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Not dropping Santa down the chimney!: 2025 Santa, Shoebox & Life Chit,Chat,Chunter! ALL welcome....
Welcome to the shiny new thread which has a slightly different title and I have just updated the date! Now 2025 Santa's Challenge was set up by Mum2one some years ago but sadly she hasn't posted on this forum for a couple of years, so now we are on our own. We remember her, her Mum and daughter with fondness and hope that…
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ECO4 - It is great but beware!!
ECO 4 is great, but beware! Anyone else is this same position? Anyone resolved the issues? Last April (2023) I did some research on the ECO4 scheme, via my Local Council website. I selected a company, based on the location and also the relevant certifications required (MCS, TrustMark) and started the process. I was…
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Marriage Allowance and Savings
I earn approx £10,500 (from a pension) and my husband earns around £15,000. I am looking at whether it is worth transferring the marriage tax allowance to my husband. This is because I also earn about £2,000 from savings and dividends, taking my total income to around £12,500. I know those on lower incomes get an extra…
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Scam letter claiming to be from the Co-op Bank
I know the Co-op Bank like to send old fashioned letters, and clearly so do scammers. I received an initially convincing scam letter in the post claiming to be from my bank. It is attempting to get me to invest in a fixed rate bond only available via a Raisin intermediary. I was nearly caught off guard because it was a…
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Managed migration from ESA to UC.. what they didn't tell us.
so when you migrate from ESA to UC if your UC entitlement is less than your ESA amount at the time of migration you will get the transitional element to bring your total UC payment to the same as your previous ESA amount so you are not worse off on UC, but if you hadn't been made to migrate from ESA or if a claimant…
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Another spusu trouble spot: SMS codes
I've switched a couple accounts from RWG to spusu. This worked mostly well though spusu was unable to deliver the SIMs within a reasonable time frame: one took almost a week, the other never arrived and I had to call them and ask for a replacement. To their credit they sent another SIM 1st class which arrived two days…
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So now what?
We cleared debt of £ 64,346.53. We cleared a mortgage of £118k. So now what? We need to get saving and making the most of our money. Half of us is retired. The other isn’t working but may well have to (and possibly wants to) return to work in two years time. I find posting here keeps me super focussed so I am going to be…
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Find the SecondStar and soar, and then straight on till the morning…
This feels like an appropriate time for a finance thread. Story time: My ex partner and I broke up 2 weeks ago. We had been together for 4.5 years, we bought a house together as joint tenants 2 years ago, and had been combining incomes and savings for 2 years. We have separated our savings, and he is exploring options to…
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Having huge difficulty with trying to get a balance transfer
So I applied for a balance transfer with hsbc nearly 2 weeks ago, without going into details (you can read about it on one of my previous posts if you wish), im no further forward in getting that sorted and I assume by now theyve rejected me especially as ive since found out they are very 'picky' with their customers. So I…
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The Alternative Green Energy Thread
In an attempt to maintain harmony on Martyn1981’s Green, Ethical, Energy issues in the news thread, Mart and I have agreed that I will no longer contribute to that thread but instead start a separate thread which Mart has agreed not to participate on. The intention of the thread is that green energy issues can be discussed…
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Transfer Cash Lisa to S&S Lisa after 40.
Hi, My cash isa rate is pitiful, and I have completed my first time home purchase without using my cash LISA, therefore the lisa wont be touched for a fair few years at retirement. I am happy to let my lisa sit for a further couple of decades but obviously want more than the 3% or so the nottingham is giving me, what are…
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RTS shutdown and Restricted meters.
Hello I have a restricted RTS meter with 3 rates being recorded, These are for Day, Night and Heating. I have been getting letters regarding the shut down of the RTS and how this will affect my meter. I have been speaking to Scottish power my energy suppler checking if I could keep the same tariff if I move to a smart…
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Ideas for dog with bladder urgency/ control problems
Hello, Before we start I want to reassure everyone that we have been to the vet and are in regular contact with them. Medications are being tried. She is a happy dog still, playing, eating lots of wags, enjoys her walks and sniffs. Arthritis managed with prescription. She is happy and still has good quality of life so not…
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One Day More...
...another day to becoming debt free I want this diary to be my accountability mirror and to
inspire others who find themselves in the darkness and grip of debt, wandering
the abyss as they drowning in struggles to find hope and solace in the
knowledge that they're not alone and that there is a way to get their life…
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Australian visa. Delay. Contacts?
We applied for Australian tourist visas mid November. All we have had to date is acknowledgements saying they cannot be finalised. Unable to use immi to view status it wont recognise the ETA application number. We have had no emails. We are due to travel soon.Tried calling australia for update to no avail (2 mins cost £8),…
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Lenovo Ideapad i5 330s - Time for a new model
Hello I think my laptop is 6 or 7 years old now and I want to treat myself to a new one. I only really know of Curry's to buy laptops. So I have found what I think is an upgraded model but there of aren't any reviews. I do want to stick with at least the equivalent of i5, but I see other brands of laptops have different…
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Cooking for one (Mark Three)
Welcome to Cooking one (Mark Three), time to get a shiny new thread up and running. The link to "Cooking for one (Mark Two)" can be found here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/73708876#Comment_73708876 Cooking For One 13th Jan 17 at 7:32 PM Hi, newbie poster though long time lurker trying to adjust…
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We will get this debt down & the savings up
Several years ago I joined MSE with a different user name, but then it all went a bit wrong with losing job and other things, so I sort of fell by the wayside. Now I have created a new profile and am starting again with more determination. I have read so many people's diaries and can see that it helps you focus and it is…
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When to cancel transfer of married allowance?
My wife has transferred 10% of her income tax allowance to me (marriage allowance). She has only had very limited income for a number of years and didnt use all of her allowance. Next April (in new 2026/2027 tax year) she will start to take her DB pension and will be paying basic rate tax. So she will stop the marriage…
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Not informed buyer needed a mortgage - confused
Going back and forth on this one, please help me sort my head out! My brother and I have a house and land for sale. We own the house, the land is owned by us and other family members. We had interest in the house and land from a cash buyer whose cash would not come through until January 2026. They were offering £620k for…
