thecornflake21

Private health insurance, is it worth it in England?

Posted by Dev_x@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 51 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

The company policy was with Vitality. However since my post I've cancelled and started paying for one privately as the Vitality premiums went up so much the taxable bit was actually more than just buying it myself. We're now with WPA after doing some comparisons (see the article on the mse website). I didn't have any issues with Vitality other than the huge cost they started charging our company for it.

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

It's not a tiny chance. I've flown a lot and several times seen people who boarded later have to have their cabin bag stuck in the hold because the cabin areas were already full. Obviously this depends on the airline, where the flight is going etc. And I like to book extra legroom seats that don't always have a seat in front so the option to put a small bag under that seat isn't there. So for me I'm happy to pay a small bit extra for the peace of mind, it probably doesn't make pure financial sense. The biggest issue with hold luggage for me would be having to wait to collect my bags on landing

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

In your opinion, what's the biggest waste of money you see people purchase all the time?

Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2080 comments

What was the absolute peak status symbol at your primary or secondary school?

Posted by Necessary_Angle2117@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 675 comments

What was the absolute peak status symbol at your primary or secondary school?

Posted by Necessary_Angle2117@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 675 comments

What was the absolute peak status symbol at your primary or secondary school?

Posted by Necessary_Angle2117@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 675 comments

When will you buy an EV car?

Posted by sillwuka@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 927 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

My 2019 diesel Qashqai does 80mpg easily (and that's not an uncommon car). So not the case for all diesels. If I did short journeys around town all the time that would drop to about 55-60 but then I wouldn't own a diesel (dpf reasons)

When will you buy an EV car?

Posted by sillwuka@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 927 comments

A family member is currently pulled over on a motorway hard shoulder with a violent migraine. What should he do?

Posted by ellieisstucklikethis@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 225 comments

A family member is currently pulled over on a motorway hard shoulder with a violent migraine. What should he do?

Posted by ellieisstucklikethis@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 225 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Definitely get out of the car. Then call the non-emergency police number or highways to request assistance. They may be able to send traffic officers to get him and the car to the next safe services or place off the motorway.

You have a 7am - 4pm work day with 1hr unpaid lunch break, what time would you leave if you booked a half day?

Posted by feckingloser@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 181 comments

Would you be happy with a below inflation pay rise ?

Posted by Wise-Isopod-8691@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 276 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

You're getting a small pay cut anyway because your pay is taxed but your bills etc have gone up by the full inflation amount (obviously varies between people) so inflation should be the absolute minimum

Would you be happy with a below inflation pay rise ?

Posted by Wise-Isopod-8691@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 276 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Our company bends their rules about how they calculate the yearly pay rises so it's always a bit under inflation. Even matching inflation, because of tax you're slightly losing money in real terms so over a long term if I don't get some sort of additional rise I change jobs (and also I just seem to have a natural cycle where I want to move on after about 5 years). After the year we had inflation at around 10% for a while they gave us a 4% rise and several people quit in the few months after because of it. It's up to you whether it's acceptable balanced against how much you like the job and company, other benefits etc

What’s somewhere in the UK you visited once and immediately thought “I could live here”?

Posted by Strong-Ad-8037@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 1175 comments

What’s somewhere in the UK you visited once and immediately thought “I could live here”?

Posted by Strong-Ad-8037@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 1175 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Cornwall and North Wales. Instantly feel at home in both. Plus my family on one side goes back to a very small village in Cornwall from about the 1600s so I have strong family roots there. It's an ongoing discussion currently about where we ultimately retire to (I tend towards Cornwall and my wife towards North Wales)

There are no empty double seats left on the bus. How do you choose who to sit next to?

Posted by stevegotnolegs@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 616 comments

People who have moved back to the UK after many years abroad, what is the thing that surprised you most after repatriation?

Posted by dangerous_welshman@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 161 comments

Is Costco worth it ?

Posted by MyHapinessFirst@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 83 comments

Is Costco worth it ?

Posted by MyHapinessFirst@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 83 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Fair point, you just scan the card at the pump so in theory you could get away with letting other people use it as well. Entering the shop they actually check the photo and they will cancel the membership for using someone elses

Is Costco worth it ?

Posted by MyHapinessFirst@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 83 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

The biggest issue is the random impulse items. Do that in Tesco and you've added a few quid to the trolley. In Costco you can add a hundred quids worth pretty quickly!

Is Costco worth it ?

Posted by MyHapinessFirst@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 83 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

I save the membership in petrol just about by going about 4 times per year with a nearly empty tank. I save around £10 per tank (and don't sit in the queue with my engine running 😁) You do have to carefully compare prices against supermarkets and make sure you look at the smaller price that includes vat. We save mainly on coffee, tea, dishwasher tabs and cleaner, toilet roll (branded), milk and cheese, medications. For example last time I got 200 dishwasher tabs for the same price as 48 in the supermarket (comparing on the same exact item). So it does depend what you're buying and having the storage for it. Plus the hassle of getting round the shop - I usually book a weekday off to do it and don't go anywhere near Xmas!

Long term renters what’s you plan for retirement?

Posted by Significant-War-491@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 526 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Inheritance basically. And if I have a mortgage at early retirement date I'll use the tax free lump sum option to pay it off. Otherwise it would just be using my pension to pay rent somewhere cheap.

Is my husband addicted to WOW?

Posted by holly134@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 240 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

I still did bath and bedtime when I was home from work in time, it's something we tried to stick to because I was leaving for work before anyone else was up so it was a good opportunity to spend time with them. Also our kids both dropped the middle of the night feed at about 6 weeks so getting up at night wasn't an issue for long anyway.

