Insignificant/ Significant things that BYP or just wind you up a little

[Noggin]

It also sounds like you have bought a lighting extension rather than a proper 3 wire socket extension.

The socket is a proper three wire jobbie. But it seems I bought lighting wire to connect the two sockets, so need to rectify that before I ask the sparky to come and look!!

[Ant]

Cornwall aviation museum finally closing permanently. That was a lovely place, I'd go there, grab coffee and have a wander around

[Rockburner]

Those modern zips with the plastic water resistant strip over the teeth, poxy things always fail and jam up.

I’ve had a Halversson main and both pockets and an Everlast hoody go and now my 18month old Merlin jacket has fucked the zip.

They're also not water resistant if they "fold" when you're sat on the bike.

[dern]

Breakdown company renewals being complete scams. Upping the premium by £80-90 each year despite no use and then being able to drop it by over £100 just by phoning them up. Obviously the answer is to keep moving but such a crappy business practice.

Try AutoAid. Its only gone up by about £5 one the last 5 years and is bloody cheap to start with!

https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/pers ... sed-cover/

Giving it a go, thank you.

[Mussels]

The new student loan amounts are means tested on the parents wages.
Both my kids are looking at going to uni next year, I was expecting to sub them a certain amount to cover what the loan doesn't. But the total loan will be heavily reduced because of my wages meaning there's a shortfall of £11k per year before I sub them any extra. So my kids will lose out because I can't find that much down the back of my sofa, really doesn't seem fair that they are penalised because I have a decent job.
The only way round it is for them to live at home while studying, which massively restricts their choices.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/stude ... nd-plan-5/

[Count Steer]

There was a means testing element before fees were introduced too. A fellow student got zero grant and was dependent on his parents for support. (I remember mainly because one term he was virtually living on toast because he'd annoyed them over something so they stopped subbing him...he started off living in halls of residence and ended up in a pretty grim bedsit ).

(Fortunately holiday jobs were easy to find so you could make a few £ at Christmas, Easter and summer. Some students did evening jobs during term time too but working behind a bar didn't do their grades much good ).

Still think the system was better then than now.

[Cousin Jack]

Yes, my daughter basically had her fees paid and I had to pick up the bill for all the rest. I only had one so it was doable.

[Yambo]

Get your kids into an apprenticeship - they carry on learning and get paid.

If they really want a degree, they can do what productive members of society do and get an OU degree, using their money.

[Mussels]

Get your kids into an apprenticeship - they carry on learning and get paid.

If they really want a degree, they can do what productive members of society do and get an OU degree, using their money.

I agree, too many people do useless degrees. I have spoken to them about deciding if the cost of uni is worth it, not forgetting you need a masters as well to stand out these days. They both already have much better academic qualifications than me so that will make the conversation easier than if I was sat here with a degree telling them they don't need one to have a successful career.
Fortunately they have both seen local degree courses they like so there is a route if they really want to, if one decides not to go away then it solves the problem but I'm not going to put the burden of that choice on them.

[v8-powered]

Get your kids into an apprenticeship - they carry on learning and get paid.

If they really want a degree, they can do what productive members of society do and get an OU degree, using their money.

I agree, too many people do useless degrees. I have spoken to them about deciding if the cost of uni is worth it, not forgetting you need a masters as well to stand out these days. They both already have much better academic qualifications than me so that will make the conversation easier than if I was sat here with a degree telling them they don't need one to have a successful career.
Fortunately they have both seen local degree courses they like so there is a route if they really want to, if one decides not to go away then it solves the problem but I'm not going to put the burden of that choice on them.

Me too - I came through the apprenticeship route and has done me no harm at all.

My son is just finishing a sport and exercise science degree, step-son about to go to study politics and international relations, step-daughter wants to study Spanish - all pretty pointless IMHO.
3 years of a jolly and then take some random job.

[weeksy]

Get your kids into an apprenticeship - they carry on learning and get paid.

If they really want a degree, they can do what productive members of society do and get an OU degree, using their money.

