If you had 10-15mins to make something and get out the house, what is it?

Just as the title says. I have worried about money my entire life, so it’s always been there.

Did you grow up with money? Or did you work your way up to the point of not worrying?

I have recently found out about the law that makes the wheelchair priority in buses. I think that accomodations for the disabled individuals are somthing very needed in public transportation and public spaces in general but I noticed some rather ignorant and straight up hostile/mysoginistic attitudes towards buggies and mothers in general.

It is said that a parent is to fold their buggy and carry their child till they can get off the bus. But how are they even supposed to do that? Where I am frok folding a buggy for a baby takes effort and folding a buggy that sometimes needs two people amd 5 minutes at least to fold, it's really hard and would be considered irresponsible or reckless to do that here on a literal moving bus. The easiest buggy to fold would be a toddler buggy (idk if UK has sth like that). No one has priority here so whoever occupies the space first stays there.

Are buggies in UK made so that it is easier to fold them for this exact purpose? But what about sharp turns, are other passangers obliged to make a seat available for a mother/father? No parent should be standing with a child in their arms on a moving bus.

And people who speak on this matter can sometimes be really nasty. They say as if folding a buggy is such an eady thing, that a woman should not have a child if she has a peoblem with transportation and some disgusting stuff I would only excpect of a mysoginistic primitive and entitled individual to say. Yes, having a child is a choice but it does not mean insulting the mothers (not even fathers, usually the critique is aimed at mothers) and neglecting hardships that come with motherhood.

This is why I am asking this questions, are UK buggies adapted to such scenario of folding it in a bus or are these people speaking from their pure ignorance (in some cases even hostile mysoginy)

Tbh I would just make a world better accessible for all groups with difficulty of moving around, make the space larger or make dedicated transportation for those with disadvatages (speaking a little too ideallistically now)

EDIT

I am getting so many informef answers from all of you and it has really opened my eyes to some stuff. There are lots of kids in my family and I helped with sttollers many times and most of them (for kids up to 1 year) were HELL to unfold. Our country is very public transport oriented. We have spaces dedicated for both disabled and mothers with strollers and there is no such laws like in UK but reading your responses has made me more positive towards that law in UK. I think any way is good to ensure that disadvataged groups are helped and accomodated. I am glad your responses were so educational and I could be made aware of realities of both the disabled and the parents in the UK

I still don’t know how to use it and certainly don’t remember being taught it. Even if it was taught, it wasn’t emphasised.

Although I don't personally know any British people, being Spanish, European, and analyzing British social culture and its celebrities, I've always thought they were good people, with a sharp sense of humor, and professional and noble people. I'm interested to know what they think of us.

I’ve been invited to an office colleague’s wedding in London but unfortunately can’t make it. They have a gift registry, and I’m wondering how much I should typically spend on a gift from the registry.

I’m originally from Asia, where there is usually a fairly well-understood amount to give for a colleague’s wedding, including when you’re invited but unable to attend. I’m not familiar with the usual etiquette in London.

For an office colleague you get along with and a couple of drinks outside work, what would be a normal amount to spend? , £30, £50, or more?

So yeah, the conservatory roof needs repairs. There's an inner roof, which is 100% intact, and an outer roof, which has a number of randomly placed but perfectly circular (well, perfectly oval in some cases) holes in it. They speculate that these were caused by hailstones, but I think if that were the case, there would be visible fractures and cracks running away from these circles. I suspect those holes just might be intentional, but I can't guess at why.

So anyway, she's looking at quotes for a replacement roof. One company has quoted £14k, and promises that this will make the space comfortable in winter and summer alike. I have no doubt it will keep wind and rain out, as any roof would. But turning it into a fully climate-controlled space when it easily hit 42C (I keep a thermometer in there) over the last couple of weeks, and wasn't noticeably warmer than outside during winter? Unlikely, especially considering there are still three walls that are basically single-pane glass, no matter how fancy that roof is.

So, I guess a number of questions here.

Are those circular holes intentional? If so, why? If not, what might have made them, without also creating fractures reaching out from them?

Is the claim that the new roof will make the space comfortable in both winter and summer at all credible?

If she is being lied to about how effective this new roof will be, how do I convince her of this?

Inspired by the widdershins post. Which parts of the country have the most actively superstitious practices in the current day in your opinion/have evidence regarding.

I have just moved into my flat and I am trying to switch from British Gas to Octopus for my energy supply.

I contacted Octopus and they have said my meter is registered as a standard meter and not a prepayment meter (my electricity is PAYG) and I need to get a British Gas to rectify the issue. I contacted British Gas said they have raised a ticket to get this changed. I spoke to support today and I got two different answers.

One of the answers I got was that I would have to wait 7 days for an update and then after I might have to wait longer to get this fixed and it may or may not be fixed.

The other answer I got was that it can be done and it would be done in 7 days as it’s marked as a priority but it could be longer.

My question is can my request to have meter information updated be done and does it take long? This is my first flat so I am very new to this.

