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My DMP diary - 2026 (year 1)
Well… inspired by others I intend to chronicle my own journey through the DMP maze. This is the year I turn 50 and I can't juggle these plates any longer. I earn enough to pay my bills and my debts but there is nothing left for contingency, household or family emergencies, holidays, days out, gifts, car repairs, vet bills…
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Investing
Hi, my cash ISA is maxed out for this year and will be for the new tax year when I fund it, but I'm wanting to put £50 or so away in something similar to a stocks and shares ISA. I'm aware I can't though as my cash ISAs are maxed out. Can I still open a S&S ISA or is there something else I can go for? Thanks
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Money saving expert comparison site doesn’t work ?
Just tried to join Vodafone broadband after being with EE former orange at same address for over 20 years excellent credit history score yet Vodafone says I failed credit check 🤷♂️. Call them is it because they don’t want to pay out the offers of vouchers on comparison sites ?
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Direct Debit returned
I had a senior moment yesterday where i didn’t have enough funds to pay my credit card direct debt. And the payment had been returned. I did top up my account before the end of day but it’s not been taken yet. On the credit card app it is still shown as processing. Does that mean it will be taken in due course? In the mean…
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When to stop?
I've been stoozing for a long time but have ramped it up a bit recently as I don't have to worry about my credit score any more (mortgage paid off etc). I've currently got about £45K of 0% debt on credit cards with available credit totalling £115K across all of my cards. I've been reluctant to close any cards down because…
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S&P 500 Distributing ETF
I have invested in FTSE 100 and FTSE world distributing ETF but not yet invested in the S&P 500 ETF. Anyone can comment on a S&P 500 distributing ETF in sterling that you have invested in the past or present? The name of fund? Thanks. Not looking for advice or opinion, just a fact, that is, the actual name of the fund.
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Compensation for extra nights/meals
emirates cancelled our flight on the 1st March , our package holiday had finished and we spent an extra 4 days in Dubai before returning to the UK. Our travel insurance is invalid as it doesn’t cover Acts of War. Our agent is only ATOL covered. We did pay on our credit card. Is their anybody we can claim off for the extra…
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Paying HL ISA fees
I periodically top up my HL account with a few £ to cover the fees on my stocks & shares ISA, the money sits separately from the ISA and fees are paid from this. However I’ve noticed that any amount I top up with comes off that years ISA allowance. Is there a way to fund the fees without it affecting my allowance please?
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Washing own duvets and pillows?
Just been ripped off - £20 to wash and tumble dry three pillows and £30 for single duvet and a few mattress protectors. The pillows never washed or duvet in years. He claimed he'd use special sanitiser etc and do me deal. Works in rich area where don't question handing over any amount of money. If I do it myself what…
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Debt advice
Got myself into a little bit of mess with credit card debt I owe. £2890 on a Lloyds card to be paid by October 1300 on a NatWest card to be paid by September I will have raised £1500 by the end of April currently working lots of overtime to raise the money and will be able to pay £300 a month no overtime assisted after…
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Prosperous and Creative Soul Year 5
Close to 4 years ago I finalised my divorce and completed on my biggest ever mortgage - £202K and switched from interest only between 2 of us to repayment on my own. I took the term for as long as I could - so 22 years - which means I would be 73.5 by the time I was actually free. Then I owed c£1.5K on a 0% but had a £2K…
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Confused over HICB charge
Hello, hoping someone can help explain the HICB charges for me. We started claiming child benefit April 24 for one child. I need to repay tax through the HICB scheme. Tax for 24-25 should be reclaimed through a change to my tax code/personal allowance, and when I complete the self-assessment for 25-26 I will need to…
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MP Estate Planning & Asset Preservation Trusts - Buyer Beware!
Searching through the forums there is an older thread which covered this firm, which you can find below. The thread has been closed, but I came across information related to this, so thought I'd post it in case anyone else does a search about this company. The article is by well known tax lawyer, Dan Neidle, and is posted…
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Parking ticket issued by Smart Parking scum bags
I got a ticket from these underhand idiots who are BPA members: Smart Parking Ltd www.smartparking.com I'll post my appeal to them and then secondly include an update of what happened (or lack of) more recently: APPEAL I have received your letter regarding my parking in the mail on the 4th of August. You record that,…
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With OVO waiting for the crash?
Investigating whether to wait of switch seems to show that to wait and let OFGEM inform me of my new supplier is not a big deal and the new company takes on the service and my credit. Has anyone a different experience of their Electric company failing and being switched? I've been looking at E.on and Sainsbury (seem to be…
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Smart Export Guarantee while on an OVO Fixed Tariff
I have invested in a 8kW of solar panels with a Tesla Powerwall 3 set up that will be installed next week. Long term it looks like the best tariff for this set up will be Octopus' Intelligent Flux tariff. However in the near term I am contracted to OVO on their Extended Fixed plan, with two £75 early exit penalties for…
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Universal Credit Tenancy Agreement Occupancy Issue
Hi, Long story short, my father is out of work and has been for several years (on ESA), my mother has been his career until recently. My brother who works, lives with them. Until recently whereby they received a universal credit migration letter housing benefit has been paying for my parents share of the rent to our…
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Overpay mortgage or save dilemma
Hi everyone, My wife and I are shortly to receive £100k from an inheritance and are unsure what to do with it. We have £191k on the mortgage with a current remaining term of 17 years and current fix for next 2 years (originally 5) is 3.28%. We overpay £200 every month on the mortgage already but wondered whether to drop…
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How to apply GAD reduction factors to CS Alpha
I am trying to calculate how much Alpha added pension will be reduced if £6600 was paid from salary during 2026-27, giving £453 if taken at NRA of 67, but then the added pension was taken at early retirement aged 56. Would I get zero in April 2027, then in April 2028 a reduced figure from £453 plus CPI? What would the…
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Waste water charging.
I have had a water meter for just over a year and was meant to be for trial/comparison before permanent move to metered usage. Affinity put me straight to a metered usage after 8 months starting early this year saying It was cheaper than fixed tariff. Yesterday I got my 2nd bill from them and I noticed the waste water…
