Crashing pound, do they raise interest rates

[One-percent]

12 minutes ago, btl_hater said:

This is a true. In my experience, most peoples exposure to European life is 1-2 weeks in some crappy Spanish resort town.

They have never seen how a lot of normal Europeans live. Public services and housing far better on average in Germany, Holland, and Scandinavia. Living standards seem pretty OK every time I visit southern France, and northern Italy also. I sure as hell know who has the better deal!

Agree.  I did a European exchange through work.  Ended up in Seville with Europeans who represented a good number of different countries. From discussions over drinks, they all seemed to have far superior lifestyles to us in the U.K.  This included those in Hungary, other Eastern European countries and Turkey (yeah I know they are not European but three had managed to bag a place on this European jolly). 

 

They em also appeared to have a far happier time at work with higher levels of trust from management and much lighter workloads. 

[Crumbless]

19 minutes ago, btl_hater said:

This is a true. In my experience, most peoples exposure to European life is 1-2 weeks in some crappy Spanish resort town.

They have never seen how a lot of normal Europeans live. Public services and housing far better on average in Germany, Holland, and Scandinavia. Living standards seem pretty OK every time I visit southern France, and northern Italy also. I sure as hell know who has the better deal!

I've worked in many places around Europe and lived amongst the locals for a long time now.

And i'm most certainly not enlightened about their public services and education systems, and to claim you are by going travelling round Europe makes me think you're exaggerating your knowledge. One thing i do notice is the younger working class plebs have been financially screwed over the last 15 years be it in France, Portugal, Holland or Norway and their living standards are lower than their parents. Though far better for the young in BG and RO.

[ChewingGrass]

No, as market forces always sort everything out, after all why should things always get better.

[richc]

1 hour ago, One-percent said:

Agree.  I did a European exchange through work.  Ended up in Seville with Europeans who represented a good number of different countries. From discussions over drinks, they all seemed to have far superior lifestyles to us in the U.K.  This included those in Hungary, other Eastern European countries and Turkey (yeah I know they are not European but three had managed to bag a place on this European jolly). 

 

They em also appeared to have a far happier time at work with higher levels of trust from management and much lighter workloads. 

No one from France, then?

[One-percent]

3 minutes ago, richc said:

No one from France, then?

Interestingly no.  Afaicr, poles, Hungarian, west German (women and scarily unfriendly. Think merkel without the smile) East German, Norwegian, Spanish, Turkish, and a host of other EE bods. 

[Crumbless]

1 hour ago, One-percent said:

Agree.  I did a European exchange through work.  Ended up in Seville with Europeans who represented a good number of different countries. From discussions over drinks, they all seemed to have far superior lifestyles to us in the U.K.  This included those in Hungary, other Eastern European countries and Turkey (yeah I know they are not European but three had managed to bag a place on this European jolly). 

 

They em also appeared to have a far happier time at work with higher levels of trust from management and much lighter workloads. 

You keep telling yourself Turkey, any EE country and Hungary have a better standard of living to us.

 

[One-percent]

Just now, Crumbless said:

You keep telling yourself Turkey, any EE country and Hungary have a better standard of living to us.

 

Welll, I can only go on how they described their leisure time. The Hungarian in particular had a very nice life. 

 

They were all professional bods, same role as me and their lifestyles were way beyond what I can afford

[richc]

4 minutes ago, Crumbless said:

You keep telling yourself Turkey, any EE country and Hungary have a better standard of living to us.

 

I think it depends on who exactly you're comparing.  The average Brit undoubtedly has a higher standard of living than the average Hungarian, but while a British professional is paying 45% income tax and 50% of their post-tax income on renting a shoebox, his equivalent in Hungary is paying less than 20% in income taxes and living in a huge flat or villa.  I spent a week in Prague last month, and was surprised by how much money appeared to be floating around.  In a shopping mall car park, there were multiple Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes, X5s and a couple of Maseratis, in a sample of about 50 cars.  

