Tonight Programme. - Your Pound Abroad, including property bought abroad

John_Brown_4

spuds wrote: »

There are plenty of oap's over here who have no savings and don't own their own home. They have more to worry about than how much a euro is worth compared to last year.

What's their worry? GB will look after them, the ones who need to worry are the ones who have saved all their lives (now no interest) and own their own property!

gemini24

Believe it or not, pensioners in the UK who live in sheltered housing, are on guaranteed pension credits and receive full Housing Benefit have less to worry about than mid-band pensioners who have risked all their hard earned savings and house equity for a better life in sunnier and warmer countries, often with a view to hopefully have better health and not be reliant upon the NHS.

I am lucky enough to be able to visit my overseas property when I want but I can assure you the busiest supermarkets are the discount names as the Brits are really struggling overseas. If they return to this country having lost it all after trying to be self-sufficient, they struggle to be accepted as being eligible for benefits.

Tell me is it fair that UK people who try for a better life are penalised for failing because of the economy or should they have lived their lives on benefits in the UK and automatically qualify to be forever looked after by constantly dwindling taxpayers?

CatherineS

Much as I've always been a "fan" of Martin, I was very disappointed at his comments on this program. Yes, it is more expensive in the Euro zone than it was last summer - but not 50% more like he was so emphatically stating. The sterling/euro exchange rate last summer was about 1.25, last week when the program aired it was 1.11. Er, hello? How does that make Europe 50% more expensive????

Obviously simple arithmetic is not a strong point for Martin. Which is a slight disadvantage for someone claiming to be a 'Money Saving Expert'.

I know of someone who is struggling to rent out a holiday apartment in Spain. In the current economic situation it is really tough for them at the moment. They told me

I have been chasing an overdue deposit and managed to speak to the lady this afternoon. She thinks she will have to cancel because she saw the offending programme and "now everything in Spain is 50% more expensive" she doesn't think she will come to Spain this year. Thank you Mr Money Saving Expert

Sorry Martin, but on this occasion I think you haven't done your homework as thoroughly as you should, and people are suffering as a result.

roxytoo

I Thoroughly agree with you Catherine, Martin has been a fan of mine too since the beginning really (when the site started) and I was shocked and dismayed at the inaccuracies of the programme

hearts

roxytoo wrote: »

I Thoroughly agree with you Catherine, Martin has been a fan of mine too since the beginning really (when the site started) and I was shocked and dismayed at the inaccuracies of the programme

He gets on my bloody nerves to be honest. ;-)

gfplux

Using oanda to check the Pound against the Euro
June 1st 2008 £1 = €1.27
July 1st 2008 £1 = €1.26
August 1st 2008 £1 = €1.27
Today let us say £1 = €1.10 as Martin may have written his script a day before.
SO Europe is about 13% yes 13% more expensive.
However let us give Martin some extra "rope"
1st February 2008 £1 = € 1.33
So now 12 months on Europe is 17% more expensive!!!!!!
Martin needs to apologise to someone. His maths are shocking.

stevsand

gemini24 wrote: »

Believe it or not, pensioners in the UK who live in sheltered housing, are on guaranteed pension credits and receive full Housing Benefit have less to worry about than mid-band pensioners who have risked all their hard earned savings and house equity for a better life in sunnier and warmer countries, often with a view to hopefully have better health and not be reliant upon the NHS.

I am lucky enough to be able to visit my overseas property when I want but I can assure you the busiest supermarkets are the discount names as the Brits are really struggling overseas. If they return to this country having lost it all after trying to be self-sufficient, they struggle to be accepted as being eligible for benefits.

Tell me is it fair that UK people who try for a better life are penalised for failing because of the economy or should they have lived their lives on benefits in the UK and automatically qualify to be forever looked after by constantly dwindling taxpayers?

Seems fair enough,dont believe you moved abroad to help the NHS for one second.