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What class are you? Poll results/discussion
Poll between 06-13 October 2008. What class are you? It’s an old fashioned comment, but many use the terms to this day. The aim is for you instinctively to say where you think you belong. There are deliberately no definitions below; in a few weeks the same poll will be repeated with them to see if that changes the result.…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Insult by paying or let them struggle?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you insult by paying or let them struggle? You’re travelling overseas to a developing nation, and a good friend who originates from there asks you to drop off a parcel. On arrival, though you’ve eaten, the father insists on taking you and your family…
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'Christmas vs. Summer Holiday' poll results/discussion
Poll between 09-15 Dec 08: Which would you cut first… Christmas or Summer Holiday? The average UK family is said to spend £600 on Christmas, and not that much more on a holiday. So in tight times, which would you give up spending money on first? Note: If you are of a different religion, please substitute your nearest…
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Mortgage brokers poll results/discussion
Poll between 01-09 Dec 2008: Mortgage Brokers Which system did you use the last time your changed/got a mortgage? For years, I’ve always said never go to your bank/building society to get a mortgage, always use a whole of market mortgage broker (see mortgage brokers guide), but I'm interested to see how people actually do…
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MMD: Would you get into debt to grant a friend’s dying wish?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you get into debt to grant a friend’s dying wish? Your best friend's/close family member’s final wish on his death bed was for you to sprinkle his ashes over the Grand Canyon. You’d love fulfil his dying wish and fly to the States. Yet you’re already…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Should Lucky Luke give back his hardship grant?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Lucky Luke give back his hardship grant? Lucky Luke is a student and struggling horribly to survive, partly as he doesn't manage his money well. He applied for a hardship grant from the limited Uni fund and has been awarded £1,000. On the day it goes…
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Are you hit by evaporating equity? Poll discussion
Poll between 24 Nov - 01 Dec 2008: Are you hit by evaporating equity? The loan-to-value ratio of your house - the proportion of your house’s value you’re borrowing - is a key factor in getting a mortgage. Yet there’s a double whammy hitting this across the nation, that I call the evaporating equity trap. Problem 1. House…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should you risk spreading the lurgy to colleagues?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should you risk spreading the lurgy to colleagues? You’re battling a nasty flu, but need to go to work because of cash problems (you do freelance shifts and don’t get paid sick leave). You’ll be able to make it through the day with the aid of cough mixture…
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'Should Cheap Booze Be Banned?' poll discussion
Poll between 17-24 Nov 2008. Should Cheap Booze Be Banned? There’ve been calls from a Government select committee for price caps on alcohol. This would impact the selling of booze in supermarkets and would hit promotions such as '6 bottles of wine for a tenner'. Pros include... it’ll stop some “pre-loaded” binge drinking,…
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What's the cost of parking fines? Poll Results/Discussion
Poll between 17-25 March 2008: Results What’s the cost of parking fines? The free Budget Planner microcategorises spending, but the car section doesn’t include fines. Are these now such an annual part of people’s expenditure that they should be included? Are parking fines so unavoilable in a clamping culture that they…
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Should the UK ditch the pound and adopt the Euro ? Poll Discussion
As the debate over the reintroduction of a form of new consitution for Europe hots up; let's return to the old chestnut of the Euro. It's been in place for five years years now, and many people have held the notes in their hands while travelling through Europe. So should the UK ditch the pound and adopt the Euro? A. Yes B.…
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'Would you take a pay cut?' Poll results/discussion
Poll ran 28 Oct - 03 Nov 2008: Would you take a pay cut to save your company? Due to the economic climate, your employer announces it needs to radically reduce its outgoings to keep the company's head above water. Reluctant to cut jobs, the boss sends a memo asking all 200 employees if they would agree to take a 10% pay…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should you come clean about the extra refund?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should you come clean about the extra refund? You've bagged a bargain with a 20% off voucher but decide you don’t like it and take it back to the shop. When the shop assistant gives you a refund she reimburses you the full amount rather than the price you…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Would you shop your teenager?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you shop your teenager? Whilst withdrawing cash from an ATM you notice £750 is missing from the account. A quick check online reveals the money was spent a few days ago at djdecksdirect.com; your fourteen year-old son's favourite website. He admits…
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How close to the brink are you? poll discussion
Poll between 03-10 November 2008: How close to the brink are you? Recession is coming. On a scale of nought to nine, how near the financial edge are you? Some of the numbers have descriptions to give guidance to the scale 0 No problem. No matter what. 6% (702 votes) [SIZE=+2]1[/SIZE] It’d need to be extreme before we felt…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Grant's been overpaid, should he keep it?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Grant's been overpaid, should he keep it? Grant's been working at Phil's small garage for nine years. Barring the odd disagreement, the two have always got on well. Yet in his final paypacket he's been paid for the full months work, yet he's only actually…
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Should Thelma lend Louise money?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Thelma lend Louise money? Thelma's best friend since childhood, Louise, has always been terrible with cash; and now she's got into serious debt and is in danger of losing her home. She's asked Thelma for a loan of £10,000. Thelma's very affluent and…
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'What'll happen to house prices?' poll results/discussion
Poll between 20-28 Oct 2008: What’ll happen to house prices? Annual UK house prices drops of over 10% have been reported. But where will they go next? What do you think’ll happen to UK house prices over the next 12 months? A. Increase over 20%. 1% (118 votes) B. Increase 10-20%. 1% (128 votes) C. Increase 5-10%. 2% (194…
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MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Fannie contribute to Mae's council tax?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Fannie contribute to Mae's council tax? Best friends Fannie and Mae rent a flat together. Fannie's a student, so there’s no legal obligation for her to pay any council tax, but Mae, who works full-time for minimum wage, does have to pay 75% of the…
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should you save a stranger money?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should you save a stranger money? Whilst on a train, you over-hear a man in front of you discussing his love life on his mobile phone and, being a curious individual, you can't help listening to the salacious gossip and him baring his soul. Then the subject…