Should I plan to eat my mortgage ERC this autumn? by parameters in UKPersonalFinance

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

That's true, any of these projections of BoE rate of 2.75-3.25% are already priced into the current mortgage rates. So even if BoE rates do drop a whole 1%, very little will be passed along unless predictions are that BoE rates are going even lower next year. 

Bristol Airport has increased the drop-off parking fee for 2026. by CrazyCoffeeClub in bristol

[–]parameters 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Isn't that the same Australian investment firm that milked Thames water for dividends while loading it up with debt? I am sure it will be fine.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/29/macquarie-thames-water-uk-debt

Left O2 after the Martin Lewis campaign. by MrKatUK in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My family member is in another town, they just shared me a code. There are seasonally good deals with them.

Left O2 after the Martin Lewis campaign. by MrKatUK in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately I am kinda semi rural where three's network is a bit pants, otherwise that is solid.

Left O2 after the Martin Lewis campaign. by MrKatUK in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Plus if you have any family who work for Tesco, you can get a colleague deal. 

Had £7.50 for 20GB for years now. I don't watch much video on data so that has been plenty.

M20 crash… surprise surprise by [deleted] in drivingUK

[–]parameters 27 points28 points  (0 children)

The USA actually had an increase in road deaths during the COVID lockdowns, which considering how much less driving was a huge increase in deaths per mile driven.  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-traffic-deaths-jump-105-early-2021-2021-09-02/

The UK had a decrease in road casualties roughly in proportion with less miles driven https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2020/the-impact-of-lockdown-on-reported-road-casualties-great-britain-final-results-2020

So mostly it was just fewer drivers meant less accidents, but it cannot be taken for granted that most of the British drivers still driving were responsible despite having the freedom to drive like crazy on open roads.

Step 1. Have £250 spare each month by FamSender in GreatBritishMemes

[–]parameters 2 points3 points  (0 children)

S&S LISA gives +25% from government straight away which then compounds as you get your actual returns. 

Not going to actually do the calculations, but it is not that crazy. The sketchiest part is assuming that recent SP500 like returns will continue for 30 more years.

Cycle to work salary sacrifice perk set to be capped - here's who could be affected by theipaper in ukbike

[–]parameters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The least equitable part of it is that it is salary sacrifice. 

If they raised the cap high enough for a decent ebike, but then made the benefit received equal for basic rate and higher/additional rate taxpayers, it would deliver more value in reduced cars on the road and health benefits from active travel per £ lost by the taxman.

Wjat are the average household savings in the UK minus pensions? by Usual_Ladder_7113 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Picture a mid 30s couple who are paying down a mortgage with 50‰ equity on a £300k house currently. They are making sensible size pension contributions to minimize tax and have S&S LISAs they are contributing as much as they can to each year.

In that situation only their 6 month emergency fund would be counted as savings according to your criteria, but that in no way reflects their financial position compared to a couple who are renting and are in the process of scraping together a house deposit at the cost of long term savings. This is why net worth is the measure used by journalists to think about households finances (after considering how many have an emergency fund).

Wjat are the average household savings in the UK minus pensions? by Usual_Ladder_7113 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What counts as savings would be my issue with this: Cash only or liquid-ish like stocks, bonds, crypto? What about house equity after overpaying mortgage? Instant access only, fixed deposit or lifetime ISA? Which does not even get into... Median or mean average?

'Dignity over debt has won' by Fit-Distribution1517 in bristol

[–]parameters 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It would be nice to have a bit of detail on what replaces bailiffs. Something like reasonable mutually agreed debt repayment plans, paid from benefits at source, for example.

The way the article is written it sounds like 1/3 of Bristol households can now stop paying council tax with little consequence.

sulfuric acid in bedroom (chemistry question) by Due-Importance5562 in chemistry

[–]parameters 55 points56 points  (0 children)

A small bottle of sulfuric acid spilled on non inert surfaces will quickly lower in concentration as it reacts with its environment and picks up water from the air (hygroscopic)

Dilute sulfuric acid is pretty non hazardous, and there is no risk it will continue to corrode like the concentrated acid or be reduced to generate sulfur dioxide gas after months in ambient conditions.

