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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 132.1K comments Most recent: Probate final stages - How to transfer house to ltd company efficiently and other questions by poseidon1 Today at 5:46PM
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: Purely Pets - Alarming email pre-warning of increased renewal by glasgowchick 21 July at 10:00AM

Wills - Some Very Naive Questions
(1) When it comes to thinking about a will before engaging the services of a will writer, how do you deal with all the possibility of various beneficiaries predeceasing you? Do you literally have to consider each and every permutation? (2) I know it's very weird to will money/possessions to people you aren't in contact…
Is it my fault?
Sorry if but this is going to be a bit of a long story. Back in 1997 I met someone I liked but a 28 years age gap. He was separated with 2 kids then. We fell in love he bought a large house and in 2000 we got wed. He did say when we moved into the house one occasion I can remember we are having a kid of our own one day…
Grandmother not taking all her meds
My grandmother is 94, has macula in both eyes, high blood pressure and severe arthritis. She gets her various medications in nomads done by her local pharmacy. The other day, my parents visited her (we live 65-70 miles away) and mum put something in her kitchen bin. She noticed the nomad in the bin with a couple of doses…
(Short version) should I leave my 2 friends?
Admin: please delete other post as done short version. Friend 1: negatives:swears at me when he thinks he needs too. Try’s to tell me what to wear Positives: has interesting story’s Pick me up and take me places Friend 2: negatives:when he’s certain about something won’t let me have a diffent opion, gets annoyed and…
Christmas present for 9 year old girl.
As the title says..... I'm looking for inspiration for a present for a nine year old. Very keen on reading but already has a Kindle and subscription. Parents not over keen on more screens or mobile phone just yet. Keen on crafting No outdoor sport / hobbies I wont be meeting up with her before Christmas to go clothes…
Divorce agreement
Will keep it brief but I need some advice. Will spare all the details but I left my wife and family home in May. I've been dating someone recently, she's been dating my work mate. We agreed that everything would be amicable particularly with two young children involved, was happy to agree to a financial agreement between…
Protecting my money from his ex wife
Hi all I’m after a bit of advice. My partner of 6 years and I would like to get married. He is divorced from his ex wife, however the financial settlement hasn’t gone through. It had gone to court, they wanted one more piece of info which my partner supplied, they then had to resign. He resigned. She didn’t despite her…
Money Moral Dilemma: Should we split bills equally if my husband has higher outgoings?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My husband and I have similar salaries, but he has higher outgoings than me due to child maintenance payments for a child from a previous marriage. Is it reasonable to still expect household bills to be split equally between us? Unfortunately the MSE team can't answer Money…
Bulging disc - time off work?
I've had a bulging disc in my neck (c8) for quite some time. I saw a chiropractor earlier in the year which relieved it somewhat but it has flared again. I'm not restricted in movement but it gives me numbness / tingling in digits 4 and 5 of my right hand and a pain in my tricep. I have a physio appointment this week for…
Heating disputes
Hi Does anyone else have regular disputes with their other half over the heating? Right now, my other half has every radiator in the apartment on 5, the boiler set to 70’C (the highest it will go) and insists on wearing shorts and a T-Shirt about the place! The radiators are on all over “in case we use that room”, which is…
Power of Attorney and Estranged Relatives
Hi all, Apologies if this is the wrong board, feel free to move if appropriate :) I have LPOA for my grandmother after the death of my mother - this was the planned agreement that was put in place back in 2010, my mother passed away earlier this year. My grandmother has 2 sons who have not been in contact with her for 10+…
Financial settlement
I have just been recently divorced and I am still awaiting my financial settlement. Everything has been signed off from both parties, but I was wondering how long does it usually take for the mortgage company to draw down funds?
International Money Order
Does anybody know where I can purchase an international money order? I need to obtain a copy of my marriage certificate from the New York City Clerk's office and that's the only form of payment they'll accept (unless I know somebody who lives in the US, which I don't).
Divorce - Pension Portion
Hi. I'm negotiating with my ex wife. I have no pension. She has worked at one company for 20 years and we were married 15 years. She has agreed and giving me 35% of her pension. Is 50% more acceptable ?
My partners brother has taken a loan out using their mother's home as security.
My partner is one of two siblings. About twelve years ago her elder brother split with his wife and returned to live with their mother for a few months. In order to assist him my partner and their mother then allowed him to take out a loan of about 50k secured against the mother's property. There is no other mortgage or…
Elder abuse vs medical treatment
I hate posts like this but need to sort out some thoughts.... Mom is in hospital. She's had a couple of small strokes and has pneumonia. Net result is that she is confused, aggressive, highly agitated. As there's an issue with her throat she's not able to eat much so is on an IV which is also how she's getting her various…
Elderly relative feels like a prisoner in own home
Asking on behalf of my partner, so here goes. My partners elderly auntie (her mums sister, about 85 I think) lived for many years on her own, in her own bungalow by the coast. In the last 6 months her daughter has moved back in, with her new boyfriend. Neither of them work, they’ve taken over both bedrooms in the bungalow…
I need a comprehensive list of care companies in Essex
We want carers to come in the mornings to get both Mum and Dad up. I was waiting on social services to organise a company, or companies. After a long wait, I was not impressed with the one company they came up with. The care company said an OT evaluation was required before they could progress matters, but we’ve not heard…
Long one RE marriage/one partners debt.
I am mid 30’s and partner is mid 40’s. I am debt free except for a credit card, I pay off balance each month to build my credit rating in prep for a mortgage and I earn around £2800 PCM. I also have £12000 in savings. DP has around £19000 of debt split between a consolidation loan and a credit card and earns around £1200…
Gambling - 3 years clean!
Three years clean this week from gambling. I use to lie, borrow and waste money. Thankfully I was on good money and I still have house(s) and savings and my wife stood by me - just! Must have lost £100k over the years. My lightbulb moment was when bookies started closing my accounts because I'd started to do 'matched…