Great “Improve Money Rules In 50 Words” Hunt. What easy changes for our politicians

seagull112

topgranny wrote: »

People working for the minimum wage should also receive help with their rent/housing, council tax, etc., in order to make them better off than those simply claiming benefits and sitting back doing nothing. Cost should be covered by more people taking work where possible.

How do you compell people to take work (when available) if they can simply 'sit back & do nothing' without any penalty?

An alternative would be:

Those claiming unemployment benefits should be required to do community service to earn their benefits. If they're not willing to do something that will benefit the community (i.e. the working people who are paying for their benefits) then the benefits should be cut.

Brandy98

Obviously sub prime mortgage rates should be higher than high street lenders but there should be a cap so these mortgage companies cannot take advantage of mortgage payers who may be struggling with payments.

VeeW

twirlypinky wrote: »

Change the council tax for single people down to 50% rather than 75%. Alternatively work out a charge per adult in the household and charge that.

One single persons costs are not half of a couple, this makes life very difficult. I shouldn't have to live with a stranger to make ends meet.

Maggie Thatcher tried taxing each adult in households and the country went nuts. I agree that should be how it's done dependant upon income too tho'. Maggie should never have gone.

VeeW

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

Credit card transactions to be authorised by text/bluetooth from the registered cardholder's mobile phone or a bespoke electronic identification device.

GG

And for those who don't have/use a mobile?:T

VeeW

michaels wrote: »

Best explained by an example:

In Comet you are comparing 2 washing machines, both priced in big type at £299

Used the same average usage (5 washes per week?), one might cost £100 in electricity for 2 years, the other less efficient one £200.

Instead of the price tickets both reading £299 they should read £499 and £399 (the pay today cost could then be in smaller type in brackets).

Consumers then get real info on running costs so haing the option to save money and of course both consumers and manufacturers are hugely incentivised to be as green as possible.

Bit confusing, but I agree the fuel costs ought to be shown to assist choice

Blaketon

Adverts for financial products usually carry a footer in tiny print. Why ? So you cannot or do not read it. A minimum font size ( e.g. 10 point) should be required by law.

macavity

Make estate agents declare why their 'admin' and 'referencing' fees are so extortionately high and how much of the rent goes to the homeowner. Make a minimum standard for the condition of rental properties.

Blaketon

Financial adverts often have tiny print in their footers so it is difficult to read. A minimum font size (e.g. 10 point) should be rquired by law.

VeeW

michaels wrote: »

Martin - I take on board your comments re Mr Clegg, just worried that politicians tend to 'shoot first' with something populist without actually understanding the economics of what they are saying...

Anyway my latest idea is that all packaging should have printe don it info on how it should be recycled. I know LAs differ but surely ther eare pluses in having a consistent scheme and making sure each item has details - I often put things to landfill just because I am not sure which bin they could go in (sandwich cartons with plastic windows, those plastic trays that meat comes in, the ones ready meals come in, the 'film that covers the ready meal trays etc)...

recently got more info thru' on what my LA accept for recycling & which box if any it goes in. Outcome recycling less now as despite cartons/containers saying can recycle info says not!!

dragon1945

I want a fair deal on Tax Credits for widows aged 60-65.
I am 63, have £900 in savings, and Pensions totalling £8,488 pa. I have to pay a percentage of Council Tax on Income over £130 per week, & get no Tax Credits. No Tax Credits means no Cold Weather Benefit and my Income Tax doubled to 20% in April 08, which cost me £125 of my £330 cost of living Increases.
In Scotland the £130 ceiling on Council Tax Benefit is £265 for a 63 year old widow in a Band E cottage like me. I have to pay £235 of my Council Tax and £400 Income Tax this year.
If I was 65 I could get up to £1,050 Savings Credit pa.
If I was a 53 y/o working a 30 hour week, I would get almost £1,500 p.a. in Tax Credits and my Council Tax paid. Do people 2 years older, or 10 years younger than me really need over £1,500 p.a. more than I do to live on? I wrote to G.Brown when he was C. of Exch. and to A.Darling when he implemented this pointing out widows age 60-65 were discriminated against. I never got an answer. Must be punished for carelessly losing my hb mustn't I?