[Crumbless]

5 minutes ago, One-percent said:

Welll, I can only go on how they described their leisure time. The Hungarian in particular had a very nice life. 

They were all professional bods, same role as me and their lifestyles were way beyond what I can afford

I expect an EE on something like 10 times the salary he'd earn back in his own country has got a nice life when he goes back home. But if life is so perfect why did he leave in the first place.

These places were communist not very long ago, life maybe better but its still a long way to go. Besides the nations i've been in EE still have that commie feel to them. England wins hands down n pretty much everything except slim women.

Also part of being British is mocking you're own country, i've just came back from Kazakhstan and if the locals are to be believed its the greatest nation on earth, and they truly believe it. Personally i'd sooner go to jail than live there.

[One-percent]

1 minute ago, richc said:

I think it depends on who exactly you're comparing.  The average Brit undoubtedly has a higher standard of living than the average Hungarian, but while a British professional is paying 45% income tax and 50% of their post-tax income on renting a shoebox, his equivalent in Hungary is paying less than 20% in income taxes and living in a huge flat or villa.  I spent a week in Prague last month, and was surprised by how much money appeared to be floating around.  In a shopping mall car park, there were multiple Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes, X5s and a couple of Maseratis, in a sample of about 50 cars.  

Egsaxtly!  

My hungarian contemporary had said villa, a small place by some lake and spent most of his spare time either sailing on said lake or jetting off on European funded jollies. 

[Crumbless]

4 minutes ago, richc said:

I think it depends on who exactly you're comparing.  The average Brit undoubtedly has a higher standard of living than the average Hungarian, but while a British professional is paying 45% income tax and 50% of their post-tax income on renting a shoebox, his equivalent in Hungary is paying less than 20% in income taxes and living in a huge flat or villa.  I spent a week in Prague last month, and was surprised by how much money appeared to be floating around.  In a shopping mall car park, there were multiple Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes, X5s and a couple of Maseratis, in a sample of about 50 cars.  

The above average paid Brit in Northern England has a higher standard of living to his compatriot in London, if both had to buy a house from wages.

The people of these EE nations love to show wealth, they probably bought them on finance and live in the garage.

I met a Israeli developer in Romania years back who was probably worth hundreds of millions, and he mocked the locals for doing as such, said they were like Arabs!

[One-percent]

2 minutes ago, Crumbless said:

I expect an EE on something like 10 times the salary he'd earn back in his own country has got a nice life when he goes back home. But if life is so perfect why did he leave in the first place.

These places were communist not very long ago, life maybe better but its still a long way to go. Besides the nations i've been in EE still have that commie feel to them. England wins hands down n pretty much everything except slim women.

Also part of being British is mocking you're own country, i've just came back from Kazakhstan and if the locals are to be believed its the greatest nation on earth, and they truly believe it. Personally i'd sooner go to jail than live there.

He was working in Hungary and afaict, had always worked there.  It was not the case that he had spent time elsewhere in the eu piling up the money

regarding the communist history, he (and the other X communist people) had some fascinating stories about life behind the iron curtain 

[cica]

Not sure I agree with the sentiments that Europeans live better than British. Shall I list all the thing that drive all the brits in Spain nuts? I've barely been to the UK in the last few years so maybe it's changed.

I know people have posted stuff to show I'm wrong and Spain is much cheaper but it's not so much apparent to me on the ground.

Second hand cars are extortionately priced.

I know consumerism is frowned upon in this forum but sometimes just wanting to go out and buy something is a royal pain in the bum. Not that much choice. That is high street and online.

Nothing is open on Sunday. You can plan around it and it not really bother you but sometimes it'll annoy you a lot.

Talking about online, getting stuff delivered by couriers etc can be bad. It's a common theme. Even a £4 DVD would be signed for presumably because it gets nicked otherwise.

The police and civil guard are to be avoided at all times. Really not nice to deal with. And it matters otherwise I wouldn't say. Don't think I've ever had any interaction with the police the UK no matter how many people slag them off.

