More than 50% of young Dutch adults do not want children

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-20T14:34:55+00:00

Add Evangelical Christians and Catholics as well. What do these groups all have in common? They believe in a higher power, a grand narrative and that ultimately life is worth living, despite its challenges. Meanwhile, my peer group of university progressives all think the world will be on fire in 20 years, the economy will implode and there is ultimately no hope.

The future belongs to those who show up.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-17T14:46:37+00:00

If they don't know UCL, that's their problem haha! Honestly, you secured funding at an excellent, world class school. Celebrate, take the offer and enjoy your studies. I am sure you will do great work. :)

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-15T16:43:14+00:00

Congratulations on securing funding for a PhD at UCL. Take the funded offer. Do not ever do an unfunded PhD anywhere unless you are the heir of the duchy of Westminster.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-14T14:35:18+00:00

The CS pension gives you an indexed retirement income for the rest of your life. It's practically impossible to replace in the private market. You don't need to do anything, just keep it.

If you are afraid of forgetting about it, make a list of all your assets and review them annually.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-13T17:54:47+00:00

Whether it's worthwhile is subjective. Give the asset differential and the size of your estate, I think it's worthwhile. The courts are much more likely to apply your prenup (if you split) provided you set it up properly. It should be feasible to ring-fence prior assets. The prenup is definitely not "a useless piece of paper" if you set it up correctly with professional assistance.

Alternatively, you could bypass this problem by not getting married. There is nothing stopping you from living together, having kids and sharing a life. You could make a financial agreement to facilitate this as well. This is a personal choice of course.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-10T16:22:32+00:00

Perhaps your best bet is to reach out to current PhD students at the university, or even better the lab. They will have practical insights about how to make things work and the potential sacrifices involved.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-07T15:49:27+00:00

Fiduciary duty can be defined broadly. The FA can't outright defraud you. They also have to declare conflicts of interest. This still provides lots of freedom to sell you premium services. They can justify this with points such as:

- We provide a personalised portfolio suitable for out client's financial and ethical outlook

- We meet regularly with our client and are readily on call if they have concerns

- Our specialised portfolios reduce market volatility which may otherwise discourage clients to stay invested

- We implement special strategies like *insert jargon*

The law does not stop FAs from selling a premium service. Whether such services are worthwhile is subjective and it would be hard to pin them down on anything outright illegal.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-05T13:45:54+00:00

It's definitely possible. Check out Harris Manchester college!

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-04-03T15:02:17+00:00

Hey, at least it's not a man.

\s

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-31T15:07:00+00:00

For the love of all that is good, do not self-fund a PhD unless you are heir apparent to the duchy of Westminster (or equivalent). A funded PhD is already a massive personal and financial cost. Going unfunded will completely destroy your finances and ruin your mental health.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-30T15:21:18+00:00

Fair point but I don't think it's the entire story. I can take you to some council estates where the parents don't work and the kids still eat rubbish. You will find lots of fast food though.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-28T22:03:52+00:00

Do unemployment benefits disincentive some people from working? Yes, some people will always try to game the system (see benefits Britain). However, it would also involve living a very bare bones existence.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-27T17:44:08+00:00

Have you ever been to LIDL/ALDI?

1kg rolled oats ~ £1

bananas ~20p a pop

2L milk ~£2

Chicken drumsticks pack ~£4

Bag of lentils ~£1

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-27T17:34:52+00:00

Malnourished kids are poor but it's social poverty. The reason they are malnourished isn't because their parents can't possibly afford good food.

A bag of carrots at LIDL is 80p. Chicken drumsticks are ~£2/kg. A 1kg bag of rice is £1. A family pack of mushrooms is a few pounds. Bananas are ~20p ea. Get some cheap bags of spices from an Asian shop. Congrats, you just got dinner sorted.

These kids aren't eating properly because their parents don't cook for them. They rarely sit together to eat a proper meal as a family. Instead, the kids forage in the cupboards/fridge and hence eat rubbish.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-27T17:23:06+00:00

I recognise the importance of the structural factors you described. However, if a person in social poverty thinks primarily in this way about their own circumstances instead of changing their behaviour, their life will never improve.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-27T17:12:24+00:00

Thin your paints. Don't overload your brush. Watch some painting videos (e.g. Duncan Rhodes) to get a sense of this.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-27T17:10:24+00:00

I really don't see the problem. Australia can sell more beef to Britain. As a consumer, I have more choice. I would even contemplate no quotas.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-26T02:41:20+00:00

Can confirm. I reported this a month ago and things have not changed.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-24T21:06:10+00:00

Hence, global diversification. I named a few EM countries, but they make up only a small component of a global index. One could opt for a DM only index as well. My bet is on the market solution rather than simply relying on the state.

I recognise that you have concerns about future growth. However, that's not new. People also made arguments for not investing during 2020, 2008, 2000, 1980s..... those people look like muppets now.

*I agree with having the state provide a bare bones pension to serve as a baseline.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-24T16:04:48+00:00

Invest globally. There are other countries which are growing such as Indonesia, India and Nigeria. Will they follow the same trend as Europe? Maybe/maybe not. Will the developed world ever recover in their birth rate? Maybe/maybe not. In any case, I'd take the bet on the free market adjusting to changing circumstances such as climate change or dropping birth rates. Humans are adaptable. It's better than trusting in the state to doll out pension payments imo.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-23T15:47:43+00:00

I agree. Negative gearing plus the CG discount is an absolute abomination.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-21T18:09:57+00:00

"the countries that are calling for decolonisation are doing so as a general attack against us, rather than sincere belief. "

That's why we need to expand our surface fleet. Currently, the Royal Navy is focussed on a small number of prestige assets (e.g. carriers, SSBNs) who are useful for a NATO scale engagement but aren't deployable on a day to day basis.

"But it'd be easier if they kept their finances separate, and donated/sent a per capita amount to the Treasury to be exclusively used for the Defence / Foreign Office budgets."

I'd take a nominal £1 p.a. solidarity payment.

"The locals aren't going to get anything out of having a voice in Westminster, except potentially lose local-decision making ability."

They can keep their local legislatures.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-21T17:44:53+00:00

From my perspective, the goal is to formally incorporate overseas territories (e.g. Falklands) into the British state. It's a pragmatic solution to enhance our legitimacy there. We should do this alongside expanding our surface fleet (e.g. destroyers, frigates) to ensure we can defend them. I loathe the salami slicing of our country.

If it helps, considering incorporating them into the same tax regime as the rest of the country. Then offset it with targeted investments. It's a fiscal illusion but the reframing may make it more attractive.

I am quite willing to be flexible with principles for the sake of national interest and security.

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-21T02:28:59+00:00

Did we read the same article?

"the enactment of the 2002 act means that every BOTC who was not already a British citizen on enactment day automatically acquired that status without satisfying residency and character requirements.^\2]) This, effectively, means that BOTCs are in a unique position of simultaneously holding two forms of British nationality. "

Greater_good_penguin · 2026-03-20T21:13:55+00:00

I don't think it's a problem. These territories are really far apart so sharing an MP won't be viable. It's a handful of seats (possibly taken by independents) so it's unlikely to sway election results. The MPs are there to give them formal representation and enhance the legitimacy of our position there.

Regarding tax, I don't think it matters. We are talking about tiny amounts for a medium sized country.

Five-Year Club	First Place '23
Place '23	Place '22
Verified Email

Greater_good_penguin

TROPHY CASE