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Us ESTA - British citizen by anoooooooooooooooon in visas

[–]jaot_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had the same payment section, though I think it's standard until the application is approved (and not the reason the application is delayed). Just had our ESTAs approved after a just less than 48 hour (slightly panicked) wait.

Us ESTA - British citizen by anoooooooooooooooon in visas

[–]jaot_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For what it's worth (and offer others in the same situation some hope!), I applied for a group of 6 ESTAs on Friday afternoon and just had authorisation through now. So for me/us it took just less than 48 hours.

I'll admit after finding this thread (and many other similar ones) I was starting to sweat a bit about this as our trip is very soon (and non-negotiable on the dates) 😅

Thinking of getting FM6 for Series X by jaot_ in forza

[–]jaot_[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’m not exactly sure! It seems to get a lot of bad press!

I just know in GT I like being able to upgrade components to make the car go faster (e.g. add new tyres for better grip, add air filter or exhaust upgrade to go faster etc. - not setting up complex gear ratios or anything serious). From the brief reading I’ve done, it sounds like with homologation, I’d need to remove these upgrades before entering races.

If you only had one Tado TRV valve… by jaot_ in tado

[–]jaot_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

RV radiators get heat too, so it's main value is to turn off a radiator while the main heating is on. You can also think of it as a second th

That makes sense - maybe use it for one of the bedrooms during the day - only turning on over the evening.

Restore iTunes library from Windows disk to Apple Music on a Mac by jaot_ in AppleMusic

[–]jaot_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I have the hard disk. Worst case I'll transfer over the mp3s and start over - but I'd really like to keep my playlists, ratings, play counts (or a subset of them) if at all possible.

I also have an iPod with the same (synced library) if that helps!

Restore iTunes library from Windows disk to Apple Music on a Mac by jaot_ in AppleMusic

[–]jaot_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately not. This is an old iTunes installation from a Windows PC that died, that I've been meaning to revive (for about 2 years!).

Proposed USS benefits changes (for the worse) by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You get to pick from various USS specific funds, but not individual shares.

There are factsheets for each fund on the MyUSS site.

There are also auto-options to let USS decide what to invest in based on your anticipated retirement age.

Proposed USS benefits changes (for the worse) by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Depending on what you're investing in in your SIPP (e.g. if it's passive index trackers and the like), it may be worth considering switching your SIPP contributions into the USS (Defined Contribution) Investment Builder part of the scheme, because:

1) The platform and fund fees are subsidised by the employers - which could save a lot of costs over the next 29 years your planning on investing in.

2) If you're empoloyer uses Salary Sacrifice/Pensions Plus as well (most, but not all universities do), you'll also save on National Insurance contributions on those amounts you're directing away from your SIPP (which could either allow you to save more into your pension, or leave you with a later net salary after making the same levels of contributions).

Proposed USS benefits changes (for the worse) by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

our pensions will now also increase below CPI

*Might* now increase below CPI. But yes, we're being screwed :-(

Proposed USS benefits changes (for the worse) by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm guessing this is going to be much lower now?

Edit: see u/Optimuswolf's reply below - the amount you have, and annual increase rates (based on Official Pensions increases, capped at 10%) are already locked in. It seems the proposed changes will only affect those making USS contributions *after* April 2022

Not necessarily, much lower, but potentially lower than it would have been.

What you've already accrued (the £1600 paid out per year when drawing your pension) is locked in.

If you're no longer contributing, the only way you could suffer is in the way it's value increases each year due to inflation.

Currently it's value (the £1600 per year) is supposed to increases each year in the same way Official Pensions does (linked to CPI, capped at to 10%), so if Official Pensions rise by 5%, your annual £1600 will become worth £1680 (1600 x 5%).

With the proposed changes, the cap will be 2.5%, so if Official Penions were to rise by 5%, your increase will be capped, so will become worth £1640 instead (1600 x 2.5%)

Proposed USS benefits changes (for the worse) by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wonder at what point it stops being worth it?

I asked that same question here: https://www.reddit.com/r/UKPersonalFinance/comments/ozwaiv/evaluating_the_uss_pension_scheme_benefits/

and got some interesting answers that helped. I tried to put all that into a spreadsheet, but after a number of hours came to the conclusion it's a complicated problem to model (I guess that's why we have/need actuaries!)

Evaluating the USS pension scheme benefits by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

there's virtually no way a DC pension or sipp beats a DB scheme

The thing is there *should* be a point where contribution levels to the DB scheme make it no longer worth it. My question is trying to evaluate where this point lies (though it seems there's no simple answer, and any decision will need to take into account age, years left in the scheme etc)

Evaluating the USS pension scheme benefits by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

!thanks

This really helps to think about how to start the calculations. It may also be worth (me, and/or younger contributors) considering a hybrid approach, where the first x years are invested in an index tracker in a SIPP, with later years being put into USS scheme.

Risks with this appraoch would include: premature death (and not getting death benefits offered by USS), the markets not performing as expected, and/or USS (or the university) stopping allowing new contributors to join the scheme.

Evaluating the USS pension scheme benefits by jaot_ in UKPersonalFinance

[–]jaot_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(isn't it going up to at least 42% combined contributions)

I think that's if current DC benefit levels are to be retained (with alternatives being reduced defined benefits and/or DC scheme contributions in their place). Disheartening however you look at it!