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+++ Whoops! Here comes the cheese! +++
My original < < < out of cheese error > > > diary started in 2017 and records our journey to be debt free, mortgage neutral and then last year (hurrah!) mortgage free. This new diary is to record our current focus on my efforts to retire early. Lots of cooking, some gardening, many cats and the occasional Pratchett quote.…
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Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List
Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List **Please note: The list of ISAs I have compiled below is continually updated. New ISAs are added as they launch and withdrawn ISAs will be removed from the list. ** The current Cash ISA limit is £20,000 for the 2025/26 tax year. **As with any financial product, before opening an…
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Small pot
I really have no idea what this
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3-5% Radon
We are currently buying a property which has the radon reading of 3-5% on the environmental search. After looking at the UK government map, it seems that lots of areas have it from the Peak District & Derbyshire Dales to Yorkshire Dales. If we move in and do a test, what works would need to be done.
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EE Sim only monthly contract massive price hike
Hi all, I used to be with Plusnet for broadband and mobile phone etc. Then I got transferred to EE as Plusnet dropped their mobile phone service. Was paying around £6 per month, but after I transferred to EE they started the uual annual "inflation plus" increases, so was paying around £7. However they have just advised…
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Unable to log in to my Hotmail/Outlook email accounts via my laptop/mobile
I use the Outlook app on my Android mobile and can access my Hotmail accounts with no problem on the app. However most of my usage of Hotmail is via my laptop ()using Chrome as my internet browser. It's the only browser I have ever used. I click on my saved Hotmail link and it redirects me to this page:-…
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Nectar Bonus points
I’ve always shopped mostly at Sainsbury’s and I collect Avios for flights so was happy when they were linked. I usually receive 15 to 20 bonus offers. Last week only 9, 5 of which I have never purchased. This week 5, 3 of which I never purchase. Are bonus offers being phased out? I usually spend £80-100 each week. I’ve…
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One of cooker's gas burners not burning at full flow.
Our gas cooker has developed a problem with one of it's burners. The flame is permanently on slow. Even when we turn the knob to full flow the flames are about a quarter of what the maximum used to be. All the other 4 burners work fine and we suspect that there must be something stuck in the supply pipe for the burner.…
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Kent Reliance new T&Cs
Received these today relating to their migration to the new platform later this year and a couple of changes jumped out at me. Firstly they are doing away with the 1K requirement to get the full rate on easy access accounts. Not a biggy but at least now with £1 in the account you can see the true rate of interest that the…
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Octopus Tracker
I just wondered about people's experiences with this tariff and whether they feel they are winners or losers. I got a quote from them yesterday, and I have to say I find the numbers highly misleading. The figures are very attractive, beating even the good fixed rate tariff I got from Avro, but presumably based on an…
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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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Civil Service ABS 2024-25 issued
Just to flag for information that I got an email today to say that my 2024-25 Annual Benefit Statement is available on the Pensions Portal. I'm an active member. There are two versions - one standard (with the McCloud period included in previous scheme i.e. Classic for me); and one alternative (i.e. McCloud period included…
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EDF account in credit
Our EDf energy account is in credit by £1299. We had a smart meter installed on 8 April, therefore 3 months ago. This is for electricity only. We pay by monthly direct debit - £224.77. I've had numerous contact by email with EDF as we could not see any information on the energy hub on the app (this part has recently been…
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OVO energy nightmare, worth escalating to the ombudsman?
So just had an absolute nightmare with OVO. Long story short, was going to switch to them, but cancelled after we got a better offer from our current supplier. This was the beginning of June. They then took payment via DD after I cancelled. It took several hours long phone calls for them to refund, which they would only do…
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Cynergy Maturity Issue FYI
A one year bond matured this morning with instructions to pay the proceeds into my EA account. The amount deposited was the original capital MINUS the interest amount! Having a hard job getting them to understand, they keep telling me the interest is not paid until 7pm. I don't recall maturity proceeds being split…
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Car finance PCP figures don’t add up Help!
Please help me understand PCP figures as they don’t seem to add up Dealer figures are On the road price £28384 dealer contribution £3000 my deposit £4000 Final value after 4 years £12352 APR 7.9%The dealer is quoting monthly payment of £298 Now, when I use an online pcp calculator and input the info above it says the…
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Fun vs focus
Hello. I've been wanting to start this debt diary since the beginning of the year, but I didn't want to get caught up in the ‘new year, new me’ frenzy. However, now feels like the right time to share my journey and keep myself motivated. I've already made some progress this year by paying off **£7,341.79**. Current…
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First family holiday (Tui) - is it worth paying to select seats?
We are going on our first family holiday with 2 kids 13 + 15. We have been given the option to select flight seats which would be £132 for both flights to guarantee we are sitting together. The flight is only 2 hours. It doesn’t bother myself and husband to sit separately but the kids have never flown before. I feel in…
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LootUp.Me Codes 2025
I have searched but cannot find a thread for LootUp codes. The website is https://lootup.me/earn.php if anyone wants to join up Weekly free giveaway ~ https://lootup.me/giveaways.php If anyone needs them they can be posted here. This is today's one:- FROSTYGAINS are here to warm up your earnings! Redeem this code and claim…
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Could we start a meal plan thread again, so it's not lost in the GC?
Just thought this would be quicker reference than what's for dinner or searching through lots of posts? There used to be one a while back, Meal Plan Monday or obviously whatever day you start yours on 🙂 I did post mine in the Grocery challenge, but will post again for anybody that doesn't join in with that thread. Vegan…
