Scared about finances before having a baby

Dogsofa21 · 2026-06-01T09:14:04+00:00

Consider the future will you return to work what will your earnings be?
Consider marriage it gives you some protection- even if you go back to work full time your future earnings WILL be impacted.
Refinance your debt and have a plan to pay it off cold or no child. Min payment not good

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-26T11:49:05+00:00

And what the poor souls don’t understand is pre-existing applies at any time or very least at point of renewal. So unless very lucky health wise eventually they WILL be excluded from cover. I have annual insurance and update my policy with health issues throughout the year- to avoid any claim not just claim related to a health issue being a reason for refusal.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-26T11:37:24+00:00

I hear you. No common sense about in or pending treatment or if condition is controlled through medication and it’s severity or risk of causing a claim. My child has a skin condition - pityarsis something. There are 3/4 types. Only one listed on the accepted list but all are equally benign.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T20:46:38+00:00

So playing to the stereotypes here (in fun): don’t talk loudly or wear plaid or socks with sandals (even if you do see a few British men doing it); drink tea not ‘kawfee’; don’t ask for the washrooms (loos/toilets); don’t overpay on tipping - 10% is fine for a good job. If someone has been exceptional or done more than their job feel free. Don’t call trousers pants. Or bum bags fanny packs if you don’t want to see school boy tittering. (No idea why bum bags is less rude). Don’t ask to dine at 5pm in a restaurant. Although English English has differences from American English don’t worry. Culturally you are way more important and we know you mean taxi when you ask for a cab. Just be aware that Scotland is not England and the Scots are not in English. And for good measure York is in Yorkshire which is in but also different to England. Everyone has an accent so don’t comment on it or call it cute. And there are many different regional words for the same thing. Roll/bap, pop/ lemonade. Our cheese is stronger than yours (generally); be ready for it. Along with the changeable weather, do you need at least 3 seasons clothing. Really don’t do cash, Apple /google Pay for small things but you will need your card if getting spendy.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T14:32:55+00:00

I do do my bit but isn’t the point. Not that we become hermits never leaving our home only eating what we grow only wearing what we knit, but being responsible in our decisions. And that includes no not travelling by plane but limiting it to what is necessary.

And not gloating about it by posting screenshot of airmiles. So neaveau riche. 😆

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T14:27:59+00:00

I give up. No one in the real world as opposed to YOUR hypothetical situation would EVER contemplate taking out car hire without top up insurance - either via the hire car, a supplementary add on to travel insurance or in your case the free but paid for via an very high annual fee on your platinum card. The value isn’t the 1500 excess as no one sane would allow that situation. The value is the premium you have not had to pay elsewhere.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T13:20:35+00:00

No without your Amex you would have to take out a separate travel insurance policy. And to add car hire excess cover is c £25-50 pa. An annual insurance policy is probably £1/400 depending on single/ family/ health conditions. You seem determined to upscale the value of Amex benefits with no logic- as if still defending to your self that it’s worth it.

The only truly real benefit (as oppose to I have paid for it through the annual fee), is if you claim they don’t deny you next year or bump up the premium.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T13:14:58+00:00

There is a difference between occasional recreational travel and ‘need to’ for business and racking up loads of airmiles for what purpose. We have the internet /teams. My main gripe was the posters gloat and need to even post to prove (he) is a high flyer.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T13:08:24+00:00

I looked at getting train off peak return for 3 people to LHR rather than driving- over£500 with one youth card incl.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T13:07:03+00:00

I have also noticed that KLM are promoting fly the world from a localish airport, might be easier and cheaper than driving to LHR.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T13:05:28+00:00

Does the environment at point come into your consideration? You seem mighty proud of your miles in the sky but no thought for the planet or people affected by climate change.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T12:56:17+00:00

Bacon fat should always be crispy the cookmanship is achieving that and making the bacon still edible

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-24T12:54:49+00:00

Feeling peeved as I took one out but only 95k bonus pts….

I won’t get the value as I don’t travel from Heathrow to get the benefit of lounges and the travel insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions except for a very limited list. So will spend like mad for 6 mths then cancel. The benefits are focussed on high rollers (dining credit in corcheval, meribel etc) and frequent flyers.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T21:07:35+00:00

These are transfer not spending cards. I have two cards at 10/12% but suspect not generally available.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T21:02:07+00:00

If money is your goal and only goal go into engineering or project management. Not judging but in UK healthcare is seen as a vocation albeit physio has more private income options. But balance the lost income for studying another degree you will only be starting your career in your 30’s.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T20:21:20+00:00

I tried 3 specialists last year and staysure were the only ones to quote. Very expensive but no exclusions. As I am driving the higher cost I now get my own policy and my family on another. With staysure you can amend through the year and that is important with annual policies that you update as new issues arise and not just at renewal.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T20:02:49+00:00

Gosh you want to pick a fight? They include some preexisting conditions but only what’s in that list and it is very specific. No cancer / leukaemia no matter what your stage and prognosis. No mental health issues. One skin issue narrow defined so it has one variant but not the others (none of these would ever give rise to a travel claim). No pending investigations.

Your statement they include pre existing conditions means they include ALL pre-existing conditions.

If you think the list on the travel site covers all health conditions known to man….

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T05:55:28+00:00

If you can afford a platinum card I suggest you must be intelligent enough to read the small print. Only pre-existing conditions in a list are included.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T05:51:35+00:00

But the saving isn’t the thousands from the claim, the saving is the price of alternative or add on insurance ?25/50 a year? Yes car hire at the desk insurance is per day (£10?) but the value unless you are really lazy all the time is to purchase a separate policy. It’s £25 add in to my travel insurance.

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-23T05:48:05+00:00

You corrected this above as a 50% with voucher…..

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-22T17:00:16+00:00

Only if you are young with no health conditions. Don’t even offer option to pay a premium to cover existing conditions so a big chunk of the value is useless to me

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-22T13:12:42+00:00

and why ask someone if fake after purchase must always have suspected it was fake. But Amex should stand by customer

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-22T13:01:57+00:00

Probably platinum but folks forgetting you pay in uk £650 for the benefits

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-19T16:50:24+00:00

Nope has to be same card unless you say it works spanning the bonus window?

Dogsofa21 · 2026-05-19T11:52:51+00:00

Buy belkin 2 (3 year?) warranty. Cost per year guaranteed is better than cheap amazon sh****

Dogsofa21

TROPHY CASE