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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.

970 discussions 13.7K comments Most recent: Removing long hair from carpet by elsien 9 August at 8:16PM
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.

12.6K discussions 132.7K comments Most recent: Which website to apply for Probate? by ApolloHubble Today at 10:57AM
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: Outrageous Vet charges by thriftytracey 9 August at 10:13AM

Letting go of anger and hate
First let me say that I know hate is a very strong word and I dont so much hate the person, I hate what she did and the effect it has had on the whole family. I'm holding on to so much anger and I know it's not good for me but I cant see a way past it. I fell out with a close family member that I was always very close to…
Social Services trying to force carers upon us – covid concerns
Regarding my parents, who are in their 90’s, living in their own home. I’m their son and sole carer. I’ve been living with them the past 3-4 years as an unpaid 24/7 carer for Mum, who has Alzheimer’s. Dad could look after himself, pretty much, that is until about 6 months ago, when he was forced to swap his zimmer frame…
Free baby stuff 2021
Following on from the Free baby stuff thread started in 2016, here's a pristine new one to log the most up to date deals. Mums and dads to be, hopefully we'll see this list of free baby stuff grow and grow. 👶👶👶 Also, take a look at the Baby checklist guide over at MoneySavingExpert.com, which includes 40+ tricks and tips…
Tracker on Car
how can you tell if someone has put a tracker on your car? would a garage or an alarm place be able to scan it to see? thank you
Lending money to sibling
Hi all, My sibling and I have a good relationship and although we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like (we live at opposite ends of the country) we speak regularly and are on good terms. Several years ago our mother died unexpectedly - to cut a long story short we had to sell her house to pay off the debts she…
Pink blob on pregnancy test
Hi I took a cheap strip pregnancy test this morning as period is due in a few days. A pink blob appeared straight away, where the positive line would be. Any ideas what this might mean? I'm reluctant to keep testing, but wondered if anybody else has ever had this happen and what the outcome was?
Wedding Album: A Cheaper Alternative?
Hi all We recently got married and are looking to have our professional photos put into an album. Our photographer has offered us a 20 page 8 inch booklet for £350 pounds. However, it's way beyond what we would be willing to pay for that sort of thing. Can anyone give any alternative suggestions or companies that might be…
Wedding
There are some types who will take full advantage of others' generosity, and it looks like this is a classic example of a confidence trickster at work. Don't send him money or waste it on a card, as he's entitled to neither.
Deposit
Give each child the same amount. Nobody's forcing one of your children to live in London, where earnings are higher than average, and there's no reason why he or she can't use them to get a top-up mortgage to meet the extra costs of living there.
Ever paid for someone else's shopping?
Was in a shop recently and a family were struggling to pay for the items they'd chosen. They were reducing the cost by leaving some adult non essentials (wine etc) but kept a fairly large toy for their child when the cashier queried that. I wanted to offer to pay for their shop but I was worried about overstepping because…
Biff, Chip and Kipper Books - Worth It?
While learning to read is a fair way off, thinking of investing in this set of books. Are they any good? I remember they were at my infant school but this was 20+ years ago. Are these still the same stories? Or have they been edited (thinking about some of Enid Blyton's books)? Any others I should consider?
Solicitors Letter
Early nineties the family home was put into a siblings name. The other one was told that they would get half after the parents passes. Late nineties the father died a will was made both children made executors. Mother wrote a letter of wishes 2005 said she had requested the sibling to give the other one a share when the…
Wedding Present for grandson?
Please be gentle with me. My grandson has just married his live-in partner. They have been together for 5 years and have 2 young children. Given that (1) I don't have a relationship with him, and (2) I wasn't invited, do I buy them a wedding present? (And if so, what?) Background I don't have much of a relationship with my…
Improper person applying for lasting power of attorney of my parents affairs
My father has shown me letters he has recently received from the Office of the Public Guardian. Two letters addressed to himself and two to his wife (my mother). One pair of letters reads: ‘An application has been made to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA) for health and welfare on your behalf’. One addressed to my…
Divorce CGT
Hi I’m just about to come to the end of the divorce process, and am wondering about Capital Gains Tax implications of our situation. We bought our house for £165k in September 2006, marrying in 2013. The house had the mortgage paid off, and I moved out on 23rd October 2020. Our Consent Order was approved by the judge on…
Break up of a long term relationship
After 30 years of being in a controlling relationship (emotionally), I finally have taken steps to get out, and have found myself a room to rent, but now find I am scared stiff. I have walked on egg shells, and been looking over my shoulder all these years and now I'm scared! Anyone else had similar experiences? I suppose…
Divorce Help
Hi, My husband moved out suddenly 6 months ago after 30 years together. He moved into his Mother's and started a new relationship with someone else. I was left in the family home with my 3 kids . I started Divorce Proceedings after 5 months as was emotionally overwhelmed and had just started a new job 10 days before he…
Contentious probat
Hi, I'm presently going through a contentious situation with my half brother. My father died in February 20, and since this time I have been given letters of administration as there was no will. My brother did apply for this, however he put the wrong date of death on his application, was given letters and then I contested…
Power of Attorney financial decisions...
I wondered if anyone might have advice for me on this issue: my mother now lives with my sister as she needs full-time care. I have financial LPOA, and sold her house a while ago, because it needed more work than we were prepared to carrry out. I've invested the proceeds in the best paying safe bank accounts. My sister is…
Deputyship questions and advice.
We are currently considering starting the process of applying for deputyship for an elderly relative who is 87. She has been in hospital for 10weeks after falling and breaking her hip. She was discharged twice but fell within hours of returning home and was readmitted. She was on the floor for 12 hours after the last fall…