Maser Friday

[conaero]

The 28 million basically earn the money to pay for the 11 million, so statistically as an average, every person who works is also paying to support another 1 and a half persons on benefits.

Hang on, I got my maths wrong there (yes, failed O Level maths)

The 28 million basically earn the money to pay for the 11 million, so statistically as an average, every person who works is also paying to support another 0.4 of a person on benefits.

 

[Parisien]

None of your followers wished to bring that up Matt...........



Then again...define benefits.....word is when Maggie closed the 20 odd mines and put 1000s of miners out of work, as a sop they were allowed to be classified as not fit for work( most of them late 40s/50s) with lots then put on disability allowance....massaging the jobless figures downwards too.....................a lot of politics in all these numbers..............


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[conaero]

You got it Frank, there is what, 3M out of work officially, then there another 8M buried, incapacity benefits, disabled (I have no issue with the genuinely disabled claiming) single mothers........

 

[Parisien]

It is a shambles................and the rest of us pay for it.

But I don't know what the answers are Matt...unless truly draconian measures are put in place, between all the scams, people conning the system, complete and utter dishonesty in society...at all levels its frightening


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[toomanyhorses]

The problem is, other than having self satisfaction, honesty isn't very well rewarded.

Too many leaches, with the flood gates being open for far too long too.

Hey Matt. Just my pennies worth. I was in the same position as you for many years, and in the end had a bit of an unexpected health scare, which the Doctor put down to stress. Always considered myself invincible. I took it as a warning, and over the following year 'steam-lined' my main business right down. I now have far less staff, less turn over, but far more time for family, 'smelling the roses' and way less cash flow concerns. As I always used to have the policy of 'never turn any work down', I used to find myself entertaining jobs that weren't really worth while in the long term. I've changed that now. The financial impact on me personally? Surprisingly only about 10-15 a year. Also, as a sellable business, worth about the same, as quality has increased with the decrease in volume of work, and therefore reputation. I'm far more 'relaxed' now. I think there comes a point where your business starts owning you.

Mind you, I still over do it at times, but not often.

It is nice to have a lot of 'nice things', but (as I'm finding at the moment) it's just more to go wrong!

I also find I'm far less inclined to grab the bottle to chill in the evening, which is a good thing, isn't it?!?

..........and as for giving less to the 'rest', well, I'll leave you to guess how that feels ;D

 

[scotpak]

So no champagne socialists on this forum???

 

[conaero]

Sound advise TMH, I think your right.

Mind you I am planning to retire at 50, or more like throttle back at least. The down side of that is I have to work double speed for the decade to that point. Might extend that to 55 and slow down a bit.

 

[toomanyhorses]

My plan was 45. That's this year! If the climate was different and embracing a new venture would be less of a gamble, I think I would have stuck to that.

So 50 it is then....

 

[Parisien]

So no champagne socialists on this forum???

....acccording to the stats list....theres more than one....



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[Parisien]

Sound advise TMH, I think your right.

Mind you I am planning to retire at 50, or more like throttle back at least. The down side of that is I have to work double speed for the decade to that point. Might extend that to 55 and slow down a bit.

.........with great age.............comes great wisdom......................

Had several options over the yrs to quit early Matt..........but for a variety of reasons sticking in there til I'm hitting the Britvic number.........................



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[Parisien]

My plan was 45. That's this year! If the climate was different and embracing a new venture would be less of a gamble, I think I would have stuck to that.

So 50 it is then....

..........5 year plans guys......just like the Soviets..........................


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[Maser Sod]

My plan was 45. That's this year! If the climate was different and embracing a new venture would be less of a gamble, I think I would have stuck to that.

So 50 it is then....

I was shooting for 45 too, but looks like it will be another 2-3 years on top of that now. Still, got to go surfing today and earlier in the week during 'regular' work hours, so some benefits to being on the downward side of the work hill!

Ah, the VAT man, he killed the cashflow on my first business. I can just about understand paying VAT on a Mars Bar, but could never work out why it should be applied to consultancy or software written?

 

[dem maser]

VAT man finished many businesses off....

Wish i could retire by 50!!!!!

 

[dem maser]

VAT man finished many businesses off....

Wish i could retire by 50!!!!!

 

[safrane]

Me too Dem, origionaly I was hoping to retire at 55 [5 years early] and get a PT job...now the goal-post have been moved and its 68...yep can see that working!!! Fighting crime on my zimmer frame.

I know the Civil Service has taken some knocking recently and few would object to paying a little more. But I have to pay 700% more now for less and work an additional 8 years. Ok people today may live longer after retirement because they retired when they still had some energy left...Goverments plan now if for us all to die at work before we draw any pension!

Over £20k per year in tax/ni on my wages. Being single, no kids I see little benefit for myself for that money.

The most sickening thing about this country is the more you take care of yourself, [Pension, Saving, Planning ahead and working] the more you are penalised. Can't belive they are pegging the max £££ of Benefits to the national average wage...talk about kicking the working man in the nuts. A new Prison Officer gets £16k pa, yet you can get £10k more if you breed and stay at home.

 

[Dan!]

Different industries, different opinions - that VAT man pays my wages.
We charge 5% vat yet get charged 20% like everyone else, so every month I get a significant rebate which I then pay to myself.
Cash flow is good as a result.

Don't get me started on national insurance, corporation tax and income tax though...

 

[dem maser]

Good idea dan.....

 

[Andyk]

Just had a bonus for last year......this is down to how hard you work and the results throught out the year..So how hard I worked basically..... and the tax man sits on his **** at decides he deserve 40% of it........Shocking.

 

[Maser Sod]

I'm with Pete on this one - us 'savers' get penalised. The reason taxes are high as we know is to compensate for too many people and governments (and banks!) borrowing beyond their means.

I say if you can't afford, then it don't buy it.

<caveat>
Except when it comes to cars, of course.

And houses.
</caveat>

 

[Geofflyn]

I'm with Pete on this one - us 'savers' get penalised. The reason taxes are high as we know is to compensate for too many people and governments (and banks!) borrowing beyond their means.

I say if you can't afford, then it don't buy it.

<caveat>
Except when it comes to cars, of course.

And houses.
</caveat>

The problem with Banks wasn't borrowing beyond their means but lending too much, mostly to people who couldn't afford it to buy houses at BS prices in the misguided belief that the housing market always goes up.