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MoneySaving mums

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

Updated MSE blog: 16 free or cheap kids' book tricks
MSE Jenny has updated her blog: 📚 16 free or cheap kids' book tricks 📚 It includes free e-books with your library, free must-read Kindle titles, 10 books for £10 and more. How many of these have you tried? Is there anything you'd add?
Child Trust Fund
Hi, I'm new here so if I'm in the wrong place please let me know. The most recent post recent on MSE on Child Trust Funds suggested that the top paying Child ISA fund has an interest rate of 4.95% where as the One Family Trust Fund pays only 2.3% and therefore in most cases it made sense to move your child's money out and…
Abusive partner wants me to go back to him
I was in an abusive relationship with him for 2 years. The children are mine not his. I left a few nights ago after he had his friends round and my ex partner encouraged them to help him beat me in front of my children who were distraught and scared, poor things. And then my ex partner and his friends were shouting in…
Working mums what's the secret
Hi, hello and good evening. I've recently returned back to work full time and I'm wondering how mums stay organised? With washing Cooking Cleaning Tending to the kids and animals (one child is autistic and needs more support) Good shopping Putting clothes away and iron uniforms How do you stay on top of things? Any advice…
Money Moral Dilemma: Should we sign our child up to a free book scheme when we can afford books?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... A well-known children's book charity scheme now covers where we live and each month, any child enrolled in it receives a high-quality, age-appropriate book free of charge until age five. Our household income is three times the UK average and we can easily afford to provide…
I feel like my son is spiralling out of control
Hi I am not sure whether I am seeking advice or just some support and someone to tell me I am not the worst mother in the world? In a nutshell myself and my husband separated 10 years ago, I brought up our two children and he saw them a few days a month. I have always been so close to my son who is 19 until the last 12…
Cost of school uniforms
There's an interesting article in the Guardian called Back to school: do uniforms really need to cost a fortune? (I can't post links yet) I was wondering what people thought of the comments by Matthew Easter, Chair of the Schoolwear Association. Most secondary school students spend a maximum of 2 hours a week doing PE.…
Need advice to invest for the children's future
I'm a single mum with two kids: 10 and 12 yo. I have two child trust fund accounts but wondering what the best ROIs are out there. Need to invest and plan wisely :smile: Thank you in advance!
Near a Lincolnshire Coop? junior member's scheme- free fruit
Not all Lincolnshire Co-op shops are in the county- some in Notts, Hull etc. Worth a look store finder: https://www.lincolnshire.coop/storefinder some marked on the map may not be food stores but travel agents etc! The junior Member's scheme not only gives birthday cards, offers on days out but also Free piece of fruit…
Anyone Else Not Having Turkey This Christmas?
The price of turkeys has been getting ridiculous these past few years and as there are only 3 of us and no other family within 500 miles we've been having turkey crowns for as long as I can remember. But this year we started using an oven style air fryer with shelves instead of a conventional oven to save on electricity.…
Bread bags
Empty plastic bread bags will fit most bathroom waste bins
Getting my son to eat veggies
My 4 year old is a really fussy eater. He doesn't like fruit and vegetables at all. Does anyone blend veggies to hide them within other meals. Can anyone recommend any budget-friendly blenders that will almost juice the veggies so they become undetectable?
Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask for my daughter's school-leavers' celebrations to be cheaper?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My daughter's leaving primary school in July. The parent committee has organised a trip, T-shirts and yearbooks to celebrate. They've asked parents to contribute £75 each and although I can scrimp elsewhere to find the money, it won't be easy. I want to ask the committee to…
Free/cheap Easter activities
Have you seen any free or cheap Easter events anywhere in the UK? Here are a few, but please add your own. * For families, there are National Trust Easter egg hunts going on at locations across the UK, with a free chocolate egg at the end. Normal estate admission applies, plus a fee of around £3 per child. * If you're in…
I want to become money smart!
So I'm going to cut straight to the point. I have never been smart with money. As soon as I get some I spend it. Most of my household bills are upto date, but I couldn't tell you off top of my head what I pay or what I owe for the few things I do owe money for. I am 30 years old, with 3 children (11 year old, 19 month old…
11 year old son has inherited a lot of money
Hi there, I can’t quite believe the position we’re in, which I know is incredibly fortunate. I feel bad for even feeling it’s a problem. However my son has just inherited a large sum, we won’t know exactly how much for a while, but at least £150,000, possibly much more. Rather than this being amazing news, I’m now worrying…
A previous owner refuses to stop using our address for EVERYTHING!
This is a really weird problem that I can't quite believe is even a problem, but it is. A person who owned our house over 7 years ago is using our address. This person moved, but not far and is using our address. The first couple of years, we passed mail and packages on, feeling they would do what we were doing with our…
Best MoneySaving kids' party bag ideas?
MSE Clare had cause to put together some kids' party bags recently, and she wondered how other people approach it. She'd love to know your thoughts, including: * How do you put together the best party bags for as little money as possible? * What’s the best party bag or party 'favour' your child has ever received? * How…
Money Gifted by Parent who now needs to be in a care home.
Seeking help for an elderly friend on care home fees and recovery of monies gifted to a family member. About 6 years ago, my friends elderly widowed mother sold up her home and gifted her daughter (my friend) and her much younger son £100k each, keepting the rest for herself ( have no idea how much this was but I think it…
Rubbish at saving money! How do you do it!? In debt please help newbie
Hello me and my fiancé fell pregnant accidentally in 2017 - he was at that time jobless due to being made redundant, during this time we racked up a bit of debt. Fast forward 4 years later we have a 3 year old son - he now works full time in a secure job with a good salary - 37k a year plus a free car. I’m working part…
Dealing with my difficult mother
I have Type Two diabetes which is a chronic condition ie it's not supposed to get better. I eat low carb so it's in remission. but if I ate normally, I would get sick again. It takes a lot of effort on my part. I can't eat anything with sugar, so that rules out not just chocolate and ice cream, but also tinned soup, loads…

