yeah dark time > light time already.River is full this week and all the flood fields look like ponds. And the ice is back in the air. Winter is almost here.
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????Been pro-actively immersing myself in Saffa groups, networks, sporting events over the last few months. Is it just me, or are people really struggling (perhaps I am simply hanging out with the wrong crowds). Everyone seems to be complaining about jobs, cost of living, finances?
Im commenting that I am noticing a shift in mood now that I am actively networking. Not like I have had my head in the sand, or that I am making millions. My personal financial situation is still much better than in SA tho.????
Because people are. Unless you (as a family) are earning 6 figures. Everyone is struggling
Over the last couple of years, everyone's taken about a 15% hit in their purchasing power because of inflation, and most salaries not keeping pace. This is significant, and if you only had a couple of hundred pounds surplus at the end of the month, that has been erased.Been pro-actively immersing myself in Saffa groups, networks, sporting events over the last few months. Is it just me, or are people really struggling (perhaps I am simply hanging out with the wrong crowds). Everyone seems to be complaining about jobs, cost of living, finances?
Was walking around near Victoria station and there was a truck unloading some goods. The kind of thing you see all the time and walk past without taking notice.
But alas, something caught my eye (it was the Savanna packaging) and I did a double take. I actually walked back just to snap this pic.
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If you and/or partner are under 40, take a look at Life ISAs.We finally got our Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare benefits approved. That should bring our daycare bill down by a substantial amount. Currently paying £1k a month, for full time day care.
It was scary sending my son's original passport and birth certificate in the post - but a week later it came back just fine, thankfully.
In May, next year we get an additional, free 15hrs a week of daycare - so 30hrs a week in total. So, I'm expecting by then the daycare bill to be a lot less than it is now.
The Tax-Free benefit (Oddly named) is the government giving us £2 for every £8 we put in, up to £2k a year. Not a lot, but it all helps. And we can use that too for daycare fees. So, putting in £800 - we'll get £200 added to it by the government.
What a champ
Starmer speech should have been joyous victory lap but PM is already stumbling - and there is fury among backroom staff
Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to the Labour conference was "change begins" now they are in power. But can his actions match those words?news.sky.com
If you and/or partner are under 40, take a look at Life ISAs.
Remind me what Visa you're on?We finally got our Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare benefits approved. That should bring our daycare bill down by a substantial amount. Currently paying £1k a month, for full time day care.
It was scary sending my son's original passport and birth certificate in the post - but a week later it came back just fine, thankfully.
In May, next year we get an additional, free 15hrs a week of daycare - so 30hrs a week in total. So, I'm expecting by then the daycare bill to be a lot less than it is now.
The Tax-Free benefit (Oddly named) is the government giving us £2 for every £8 we put in, up to £2k a year. Not a lot, but it all helps. And we can use that too for daycare fees. So, putting in £800 - we'll get £200 added to it by the government.
Remind me what Visa you're on?
One major downfall of the ancestral visa I'm on is no access to public funds so we can't apply for the tax free benefit.
My wife will hopefully start working soon and then we will also be paying over £1k for 3 x full days and 2 x half days.
Scotland still only has 30hrs from 3yo and nothing before that so it will be over a year of paying these crazy fees for us.
Using benefits as a means to buy more beer might qualify you as a full blown citizen.Already getting £200 from government this month for childcare. More beers at the local pub!
Using benefits as a means to buy more beer might qualify you as a full blown citizen.