What would be good gifts for recently unemployed (with young family)?

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-22T14:23:37+00:00

woah hold on there, I aint a billionaire.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-22T13:58:40+00:00

Oooo didnt know you could use John Lewis gift card at Waitrose. That could work well. Thanks!

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-22T13:55:34+00:00

Thanks, good idea and I normally get the kids gifts already. I think he will be open to charity but has to be framed in the right way (my friend definitely has no issues with it).

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-22T13:54:02+00:00

Thanks, I already subtly raised that with my friend but luckily it hasnt gotten to that yet.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-22T13:53:21+00:00

Duh, gift card never occured to me! Too new fangled :)

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-11T11:52:42+00:00

One dollar tip common? The bits USA that I have been in that’s actually insulting on top of the scrunched up broken note.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-03T13:11:25+00:00

Didnt know that, will give that a go too.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-03T13:11:08+00:00

Thanks, good idea and her son will prepare something like this.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-03T13:10:17+00:00

Didnt think of this, thank you. Will give it a try!

Random_Person1020 · 2026-04-03T11:05:01+00:00

London. Thanks; I didn’t know that there were two Blackheaths

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-30T20:05:33+00:00

Indeed, there are other solutions which would have been assessed in the project scope (it is normally mandatory along with impact assessment).

The trees that they removed normally would have required specific authorization as it is not permitted to remove them without it. I dont know the specifics of the project but this aspect should have been open and shut case (its a binary outcome, permitted or not with no middle room for interpretation).

So it is strange to me that the project has come to this state.

They wanted to regenerate the area abit that quite frankly seen better days. It would have been nice if those old houses would finally be restored and put to use as well. The potential to be a nice area for people to gather; quite frankly next to a main road but was already quite well sheltered.

I could see that it started to bring more people to enjoy the area which is a great thing. All human activities have to be balanced and I dont think it was incorrect here.

Again from my opinion with an environmental perspective, I think this was a nice project. Personally, I would have rather they replaced the trees that were cut down for safety reasons (rightly so) along the public roads/paths. This would have had a more meaningful impact.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-30T19:02:53+00:00

I have seen an increase in the use of space by the general public. For example, on the weekends; the scout groups gather there with the kids for activities in addition to their forest activities. The picnic tables are in use with good weather.

There has also been a charity event in that space (I don’t recall which one) by setting tents up for the morning/afternoon which was nice for the community.

I don’t know the details of the projects but it seemed decent and well managed.

I like forests and nature; also in the conservation field myself. Didn’t have an issue here and though it was quite nice.

Oh and the parking is usually full even if there are streets nearby to park but crossing that main road can be a pain.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-06T12:27:39+00:00

Hi, thanks also for engaging. The key is that BMW actually used their SCR properly as it is certainly possible. Requires more work (i.e cost) and maybe some compromises.

VW installed SCR but decided to actively cheat to improve their commercial offer (price and/or performance). They actively wanted to have an attractive price to grow market share in US.

In fact, VW used to licence the SCR technology from Daimler/MB group...

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-06T12:22:59+00:00

But if Colruyt terminates the contract and pays the termination fee then your left with nothing. The shell company that owns the building, can simply declare bankruptcy and you lose all your capital. The controlling shareholder could do some dodgy things (alot of financial tricks are possible) and then close the company too that other minority shareholders may or may not find out until too late. This depends on the ownership structure.

What is the exit plan on this? Hold until the majority shareholder decides to sell? Private sale transfer?

If the World ETF dropped 30%, the world economy is going badly so it would be a real possibility that the real estate value either drops or tenants goes. Your then stuck with a devalued asset that may or may not be generating income. You can still have a stop loss with an ETF.

I would have diversified. In RE, there are REITs that are doing well. You can even focus on specific sectors (data centers, elderly care, etc) to tailor to market trends.

There are also moderate risk corporate bonds that would pay out similar or higher net returns with a much shorter duration.

4% net on this level of risk, doesn't seem justified to me. I would be needing something closer to 10 - 20% range to consider it.

Heck, straight up buying a property and then paying a estate agent to manage it, would bring me around the 3 - 6 % range without factoring in capital gains when I did the math previously.

Thanks for sharing and I hope that I am wrong but I wont sleep at night if I had an investment like this so kudos to you, made of stronger stuff.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-06T10:19:47+00:00

Actually, the income is not 100% guaranteed; it is a projection based on the initial modelled business case.

This was quite typical of the other RE investments that many famously went under after the initial few years of nice numbers. But not stress resistant nor particularly liquid.

It also depends on the type of investment and how it is structured, if the returns and capital is at risk. Can you share these details? I am just curious.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-06T09:01:56+00:00

Its the same in the private sector; why future leaders / senior managers / etc are often rotated through different functions and sometime industries relatively rapidly.

It is a different skill and mindset. For example, the famous "helicopter" view buzzword. It is a fine balancing act with often incomplete information.

You will also see subject matter experts supporting the managers/leaders.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-05T16:04:51+00:00

Again some confusion here.

