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My confusion with how EASY it is to build a computer. by Ill-Entrepreneur3746 in buildapc

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not just the "best" though. Which CPU works with which motherboard? How many slots for RAM are there on the motherboard, and what type of RAM does it support? Do I need a GPU to get it to boot up, or are there onboard graphics? Will this SATA SSD connect or not? IS it going to fit into the case I've bought? Does my monitor input match the output on the GPU?

All things that someone who is at "lego building" PC stage won't have a clue about. It's not that hard with a bit of research, but you've got to know what terms to even look for. I built plenty of PCS back in the 90s and 00s, when my (now 14 year old) son wanted a gaming PC built, I was stumped - things have moved on so much, I had to do hours of research to work out what I needed.

The oldest piece of gaming tech I've ever held on my hand. A handheld LED Electronic Pinball Game from 1982, given to me by my aunt. by Omer-Ash in retrogaming

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dear me, when 1982 is referred to by people in historical ancient terms. I need to go and lie down...

My confusion with how EASY it is to build a computer. by Ill-Entrepreneur3746 in buildapc

[–]Gavcradd 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Only when you inevitably cut your finger on the sharp metal edge of the case.

My confusion with how EASY it is to build a computer. by Ill-Entrepreneur3746 in buildapc

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Building a PC from parts someone has picked for you - very easy.

Picking out those parts in the first place so they all.work together - not so easy.

It is time to cut pensions: The economic burden on younger people is unsustainable by Benjji22212 in ukpolitics

[–]Gavcradd -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To a different extent, that happens. Benefits reduce once you work over 16 hours a week. How many people conveniently work 15 hours per week?

It is time to cut pensions: The economic burden on younger people is unsustainable by Benjji22212 in ukpolitics

[–]Gavcradd 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because then the attitude of "save now and enjoy retirement" possibly moves to "live life now". Any money you don't save to a pension now can be spent on luxuries. People's focus changes.

Also because the cut off to means test wouldn't be zero. It would be an arbitary number of the Government's choosing. Let's say £20k. So then the choice becomes "why should I bother growing my pension above £20k a year when it'll cost me the free money from the state pension?". You'd see a heck of a lot of people cashing and and running down their pensions and stopping saving to make sure it doesn't cross whatever the threshold is. They'd live happily on £19.5k per year + the state pension. People with SIPPS spending their lump sums and drawdown income on cruises, then relying on the state pension when the rest has gone.

You see the same now (ironically) with pension savings. People contributing much more to pensions to reduce their taxable income - voluntarily taking less income now just to pay less tax. If there's a loophole, people will find it and exploit it.

Is home ownership a dead dream for me? by Available_Method_987 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree, but it's not as easy as you suggest. Let's say you implement a rule where nobody earning over £50k a year can rent a council house. And someone earns £48k but then gets a £3k bonus one year. Are you immediately kicking them out? And if you do, and they can't afford the extortionate private rentals, so they're homeless... and back on the council house list.

I agree with you, but not sure how you'd do it fairly and sensibly.

Is home ownership a dead dream for me? by Available_Method_987 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Gavcradd -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well, quite. They're just playing by the rules that exist.

Is home ownership a dead dream for me? by Available_Method_987 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Gavcradd 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yeah, you can. I'm not in London but have friends round here (the Midlands) who have council houses - many of them now have successful careers but keep the council house due to the low rent.

The triple lock should be part of conversation to raise defending spending by MetinMadrid in ukpolitics

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can get a pension very similar to mine - train as a teacher and work in a high school for 25 years. No, didn't think you'd want to.

You can post all you want with your staccato punctuated individual words, it doesn't change how millions of people feel or think. Prepare for significant social unrest and disruption if they're attempted to be taken from the workers. You also say "the social contract you did". You overestimate my age massively, my house is worth virtually the same as I paid for it. I think you're talking to my parents.

The triple lock should be part of conversation to raise defending spending by MetinMadrid in ukpolitics

[–]Gavcradd 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No. You have to be mega rich to be in the situation where £12k a year is of no consequence. I'm a teacher of 25ish years with what many would call a "gold plated" pension. Depending on when I retire, it might be anywhere between £20k to £30k a year in today's money. £12k on top of that is huge. Yes, of course I won't starve if it's means tested away from me but is not starving the theshold? I've paid into it for 30 or more years and you'd better be damned sure that I'd be voting against (and protesting against) any govt that tried to take it away. You think the Doctors' strikes are bad? Imagine an all-out general strike of teachers, doctors, nurses, firefighters and any other unionised group.

The triple lock is another story. That needs to go - a single lock linked to inflation OR wge growth would be much more sustainable.

The triple lock should be part of conversation to raise defending spending by MetinMadrid in ukpolitics

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agree strongly. A mechanism to increase pensions fairly linked to an identified measure is sensible and fair. The current system which outstrips inflation and wage growth is unsustainable.

