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Travel sim or local PAYG sim for USA?
I have a dual sim and e sim compatible phone. Travelling (San Fran, Waikiki and Vegas) and i'm basically after data while away. I have looked at several travel e sim providers, which looks like a good option, or am I better off picking up a PAYG sim when I arrive?
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Affordability complaints & DMP
Hi all, I am around £50,000 in credit card & store card debt. Have been fairly heavily in debt since I was about 25, am now 38 and a bit fed up with it so I've made the decision to default the lot and clear it in a DMP. I have a good salary take between £3600 and £5500 a month depending on overtime etc and would like to…
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Discrepancy in opening meter reading
Good Morning I have recently changed electric energy supplier and have a query on closing/opening meter read. My new supply commenced on 6th February and I have now received my final bill from old supplier. The closing bill indicates a smart meter reading on 5th February of 9149.1 and a closing reading of 9171.3 on 6th…
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10 years later yikes
Hello all Here again for round 2… my first diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4529627/can-i-do-it/p1 I’ve just looked back at this and as much as I really thought I knew what I was doing, it’s crazy to now see 10years later here I am. I was in my 20’s and ambitious and honestly looking back on it now how…
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Baby steps to mortgage freedom for beanielou.
My first thread on the MFW board!! My mortgage has 6 & 1/2 years left to run. My income seems to decrease more & more & it becomes more & and more of a challange to pay my hefty(to me) mortgage. I have managed an overpayment last month as I got some £££'s unexpectedly. My biggest fear is not being able to pay my mortgage &…
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claim tax relief on pension: impossible! I need a professional...
Dear all, I've been trying to claim tax relief on my pension contributions for month with no luck. I've followed this page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-tax-relief-on-your-private-pension-payments after having contributed some considerable extra amount to my private pension for 3 years (within the tax-free allowance…
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2026 - consolidation and calm
I've decided to start a fresh diary for 2026. 2025 was a bit of a rollercoaster year for us: * My post being put forward for redundancy at the end of 2024, though it was then reinstated thankfully * Restructure at work meaning many great colleagues (and loads of knowledge) going * DH's redundancy at work, then finding a…
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Own an ABS Avocet thumb turn lock?
What's the push in/spring part of the thumb turn all about? Other thumb turns I've used didn't have this at all, it was just a simple turn. The ABS thumb turn I bought has the thumb portion of the lock as a spring where you can push it in (doesn't stay pushed in). If it was a case of you had to push it in to lock/unlock…
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Worried Sick - we have a water leak may cost £000's
I had a letter from Severn Trent Water to say the DD was going up from £30 to £82 a month. Two adults with water meter. I called them and they said this letter was generated because we have a leak. The engineer is coming on Monday 26th January to investigate. I have just taken a photo reading of the water meter on the…
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CrazyBee wants to be Mortgage Free!
This diary is going to be my typed up journey to mortgage
freedom. I begin a new job in the New Year and the mortgage roughly equates to
46K. I have projects that need doing around the flat such as flooring and
kitchen, I will be earning £1950 after tax per month roughly speaking and I
also will need a car fund soon.…
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From broke to better ..a journey
Hi everyone. Well today is, as they say, the first day of the rest of my life. The first real day of my journey to get rid of debt. I am alone in this. No partner and no family for support so I am finding myself tearful and scared. I know noone here can hold my hand, but I've seen so much support on other people's diaries…
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Mobility Scooter - Not Mobile - Repair Store Gone No Contact
»»» I have ADHD and Aspergers, and can't summerise without help - so here's the Summary AND the original version, for more context if needed. ««« ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY: A Mobility Scooter was bought on 22nd Jan 2025, but developed a fault in late October 2025. Returned to Seller (reputible shop), at 9am on 13th December…
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Swagbucks 2025
Might as well have a new thread for a new year!
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Escape to the country & living off savings
Copied over from my old diary Hello again from Yorkshire 😁 The move from the south coast went well but it has been hectic since I got here. Spending has been budgeted for van hire £250 diesel £90 train fare for DS to get home £30 new boiler £3600 living room light £32 kettle & toaster £40 New bath towels (sale) £6 Living…
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Money Moral Dilemma: We're funding our child's wedding - do we get any say in how the money's spent?
This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My ex-partner and I have offered to fund most of our child's wedding. While we're only too happy to do so, we're a little concerned about how the money's being spent, with a significant amount going towards luxuries like a tattoo station and mixologist, rather than towards…
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Debt and Caring
An unprovoked attack on my ankle by a metal workout bench has me lying down with a foot up this evening. Which makes this the ideal time to start this diary. And possibly to declutter some exercise equipment... Yesterday I was £9993.61 in debt. Today I have made a £1500 payment to one of my credit cards taking me down to…
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February 2026 Grocery Challenge
Welcome to the 2nd Grocery Challenge of 2026! As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's…
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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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The Cutting Down Alcohol Challenge for February & 2026 :)
Welcome to the Cutting Down Alcohol challenge for the month of February and for 2026! This challenge is all about helping people cut down or even give up on their alcohol consumption, mainly for health reasons, but it can also save a lot of money, because the cost of buying alcohol really mounts up over time and sometimes…
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Premium Bond Winner ?
im interested in winning premium bond holders , or not as the case may be , please post your winnings and holding as well as length of time held , i have a theory that newer bonds win more prizes , id prefer not to make this a discussion area of that arguement but i would be interested in your winnings just a bit of…