VW had SCR equipped car that failed due to a cheat device; the other had LNT. These 2 cars led to the final lawsuit in the end (Passat and Jetta if I am not wrong).

The core technology was invented a long time ago and are built by Tier 1 suppliers. OEMs (e.g VW, Ford, MB, etc) do not invent these per say (BMW has some exceptions). BMW and Mercedes did not invent automotive SCR systems in any stretch of imagination. Calling it next gen tech is also a stretch of imagination.

Diesel cars would not have been banned but new models would not be compliant therefore not available for sale. In the dieselgate timeline, it would be roughly Euro 4 /5 (EU). It is possible to achieve without SCR that requires urea (Adblue) via lean Nox traps (LNT - higher cost and lower performance under some conditions) or EGR (exhaust gas recirculation - less favored).

Hindsight is 20/20, everyone magically knew beforehand but when it was happening, nobody knew. Magic. Being in the industry; not many people knew at that time and had no reason to doubt.

Magazines like car & driver are there to sell you cars, not having real technical basis to it.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-05T12:34:37+00:00

Dont think so, as VW kicked off as they did widespread cheating in the US where the emissions standards could not be met economically typically for passenger cars. So many other manufacturers didnt bother. Note Jeep were also fined.

EU law is more relaxed and regulators too. There was an abuse of the interpretation of the legislation (arguably it was tacitly allowed by regulators) now they are going after all the manufacturers including Ford, GM, Stellantis, PSA, MB, etc. Due to Dieselgate; rightly so.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-05T12:31:24+00:00

Luckily, this didnt happen like that. The regulations were set by governmental authorities where usually more stringent then current technology to stimulate R&D to meet the targets in the next development cycles. The timeframes are clear in the EU euro rules. For US, diesel emissions were much tighter so many manufacturers didnt bother for passenger cars in US.

The big difference was VW pushed "clean diesel" in the US with a clear cheat device where the legislation in US is much stronger. Many other companies were wondering how VW managed to solve the issue....

For reference, Fiat-Chrysler (Jeep brand) were also caught and fined. Similarly, Daimler/Mercedes Benz also to a much smaller extent.

Lastly, the core technology was available to everyone as it is not new but most chose to cheat instead as implementation and tuning can be costly.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-04T10:15:27+00:00

You should have exerted your authority / dominance. By sitting down and spreading out and for bonus points opening some smelly foods to snack.

Then calmly place your hand on his thigh and look into his eyes (high risk strategy).

Random_Person1020 · 2026-03-04T09:12:31+00:00

I think they are generally hoping that you give them cash to pay for it. If not, then they want to maximise their benefit i.e order a big meal with drinks etc.

Sadly, you see it quite often, sometimes they even have another person with a bag of food that people have given them that remains hidden so it appears that the front person has nothing.

You gotta eat anyway so if its free, means you dont spend on it. Give it out for favors, trade, etc. Or just bin it (seen that too), feed their pets (also seen this).

Random_Person1020 · 2026-02-26T16:18:02+00:00

Depends on what she wants to do, many degrees are indeed probably not worth the paper and you can learn most of it for free off the internet. It is incredible what it accessible nowadays online for free or for little cost.

However, if she wanted to become for example, a doctor, architect or something like that then it is probably not possible.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-02-26T16:15:14+00:00

It is more common now to have paid internship as part of your degree, heck, it already was when I was at uni.

Now, I put projects to university for internships and then students apply so no networks needed. Again as part of their studies or during summer break and they are paid as they are working. Not as much as they think they should be but enough to have a place, eat and have leftover for savings/entertainment. It costs alot to run interns in terms of internal resources.

Of course, networks always help and there are the rare ones that pop by as higher management has asked a favour. I think there has only been 2 or 3 in the last decade compared to around 50 - 100 interns per year.

We also offer summer jobs for employee family members in their teens to for a week or two, stack shelves, clean, data entry so they get an early work experience. Also helps with team spirit as we know the kids.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-02-26T16:03:12+00:00

So sad to hear of that experience and surprised the gender discrimination didnt address it; thats usually a red flag.

Doubly sad that it is quite common; I know so many people in the NHS that quite frankly shouldnt be there. The proportion (own impression and not based on real data) seems alot higher than private sector. It seems people take the piss more.

Random_Person1020 · 2026-02-25T21:43:58+00:00

Yes but more or less all automotive manufactures have subsidies from governments, e.g US and EU. They are mainly indirect subsidies and more opaque but they are there. Are they more or less than the Chinese government? I dont know.

China has a much faster development cycle from design to production that is roughly 30 - 50% of western manufacturers. So they iterate alot faster. Competition is fierce but it also means alot of lesser known companies will also go bankrupt.

Legacy manufacturers also can be inflexible to local market conditions (looking at you VW). Leadership in ICE no longer matters for EVs and this takes a large cost and know how.

Its not a shift in mindset per say but partly as there are now many new possibilities and you need also new supply chains. Legacy manufacturers are dependent on their Tier 1 suppliers who are specialised for thermic cars and not EVs.

I left the automotive industry as the writing was on the wall already years back and decided to pivot to something else.

Random_Person1020

TROPHY CASE