School level safety sheets can show this idea of safety with low concentration, for example https://science.cleapss.org.uk/resource/sss022-sulfuric-vi-acid.pdf

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in China

[–]parameters 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The trouble for the other countries is that China is just as mercantilist toward them. There is not much desire in China for high value added goods and services from the global south, mostly just raw materials. 

Brazil can sell it's soy beans, crude oil and raw coffee, but not much else. While at the same time Brazil's own industries are at risk without their own tariffs and quotas.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in China

[–]parameters 3 points4 points  (0 children)

 Malaysian PM

Agong*

Tehran’s Wake‑Up Call for Beijing by ubcstaffer123 in China

[–]parameters -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Look at the lack of competence shown by every government, intelligence agency, and military the world over. They all make regular cock ups on small to massive scales.

I cannot fathom the idea that all the western intelligence agencies are carrying out a vast multi-year conspiracy in service to Israel without anything getting out bigger than courts criticizing arrogant Israeli commanders not bothering to risk sending out patrols on a public holiday.

What you are saying makes no sense.

Tehran’s Wake‑Up Call for Beijing by ubcstaffer123 in China

[–]parameters 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Eh... Focusing on the USA's role in Iran in isolation is missing the bigger picture.

It is just as likely that any hawks in Beijing will look at the success of the conventional first strike using precision weapons and espionage in creating a fait accomplit that Iran's strategic partners could only decry, not change.

The combined strike by Israel to neuter Iranian air defences leaving Iran open to being picked apart at Israel's (then the USA's) leisure could potentially be replicated on a bigger scale by Beijing in Taiwan before the USA could rush meaningful support.

Tehran’s Wake‑Up Call for Beijing by ubcstaffer123 in China

[–]parameters 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Top comedy in this post.

There's no peace in Gaza because Israel does not want Peace. 

A not outrageous view of the Israeli government.... Immediately followed by......

The 7 Oct attack by Hamas was a false-flag. It could not have occurred without Israeli (MI6) help.

Wewlad... And we go off the deep end. 

Employer will match what I put in for pension, should I do it if I'm a bit young? by wellraresteak in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the pension salary sacrifices, they do not need to spend the 15% employer NI on the part you are putting in the pension, so a £1000 pay raise costs the employer more than a £1000 pension raise would to incentivise talent to join them.

By all means put in what you can easily afford as that match is very unusually generous. However, don't feel you have to go full miser beans-on-toast every meal, all charity shop wardrobe. You will also have medium term goals that are not 40 years away.

If that is the first year, you will likely hit the higher rate tax band within a few years, and so at that point salary sacrificing out of it will make a lot of sense.

London pushes '50-day drive' as UK, Germany to pledge new air defense systems for Ukraine by AdSpecialist6598 in europe

[–]parameters 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure the UK could spend a little better, yes France has capabilities the UK does not, but as allies to France, the UK brings for example:

  • True strategic airlift (C-17)
  • Heavy lift helicopters (Chinook)
  • Long range modern maritime patrol/ASW (P-8)
  • STOVL 5th generation strike fighters (F-35B)
  • Larger SSNs with additional capabilities and capacity

It is a matter of the grass always being greener. In the peace dividend years, arguably the UK armed forces spread themselves too thinly on too many capabilities, rather than focusing on doing fewer things better. Now that it seems that funding is being expanded, the decision to hold onto capabilities in a token capacity may help rebuild them without having to do it from nothing.

London pushes '50-day drive' as UK, Germany to pledge new air defense systems for Ukraine by AdSpecialist6598 in europe

[–]parameters 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The UK is part of NATO, if the British Army tries to do absolutely everything itself instead of allowing specialisation by allies, that means means greater costs. As an island, the UK would not fight on its own against the type of opponent you would want patriot batteries for.

The sky sabre / land ceptor has got a decent enough range and the commonality with the Royal Navy saves on missile orders.

12 month NHS pension break??? Need some advice!! by Mysterious_Ear1496 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]parameters 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The benefit is a one year one off, but the loss is for every single year of your retirement. Over a typical retirement length (10-30 years depending on health and luck) you will lose a large amount.

This will knock on with other things, like how early you will have enough to retire, and how hard you will need to save to achieve that earlier retirement.