The Advice Thread

[Tredman]

Thermostat seems to be good, it’s picking up that’s it’s not heating and seems correct.

 

[AndyWolves]

Blew the fuse on the house, it’s a fan oven too - can’t even see the element..

Tbf it’s been in since we bought the house, 14 years ago, so it probably needs doing regardless

YouTube for this kind of stuff, I've done mine twice. The hardest bit is choosing the right element

 

[sycophantia]

Heads up for anyone travelling between Dobbies island Shrewsbury and junction 3 M54, also the roads around Weston Park today.
Shrewsbury by-pass and M54 eastbound will be closed from about 10am to midday for the 'Bike4life charity run. A41/A5 near Weston will be very busy for a few hours around that time.

 

[AndyWolves]

I've been meaning to write something like this for a while. In more recent times i've found out a bit more about how pensions work and the tax advantages of paying more into your pension.

Really useful for 40% / 45% tax payers. If you pay into your SIPP you get a 20% top-up from the govt (to cover the income tax you paid), and you can reclaim the additional 20% through self assessment.

Alternatively, you can use this method or increase your salary sacrifice to reduce your taxable income, this means you can still qualify for child benefit payments or reduce the High income tax charge.

Goes without saying that you should contribute at a high enough contribution rate to get the max contribution your employer offers.

I'm sure lots already know this stuff, but if you don't you can really reduce the amount of tax you pay.

 

[Boozad]

Bloody cooker has blown up, any suggestion on good replacements and where to get them from?

If you end up getting a new one get a Zanussi pyrolytic. Changed my life.

 

[Tredman]

If you end up getting a new one get a Zanussi pyrolytic. Changed my life.

Fixed it in the end!

Lots of YouTube’ing. It’s not gone long left though.

 

[Boozad]

Fixed it in the end!

Lots of YouTube’ing. It’s not gone long left though.

The bulb has gone in mine and I really can’t be arsed to replace it. It does bug me every time I use it but I’m just so slack when it comes to seeing my food lit up.

 

[prawnking]

Bit of a dull one...I'm looking to change banks as my current one (Co-operative) has a shite mobile app that regularly goes down, and with three teenagers I have to be able to send money willy nilly at any time of night or day reliably! Been down for four hours today and that was the last straw...

Any recommendations of decent banks that aren't completely immoral and have a decent app please

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'm with Nationwide and they're fine. I mean they have just bought Virgin Money without asking their members, which isn't great, but they're about the best of the major high street outfits. They are also at least semi-committed to keeping some semblance of a branch network for now too, and you never know when that might be your best option.

Would NOT be putting the bulk of my money with the likes of Monzo/Starling whatever hipsters might want to tell you.

When it comes to banking, the best thing to do with your principles is forget you have any. Says someone who worked for HBOS for years

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

You might be in for a free £175 too if you go down that road:

Switch your bank account | Nationwide

Switch bank accounts to Nationwide in just 7 working days with the Current Account Switch Service. Apply for a new bank account today.

www.nationwide.co.uk

Would pay for at least two whole matches in the Billy Wright. Imagine.

 

[AndyWolves]

Bit of a dull one...I'm looking to change banks as my current one (Co-operative) has a shite mobile app that regularly goes down, and with three teenagers I have to be able to send money willy nilly at any time of night or day reliably! Been down for four hours today and that was the last straw...

Any recommendations of decent banks that aren't completely immoral and have a decent app please

Like DW says, take advantage of their switching offers. Don't move for nowt!

I think switching to Lloyds club account rewards you with £200. You can get Disney plus for free too

 

[prawnking]

Thanks guys. Is the app/online banking reliable?

Mrs PK is trying to get me to switch to Halifax as that's who she banks with. Any experience with them??

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The Nationwide app is fine, works with face recognition on my phone now.

I've got a Halifax credit card and that app is alright too (a bit more fiddly to move money and sign in if I'm nitpicking).

 

[Boozad]

HSBC have been brilliant for me, been with them over 20 years and have the mortgage and everything with them. The app is fine as well, never down from what I’ve seen.

 

[AndyWolves]

Never had a problem with the Lloyds app.

 

[Lupo]

My personal stuff is with Nationwide and our household 'pot' is with Lloyds. No complaints with either and both apps are fine

 

[machin05]

Only problem I've had with Nationwide is you still need to use the old school chip and pin card reader to pay people from the app.

 

[Tom Hark]

Been with Lloyds all my (adult) life. Worth taking the Club option on your current a/c for the better interest rates if you open saver account(s) as well. Halifax do the same with the Reward account. (Halifax and Lloyds are the same bank, essentially.) Probably wise to do some research into what the various banks offer to see what best suits your circumstances.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Thanks guys. Is the app/online banking reliable?

Mrs PK is trying to get me to switch to Halifax as that's who she banks with. Any experience with them??

I’ve got accounts with Halifax and HSBC and both apps work great.

 

[AndyWolves]

My takeaway from this is that co-op are the shittest it would seem!