I agree, too many people do useless degrees. I have spoken to them about deciding if the cost of uni is worth it, not forgetting you need a masters as well to stand out these days. They both already have much better academic qualifications than me so that will make the conversation easier than if I was sat here with a degree telling them they don't need one to have a successful career.
Fortunately they have both seen local degree courses they like so there is a route if they really want to, if one decides not to go away then it solves the problem but I'm not going to put the burden of that choice on them.

Me too - I came through the apprenticeship route and has done me no harm at all.

My son is just finishing a sport and exercise science degree, step-son about to go to study politics and international relations, step-daughter wants to study Spanish - all pretty pointless IMHO.
3 years of a jolly and then take some random job.

It seems likely at this stage that the boy will potentially end up here.

https://www.dirtschool.co.uk/

Academic Study
Three days in college a week will see you cover topics from nutrition and psychology to sports development and strength training. First year graduates will gain a National Progression Award (NPA) in Achieving Excellence in Sport. Successful second year graduates receive a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Coaching and Developing Sport, an award recognised by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). Building from the knowledge gained in second year, the successful third year graduate will receive a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Coaching and Developing Sport. This Level 8 SCQF award is recognised by universities and in some cases can lead to advanced entry into 2nd or 3rd year

It's that or something more engineering/design based, depending on how his work experience week next week goes.

[v8-powered]

I agree, too many people do useless degrees. I have spoken to them about deciding if the cost of uni is worth it, not forgetting you need a masters as well to stand out these days. They both already have much better academic qualifications than me so that will make the conversation easier than if I was sat here with a degree telling them they don't need one to have a successful career.
Fortunately they have both seen local degree courses they like so there is a route if they really want to, if one decides not to go away then it solves the problem but I'm not going to put the burden of that choice on them.

Me too - I came through the apprenticeship route and has done me no harm at all.

My son is just finishing a sport and exercise science degree, step-son about to go to study politics and international relations, step-daughter wants to study Spanish - all pretty pointless IMHO.
3 years of a jolly and then take some random job.

It seems likely at this stage that the boy will potentially end up here.

https://www.dirtschool.co.uk/

Academic Study
Three days in college a week will see you cover topics from nutrition and psychology to sports development and strength training. First year graduates will gain a National Progression Award (NPA) in Achieving Excellence in Sport. Successful second year graduates receive a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Coaching and Developing Sport, an award recognised by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). Building from the knowledge gained in second year, the successful third year graduate will receive a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Coaching and Developing Sport. This Level 8 SCQF award is recognised by universities and in some cases can lead to advanced entry into 2nd or 3rd year

It's that or something more engineering/design based, depending on how his work experience week next week goes.

Not a million miles away from the route my lad took to be fair.
He was a keen rugby player from age 11 - club rugby, 3 counties player, Northampton Saints academy, 2 years at another rugby academy in lieu of sixth form playing RU and RL, a year RFU coaching, offered a London Broncos contract but took a place at uni instead. Lots of good bits in his degree course but really not sure what he's going to do with it?
Currently playing rugby for his uni but think he's planning to go back to club rugby this coming season as he gets paid per match - still not a proper job though......

[Noggin]

Get your kids into an apprenticeship - they carry on learning and get paid.

If they really want a degree, they can do what productive members of society do and get an OU degree, using their money.

I agree, too many people do useless degrees. I have spoken to them about deciding if the cost of uni is worth it, not forgetting you need a masters as well to stand out these days. They both already have much better academic qualifications than me so that will make the conversation easier than if I was sat here with a degree telling them they don't need one to have a successful career.
Fortunately they have both seen local degree courses they like so there is a route if they really want to, if one decides not to go away then it solves the problem but I'm not going to put the burden of that choice on them.

Me too - I came through the apprenticeship route and has done me no harm at all.

My son is just finishing a sport and exercise science degree, step-son about to go to study politics and international relations, step-daughter wants to study Spanish - all pretty pointless IMHO.
3 years of a jolly and then take some random job.

The main use for a second language is probably when living in the country of that language and being an english speaker as well!!

