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Improved situation but still unstable income — best next steps? Self-managed DMP?
Hi everyone, I posted about six months ago after being been made redundant and my debt was mounting up quickly. At that point I was in a really difficult position, pretty much having to choose between paying debts or keeping a roof over my head, so I stopped paying most of my creditors. I did continue paying a few of the…
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Watty's Awakening
Time for a new diary I think. It is 2024, my last diary began over 10 years ago and so much has changed. My introduction in case we have not “met” My first diary told the story of, what I thought was a long and
happy relationship, paying off a mortgage aiming to get my financial freedom
from the world of work by paying off…
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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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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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USA Buyer
A buyer in the USA has tried to buy one of my items but is unable to do so. I have checked and I am registered for the GSP. Is there a ban on selling to USA after Trump's tariffs, or am I missing something?
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Payment a Day - Chapter 2026
Small Payments. BIG Impact. Making a small (or large) Payment a Day (PAD) - or whenever your budget allows - towards debts or savings all adds up really quickly! And can change your financial future... Hey everyone, Welcome to the Payment A Day - Chapter 2026 challenge! (this will start from 1 January 2026) We've decided…
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5 OS pleasures in your day today - part 3
Ok I'm diving in as I've noticed several of us have lost posts we thought had posted, and there now seems to be a serious risk of losing the whole thread. So thanks for the heads up Karcher. (and i sympathise Frith - i too like to nip back) I've revisited the first thread of our part 2, posted 28th October 2009. It said:…
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Help! My wipers won't switch off
As per the title, the wipers on my VW Polo won't switch off despite the fact the stalk is in the off position. The car was valeted earlier today, I suspect it may be linked. I called the company but they said it's not something they've encountered before. They said to call VW.
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Decluttering my flat
Too much stuff in flat. Boxes of toys, paint things train tracks, previous tv lying around. Kid hasn't used painting craft stuff for years. Move ti garage or throw or charity shop? Too many clothes too.
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Mettle business account fraudulent transactions
Today I received a series of notifications from my Mettle app, business account, for a series of transactions which I did not do. I clicked 'I do not authorise this transaction' and then I immediately cancelled the card, then I called the fraud number (which is the customer service number), reported the transaction and was…
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Council Tax Query - Reduction?
Hi, We are privately renting and currently we are a total of 5 adults (2 married couples) and 1 child living in a 4 bed property, we are all related (family). We (5 adults) are all on the tenancy agreement. However in the next few months 2 adults (1 married couple) will be moving. We will therefore need the tenancy…
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Eon Next - Back billing issue?
Hi, I am wondering if anyone is able to advise or clarify the rules on back billing and whether it would apply in my case. On 9th January 2026 I received a statement/bill for the amount of £68.37 from Eon Next for "Gas (estimated) 27 January 2023 - 14 February 2023. On 7th January 2023 I had a pre-payment gas meter removed…
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Do banks still send annual statements of interest paid?
After a recent inheritance, I'm facing with having to do self-assessment in order to declare my savings accounts' (multiple accounts) interest amounts, as they total over £10,000/pa, and pay tax on them. I'm not working, so I'm not on PAYE. Do banks still send an annual certificate of interest earned every tax year, either…
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Charge your EV from home
Charge your EV from home even if you do not have a drive? I thought I would share this. https://www.kerbocharge.com/locations/leeds
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Divorce debt be gone!
Newly divorced but with big debts to clear here - moving and divorce legal fees, furnishing and essential repairs on the new place for me and my 2 teenmonsters who live with me 50/50. I managed to secure a 0% 15 month purchases card a few months ago when I moved to pay for furniture and have just secured a 0% balance…
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2026 Frugal Living Challenge
Welcome to the all new 2026 Frugal Living Challenge Challenge yourself to live a frugal lifestyle so you can afford the freedom to enjoy life. This is about household budgeting, simple living and being creative with your money. Frugality can be a fabulous lifestyle choice for debtbusting, boosting savings or investing in…
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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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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Happy New Year to readers old & new! Well, it's time for a new chapter. My old diary ("Put away your purse & become debt averse") achieved pretty much what I intended. I shared the story of how I got into debt at the age of 19 & stayed that way until a pretty enormous lightbulb pinged on during my early 40s, I've shared…
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And now we go again...
...new diary title taken from the line I had already added in to my signature! Regulars will already recognise me - I've been here a while, although aside from one fairly short stint always on the DFW boards. A quick summary of our MSE history for those who have not stumbled across me before though - started out with a…
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Grant of Confirmation
Hi, I’m trying to fill in the form for Grant of Confirmation for my dad’s estate (C1). I’m trying to do this on my own without a solicitor. I think I understand the main issues, it should be such a simple situation, but what exactly to put on the form is driving me crazy :mad:. Would be grateful if anyone could help.…