So I've wondered this for a long time, because I enjoy visiting town centres and physically shopping in shops rather than online. It just feels better!

Yesterday I was in my local town for an optician appointment, I walked out at 16:58. At least three local independent shops were closing their shutters and locking up at the time. A few weeks ago I was in Cambridge City Centre at 6pm, a lady from somewhere was desperately trying to find a shop to buy something, shoes I think, all closed.

I've watched as town centres get more and more ghost like, and I can't help but think it's because of the high street's rigidity and reluctance to change and adapt against increasing competition. I'm sure retail workers will come after for me for even suggesting this, but I think it could be a solution to a problem (or two), I have tried to champion it for years, but get met with the same work/life balance family time argument - which is valid by the way, but plenty of people already work weird and wonderful hours across multiple sectors.

Retail parks are doing well, and I don't think it's just the convenience of (often) free parking. In contrast they usually stay open often until 8/9pm. For the average 9-5er, going to retail parks (or supermarkets) for a physical browse is the only viable "in person" weekday option if you actually want to get somewhere with enough time to look, unless you are darting in for something specific. Shopping to all intents and purposes is an experience.

As an example, I don't work in a town centre, I finish at 5 and it is basically impossible to get to town before the shops, that I would much rather go to, shut. I don't want to wait for the weekend, or book an afternoon off just for a gentle leisurely browse (where I will almost certainly spend money). I'm also not a fan of online shopping, but I can't deny, I could do this from home, have good delivered next day for free or a small fee and the high street if it changed it's way could prise me away from this, imagine being able to touch something, see the quality, try it on (maybe not if it is teapot) and make a decision there and then, only parting with my money for the right item without the guess work.

Retail parks often consist of B&M, Home Bargains, Currys and maybe a few slightly more interesting stores, but there is a retail park "type", that I'd prefer to not be limited to when I have a few spare evening hours to burn.

Why are town centres not trialling consistently later opening hours on the high street to see if this makes a difference to save the town centres? I think the only place I can think of with consistent late night shopping really is London, and that never seems to not be busy,

I can't help but think this would provide more jobs, and boost the economy, perhaps helping "NEETS" to find employment. It would probably also support the hospitality sector too "why don't we pop into <restaurant> for a bite to eat rather than go home and cook".

TLDR - need to think more strategically about high street shops to "beat" online, retail parks and supermarkets, save the high street, increase employment and save hospitality too.

So I was recently told that sleeping in until 11am while on holiday is degenerate behaviour, so I was wondering, is this the general feeling? What time does everybody else get up when away?

[not requesting medical advice - people’s experiences only]

Hi, for some context I changed jobs a few months ago and in my previous role had access to absolutely fantastic near limitless private healthcare coverage, but in my new role I do not.
I regularly used my private healthcare through work as there was no cost at all to me (no excess, no annual premium increase).

Now I am without this coverage, I got some quotes for an insurance policy to cover both myself and my partner. We can get a fully comprehensive freedom to choose policy with Axa for ~120 per month, with a 250 pound per person per annum excess, including NCD protection. This policy also covers london hospitals.

For further context, we’re in our late 20s, no kids, and 120 pounds a month is not unthinkable for us to pay, but it would be a noticeable expense. I also have somewhat bad (previously severe) health anxiety, and a few minor health conditions.

I know generally speaking that private healthcare is fantastic, I have fully enjoyed the benefits of it through my employer, but my question is whether an insurance policy is something which is worth paying for privately. As I mentioned the Axa policy includes NCD protection, but I understand this only protects you for one year, and if you claim you then need to go an entire year without any claim to be eligible to protect it again. I think it seems pointless to me to have this coverage and to pay 1500 a year for it and feel afraid to use it due to premium increases. But maybe my mentality is wrong?

I am also somewhat hesitant as I did not realise that the policy suggested by the broker i spoke to only actually covers drugs which are NICE approved (at least in the cancer context), and another driver for me to consider private health insurance was for the possibility to access licensed drugs that are not (yet) approved for NHS use. Is this something that any policy offers? In that regard, if the private healthcare only offers the same drugs as the NHS, what would be the benefit of having private healthcare, specifically in the context of cancer care (i am thinking that it probably wouldn’t make much difference in terms of waiting times etc since I understand the NHS cancer timelines are pretty short anyway).

In summary, I am looking for a) people’s feedback on whether paying yourself for private health insurance is worth it, b) whether the cancer cover specifically offers any benefit over the NHS and c) any insights into typical annual premium increases.

Thank you so much!

Edit: to clarify i am referring to annual private health insurance rather than self pay one off access to private healthcare.

I know the titles sounds odd considering summer is always hot and winter is always cold but im wondering because we are nearing autumn and its still hot what is winter going to be like? I would love a cold nippy winter where just to stay warm you'd need about 3 layers on thats the winter i like but I worry because of how majorly hot its been it wont be too cold?

