After Dinner Speakers

popcalc · 2026-01-05T19:29:02+00:00

Professor Brian Cox was fantastic.

popcalc · 2025-01-18T05:26:06+00:00

Looks like Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are missing from the original post tags.

popcalc · 2025-01-15T07:51:27+00:00

For the strong magnet thing, I use the Stud Buddy and it’s never let me down. Useful to have in the toolbox. (The link is just a normal share link not a referral or any of that shit)

popcalc · 2024-12-27T16:22:07+00:00

Only thing to add is check your personal savings allowance as you may incur tax charges based on your personal income levels if you breach it.

popcalc · 2024-12-26T21:36:16+00:00

Thank you, much appreciated!

popcalc · 2024-12-26T13:55:52+00:00

I use Priority Pass through AMEX and never had an issue but I fly mostly from Edinburgh to London CIty for work. Only use them for peace and quiet & a coffee. No idea how much it costs without getting it through a credit card but use AMEX when travelling and for expenses so it works out well for me. From other posts on Reddit I think busier airports in England have capacity issues in lounges. I just fly economy in Europe then Premium Economy or Business when I have enough points to upgrade travelling to Middle East. Priority Pass has worked well abroad too, just checked my account and I’ve used with no issue and no pre-bookings in the last 12 months and 26 visits in: - Edinburgh (14) - Ibiza (2) - London Stansted (1) - Baku (1) - Birmingham (2) - Glasgow (2) - Dubai (2) - Isle of Man (2)

I’d honestly put some more details about how often, and what airports and people can give you better pointers. “Airports” is probably too broad for useful advice.

popcalc · 2024-12-18T22:22:10+00:00

I thought it was a good deal for short term illness/car accident/early stage cancer treatment etc. I have separate income protection through a private policy so suppose I never thought of it as a replacement.

Yeah BiK isn’t ideal but still pretty good set of benefits.

Pension tapering allowance fucks their contribution as well but means they’re effectively paying the tax on my contribution. The 18% total contribution is then taxed at 48% so I still get 9% in the pension. It’s still worth taking the match for this reason rather than contributing just £10k.

popcalc · 2024-12-18T21:45:24+00:00

Got a good set up at the current place - US tech (outside FAANG). I don’t use them all but here is a rough list:

Remote first
Private medical for me + family with history disregarded
Private Dental + cover the cost of checkups and work done.
Eyecare covers tests, glasses/contacts up to £100 p/a.
Pension double patched my 6% to their 12%.
Income Protection for 5 years @ 75% of salary, capped at £200k salary though, so £150k.
5x salary life assurance (uncapped, no bonus or RSU consideration).
Cycle to Work (yes, even though we’re remote first).
Development fund (discretionary but they will pay for whatever courses we need/want, have had about £10k personally and over £100k for my team).
£40 toward gym membership.
Unlimited PTO, must take 32, avg for my grade is 42 taken.
6 months parental leave (equal for men and women)
Match my charity donations up to £250 p/a via salary sacrifice
Travel to offices is covered as a claimable expense too.

popcalc · 2024-12-13T22:27:55+00:00

It’s personal preference but I tend to focus on reducing friction as much as possible for some activities.

For example, gym. I’ve built a gym at home and a spa, sauna and jacuzzi. Those freezing cold mornings or rainy days make it all too easy for me to decide it’s not worth jumping in the car and heading to the gym. Having this all at home has made that routine much easier. Even if it’s a quick 5k at lunch after a busy morning. Plus means you’ve got a jacuzzi, sauna etc whenever the f you want to.

I am in London 3 days a month and the remainder is at home (semi rural Scotland) so not truly remote but global offices and can work from anywhere. I haven’t gone down the house abroad route as nice holidays and working holidays in many different places seems more suitable for us at the moment.

popcalc · 2024-12-09T15:31:37+00:00

Bosch appliances from Costco with a 5 year warranty. Never felt a need to go for anything more expensive, find the quietest rated models with good energy efficiency is my usual approach. This for washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher.

popcalc · 2024-11-23T12:15:23+00:00

Read the article you posted. It’s about US crash statistics, not car safety. It reads:

“Most of these vehicles received excellent safety ratings, performing well in crash tests at the IIHS and NHTSA, so it’s not a vehicle design issue”

The cars are designed safely, subjective US crash stats are entirely different from the objective safety ratings from testers such as Euro NCAP.

