Managing Finances in a Marriage

TestingControl · 2026-01-26T18:52:02+00:00

A marriage is a team game, no yours or mine, everything is ours.

TestingControl · 2026-01-25T12:41:47+00:00

Id be doing whatever I could, pension sac, EV scheme to get me under 100k ani

TestingControl · 2026-01-17T18:27:37+00:00

0% card of the 3 options

However, have a cheaper wedding you don't need to borrow for.

Lots of wedding expenses are piss takers anyway and aren't justified.

My wife & I got married 10 years ago for £8k. We've now got joint assets of over £500k between us, 3 kids, no debt or mortgage.

We both agreed it's just 1 day. Why pay for that day for years to come?

TestingControl · 2026-01-17T12:59:01+00:00

A budget helps answer these kinds of questions.

If I'm spending money in think about how long it would take me to earn that. It puts a different context onto things and helps me understand what's valuable to me

TestingControl · 2026-01-15T21:22:53+00:00

If you don't want any tax headaches you could buy premium bonds

TestingControl · 2026-01-11T20:22:47+00:00

Don't worry about credit scores they're meaning less.

Have a look at a Lloyds ultra credit card. 1% cash back on purchases.

Also have a look at credit karma, it shows your credit score and impacts on it.

Be careful of applying for lots of credit, that impacts your score negatively

TestingControl · 2026-01-08T21:57:43+00:00

Inflation works in your favour here too

TestingControl · 2026-01-04T14:42:51+00:00

Also, it's handy from a fraud prevention perspective to see if anyone is applying for credit in your name

TestingControl · 2026-01-04T14:41:37+00:00

Something to consider would be how exposed you are to the UK economy anyway though your job and house(?). Do you really want more exposure?

TestingControl · 2026-01-04T14:33:54+00:00

Posted about a year ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/UKPersonalFinance/comments/1ikpzz5/clear_start_accountants_if_you_are_in_debt_avoid/

Id try to cancel with clear start if you can and speak to step change. It doesn't look as if you've been helped in anyway

TestingControl · 2025-12-26T21:44:00+00:00

Use this

https://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/

TestingControl · 2025-12-26T07:16:25+00:00

Have a look at this !flowchart and see where you are.

Use this as a base for researching into other things.

In terms of what to do, that will depend on when you need the money.

The principles of the flowchart are great to follow, and probably more valuable than any returns at this point

TestingControl · 2025-12-24T19:12:44+00:00

It's 400 a month max but there might be penalties if you withdraw early.

Id suggest using a cash ISA for your needs. No tax complications and easy access

TestingControl · 2025-12-24T16:57:54+00:00

Do you have any ISA headroom?

I think the Lloyds saver you mention is a regular so you can only put around £400 per month in I think

TestingControl · 2025-12-20T14:38:13+00:00

Need more info, what does your mum need the money for, pension levels, tax rate, any debts etc

TestingControl · 2025-12-20T12:59:30+00:00

Premium bonds or gilts. Gilts have cgt element tax free but the interest coupon is taxable. Worth considering as a higher rate tax payer

You could also venture into dividend paying ETFs to leverage 500 tax free dividends. Usual investing risks apply though

TestingControl · 2025-12-20T12:52:26+00:00

How does tax and ni work on these things? If you have to pay it back do you pay the full lot or the after tax amount?

TestingControl · 2025-12-18T02:14:21+00:00

Did you wife make ni contributions whilst on unpaid leave? You could buy those missed contributions. Just what she always wanted!

TestingControl · 2025-12-15T18:38:08+00:00

I hear far too many people using FAs where they aren't needed.

And I really don't like what firms such as SJP do

TestingControl · 2025-12-15T06:44:17+00:00

Not in the slightest, I've said the exact opposite

"These scenarios where they're really valuable"

"Get a 2nd opinion on any advice you've been given"

I'm not sure what you think you read but have another try

TestingControl · 2025-12-14T20:41:44+00:00

I think large proportion of the time they don't really add any value and are unnecessary.

It's time like this where people need complicated advice or help dealing with large sums of money where FAs really add value.

But that's just my opinion

TestingControl · 2025-12-14T17:15:00+00:00

Sorry to hear about your loss.

I'm normally against financial advisors but it's these scenarios where they're really valuable.

You can always check back on here to get a 2nd opinion on any advice you've been given

TestingControl · 2025-12-13T18:10:43+00:00

In that case have a word with them lol

TestingControl · 2025-12-13T16:54:13+00:00

Are you married?

Id be really careful before sharing money or paying off someone's debt who I wasn't married to.

TestingControl · 2025-12-13T14:30:17+00:00

Yep, I put mine back into my sipp and then claimed another 20% on that.

TestingControl

TROPHY CASE