Take this for example, comparing British and Spanish electricity prices. You can even compare them. I'm telling you. Trust me on this. Spanish system is stupid in houses. Not only do you pay for how many kWh you use but you also have to pay a band tariff on the peak kW you might use at any time. Or guess what? It trips the whole house intentionally. And let me tell you it's expensive you have enough power to run your over rings, heating and something else on.

Places like Barcelona have banned Uber. Do comparisons really take into account the fact you have Uber?

Train to Madrid does not seem to have good prices even if you plan ahead.

Anyway, ask me if you want to know more.

Obviously everywhere is different but UK does have something to offer.

Edited October 5, 2016 by cica

[SpectrumFX]

7 minutes ago, cica said:

Not sure I agree with the sentiments that Europeans live better than British. Shall I list all the thing that drive all the brits in Spain nuts? I've barely been to the UK in the last few years so maybe it's changed.

I know people have posted stuff to show I'm wrong and Spain is much cheaper but it's not so much apparent to me on the ground.

Second hand cars are extortionately priced.

I know consumerism is frowned upon in this forum but sometimes just wanting to go out and buy something is a royal pain in the bum. Not that much choice. That is high street and online.

Nothing is open on Sunday. You can plan around it and it not really bother you but sometimes it'll annoy you a lot.

Talking about online, getting stuff delivered by couriers etc can be bad. It's a common theme. Even a £4 DVD would be signed for presumably because it gets nicked otherwise.

The police and civil guard are to be avoided at all times. Really not nice to deal with. And it matters otherwise I wouldn't say. Don't think I've ever had any interaction with the police the UK no matter how many people slag them off.

Take this for example, comparing British and Spanish electricity prices. You can even compare them. I'm telling you. Trust me on this. Spanish system is stupid in houses. Not only do you pay for how many kWh you use but you also have to pay a band tariff on the peak kW you might use at any time. Or guess what? It trips the whole house intentionally. And let me tell you it's expensive you have enough power to run your over rings, heating and something else on.

Places like Barcelona have banned Uber. Do comparisons really take into account the fact you have Uber?

Train to Madrid does not seem to have good prices even if you plan ahead.

Anyway, ask me if you want to know more.

Obviously everywhere is different but UK does have something to offer.

Cigarettes.

Spain has much cheaper cigarettes

[evetsm]

On 04/10/2016 at 4:37 PM, TheCountOfNowhere said:

Will they f**k.

have people not worked it out yet...we are being robbed. Subjectgated. Impovrished.

They dont give a f**k about you and I. only themselves and their rich backers.

 

The only way they'll raise rates is if all hell breaks loose ( another collapse ) and/or the US raising rates ( wont happen till post Nov Election now ).

 

 

all this country's wealth is in houses, raise rates and that goes belly up. we are trapped. 

[ingermany]

38 minutes ago, evetsm said:

all this country's wealth is in houses, raise rates and that goes belly up. we are trapped. 

Yes, but in order to maintain house prices, and stop the 2008 crash from happening  they actually need to keep cutting rates. And the scope for that is diminishing. The only way is through more aggressive government intervention and subsidies. I guess the obvious one is MIRAS. 

Edited October 6, 2016 by ingermany

[ccc]

I have been to much of Europe and agree that on the face of it - in terms of cleanliness and general obvious standards of living many places beat the UK hands down.

However - the fact half of them appear to either want to come to the UK - or already live here - speaks for itself. Grass is always greener and all.

And its not just the old 'They will live here for 5 years and then go back home and buy a wee house'.

That's not true for most of the Polish or Spanish I see around here. They're all putting down roots big style. Dogs, multiple kids, moving Grannie over - the lot.

[crashmonitor]

14 hours ago, Crumbless said:

Why plus one he could not have been more wrong, and neither could you on you comment about Brits not travelling.

 British people travel further and wider  than any other race i know. No matter what nation i get sent to for work there will be Brits there, British workers are sought after throughout the world! 

