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Another Claim or Self-Repair Question
I stupidly hit a low bollard, damaging the bumper and wing. I've been quoted an estimate of £1,000 to repair the damage, using used parts. What threshold would you use to judge if claiming through insurance is worth it. Excess is £300
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DCB LEGAL CLAIM FORM
PLEASE HELP; After ignoring numerous letters from Euro Car Parks and subsequently DCB Legal I have today received a Claim Form. I am determined not to pay BUT this forum and its chaotic nature is making is nearly impossible to understand. The date on the Claim Form is 13/5/2025 asking for the sum of £270.64 I have managed…
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Weekly Flylady Thread 22nd December 2025
Cristmas week starts here What is FLYLADY? Well, it's our version of the US flylady idea - but we work on
the principle that housework is not fun, it's boring, can be time-consuming, is
often thankless but, unfortunately, necessary. It's here on Old Style to
provide the support we all need and to make the whole task easier…
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Gaining a beneficial interest - executor duty
If someone pays towards improvements and or renovations to a house they've lived in for many years, but don't co-own, AIUI they can gain an interest in the property worth £X If this isn't formalised before they die, does the executor have a LEGAL DUTY to pursue this for the beneficiaries (especially if they are not the…
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Single use coffee bags
A relative uses these and currently has the Taylor’s ones. They seem awful for the environment as the packing cannot be recycled and the bags themselves seem to be made of plastic. Does anyone know of more eco friendly ones please ? Needs to be single use bags for ease as they are elderly with limited capacity
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Arrietty's Acorns
Hello, I think we're past the 'happy new year' stage now and as we don't know each other yet I'll just dive right in, say 'hello' again and declare that I NEED to be on this board. I've been dipping in and out of here for a while now and debating with myself as to whether I should start my own savings diary; whether it…
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Compers Challenge 2026
Hope everyone is okay with me posting this, @lucinad usually is in charge of the challenge but they have been offline for some time now (really hope they are okay, and are just taking a break!). ALL credit for this fun challenge goes to Lucinad 2026 league January 🥇1st. 🥇 🥈2nd. 🥈 🥉3rd. 🥉 Booby prize (lowest value prize)💩💩…
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HMRC on Doorstep
Heya, Not like this wasn't inevitable. I have just missed an in-person visit from the HMRC - she dropped a letter saying she will come back to discuss how I am going to pay in full. Obviously I can't do this as I need to go bankrupt - was hoping it would be them making me bankrupt or IVA company. It says if I don't pay…
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New SNUG rates
Great to see the off peak staying the same
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Are dividend vouchers showing withholding tax available on Interactive Investor
Hi, I have investment accounts with both Hargreaves Lansdown and A J Bell and I'm considering opening one with Interactive Investor. For such a large company HL are VERY poor at providing Dividend Vouchers, which I require as they show the withholding tax on US dividends. It is necessary to send them a secure message…
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School Street restrictions - Signage Regulations?
Our local council has been rolling out what they call "School Streets" which restrict access to certain roads outside schools during specific hours. Controlled by cameras which will generate fines for any vehicles accessing these roads within the specified hours. As yet another sign amongst a myriad of other street…
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Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE
Time to start a new Diary. I have had my old one since Autumn 19 which is when I moved into my forever home after 4 years of renting in London. I am 52 and I live with my DG on the South Coast. I have a well paid job for my sector and was finally made permanent and full time in December 21. DG is self employed which she…
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Back again
Morning everyone, I closed my DF diary a few months ago for various reasons at the time. However on reflection I think I haven't been myself for months , but I feel myself coming out of the place I've been and wanted to be back here. The last two years have been very testing with RL things going on in the back ground but…
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Moving on up! 🏡
As of this week, I am mortgage free! Unfortunately, that won't be for long. I currently live with DH and our 3 dogs in a one bedroom semi-detached bungalow with no garden or parking. It's what I could afford on my own when I first moved in back in 2019, but now it's time for us to save and move up the ladder. Ideally, we…
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2025 - No Craft Spending - We WILL bust my stash and make pretty things!!!!!
Another year and yet again another vow not to spend anything on craft supplies until I have used up everything I have. In all honesty I could open a shop and craft everyday and I would never be able to use all my supplies in my lifetime!!! I was really good last year and hope to be just as good this year too. Who needs to…
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I've had confusing pension advice - help!
Hi All, I wonder if you can help. I have had two advisors state different opinions, and I could do with some clarity. In simple terms, is it better to pay £320 a month into my pension each month for the next 10 years, or is it better to put £38,400 (the equiilent amount over the 10 years) in straight away and then no more.…
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Save £12k in 2026 challenge (or any other amount to challenge yourself!)
Here are the details below of the savings challenge @enthusiasticsaver and I have been running this year and will continue to run next year. This is the new Challenge thread for savers in 2026. The aim is to get more people saving throughout the year and this thread gives a space for people to record and track their…
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TfL Autopay vehicle already registered by others
Hi all - will jump straight to it, I assume it's a common issue people encounter but I haven't seen much mentions. I have a second hand car and have kept the car reg unchanged. Couple of days ago I knew I had to go through one of the toll tunnels in London, so tried setting up an Autopay account on TfL. All set up, until I…
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My experience of DIY Probate
Hi I thought I'd share my experience of applying for probate online for anybody in any doubt about doing it themselves. If you've a simple probate then I can see no reason why you would pay an expert to do it for you, so give it a go. This is the first probate I've ever been involved in. I had already created the probate…
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The Mental Debt Struggle...
I've known that this diary needed to be started... But I've run away from the idea as the accountability made me nervous and I didn't think anyone would want to read it. But then I realised it would be financially and mentally therapeutic for me, and that's the whole point after all. I've read other diaries and gained so…
