The Budget

PixelPound

wotsthat wrote: »

I don't know for sure but I'd wager Aldi's checkout operators are dramatically more efficient than say, Sainsburys, so they need fewer of them and can pay the better ones more. You don't get asked if you need bags, if you've got a nectar card, you don't need to walk out with vouchers coming out your ears and, if you've got a big shop, you expect to bag it away from the checkout so they can get on with the next customer. So less space being wasted on checkouts and a bigger % of floor space holding stock.

Aldi are a much more efficient overall - suppliers have to deliver in packaging which is completely shelf ready and they can handle single traded units containing more than one different retail unit. These are small things but the bigger retailers have, despite many 'initiatives', failed to come close. One reason is because the big brands have sufficient power to bend the rules and deliver in units which require staff handling but look better on shelf.

Overall the net effect is that Aldi can work on lower product margins which is passed on to the customer.

Aldi operators have efficiency rates and get reviewed if they are not chucking stuff through fast enough. The pay may seem higher, but it's a flat rate in that you don't get extras for working unsociable hours like Sundays. They also have a higher turnover of staff due to burnout.

kabayiri

BABYRUSH !!!!! target April 2017

(ps - I am copyrighting this term, please note Daily Mail )

vivatifosi

Britain 1% world pop, 4% income 7% of world's welfare spend.

Universal credit will transform lives of those trapped on benefits.

To live within our means we need to find a further £12b of welfare savings.

1. Welfare should always support elderly, welfare, vulnerable.
Triple lock reinforced. BBC taking over support for TV licences for over 75.
2. Increase funding for refuges.
No tax for those on disability.

18-21 youth obligation to earn or learn. No automatic housing benefit. Exceptions for vulnerable and special cases.
Work pays for parents - 30 hours childcare for those with 3yr olds.
Need to look for work if you want universal credit with a 3 yr old.

Incapacity benefit: future claimants only will be linked to JSA rate.

Working age benefits will be frozen for 4 years. DLA, PIP, Maternity and 1 other will be exempt.

Rents paid in social housing sector will reduced by 1% pa.
Tax credits and universal credits focused on those on lower incomes. Reducing level of income at which start to be withdrawn.

£9bn less spend.

4 - shouldn't support lifestyles not available to tax payers and workers...
Cap was £26k, encouraged people into work. Reduction to £23k London and £20k elsewhere. Market rents on social housing over £40k income London and £30k elsewhere. Support for Mortgage Interest Payments will not be a benefit but a loan.

Child payments... in future support provided by tax credit and universal children to 2 children. 3rd child will not receive UC or tax credits after 2017. Provisions for exceptional cases such as multiple births. 2018 further changes. No families will see a cash loss and child benefit will be maintained.

lisyloo

I don't set the rules but if the govt incentivises me to act in a certain way presumably that is because our elected represenitives beleive that people should act that way.

No I think your wrong on that.
The intention is NOT that people deliberately change their circumstances to get the benefits.
A classic example is benefits for single mothers.
The benefits were put in place to benefit abandoned women who found themselves in unfortunately circumstances.
It was NOT the intention that women deliberately got themselves pregnant to claim the benefit.

So agree that changes in rules change behaviour, but it's absolutely NOT the intention (in this case).
In some cases, it IS the intention that behaviour is changed e.g. taxes on smoking.

happyandcontented

I think the change is fair enough if it means everyone has the same access to the same amount of loan. The grant disadvantaged students whose parents earned more when the figures should be based on the student not parental earnings. Also, it was obviously a loophole as per the above post.

michaels

Ouch - tax credit changes, child tax credits entitlements appear to be grandfathered but what about the reduction in the income threshold and reduced withdrawal rate - even with the same withdrawal rate this could cost me 1000 quid next year

vivatifosi

PERSONAL TAX:

Tax lock to prohibit main rates of income tax and VAT.

Tax free personal allowance: £11k from next year, rising thereafter
40p rate at £43k from next year, raising thereafter.

SECURITY:

Additional resources to defence and security. Real increase in defence budget every year plus joint security fund of £1.5bn. Protecting counter terrorism. Retaining international aid budget. Will meet NATO 2% pledge, every year of this decade.

PixelPound

lisyloo wrote: »

Personally I don't see why the poor should be at an advantage.
When I was at uni (eons ago) both my parents worked although low paid. That meant we were just above the cut off point and I was worse of than poorer people.

Isn't it fairer for them to just pay it back like everyone else (when it can be afforded).

Is that because your parents didn't pay you the portion the government said they should, otherwise you wouldn't have been poorer. I went in late 80's, so got some grant but my parents had to make up the remainder to the level of what those getting a full grant got.
That said I think the new loan system is quite fair as you only pay it back once you are on a decent amount.

michaels

happyandcontented wrote: »

I think the change is fair enough if it means everyone has the same access to the same amount of loan. The grant disadvantaged students whose parents earned more when the figures should be based on the student not parental earnings. Also, it was obviously a loophole as per the above post.

Don't get me wrong, I think making the loans available to all is by far the fairest and use other means to target students from low income families into higher education. However for me (or my kids) it will be a loss.

Graham_Devon

Wow - new national living wage. Replaces minimum wage. £7.20 an hour starting next year.