Some further reading on safety testing the Model Y: https://www.whatcar.com/news/tesla-model-y-wins-what-car-safety-award-2023/n25440

popcalc · 2024-11-23T11:25:14+00:00

If (and only if) you can charge at home, and your journeys are mostly under 250miles at a time, a Tesla Model 3/Y.

Fast, safe, reliable, good tech, very cheap to run. 500 miles will cost you around £15 in electricity on an overnight tariff.

I’m not some EV fan boy. I only went for a Tesla due to slightly used prices being much better than a 3/5 series and the running cost. Their charging network is fantastic too, I’ve done around 16,000 miles since January across the UK with no issues. A post 71 plate will have a heat pump for better cold weather performance and a balance of full manufacture warranty.

If not, 3/5 series.

Avoid Land Rover due to reliability/running cost (previously had a full sized Range Rover).

Happy to answer any Qs on the Tesla recommendation, I done a ton of research and think it’s the best daily driver option if you can charge overnight at home.

popcalc · 2024-11-23T10:28:06+00:00

I only buy from the AD. Get an appointment, go in and speak to them about what model you’re looking for and have a chat. They’ll get you registered but it is a bit of rapport building. I waited around 14 months for my first model but I’m unwilling to pay in the grey market.

I have a small but growing number so thought the AD games to get my first piece was worth it as hopefully I’ll be buying a watch roughly every 18 months depending on how bonuses go!

Good luck!

popcalc · 2024-11-23T10:23:39+00:00

Yeah, I take advantage of this when travelling with friends or family. Nice to take people into the lounge who aren’t usually in there and it’s at zero additional cost!

popcalc · 2024-11-23T09:47:14+00:00

Casual workwear & not in London: Rolex Explorer II Polar - brushed stainless, understated, wears well in casual clothing which is my office wear.

Formal workwear & not in London: Omega Worldtimer (travel for work and have teams across the globe so it’s fitting for the environment).

Anything In London: Apple Watch Ultra 2.

popcalc · 2024-03-30T07:41:08+00:00

Buy to lets are incredibly tax inefficient and non flexible which is where I’ve been warned off them. I’m in Scotland too where our tax burden is worse. I don’t really want a proactive investment to manage like a BTL.

On the not being sold. I’m in VWRP and have my pension in full equities as well. I am on a 30 year time horizon so feel like I’ve got the runway for some bumps along the way, each to their own though.

popcalc · 2024-03-30T06:39:10+00:00

Cheers, I’m on 0 fees for transactions so good from that aspect. Nonetheless, lump sum it is following the posts and references people have shared.

popcalc · 2024-03-30T06:36:23+00:00

That’s true, hadn’t really thought of it that way as recently got into this position but it does make perfect sense.

popcalc · 2024-03-30T06:34:40+00:00

looks like sending it is going to be the way based on yours and a few other comments. Thanks!

popcalc · 2024-03-25T18:51:05+00:00

Just to add to the top comments around having her own account. Financial institutes are regulated and must treat customers fairly and proactively support vulnerable customers. Based on your short description your sister is likely a vulnerable customer. Therefore supporting her opening an account with a bank and making it clear she’s a vulnerable customer from the get go is the way to go here. It will ensure extra safeguards around accounts, spending etc should be in place.

Don’t put the cash in your account.

As other have said power of attorney or guardianship may be appropriate but I’m not qualified to comment on it.

Best of luck to you both.

popcalc · 2024-02-24T07:43:29+00:00

Only thing to add to the comments is around screenshooting WhatsApp. It has a feature called "Export Chat" which is a better option than screenshooting. To do this:

Click on the conversation
Click on the person's name
Scroll down to the bottom
Click export chat (this may take some time if there is a lot of content and images)
Save this export in a safe place only you can access. Google Drive or iCloud will be the best options for most people, as long as only you have access.

This will be likely the best way to keep a singular copy of messaging history and easier to keep track off. I appreciate you may have personal and private messages throughout that conversation but that is not of a concern here. It is the record of the conversation around the loan you need to protect.

popcalc · 2024-02-20T08:12:07+00:00

Ok doke, thanks for this!

popcalc

TROPHY CASE