Is my husband addicted to WOW?

Posted by holly134@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 240 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

I was working 14 hour days and doing 24 hour on call. My wife was not working. So she did feeds during the week while I was working and I did them at weekends. We also made sure she went out with friends at least 1-2 times per week.

Is my husband addicted to WOW?

Posted by holly134@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 240 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

When I became a dad the first time I actually spent a lot of time gaming, I guess as a sort of escape maybe although I was happy and did do things like prepare bottles and night feeds at weekends. It does feel like it's related but it's going to be hard to resolve without decent communication

Do you read books? If so, what are you currently reading? If not, why not?

Posted by theowleryonehundred@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 937 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

I read while commuting using Kindle on my phone plus physical books sometimes at home. Always reading at least 2-3 books. Currently - Wind up bird chronicle (Murakami) Farm to fork (non-fiction, very interesting) Browsing a book at home about train travel in Europe as I'm planning for a sabbatical next year doing that Then there's about 6 books in my tbr pile

Have you used an airport lounge, was it worth it?

Posted by they-muck-about@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 335 comments

What do you think is the daftest thing people have to pay for?

Posted by shakespearesreverse@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 1210 comments

Did my employee break GDPR, and what are his next steps?

Posted by OverFinish3940@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 173 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

There's no obligation for a company to pay 2 staff in the same roles the same salary. In one of my jobs they hired a second person doing the same role and he was on less than me. It turned out there was a fixed budget to hire the 2 roles and I was hired first and negotiated a salary a bit higher than advertised. So the second hire had to be on slightly less which the guy who was hired was happy to accept. It used to be that companies could discipline staff for discussing salaries but this was made illegal some time ago and they now can't do that under employment law.

What do you remember about the UK in the 1980s?

Posted by LochNessMonsterMunch@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 503 comments

What's your take on this move, and would you consider visiting China?

Posted by JasonMantou@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 354 comments

What's your take on this move, and would you consider visiting China?

Posted by JasonMantou@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 354 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

It is optional on the form but they can ask to look at them on entry, I don't know how common this is currently. I'd use a burner phone if I was going without any social media installed.

What is it really like living in the UK on weekends?

Posted by Chickadee_Sparrow@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 466 comments

Are Police Auctions any good?

Posted by Flying_Wilson17@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 124 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

I went through a phase of buying police/legal textbooks from an online site, bumblebee maybe? I think they were clearing out some libraries at police stations. Sold them on Amazon for a decent profit. I also once bought a silver medal there and after some research found out it was related to some old cruise ship, ended up chatting over email to the original captain of the ship and sent it to him as it was only plated so not worth much and it gave him some sentimental value.

What is it really like living in the UK on weekends?

Posted by Chickadee_Sparrow@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 466 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

You think that's bad, I've started getting interested in birds and bought binoculars (mainly because we moved to a more rural area and see birds of prey almost every day). Also jigsaws and home made soup

How much have GCSEs actually affected you across life?

Posted by Alarming-Safety3200@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 398 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

They got me into a college course, which then got me my first job in IT (although I aced an aptitude test and I think I interviewed well so not sure to what extent. Probably got me into the selection process at least as I didn't have any experience other than college work experience). After that, worthless.

Do you prefer gas or induction? Getting our kitchen redone.

Posted by darkazuria@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 537 comments

Inflation is at 3.4% but it feels a lot higher. What have you noticed that has risen way more than the figures say?

Posted by Opening-Fortune4@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 264 comments

Am I right to think a neighbours house looking directly onto your garden would be terrible?

Posted by Three_Cats_In_1_Coat@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 1379 comments

UK parents, what has your kid lost at school already this term?

Posted by UpForConversations@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 263 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

It's called lack of object permanance, common with autism etc. They literally forget things exist if they can't see them. Our daughter actually has a see through plastic chest of drawers otherwise she forgets which drawers things are in. This does work well in Easter though when they put their uneaten chocolate in the fridge and promptly forget about it 😁

What’s the weirdest work lunch you’ve seen a colleague eat regularly?

Posted by levezvosskinnyfists7@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 1159 comments

What’s something that’s oddly expensive in the UK that still annoys you every time?

Posted by catarsan@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 2220 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

It winds me up that I have to call up my car insurance every year when they put the renewal price up to get the "loyalty discount" that they magically seem to find as soon as I call them. I know why they do it but it's 20 minutes of my life wasted just to get a price I should have had anyway.

What's the strangest thing you've seen your neighbours do?

Posted by Deep_Banana_6521@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 394 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Replaced their decking twice in 3 years. Like fully ripped up and replaced. They also had their whole roof replaced, then had the whole thing taken off and relied because some scammed knocked on their door and told them it needed doing. They were basically obsessed with doing stuff to their house constantly and had more money than sense. Glad we moved eventually, the random drilling every Saturday around 4pm as well as the constant trades doing various work drove us nuts

Do you know anyone who has won the Postcode Lottery?

Posted by JaBe68@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 375 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

I started playing around 2022. I won £1000 a few months after and then I've had about 15 £10 wins. It varies hugely though, I do know a few people who've won nothing over the same time.

How much money do you have left each month after bills?

Posted by Few_Ad_2268@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 396 comments

thecornflake21@reddit

Allowing for everything including regular extras so for example one takeaway a month etc, around 400 a month. Some months that all goes into savings, most months at least some goes on unexpected extras. I do have an emergency fund though and am paying off some debts at around 600 per month.