. For now, we are looking at legal separation. We jointly own our home and I understand that if you legally separate, you can buy another home to replace your existing home without paying the…
Divorce - Consent/Financial Order
Hi everyone My ex wife and I are currently going through a divorce. We had a property together which she bought me out of in December 2021. I then used this money (along with a mortgage) to buy my own property. We applied for divorce in August 2023 and on 10th February we can apply for the conditional order. Although the…
Left relationship due to mental abuse regret taking 1/3
I was pushed and pushed to breaking point. My ex and I wasn't married and he was not about to give up our £240k 3 bedroom house for no-one. Our son was 11 when it all started. He would not sell up or move out and offered 60k and that was his final.offer. I was scared to push this with a solicitor as I couldn't afford one…
Dad with dementia in hospital - Can they force him home
Just been reading the other thread about Care home after a stroke but does not answer all my questions Sorry for the long post Dad has mixed dementia (Alzheimer's and vascular) and is getting frailer - he will be 90 in May and was diagnosed in August 23 after having a few falls and I asked for an assessment, although we…
Donation from parents (EU) to children (UK)
Hey! First time poster :) :smiley: My understanding of the UK inheritance law is that: - donations from parents to children will be taxed, unless the donor lives for another 7 years (rate from 8% to 40% based on how long the donor lives after the donation).- the first £325k of the estate are exempt (all donations combined…
How can a housebound person get to their money
My elderly mother is housebound and cannot access the internet or deal with phone banking. Currently she hands her bank card to her brother to make withdrawals and do her shopping. Concerns have been raised about the consequences should the card get lost. My sisters and I are not local enough to help and want to know the…
Charging parent rent
My Mum currently pays rent which is comfortably covered by her pensions. I am looking into buying a property with an annex which she will live in, we both love this idea of living so close and for her it brings more security than privately renting. Her assumption was that she would pay me what she currently pays in rent.…
Is my Australian Power Of Attorney Legal in the UK?
I've return home to the UK after working in Australia for the past 15 years. I was advised to get a POA & EPOA in Australia in order to give access to my Superannuation if something happened to me (I'm not married and have no children). Do I need a separate one for the UK? Also is my Australian Will valid in the UK? Thanks

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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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