The recession, benefits, the safety net, and the learning curve

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

Crikey lir, we do think alike sometimes...

What a compliment! Nice to think like someone you think highly of

vivatifosi

Aw shucks , its mutual (and that's the closest I could get to a blushing icon)

lostinrates

Infact, back to benefits, was just watching a programme on C4 about ''rich'' people helping ''poor people'' and seeing how they avoided impacting on the benefits with gifts and cash only upto £5k. It was a strange, but moving show.

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

Aw shucks , its mutual (and that's the closest I could get to a blushing icon)

Tee hee.

Alright guys, I'm logging off. Wish me luck, its a big medical day for me tomorrow

vivatifosi

Good luck for tomorrow lir, fingers crossed for you (and that makes it bl**dy hard to type)

vivatifosi

fc123 wrote: »

And another thing.....those double-dealing, corporate parasites haven't accepted my rent surrender form our solicitor....and I am talking a seriously large sum here.......

So I may pop over to the BR board to prep myself for BR again. I have a bad feeling about it all.

Sorry to shorten your post fc, but would they still get the same size of settlement if they push you into BR with the associated costs? I'd rather have all of less than none of something if you get my drift. Good luck with a horrible situation.

fc123

vivatifosi wrote: »

Sorry to shorten your post fc, but would they still get the same size of settlement if they push you into BR with the associated costs? I'd rather have all of less than none of something if you get my drift. Good luck with a horrible situation.

They would get hardly anything at all and the OR's don't like their sort apparently...bearing in mind we would sit in his office not owing HMRC a penny, suppliers, business rates, bank etc, just some old card stuff which was all on 0% and was manageable.
I have been told the trustees take the first 25k of any BI for starters.

One particular person at LL is unbelievably spiteful and maliscious,, truly....found out from someone they contract. He is like a general from Gallipoli and thinks it's it's all 'sound business practise'', doesn't care who he stamps on. Has done worse to others.

I will update if it gets sorted.

---

I missed LIR to wish luck for tomo. Also what is toothsome fat?

Now taupe and gold buttons.....with squidgy soled shoes?

dopester

Max_Headroom wrote: »

Ah yes, the mystery list.

Not suggesting this is an idea for Max to pursue. Thinking more for myself to try, if I absolutely could not get back into a line of work I'm trained for, had pursued lots of other options, and any minimum wage type jobs offered were not at all appealing.

Max could come up with his own ideas to meet his strengths, which I noticed was suggested to him by a few people yesterday.

It is not a guaranteed income generator either, but perhaps something I might try, (if desperate.) Just looking at one way I might personally try and beat JSA (£63ish a week) & council-tax relief by some way.

Also doesn't have to be a full-time thing just waiting for customers to make contact. Can pursue other self-employment and income generating opportunities at the same time, whilst also applying for preferred full-time jobs.

Also the downside risks seem minimal. Little bit for some design/publishing, maybe some drop-cards, fee for weekly display in post-office / news-agents windows of an area. Minimal set-up costs so limited capital risk. Immediate payment.



I've overdone it with the security 'fear-factor' images.. that would have to be toned down. The security part is because I know many highly security-concerned people at the moment.. so why not play on it a little, instead of just targeting those who want repairs? Postcard design pretty basic (I'm not a desktop-publisher designer), and someone with a better eye could make a much more effective display. Would have to check legal stuff too.

90% of crime is against property. Most burglars are opportunists. 1/3 of all burglaries gain entry through a window. Secure windows force a thief to break the glass and risk attracting attention.

No idea if the above is fully true - just a quick google search.

Ansaphone for any incoming calls after 5pm asking for details, to contact back first thing next morning. On calls to visit, go to estimate, and quote your £15/£20/£25 start fee + quote costs for any part required (a couple £ markup on each). That isn't ripping the customer off, and comfortably beats many a professionals rate.

Lots of people can make their own simple repairs, or have people to help - but market has people who pay for repairs. If the phone doesn't ring at all, not lost too much money with the whole attempt (bit of marketing and maybe a selection of parts) and easy exit to try something else.

Any repair job which looks too difficult from the outset (windows which won't close properly for example due to a tricky-looking friction hinge stopping the window closing flush, or hard-to-source part, or a system beyond my expertise), or pre-start repair suggestion not meeting the customer's approval .. then make your excuses about not being able to complete the job, whilst perhaps recommending a very experienced 'professional' who can.

scrooge2008

Nice one Dopester. Simple idea that I think could work well. The money is in franchising your idea. A string of Maxio's throughout the UK.

Sell a nice little start up package, and supply all your franchisees with the products that you buy at wholesale prices.

PasturesNew

dopester wrote: »

Max could come up with his own ideas to meet his strengths

This is the thing, strengths.

If one has manual skills then it's easier to reach a local hungry marketplace,

But not many have these skills or nobody'd need the service.

dopester wrote: »

Also doesn't have to be a full-time thing just waiting for customers to make contact. Can pursue other self-employment and income generating opportunities at the same time, whilst also applying for preferred full-time jobs.

True but one still needs to find something one can do

dopester wrote: »

Also the downside risks seem minimal. Little bit for some design/publishing, maybe some drop-cards, fee for weekly display in post-office / news-agents windows of an area. Minimal set-up costs so limited capital risk. Immediate payment.

Design by a "proper designer" in a print shop would probably be about £25. Drop cards are cheap.

Good one ... "skills" is the word that springs to my mind. I'd be the one doing the calling, not the fixing.

Good effort though.