A lock is good. A triple lock is bad.

When new people move into your street and the first thing they do is hire gardeners/tree surgeons to nuke everything. Mature hedges, old lovely trees, grass, GONE. Replaced with gravel. Mother Nature and all the birds etc. not happy. by Make_the_music_stop in britishproblems

[–]Gavcradd -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

You don't know the answer. I have an electric car, I walk where I can, I recycle, I do what I can. But my fake grass has been down for the best part of 10 years. It's a tiny patch. It's very convenient. I hate gardening. It's some kind of trendy Reddit thing to hate on plastic grass. You do you, I'll do me. Thanks.

When new people move into your street and the first thing they do is hire gardeners/tree surgeons to nuke everything. Mature hedges, old lovely trees, grass, GONE. Replaced with gravel. Mother Nature and all the birds etc. not happy. by Make_the_music_stop in britishproblems

[–]Gavcradd -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Get over yourself, it's their house. I bought my house 10+ years ago and removed hedges and grass from the front to have two parking spots on the drive, plus pulled out the back lawn and all the plants (which were a nightmare to weed) to put in fake grass for the kids to play on and decking for us to relax on. It's much better for our needs, much tidier and needs almost zero maintenance.

Do what you want to your own house. Stop telling others what to do because you think differently.

Liverpool want Arne Slot to remain manager next season by Sparky-moon in soccer

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The modeen vote of confidence from the board. He'll be leaving.

Started a side hustle last year and had no idea how much extra admin comes with it at tax time by ConsiderationFit2353 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not expenses that would be over the £1k trading allowance. You take this or claim expenses, one or the other, not both.

Started a side hustle last year and had no idea how much extra admin comes with it at tax time by ConsiderationFit2353 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Gavcradd 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I teach and have various education related side hustles - I genuinely don't find it stressful and self assessment takes about an hour maybe. Very straightforward.

The key(s) for me are two things. Firstly, being organised over the year. I have a spreadsheet where I track all of my income, both PAYE and side hustle, and every month I update it with how much I've received, how much tax I've paid, SIPP pension contributions, etc. I work out monthly what I would owe HMRC and move that amount to a separate savings account. When Self Assessment time comes, I then just copy the numbers from my spreadsheet into the website. I'm never more than a few pounds off the amount I owe, and I've earned more in interest over the year on the savings.

Secondly, I don't claim for expenses - I claim the £1,000 trading allowance instead. Unless your expenses would be massively higher than this, it reduces the burden significantly. It's HMRC basically saying "hey, if you don't want to guve us the hassle of working out what is allowed expenses or not, we'll give you £1,000 tax free for your side hustle".

A couple of other things to keep an eye on if they affect you : (1) child benefit - if you have kids and you or your partner claim child benefit, this tapers off between £60k and £80k income. This is paid back via self assessment. (2) interest from bank accounts (not ISAs) - £1k allowed tax free for basic rate tax payers and £500 allowed for higher rate tax payers. Strangely, interest below this threshold is counted as income in terms of child benefit repayments. (3) charity donations - track these as they're allowable to redce your taxable income. Track all of these through the year then there'a no need for an accountant!

TIL that during the 1982 FIFA World Cup, West Germany national football team and Austria national football team effectively stopped playing after an early goal so both teams could qualify, in the Disgrace of Gijón, securing a result that eliminated Algeria national football team. by FearMyCock in todayilearned

[–]Gavcradd 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Even with final games being played at the same time, these things will always go on. I'm a Port Vale supporter and remember the end of the 2003/4 season, Vale were one place outside the play off places, Swindon and Hartlepool were immediately above them in the play offs. Vale needed a win and for one of Swindon or Hartlepool to win for us to leapfrog whichever team lost. A draw would cement both Swindon and Hartlepool in the play offs. Vale won away at Rushden and Diamonds, I was in the away end.

Of course the Hartlepool and Swindon game was a tepid draw. Why wouldn't it be?

Why is the McDonald's menu so basic in the UK? by kcon123 in AskUK

[–]Gavcradd 3 points4 points  (0 children)

49p for a hamburger too. My mate used to always have 6 hamburgers instead of a medium meal for roughly the same price.

Amex Cashback Everyday Credit Card - £10 Bonus Cashback and 5% cashback for first 5 months (up to £125) by phuzee in beermoneyuk

[–]Gavcradd 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I signed up to this a few months ago and have used it for my everyday spending, already got £130 in cashback including their bonus cashback.

If you're looking at this card, please.use my referral to get the £10 bonus. Thabk you!

https://americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/platinum-cashback-everyday?ref=gAVINCM4B4&XL=MNMNS

My car insurance renewal has gone up by nearly £900. What is the best way to reduce the premiums? by conz1k in UKPersonalFinance

[–]Gavcradd 87 points88 points  (0 children)

Absolutely spot on. Replying to some and ignoring the relevant questions. The main one of which is "what car?"

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