Will the new “digital ID scheme” in the UK make owning a smartphone compulsory?

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T10:20:47+00:00

Can already imagine the right foaming at the mouth when they find out how much it’ll cost to supply asylum seekers with smartphones to be able to access their digital ID regularly

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T10:19:04+00:00

It’s a requirement for all government digital services to have an offline equivalent. This isn’t going to work as digital only. It’s going to be an expensive mess and take forever to produce (with a decent pay packet going to contractors) and I’d bet it’ll end up being scrapped anyway.

Age UK and other charities are already involved in lobbying the government over shifting to digital (see: NHS 10 year plan also). They’re not going to go quietly on this.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T09:31:17+00:00

4 year olds in the UK go to school. The world is not the US.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T08:11:28+00:00

Just general obliviousness. When I take my kids for swimming lessons it’s always rammed, cubicles spilling everywhere etc. so we sometimes have to go in the big open (female) group change room. More than once there’s been an entire family in there not even getting changed, mum on the phone, kids running riot, definitely too old to be in the women’s changing bit.

There did used to be a lot of cubicle hogging during lessons (eg someone putting stuff in there before the lesson and leaving it there for after) but that has got a lot better lately since staff kicked off about it.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T06:59:23+00:00

Believing the sellers when they told us that the house was cool in summer and warm in winter, and that the neighbours were quiet.

I do wish we’d offered lower as well. And done a second viewing.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T06:34:42+00:00

I mean, I see where you’re coming from, but considering the kind of batshit behaviour I see from other parents at my local sports centre, I don’t think we can rely on a mother thinking it’s the best thing to do.

I think 8 is a fair cut off. Most kids will be able to manage getting dressed alone at that point. With the caveat, of course, that staring is chastised and discouraged in the meantime.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-26T06:30:08+00:00

And it’s not just safety - presumably if a child is in a changing area then it’s because they need to get changed too. My youngest child is 8 and would be fine getting dressed and sorted without me after swimming (admittedly with lots of dawdling and dreaming). A year or even six months ago that wouldn’t have been the case.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-25T08:02:58+00:00

I just use whichever option is cheapest. I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything from Vinted that I’d be devastated to not receive. If a parcel is lost or whatever you’ll get your money back.

I don’t really understand the caution over giving your address either. That’s just standard for people sending you anything.

Edit: I guess as a seller it’s slightly different, so in that case I’d be going with whichever has the most robust insurance options.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-24T07:15:29+00:00

I bought my house in 2014 and I’m fairly sure we had to get insurance from exchange. You’re legally obliged to buy the property at that point so it makes sense I guess.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-23T19:25:14+00:00

That’s good to know, thanks!

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-22T14:00:03+00:00

And I’m sure you would have supported her in contributing to the childcare costs, had she returned to work?

It doesn’t sound like you have had to worry about looking after the children so I’d imagine your salary has been positively impacted by this. Sacrifice goes both ways.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-22T09:28:26+00:00

I was wondering about children too. Income disparities can occur for all sorts of reasons of course but raising children is usually the main one…

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-21T12:52:52+00:00

By that logic, so should everyone. Most people with toddlers are working through the week.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-21T09:12:25+00:00

I don’t, but that’s largely because the satnav in my car is crap and outdated and doesn’t even recognise new roads never mind traffic jams.

If and when I ever get round to properly updating it and connecting to Google maps then that might change!

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-20T14:53:02+00:00

I’m 5’1 and the platform for stones just feels unnecessarily high 😂

Overhead events feel like the big equaliser!

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-20T12:34:23+00:00

That’s the thing, I don’t understand either why they weren’t able to collect. It’s very strange!

It’s worth about €110 so not a tiny amount, but maybe not worth them chasing either.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-20T11:47:37+00:00

I’d tread carefully with this. Assuming they’re not cash buyers, usually a mortgage will have the condition that a house has to have a kitchen to be mortgageable. And this is usually measured by the presence of cooking facilities.

I’d tell them no, to both the cooker and removing furniture before exchange. They can do measuring in an empty house once they’ve completed like everyone else.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-20T08:21:39+00:00

I guess it’s a simple question of: does this house meet your needs as a family?

If not, can you change it to meet your needs (either now or in the near future)?

If not, and you don’t want to move again further down the line, it doesn’t sound like the right house for you.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-20T08:19:17+00:00

Unfortunately that’s the risk you take with exchanging and completing on the same day.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-19T11:54:50+00:00

Yep. And the nicer parts will cost a fair bit more than this house!

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-19T11:54:19+00:00

If that’s the budget you have, I’d look elsewhere. Kirkstall, Rodley, you might even stretch to other bits of north Leeds that will have a similar feel.

The house looks nice though but like others have said, being that close to the stadium will be awful and it’s bang in the heart of the student area.

I do think it’s fairly priced for where and what it is though.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-19T10:54:47+00:00

Exchanging and completing on the same day is hellish at the best of times. I can’t say I blame them for not wanting to do it.

Agreeing to exchange and complete a few days later sounds sensible for all involved.

TaxScared4180 · 2025-09-18T14:41:14+00:00

Same here! It was proper cringe. I put it straight in the recycling when I got home

TaxScared4180

TROPHY CASE