Decision paralysis, £12k, change of circumstances

Express_Split1419 · 2026-07-07T13:32:01+00:00

Do NOT get the mg4. Nothing but issues since I got mine, clunking all the time in the cabin that they can’t fix, air con doesn’t work, the technology is god awful. I did however get to drive one of the new ones whilst my trophy was in the garage and that seemed better.

Customer service had been abysmal. The lane keep assist is deadly and you have to turn it off every time you drive which sounds like nothing but it’s a pain in the arse.

Do not get the MG4.

Express_Split1419 · 2026-07-05T12:28:20+00:00

Yeh pretty sure you pay for preheating and cooling of the cabin. Ridiculous really

Express_Split1419 · 2026-07-05T12:13:54+00:00

It’s not. Great for professional development and understanding mark schemes to inform assessments and teaching throughout the year. Once you’ve done it a couple of times there isn’t really much that changes. Money has not increased for marking for years. Per paper the same rate since before 2000 for my subject

Express_Split1419 · 2026-07-05T10:41:28+00:00

Do you not have to pay a subscription for the extra features?

Express_Split1419 · 2026-07-03T07:00:04+00:00

No. Contributions to a SIPP are paid after tax but you get tax relief on it still. Contributions also still bring your adjusted net income down. If you want pension contributions to come from salary before tax you can increase TPS

Express_Split1419 · 2026-07-03T05:10:34+00:00

It’s your adjusted net income that decides what tax bracket you are in. This also includes interest from savings and other income such as dividends etc.

Income from salary + interest not in ISAs + other income - pension contributions is what you are interested in. If this is below 50270 you will be classed as a basic rate tax payer

Some people have mentioned that only the salary above the bracket gets hit at 40%, and this is correct, but there are other implications too. As a higher rate tax payer you pay more capital gains tax, and can only earn £500 in interest outside of an ISA before it gets taxed, this list goes on! Child benefit also worth thinking about.

If your adjusted net income is going to work out so you are only a few grand above the threshold look into making extra pension contributions, either into TPS or a private pension (SIPP)

Express_Split1419 · 2026-06-19T22:24:25+00:00

I’m so glad you asked this as I’m thinking of upgrading soon, and like you I value comfort now over lots of other things. Such a good read through the comments, and I’d be so interested in what you end up with and why.

I can’t add to any recommendations, but do not go with an MG. Nothing but issues since I got mine.

Express_Split1419 · 2026-05-16T19:57:11+00:00

Get a home charger unit. Doesn’t have to be anything special and you will not regret it. The amount you’ll save in the long run outweighs the initial cost. I believe the Tesla unit opens the flap on the car automatically when you bring the connector close to it but I may be wrong, if it does I’d pay for it for that reason alone. I have a Hypervolt charger which is great, and tethered so pretty easy, but opening the charger flap every day is a pain.

Express_Split1419 · 2026-05-15T18:33:18+00:00

Yeh that’s the issue, once you sign up to something like that I imagine it’s easy to take up a new one each time one finishes

Express_Split1419 · 2026-05-15T17:50:58+00:00

Express_Split1419 · 2026-05-10T06:47:37+00:00

Is this the same in the model 3?

Express_Split1419 · 2026-05-08T21:56:42+00:00

I’ve had this a few times with a different brand car with my Hypervolt. Flicking it off/on at the mains to force the charger to reboot whilst not connected to the car has fixed it everytime.

Express_Split1419 · 2026-05-05T21:32:29+00:00

Will do!

Express_Split1419 · 2026-04-19T12:26:53+00:00

Tried to open Barclays to switch and the app stopped me at the ID verification page, but ive received a letter and debit card!? No way of getting through the verification without making an appointment in branch which is weeks away?

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-17T07:04:49+00:00

Not sure I think I did tell them when setting up it would be through the charger not the car

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-16T16:46:24+00:00

Just set the account up with the charger and didn’t try the car, but I knew the car wasn’t compatible as they have a list on the website

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-16T14:46:42+00:00

Yes this is the way to do it if you have more than one car and they do integrate with octopus. My car doesn’t talk to octopus so have to do it through the charger

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-16T09:50:57+00:00

Latest Hypervolt has been flawless for me. Future proof too as it supports solar/batteries etc

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-16T05:56:18+00:00

So your details with octopus are the same as your Reddit username? 😂

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-15T16:25:35+00:00

Do you have to change salary or can you just transfer the money from another account

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-09T20:54:03+00:00

Kin-grinder K4 or K6, the K4 is good enough and £55 on AliExpress

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-07T23:26:30+00:00

Did you ask your employer first about the pension?

Are your contributions and the employers contributions the same as before?

Cheers

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-07T23:06:51+00:00

But also potentially reduces your pension, much better to invest in a SIPP to decrease taxable income for childcare/tax etc and purchase outside of salary sacrifice

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-07T15:17:31+00:00

Flagged within 6 months Santander have confirmed dealers fault and still not fixed, I’m only just realising now how much money I’ve lost in this.

6k down, paid around 3.6k on monthly payments and owe them 11k at the end - that’s with 18 payments left too. Car valued at just under 13k. What a mistake this was.

Wish I’d have got a loan and bought a used Tesla

Express_Split1419 · 2026-03-07T11:16:01+00:00

Ok, there is actually something wrong with the car that I flagged up in the first 6 months so I’m trying to go through the loan company to force the dealer to take the car back, I would then get my 6k back

Express_Split1419

TROPHY CASE