[Noggin]

It has been decided to 'gravel' parts of the road up to resort

I know it's cheaper, but does it work out cheaper when they have to redo it pretty much every year and then do a proper job anyway?

It's not great for the cars and stupid amount of lorries as these roads aren't the best to drive anyway (unless you're weird and love hairpins!) but for the motos and cyclists - well it's just sodding dangerous! Gravel on (I think) 6 or 8 of the hairpins



They have done a section of road 'properly' and it's lovely, but it's not one of the corners

[Horse]

It has been decided to 'gravel' parts of the road up to resort

I know it's cheaper, but does it work out cheaper when they have to redo it pretty much every year and then do a proper job anyway?

Possibly, yes, if you mean tar & chippings?

The best way to keep a road from failing is keeping the surface sealed to stop water getting into the lower layers. If that happens, the entire section has to be rebuilt rather than just resurfaced.

[dern]

The new student loan amounts are means tested on the parents wages.
Both my kids are looking at going to uni next year, I was expecting to sub them a certain amount to cover what the loan doesn't. But the total loan will be heavily reduced because of my wages meaning there's a shortfall of £11k per year before I sub them any extra. So my kids will lose out because I can't find that much down the back of my sofa, really doesn't seem fair that they are penalised because I have a decent job.
The only way round it is for them to live at home while studying, which massively restricts their choices.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/stude ... nd-plan-5/

I’ve got two daughters at uni. They apply for finance and they simply get the fees paid and the standard amount of loan if they apply and want it. I think the standard was about 6500 this year for London. You can apply for the maximum amount which was another 12000 (or maybe it took it to that amount in total, I’m not sure) and that additional amount is means tested. We’ve never got the additional amount, or at least not a significant chunk of it. The loan they get tends to contribution to some of the accommodation costs, maybe half. The rest I have to pay for and then living expenses on top of that. It’s not cheap and frankly you probably have to make sacrifices for them to go. Don’t forget though that they will also end up paying more than you contributed in the long run so it’s not a financial decision just for you.

I’m a big advocate of going though. I don’t think that something vocational is crucial but I do think that what they do contributes a significant amount to their life either in terms of enabling them to do something that they otherwise wouldn’t or inspiring them to do something that they otherwise wouldn’t.

I would definitely advise not judging whether or not they would benefit from it by whether you have or would. Their world will ideally be enriched by possibilities by going that you wouldn’t consider.

That said it is a big thing for all concerned. I don’t regret my two going and you can see the change for the better and their horizons expanding.

[MrLongbeard]

Ours finishes her 3 year degree this year, she lived at home for 2 of those years which was a weight off our shoulders, she had a part time job for 2 of those years which helped to pay for her living expenses for the year she was loved up and living with the boy.

Total debt;
£27,000 tuition fees, if there was any justice half of that would be written off due to Covid
£17,400 maintenance loan, would have been more but she didn't apply for 1 of the 3 years

[Mr. Dazzle]

It's mad, most people won't actually end up paying it back either. So they're essentially going with a heavy subsidy anyway!

[Horse]

It's mad, most people won't actually end up paying it back either. So they're essentially going with a heavy subsidy anyway!

Indeed. It's another PFI(?) buildings scenario.

Currently almost £20 billion is loaned to around 1.5 million students in England each year. The value of outstanding loans at the end of March 2022 reached £182 billion. The Government forecasts the value of outstanding loans to be around £460 billion (2021‑22 prices) by the mid-2040s.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/re ... s/sn01079/

[weeksy]

It's mad, most people won't actually end up paying it back either. So they're essentially going with a heavy subsidy anyway!

Indeed. It's another PFI(?) buildings scenario.

Currently almost £20 billion is loaned to around 1.5 million students in England each year. The value of outstanding loans at the end of March 2022 reached £182 billion. The Government forecasts the value of outstanding loans to be around £460 billion (2021‑22 prices) by the mid-2040s.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/re ... s/sn01079/

Isn't that a good thing though ? As realistically it means the more well off are funding the education of the less well off... until they then do the same in years to come...