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What's happened to my Acer!?
Morning all, Is anyone able to advise what may have happened to my Acer? Beautiful full bloom last year, lovely pink/red leaves all over, all seemed to be going well with growth through spring but then it seemed that only half the buds on the tree opened. Small buds can be seen on the one side but it's as if the growth has…
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Aviva - choosing funds
My employer made the decision to leave the TPS just over a year ago. I have accrued roughly £17.5k per year DB pension from 68, or £12k if I go at 58 (which is the current plan). I am now paying into a DC pension with Aviva. I’ve turned off lifestyling and decided to come out of the default fund a few months ago because I…
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Self Assessment Confusion - Says 'No Tax to Pay'
So I did my 23/24 Self Assessment on 2nd January and my calculation shows I owe about £2k of tax for 23/24 and £1k on account for 24/25. Makes sense - EXCEPT my account balance says 'NO TAX TO PAY'. I've spent hours online trying to figure this out, why can't it be clearer HMRC !?! First I thought it would filter through…
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Euro Car Park and EV charging Limits
Hello, I am concerned that Euro Car Park sent a PCN for overstaying while I was charging my EV at what I thought was a Shell station. I have provided evidence of charging my EV for the duration but I later discovered when I went back to check that you can only charge your vehicle for 60 mins. I had travelled to London and…
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Etihad price gouging - beware super strict rules on baggage and misleading advertising
TL:DR. Etihad are charging me £416 for me to add a suitcase to my booking. £76 more than my ticket cost me! I bought two flights LHR-AUH for March 2026. I didn't know what bags I needed but the price was good so I grabbed the tickets for us figuring I could add a suitcase later if I needed to. The website advertises a 65%…
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Utility Warehouse take over my TalkTalk broadband contract and raise the price
I was on a TalkTalk Broadband 24-month fixed-price contract (well, the price goes up by £3 every April, but otherwise fixed.) TalkTalk recently transferred this to Utility Warehouse, who are charging me £5 more per month. Can they do this? I signed up for a certain price. I can see nothing in the TalkTalk smallprint about…
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0% Balance Transfer or Loan?
Hi All, I've been in debt for a while and honestly I've not managed it particularly well largely due to various external factors. I've been offered voluntary redundancy at work which would pay me out roughly £50k and I intend on taking it at the end of the year with the view of finding another job. My question for you all…
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Kimplus8 needs her mortgage free date!
New thread to begin my mortgage free journey. I started my mse journey almost a decade ago on the debt free board feeling like I had a mountain to climb. Here I am debt free except for a mortgage, determined more than ever to have a mortgage free home for me and the kiddos. I can wait to buckle up for the ride x
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Making fairy dust of the mortgage
Hi All. So 2019 is the year I can really start sorting the mortgage hence I've decided to start a diary for all the usual reasons. A bit about me, I am a single mum to a 8yr old DD, separated but looking to divorce this year as can get a no fault divorce from later on in the year and didn't fancy any mud-slinging that…
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Saving for Christmas 2025 - £1 a day
The Aim: To save a £1 a day from 1st December 2024 to 30th November 2025. How you save your £1 doesn't really matter, whether it be a £1 in a tin, an on-line account or anywhere else that suits you. 🎄 Getting ready for Christmas 2025 - save £1 a day challenge 🎄 Also, I just want to say, you don't have to save £1 a day, do…
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Property rental - claiming expenses against rental income and CGT
Hi Im currently doing some improvement to my rental (small extension, re-laying out the top floor etc). I might sell the house in 3 years or so. Am I right in thinking that I could use my builder's invoices to reduce any CGT that may be owed? Also, Ive had builders in to fix some render and guttering. On their invoice…
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Whole thread showing as read when it's not
Hello MSE; hope you're all having a fab Christmas break. So what's happening is that all new posts on a thread are showing as read when I've only read the first page of them. I subscribe to many and it's difficult to keep track if I'm catching up on threads from page 2 onwards in my followed bookmark page. If I'm on page…
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What type of diesel do you use?
Grade 1-D (Diesel #1): A lighter, more refined fuel suitable for very cold weather due to its resistance to gelling. It burns faster, offering less fuel economy but better cold starts. Grade 2-D (Diesel #2): This is the most common, year-round diesel fuel used in most cars and trucks. It is heavier than #1, provides better…
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Fence / Shed paint spraying
This really needs to be a priority for next year after letting it go this year & the garden is in such a way now that if it's brush on then it'll probably not get done again so I'm looking at a sprayer but know nothing about them. Until now I've basically just been using the Ducksback brush on stuff & happy enough with it.…
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Dimplex storage heater burn mark
A guest left their jacket over the storage heater in my front hall. I've tried cleaning with Pink Stuff and Barkeeper's Friend. It's not budging. Dimplex says they shouldn't be painted and the only cover you can use is an ugly cage lol. Any ideas?
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RAC Renewal Ditched
I missed my reminder last to shop around for breakdown cover and ended up with an RAC renewal at a cost of £197.99. So when this year's renewal came up I was straight onto it. The renewal price was £272.99! I tried ringing them to see what they could reduce it to, but the lines were closed. Went to AutoAid instead - via…
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ECP/DCB Legal case 2025 mediation call - disputed Pay by Phone Transaction
Parking event 20/06/2023 at car park managed by ECP (APNR controlled}. Breach of Terms and Conditions "Vehicle parked without a valid Pay by Phone Transition" As I had no phone with me, my daughter attempted to pay. First 2 hours free then following hour over was a £1 charge. I knew I was over their 2 hr free period (Time…
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Uncashed cheque: binned by mistake
Hello All. As always, I return to this forum when I don't have anywhere else to turn to. Right now, I’m
in an absolute state of complete anxiety. I didn't sleep last night!
I’m totally frozen! Help!!! I was tidying up the folder as it was long
overdue, shredded junk mail and general rubbish, or so I thought.
Then realised…
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Missed appeal deadline for Heathrow T2 drop off APCOA parking charge
Forgot to pay the drop off charge in early August and received the notice promptly from APCOA a week later. Then received a debt collection letter from Debt Recovery plus and didn't pay that either (by early November). I have read the newbies thread post 4 and it says to just ignore. If it were mine i would, but it's in my…
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Mid year pay rise moving to higher income tax rate. What effect on interest earnings?
Hi all! I'm a teacher and my current salary puts me on the standard income tax rate currently. If all goes well this year, I'll be getting a pay rise so I'll be earning just below the higher income tax rate, by £50 or so. This means I'll be able to earn £1000 of interest tax free, which I've already planned out with my…
