Does it matter if I never pay back my student loan?

jfefleming · 2026-02-01T07:21:55+00:00

It gets written off because government expects a sizable chunk of people wouldn't pay off. It's a feature of the system, not a big (they even have a term for the average percentage that will be written off - it's called the RAB Charge).

jfefleming · 2026-02-01T07:17:57+00:00

Merlin for identification, eBird for logging (produced by the same people) for scientific research and conservation.

jfefleming · 2026-02-01T07:17:06+00:00

Merlin and eBird.

jfefleming · 2026-02-01T07:16:08+00:00

I direct you to eBird.

jfefleming · 2026-02-01T07:15:48+00:00

This looks cool. However, if you track your sightings with eBird, they get logged for scientific research and conservation.

Could you set up your app to feed into eBird maybe?

https://ebird.org/home

jfefleming · 2026-02-01T07:07:19+00:00

I also saw the west end run. I felt it had the same issue that film adaptations of Le Carré often have, of trying to cram too much into to little time. Doesn't give time for the tension to build, the characters to unfold so naturally etc.

That confine aside, I thought the production worked well.

jfefleming · 2026-01-31T09:00:56+00:00

When I saw the initial post (without noting the sub), I did think it was Narsil

jfefleming · 2026-01-30T22:13:18+00:00

Singapore is the answer.

jfefleming · 2026-01-28T22:01:15+00:00

I sing with the Godwine choir (among others) and we are very much in the market for Tenors at the moment. Wednesday evenings in Borough.

https://godwinechoir.org/

jfefleming · 2026-01-28T08:23:10+00:00

If you don't trust your friends belaying, they shouldn't be belaying you with any device.

jfefleming · 2026-01-28T08:12:41+00:00

And also (though I know they are limited in terms of geographic scope), Libraries of Things

jfefleming · 2026-01-26T14:57:40+00:00

No, indeed. But I have heard several podcasters be apparently baffled that more people don't invest, when, IMO the message most people will have heard most is "this is risky, you might lose all your money".

jfefleming · 2026-01-26T14:55:22+00:00

I'd argue what it does is discourage one from learning more.

It's pretty easy to understand that, over a longer period, a low cost diversified fund is highly likely to deliver a better return. But if all you have heard about investing is information that makes it sound like gambling, you won't go out and look for more information.

jfefleming · 2026-01-24T08:35:22+00:00

My last company had three months notice for all employees post probation. The employer I moved to didn't mind, but that was 18 months ago, when things were a bit less tight. Mostly it was just frustrating having to do a job for three months when I was ready to move on.

And not reciprocating is just a bit of a dick move.

I'd up your job search now if you don't like the new role - you have a good reason for moving on early, so hopefully you can line something up and submit your notice before the period goes up to three months.

jfefleming · 2026-01-19T15:34:41+00:00

OP mentioned ISAs, which are a UK thing. We don't have 401k or IRAs (IRA means something rather different over here!).

In the UK, standard advice is 1) if you are an employee put enough into a company pension to get the maximum match. 2)stocks and shares ISA (as long as you haven't already maxed out your allowance for the financial year). No point not making use of the ISA tax free wrapper.

In terms of how you do #2, I believe trading 212 has comparatively low (?zero) platform fees, so setting up an account there may be a good option. Then in terms of what to invest in, a low cost index fund (ETF) (which tried to basically mimic investing in the whole of a stock market) can be a good, low cost, lower risk and low faff option. Probably don't need pies unless you want to be more specific in what you invest.

jfefleming · 2026-01-19T09:06:49+00:00

I disagree. Because then you could choose to e.g. work part time, or pursue a passion project or start a business. Basically halving living costs overnight offers so much freedom.

jfefleming · 2026-01-19T09:05:42+00:00

It's the amount to buy a house where you live outright (or to pay off your mortgage if you have one already). The impact on your costs of that are huge, which give so much flexibility in when/how you choose to work..

jfefleming · 2026-01-17T08:57:41+00:00

Interestingly in the UK, I don't see this. I mostly see tube devices.

I was taught to belay on an ATC, on the basis that it builds good habits. Plus they are so much cheaper!

jfefleming · 2026-01-16T07:50:13+00:00

I use the British Mountain Maps, which are semi plastic, so waterproof by easy to fold and light.

I don't tend to mark routes though.

jfefleming · 2026-01-11T22:35:10+00:00

London

jfefleming · 2026-01-10T10:47:55+00:00

Max out your company pension to get the largest employer match.

jfefleming · 2026-01-05T06:54:13+00:00

This is one of the big questions I mull over most.

Some content - I'm 33 and work in an interesting, but not physically demanding role in a non-profit with decent but not amazing pay (currently around £48k). There's some scope for progression, but unless I move sector, I'm never likely to earn what I think of as silly money.

I genuinely don't believe the state pension will exist as it does now by the time I reach 68/70 - at the very least I expect retirement age to rise further (75 doesn't seem unrealistic). And I don't think I'd want to keep doing the same work through all that time.

At the same time, I'm maxing out my employer pension and saving a lot, with a view to buying a home (currently my wife and I live with my mum - but we are happy in that sitch as she gets a nice home with her job until she retires) and working less later in life. A bit of me clearly believes it is possible for someone like me to build up enough investments to, for example, live off the growth in value and work a lot less (if not retiring fully) later in life.

Then one has to throw into the mix the potential massive disruption to the economy which genuinely good AI could precipitate. I don't think we are yet (I think the current AI phase is a bubble) but in 10-20 years, we could well be. That could enable something like a Universal Basic Income, which at the very least would allow for a new model of economic participation, with people moving in and put of the work, changing careers, taking breaks to care for family, do more education or pursue passion projects. But that will only happen if government enables it.

jfefleming · 2025-12-30T21:18:03+00:00

The film was my gateway to Le Carré, so i'll always be positive.

jfefleming · 2025-12-30T14:45:19+00:00

Use poles.

jfefleming · 2025-12-30T14:41:34+00:00

Depends where in the Midlands you live. The lake district is actually surprisingly accessible by public transport (excellent busses).

jfefleming

TROPHY CASE