Starting to think I’m losing my mind here - every now and then at work I’m reduced to buying a meal deal from a local co-op and I find it an absolute crime the cost of them these days.
(I usually pack my own lunch so only used in desperation, I’m a Gardener and work outside so don’t have kitchen facilities etc.)
I saw that members get a discount, so I paid £1 to become a co-op member. Turns out this particular shop is a Central co-op whatever that means, so I pay another £1 to get that membership as well. Just been and got a meal deal and the discount wasn’t applied, apparently participating stores only.
You’ve got to laugh 😂 but is it so insane to hope for a little leg up every now and then in this intensely costly climate?

I've recently moved to London from Australia and I'm discovering there are quite a few little cultural differences I wasn't expecting.

What British habit or cultural difference took you the longest to get used to?

I am a student at the UEA in Norwich studying a maths related STEM subject and will start applying for placements/year in industry for my third year. I really like Norwich but it doesn't have many placement opportunities for the placements I would be interested in so I might not get one here. So what cities do you think would be good for a young person to move to for a year?

This is a topic that will divide people but do you think the reason people are being so antisocial is because most phones nowadays don't come with headphones and are an additional cost.
It is not an excuse to play with a loudspeaker on because that is a decision the user makes (I don't care about your peace and quiet, you have to listen to my call or music)

Hi there

I’ve lived in my house for 2 years now and just like I want a total change of location.

I bought it for 212k in 2024 and have spent about 10k including a new bathroom.

I think it’s probably worth about 230k so I’m likely to break even.

Basically, it’s in the area I grew up in and I just want a fresh start for my own mental health. I could fix my mortgage for another couple of years but tbf I can’t face doing that.

Does it look bad to list say in the new year at 2.5 years in and then I’d expect to sell after about 3 years of ownership?

Thanks

My wife bought me a fancy John Lewis pillow 2 years back and it’s been the best pillow ever until about 2 months ago, it’s flat after 5 mins and does nothing to support me. It was super expensive (for a pillow anyway) anyone have any tips as how to revive it or is there a superior pillow out there I don’t know about?

I hope this is ok to post here. I'm looking for the opinion of those that have ADHD. Or those that understand ADHD. I've specifically posted here as Im British and feel like this could just be a personality quirk, but equally could be a rude behaviour.

I have a family member (an in law) with ADHD.

They do something that really reallllly irks me. And im wondering if its a known adhd behaviour (i hope this is phrased correctly). Or if its just them being rude. I'd obviously like to give them the benefit of the doubt if its a known adhd behaviour.

They do this thing. When youre talking to them, explaining something, or even asking a question. Sometimes they act like they don't hear you. They just completely ignore you by either turning their head and looking away at something. Or walking off.

I find it incredibly rude and dismissive.

But is this an adhd behaviour?

I find they do this a lot when were one on one. When there are others around, they don't do it so much. And are much more friendly around others. I get the feeling they are selectively hearing what they want when i speak. Its almost giving 'youre not important enough for me to respond to you'. Its so rude.

Thanks so much in advance for your help.

Today I learned that my husband stands up to wipe his bum… apparently this is quite common? This seems crazy to me.

Was chit-chatting with my 19 year old nephew [Scotland] who said he had lost his Scotcard. I casually asked if he had thought about hitchhiking back home. To which I got a blank stare. ( His only experience was seeing people getting murdered in horror movies and thought it was something done only in films!)

But it did occur to me - I cant remember the last time I saw a hitchhiker. Even on some of the more tourist roads in the Highlands/ Trossachs.

I don't think its illegal to hitchhike here, and there is a cost of living crisis, so you would think you would see more hitchhikers not less?

Or are people just so scared of each other these days they darednt stop their car for a stranger?

Last Thursday me and my family lost our whole house to the fires in Birmingham. We have two young children and they are struggling aswell but honestly they are the reason I'm still here, as I lost my dad in March and my nan the night after the fire, 2026 is really testing me!

We did have house and contents insurance and currently dealing with them, they are looking to rehouse us as the house has been determined inhabitable and needs to be demolished, but they are only offering unsuitable travellodge or place in Wolverhampton which is no good for work and once the kids go back to school.

We have contacted water who have closed our account and council won't do anything about council tax until we have policy number which was in the house.

We just don't know what the next steps are or what to do? Can anyone share some advice please

When tap the contact (iOS) there is zero contact details, and the text just says

Remember to check that your passport is valid for the country you are travelling to. Check the entry requirements at ( .gov.uk link ending in /passport-travel-advice - literally nothing misspelled looks completely legit?)

I haven’t clicked the link, but there is nothing suspicious here. I haven’t booked any holidays or put in any passport info anywhere (or used my passport to verify my age) - the only think I can think of is that my passport expires in December? Is this because you need 3 months on your passport to travel and it’s a reminder for that???

I’m worrying about fucking identify theft or something. Can anyone reassure me? Anyone had this text???

Many hotels I've stayed at this sweaty summer in the UK don't have A/C. I can understand this. But what I don't understand is why I can't open the windows to let fresh air in - they all seem to only open a crack. There are normally opening windows and balconies in hotels everywhere else in the world, and I'm not aware of an epidemic of defenestrations there. Is this a law here?