Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

Here is a potential bug out vehicle for those inclined.

SMLE.

Not a bad piece of kit, although I prefer the No4.

[Deleted User]

Blue_Doggy wrote: »

And yet - it could be a way for the Germans to save face and give Greece what it needs.

But wouldn't the EU then, have to give the same, to all other EU countries?

Blue_Doggy

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

But wouldn't the EU then, have to give the same, to all other EU countries?

Well, there you go - I dare say it costs Malta and Italy a pretty euro, too, and wasn't Hungary having an influx, too? If they gave it to all those on the front-line of incomers, they could demonstrate to their hard-headed electorate that they weren't making a special case for Greece. So it could be even more acceptable, and the end result would be the same.

(And even France might be prepared to take a different approach at Calais if there was money in it for them.)

After all, when it comes to it, it isn't "The EU's" money, it's the European Taxpayers' money.

I can't have more than one idea a day, after these two I have to lie down in a darkened room to recover :rotfl:

Frugalsod

Further update re my housing situation. I registered with the main websites and had a look at prices being asked locally. There is a two bed penthouse flat on the market for £1.1 million. This is for a new build next door to where I live. When the building was started the prices were up to £800 000, now they think that they can get £1.1 million for a two bed with a good view. For the same money you could get a 5 bed house in one of the top roads locally and still get £100 000 change. Clearly someone is taking drugs with this price.

The local housing market has been sluggish for months apparently so where they get these sums from is ludicrous.

GreyQueen

mardatha wrote: »

Important - somebody on another forum has posted this- I don't know if this is true, can somebody on tax credits please check??
"From April 2016 the in come threshold to claim for working tax credits will go down from £6,420 to £3,850. At the same time the minimum wages will rise to £7,20.
To claim you must work at lest 16 hours a week
16 x 7.20 pays £5,990.40 per year
That's £2,140 over the threshold to claim working tax credits at all
No one will ever qualify for this benefit after April 2016"

On a cursory reading of the budget synopsis last week, I'd understood that what was being lowered was the threshold for what is considered 'excess income' (no laughing in the back, please).

You have to work a certain amount of hours for WTC but they don't put a lower earnings threshold on them, insofar as I am aware. The min wage would obvously be the lowest possible rate.

Tax Credit is award minus 'excess income'. Excess income threshold is being substantially lowered, therefore people will get their tax credit award reduced as more of their earned income is deemed 'excess income'.

Going to hit a lot of people where it hurts, unfortunately.:(

mardatha

Ok ty GQ - I know nothing at all about TC nor do I want to really It just sounded sneaky and scary.

1Tonsil

A few quick comments from ground Zero in Greece. I went to sleep as the debate went on and on and on....and woke up to find nothing had been agreed. Finally, as I was eating my breakfast they gave the confirmation there was an agreement. But not before our prime minister and Merkel were prevented from leaving the room....

Since then I have seen the list they have agreed to and it is shocking. Much more austerity and getting rid of national monuments, ports and airfields.......I cant believe they have agreed to this after the NO vote...and other things as well. I smell Revolution in the air by the ordinary man in the street. I feel sure it will not get voted through by the parliament, but I suspect the EU want this so more elections are called. There are plans for demonstrations and strikes as many have nothing more to lose.

One good thing to come out of it is that it has shown the world that there are huge cracks in the system and that the EU, Germany in particular, are not against using blackmail and nastiness in order to get what they want. But watch their Deutsche bank..it is in huge trouble. Countries all over the world are wondering if they are next and supporting the Greeks.

I went to the accountant today to ask about the tax bill that is due at the end of this month. She said she could print it for me as they were no longer sent out by mail. It was one sheet instead of four this time to save on paper, as they say there is a shortage...
Then came the million dollar question...how could I pay it if the banks were still shut? I turned down the idea of e banking...doing it in English is bad enough but doing it in Greek would turn my hair grey. So I asked for alternatives..... if I had no residence card I could take the form to the tax office and queue for a few hours in the heat....or go to the post office if I had it with me.

Luckily, it was still in my bag from when I used the ID card at the insurance agents, so I opted for the post office. There was a choice of two tickets and I didnt know which to take, so asked in Greek. The answer was either as they were taking payment for the bills at any of the tellers. I was only in there ten minutes in total. All done and dusted. I paid in full as it got me a 2 percent discount, not a lot, but better in my pocket than theirs. I also had the option of paying it in three instalments but I cant stand the thought of queueing more than once. Despite the agreement , the banks are staying shut and the limit for Greek withdrawls is still sixty euros.

I dont think its going through when they vote here on Wednesday and we will be back to square one....most likely without our current pm. I dont think all the member countries will vote yes either. I just wish it was all over and done with, even if it means struggling for a few more years.

Frugalsod

Somehow I think that was part of the EU plan to get rid if Tsprais and hopefully get a more compliant leader in power. They have sufficiently tarnished his reputation for honesty with the Greeks. Others might call it regime change. I doubt that they can last more than a few months anyway

I think that the options now are more likely revolution or a military coup. Golden Dawn are probably going to surge in popularity now, as they have not capitulated and are still anti austerity.

jk0

I guess we know why poor Yanis resigned last week now, don't we? It sounds like Tsipras was hoping for a yes vote, and told YV he was going to agree anyway.

The more I hear about this, the more I get the impression that politicians get a tap on the shoulder the day after they are elected, and are told:

'Er, look chummy, we know you promised the electorate such & such if you were elected? Well, it doesn't work like that. The government don't actually run things. They only pretend to. Unless you don't want to wake up tomorrow morning, you'll do what we tell you to.'

moneyistooshorttomention

....and my own personal thoughts on this are there is indeed a "Nothing Left to Lose" scenario for any person/any government/etc/etc and if you push them beyond that level then its become a case of "Who the 8888 knows just which way they will jump?".

I have seen this one out at a very individual level and thought "Push me one step

---

just one itsty tiny little step further - at your peril - ie because I swear I'll turn communist/a fighter/etc". My personal "This far and no further - OR ELSE" scenario was 3 bouts of "redundancy" in a row (one of them being unfair dismissal actually) and I knew I would explode if there was One More Thing thrown at this Decent/Normal/Hard-Working Individual.

Hence I've worked ever since on the basis that if a person (or country) knows/absolutely knows of a total certainty that they really are Trying/Doing Their Bit/Being Responsible and they get One More Thing thrown at them = then everyone can watch out because things might Go Ballistic if so. It honestly does look to me like countries and individuals function on much the same sort of lines and some are responsible etc and some aren't.

The thing I am personally not sure about is whether Greece (as a country) has been that national equivalent of "Decent/Normal/Hard-Working Individual" and the jury is still out as to whether they have fully "done their bit" and are entitled to blow a gasket and turn communist.

Time will tell indeed - and I do see them reaching out toward Putin in Russia in extremis and that is not a Pretty Picture (including for them) because that man is Seriously Very Bad News Indeed imo.

Guess you could call my take Gut Reaction Politics.....