Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

LAURA I'm a 'cash' every week person too. I take out a set amount each week and that is stretched and manipulated to cope with our needs and should there be anything left at the end of the week I invest it in 'futures' at the 99p shop and as a result we never run out of things like soap and toothpaste. I do have a credit card but very seldom use it and if we do use it it's usually petrol for the car or a larger item we wouldn't carry enough cash for in general. We do however pay off the CC entirely each month and thereby don't incur interest payments. We're maybe not good customers by the bank's standards but we don't cause them problems either. He Who Knows says I have piggy bank mentality because if I know I need to buy something or we have an event (Christmas/Easter/Birthday)coming up I tend to pop a couple of pounds in a jar each week for each thing and have the money for the day rather than have to pay it back afterwards. Makes for an easier life for me in the long run, Cheers Lyn xxx.

[Deleted User]

I don't have a Credit Card at all.

I pay cash for everything, except what I buy online and, for that, I use a Pre-Paid Mastercard.

[Deleted User]

I'm wondering, if the government were to seize people's savings, would cash on pre-paid cards also be liable to seizure?

Possession

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I'm wondering, if the government were to seize people's savings, would cash on pre-paid cards also be liable to seizure?

I can't help (sorry!) but coincidentally I was also wondering the same last night about offset mortgages.

jk0

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I'm wondering, if the government were to seize people's savings, would cash on pre-paid cards also be liable to seizure?

Not seizure, but I expect they'd find some way to acquire it:

Maybe inflation, maybe knocking a couple of zeros off the currency, maybe a new currency, or maybe making such cards illegal to use.

VJsmum

A couple of years ago we realised that there was a loophole in OHs pension which meant that we could take it early. We knew that we would take a lower amount by doing, but decided that we would rather have control ourselves. A couple of weeks after we got that money ( and after the law changed, closing the loophole) there was a notice to say that the pension company had frozen the amount anyone could take, meaning that no matter how long we left it in we would never have got any more than we had already taken.

We have put that money into some property that we rent. We have taken a chance, cos there isn't a whole lot more pension and this will have to do us. Trouble is, friends and family think we are loaded now and no matter how much we say "it's our pension" they can't make the connection that we are actually no better off than them in the long term.

I wonder if a raid on bank accounts and pension funds would include property such as ours?

catznine

Coming out of lurkdom to ask if anyone else has experienced blackouts in their area? Our County Council (in their infinite wisdom) has started 12 midnight to 5 in the morning blackouts for street lighting, no announcements, no leaflet drops just started last week! Many of us not in agreement as we live in a busy area with lots of traffic, shift workers trying to get home at that time. The lights are out even on the main route in to our A and E department! :eek: I guess as we have no choice we will have to see how it works out and hope for the best. Why they couldn't do as other places have done and install led's which save a lot of money I don't know. What really disturbs me is the real financial mess the council must be in to even start this. Anyway I have my trusty handbag torch in case I ever find myself out at that time and must try to get one for dh.

Unrelated but a couple of weeks ago we had a powercut (for maintenance of a sub station) it lasted for 6 hours and certainly refreshed my memory of the cuts in the 1970's. Knowing when they are going to happen helps, I can clearly remember going with Mum to the Electric showroom to find out when our area would be without power, Mum would then make sure all laundry was done, oil for the lamp was in and candles were available and cooking was done ready for easy meals. Thank goodness we have a few thermos flasks knocking around, I managed to fill a couple with hot water to take to my elderly neighbours so they could have their cuppas. Luckily I had a sewing class away from the power cut area so could complete the project I was working on (recycled shirt cushion cover).

In other preps I have been taking a few handicraft workshops, sewing, knitting and crochet as at my age and with M.E I don't feel I could contribute much in a physical sense, also trying to educate the younger members of the family but with little success I am afraid. They seem to think that as they live near some small food shops they will always be ok? Of course all these shops have huge warehouses right out back don't they? Arrrggg! Apparently I over react!

Have just read a copy of last light by Alex Scarrow, scary and had to read in small amounts as would never have slept otherwise!

Catz x

Possession

Yes our council is doing a similar thing with streetlights, but it was all announced and 'consulted' about beforehand. (It's just that they ignored what anyone said, obviously!)

Hard_Up_Hester

Most of the street light in our area are out 12 til 5 too and have been for a few years now, it's made it impossible for me to travel during these hours as I suffer from night blindness.
Hester

Butterfly_Brain

Our council has not started that yet.
I have a blepheritis flare up at the moment and it looks like it is developing into conjunctivitis again So not a lot doing on the prepping front apart from filling my water containers with water.