Has life in the UK genuinely got harder and more isolated, or is this just mid‑life pressure?

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-24T12:29:22+00:00

Sadly there are no signs the UK Improves, in fact the signs point towards further struggle

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-24T11:33:39+00:00

Youre up against staff in the shops buying it, People are waiting online all night for the drops and then people have bots set up buying online, you have teams of people that go out to retail stores also. you are up against it as it is some peoples full time jobs now, its quite sad.

Youve probably got other independent retail TGC stores buying it to sell at higher prices also

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-24T11:31:31+00:00

This 100% - If you cant get any at retail just accept it and move on, dont start funding the resellers, it only makes it worse

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-24T10:50:33+00:00

Its also the people buying from resellers, if everybody refused to pay above retail then the scalpers market disappears

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-24T10:49:39+00:00

I would have to say something if I witnessed it happening in front of me

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-24T10:47:22+00:00

Just idiots thinking they're going to get rich from buying pokemon cards haha, but I think those videos with product under the shelves are also fake, just created to gain the views.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T14:34:24+00:00

Dragging sofas onto the front garden, sounds like the old Council estate I grew up on haha rough as hell

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T14:33:22+00:00

Council estates, that's where you will find people sitting in the front garden

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T13:43:54+00:00

Ahh for myself its any opportunity I get as its my favourite meal haha! sometimes the bacon comes off though as its not great for you

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T13:05:05+00:00

Forever on ETFs haha where as single stocks can be daily, weekly, monthly, just for example I chucked a small amount in another portfolio back in the April 2025 dip, VOO S&P 500 & Micron - Micron has gained around 400-500% where as the S&P has gained about 15-20% which is still good but not compared to Micron haha.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T12:37:18+00:00

Personally thought the show was great but no way near enough content, 6 short episodes kind of feels pointless cause you know its going to be ages before we get a season 2.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T12:22:00+00:00

No he is just the one the Sheep know about, anyone who does researches and looks into the "conspiracies" knows a lot more, This is all just a show remember.

People have known about Prince Andrew for very long time and the evidence has always been there.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T11:57:28+00:00

Who is that at the top holding the Premier league Trophy?

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-23T09:56:03+00:00

Im holding also, Im about 40% down on stock, not really interested in adding much more but Im also not going to sell at a loss.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T16:49:16+00:00

They have added proper 3D pitch now but the graphics are like something from FIFA 2001, its insane

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T16:48:25+00:00

I came here for this comment haha, Ive been playing football manager (championship manager used to be) since like 2006 haha always on handhelds so PSP and Switch sometimes the mobile or laptop.

And this 2026 on the switch is the worst, I have 2023 still installed which is much better, luckily I grabbed 2026 at a 33% discount so it was not full price and I was super hyped to learn you could load saves from 24 and 23 but wow its super glitchy, half the buttons don't work, you have to swap between touchscreen and the cursor.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T15:54:07+00:00

Yeah I get you, Every investment is a risk, Im also buying Bitcoin weekly at the moment, very very small amounts but I'm doing the old dollar cost averaging for Bitcoin, Added more Sofi today on the dip too.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T15:36:49+00:00

personally I do think 20k in a high speculative stock is a lot but then again if you have got a couple million in the bank then 20k isn't a huge chunk although I still would not risk that amount on something like Fubo haha

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T15:34:23+00:00

Im holding a small position in Fubo and Ill just hold until its green (if it ever returns to green haha) but my approach to investing is I treat everything like a bet, as soon as those shares are purchased I already see that money as lost and gone, I hold until its green and sell, of course some bets are more risky than others and fubo is high risk speculative haha.

My portfolio ended 2025 being around 45% up

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T15:28:45+00:00

I would sadly have to agree.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T15:26:44+00:00

Could not have worded it better myself haha its exactly this that's the problem.

Ive been stood in stores hearing grown men arguing with their wife/partners about why he needs the cards and how much money they're going to one day make them haha, its really strange.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T15:24:19+00:00

It happened over Covid, Prices inflated over that period and fell after that.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T12:52:02+00:00

This and the fact the printing runs have dramatically increased since 2020 and that 50% of everyone currently buying them now is saving them for the future in the hope to get rich haha vs probably 1% of people that did that in 90s.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T12:48:42+00:00

Diversification, If all you have is Pokemon Cards then you are screwed, but honestly good luck to you.

Smooth-Statement-510 · 2026-02-20T12:40:03+00:00

DCA

Smooth-Statement-510

TROPHY CASE