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MSE News

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.
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 Payments 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.
Which NatWest and RBS branches are closing from 2025? Here's the full list – and banking alternatives
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which are both part of the NatWest Group, will shut at least 108 of their bank branches in 2025 and beyond, after the Group announced a further 52 NatWest closures.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
Winter Fuel Payments will be reinstated to all pensioners in England and Wales this winter – but will be clawed back automatically from those earning over £35,000 a year, the Government has confirmed. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis.
Car finance mis-selling update: regulator prepares for compensation scheme – and warns against using claims firms
Payouts for mis-sold car finance could be another step closer as the financial regulator has set out the factors it will consider if it were to introduce an industry-wide redress scheme – though we won't know more about how this will work until after a key Supreme Court decision expected in July. In the meantime, the regulator has warned that you DON'T need to sign up with a claims firm to be included.
Winter Fuel Payments to be extended to pensioners earning £35,000 or less – here's what we know so far
Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to all pensioners with incomes of £35,000 or less this winter, the Government has confirmed. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up.
Winter Fuel Payments extension confirmed for this winter – watch Martin Lewis' instant response and his message to the Chancellor
Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to more pensioners this winter – though not to everyone – the Chancellor has today confirmed. However, exact details of who will now qualify still remain scant. Watch MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis give his instant response, as well as his key message for Rachel Reeves.
Nationwide Fairer Share: Free £100 bonus confirmed for 2025 – here's who will get it
If you bank with Nationwide, you could get a free £100 paid into your account in June or July as part of the building society's 'Fairer Share' scheme. The bonus will be paid to millions of its current account customers who also have savings or a mortgage with it.
Forced onto a prepay energy meter? You may be due money back as 10,000s to be compensated
If you had an energy prepayment meter forcibly installed or your smart meter was remotely switched to prepay mode without your permission, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £1,000 and may even be eligible to have your energy debts written off.

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