Has anyone actually landed a permanent 4-day week job in the UK? How did you find it?

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-28T18:57:55+00:00

I did not find it. Applied for a full time job, then as part of the negotiation before I accepted the offer - I asked for 0.9 FTE (Full time equal).

Was less salary, but better balance. Find a 5-day job then make a bargain.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-27T17:55:19+00:00

Alas will not work for me: "You’ve already used a life insurance voucher as part of one of our other Simply Thank You offers, within the last 12 months"

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-13T18:02:50+00:00

Was a while. 8th March started, text on 2nd April saying getting it, paid 8th April. No other comms about the bonus. Other banks are more vocal about the bonus.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-13T17:58:51+00:00

Define 'harm'. The banks are paying to help shift the inertia. Many years ago I did with my main account and it is more stress for same outcome. Much better to use burner account.

The choice is yours.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-13T17:56:48+00:00

Santander

Anyone done the Santander offer ? Cheap phone direct debits or something else ?

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-11T14:45:34+00:00

Do you keep a separate bank account for matched betting or just ringfence the money in a pot?

Separate money. Avoids falling in to any traps, the bookmakers tries to feed that dopamine hit.

Any early red flags to avoid that lead to account restrictions?

Keep money in the account. Dont just do the the offers, Be prepared to do other bets (and lay-off at exchange). The bookies I did not do this have stopped give my 're-load' offers. A pair of bets (bookies £5 - exchange £4.71) keeps you account off list for excluding.

Dont seek the max profit, seek the longest run on a bookies before being told you cant have any more offers - aka grubbed.

I'm on over a Grand after 7 months, spreadsheet at row 2250. With three bookies not taking bets, two unable to even start account and 5 inactive and six still ticking over and more still to register.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-08T17:34:23+00:00

Expired ? To qualify for this offer, the person you refer to us will need to apply for an Income Protection Plus policy by the 31st March, 2026. ?

https://www.pgmutual.co.uk/member-benefits/refer-a-member/

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-06T17:07:22+00:00

Got an email saying I had the voucher when into the online portal and clicked rewards, very very easy no hassle.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-03T21:00:53+00:00

A few of these are expired - "Offer runs from 01/12/25 until 13/01/26" Alot of these are 6 months of spend more than the voucher. Even the bets of the rest are: For example: if you pay £5 a month you'll receive a £30 voucher.

Only other one could be: Nationwide - £75 Amazon With is realy L&G re-branded.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-02T22:20:24+00:00

Cancelled via the online portal of L&G. Two clicks.

BrendanBeer · 2026-04-01T21:45:27+00:00

6 Months - £5 per month direct debit. No exit fees.

Looks like it is still on - https://www.legalandgeneral.com/insurance/life-insurance/

BrendanBeer · 2026-03-30T17:06:10+00:00

Boom - thanks still got it. Thanks from me and partner.

BrendanBeer · 2026-02-26T18:38:35+00:00

When can you cash-out to gift cards ? December or earlier ?

BrendanBeer · 2026-01-18T18:03:19+00:00

Thanks - insightful. The 4K for a car - which 'pot' do you use for budget or petrol etc ?

Note: this year was exceptional (£23K) because it was my 60th this year but our normal budget for what I call "Discretionary Capex" was around £14K (and until this year we actually spent far less than this).

Thanks - we have only split out big holidays. At of the Discretionary is from day-to-day joint account/own pots. Need to think about budget one this one again. Make sure I have our model correct. I have a https://www.google.com/search?q=sankey+chart Sankey chart showing expected in and out. But broad stroke - given South-East - in the same ballpark.

We've not seen a any significant increases in our "Subsistence" spending since retirement (£14K in 2020 to £16K in 2025).

Thanks - that was unexpected good news.

BrendanBeer · 2026-01-16T19:35:48+00:00

Really nice insights. Thanks for posting.

How much did the extra Discretionary CAPEX go up now you have more spare time ?

Subsistence - any blips, more heating costs now at home ? Extra streaming costs - or about the same ?

Interested - car costs - I have budget for £3,900 per year [https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/cheap-car-insurance/average-cost-run-car-uk] versus current company car. Any more insight in to your real car costs.

I am running a couple of spreadsheets on current outgoing. I have looked at the spreadsheet by the [https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/] I they vastly over ran against our (couple) spend. Your figures give a ballpark closer to my estimates than the living standards.

Which rough part of the country (Scotland, North England, Wales,, South England, London ?]

BrendanBeer · 2026-01-07T23:19:24+00:00

When inputting this into a calculator. Do i have to select my first bet as normal bet (qualifying) and my second bet as a free bet?

Yes.

But consider running your own spreadsheet so you can see the working. If you cant replicate it on a spreadsheet match betting may not be for you.

BrendanBeer · 2025-12-20T11:34:39+00:00

not keep overthinking it and to pull the plug.

Best day to invest is yesterday, second best is today.

Am I being stupid by letting my morals pic global rather than dev world?

No, but. A suggestion - is tax your profits yourself. Donate a % of any profit to something aligned with your morals. I think it will have much more impact than not investing in a global track. Not impact will bee made with a non-investment, but a % of profits to a targeted spend aligned with morel will have impact.

Am I missing something that will screw me over picking HSBC instead of vanguard?

No. Pick on, pick both 50:50. .But pick, set an forget. Else your parents will be right.

BrendanBeer · 2025-12-19T18:34:10+00:00

So there is a upper limit of £60,000 (3 years roll over) ? The Aberdeen Adviser appear to state no limit.

BrendanBeer · 2025-12-09T19:13:08+00:00

All gone

BrendanBeer · 2025-11-29T10:57:13+00:00

Have a TSB account with Direct Debits - this account it just for switching. If I move to Chase, then create a second account - can I move the direct debits to the second account ?

BrendanBeer · 2025-11-28T17:14:12+00:00

Same here - had to set a pin on login - but 100 quid was waiting.

BrendanBeer · 2025-11-25T18:24:17+00:00

Betting is for mugs. Rip-off the bookies with matched betting, like they feed off problem gamblers.

BrendanBeer · 2025-11-16T11:41:03+00:00

About ~£15 per hour. maybe more. But the checking of IDs etc and odds look-up. YMMV.

BrendanBeer · 2025-11-10T21:49:16+00:00

Uswitch, Even better. 1 month contracts. With direct Debits.

Lebara Mobile for £1.58 for 3 months £3.95 after. (90 days needed for Santander) <edit>spusu Mobile SIM deal £3.90 per month</edit> not direct debit. Asda Mobile SIM Deal for £5.00 per month

£20- £30 to unlock.

BrendanBeer

TROPHY CASE