And most Britswill not give a shyt about German living standards, just as Germans don't care about ours, we're not exactly on a dollar a day you know.

Australians also  have a higher standard of living than us, you ever been to a supermarket over there? How about Norway they have pretty much the highest standard of living on the planet, yet food is twice the price. So it seems your standard of living comparison for costs in Supermarkets is wrong.

I think i would be struggling to live anywhere else, the rest of the world is so brutalist concrete and boring. What would i do without a landscape which changes so quickly, interesting buildings and footpaths. Where the f**k can you walk seriously in Aus or Norway..sure you can do the beaches and mountains and then again and then again and then again...we have the variety.

Edited October 6, 2016 by crashmonitor

[copydude]

It may be a point in time. There were a couple of recessions in the UK . . . well, seemed like a biennial event - in the '70s and '80s. Many Brits, including myself, went to work in Europe, particularly Belgium and Holland. The lifestyle you could have then in Brussels as an international was simply fabulous. I came back for a few years to work in London in the 1980s, but the economy wasn't brilliant at the end of Mrs T's term and so I went back to stay.

Poland has been one of the poorest countries in Europe - probably from 1946 to 2000 plus. Marshall Aid for Poland was rejected by the Soviets.  Moreover, it was leaned on not to press for German war reparations, which should have been paid by East Germany. But, 'hey, East Germans are our socialist brothers, right?' Anyway, Poland had to waive claims of around 625 billion in today's money. Its cities were the most destroyed in Europe. People walked around in ruins for decades. You can see why anyone growing up would want to leave. 

 

[Crumbless]

40 minutes ago, crashmonitor said:

I think i would be struggling to live anywhere else, the rest of the world is so brutalist concrete and boring. What would i do without a landscape which changes so quickly, interesting buildings and footpaths. Where the f**k can you walk seriously in Aus or Norway..sure you can do the beaches and mountains and then again and then again and then again...we have the variety.

If i didn't have my kid, i'd be in Asia where its fun and they aren't governed by PC fascists in London/Brussels.

Too add Asia is on the up and looks as if it will continue to do so, Europe isn't.

Most the wealthier parts of Europe have crap weather which is something that'd get me moving, and places such as Norway are just boring with no culture or fun. At least in England you're never more than 50 miles from a decent size town/city with lots going on.

Jeremy Clarkson summed up OZ to perfection, he said you never hear of Brits who are doing really well for themselves move over there.

 

[crashmonitor]

14 minutes ago, Crumbless said:

If i didn't have my kid, i'd be in Asia where its fun and they aren't governed by PC fascists in London/Brussels.

Too add Asia is on the up and looks as if it will continue to do so, Europe isn't.

Most the wealthier parts of Europe have crap weather which is something that'd get me moving, and places such as Norway are just boring with no culture or fun. At least in England you're never more than 50 miles from a decent size town/city with lots going on.

Jeremy Clarkson summed up OZ to perfection, he said you never hear of Brits who are doing really well for themselves move over there.

 

A lot comes down to personal taste....indeed Clarkson has a point if you have got money then there's not much to do in Aus other than the same old. At least when i walk out of my frontdoor I have a choice of about a hundred ways to walk to town...through forest, along country lane, by the river, across the moors, along the ridge. Now if I lived in say Canada i have one choice, the car.

[Errol]

Have any of you actually been to Australia?

[crashmonitor]

5 minutes ago, Errol said:

Have any of you actually been to Australia?

Might be a bit warm for me, some of the days here have been recently. If the outback is green, contains plenty of historic villages, has a labyrinth of public footpaths so I don't get lost and the scenery changes by the mile then perhaps Aus would provide the right outdoor stimulus.

[Crumbless]

14 minutes ago, Errol said:

Have any of you actually been to Australia?

Twice for about a year in total, this around 2000  when it was 3 dollars to the pound ... before they went bubble crazy ... i'd not want to visit now as i hear even a coffee is 5-6GBP (i dont drink coffee)

My brother got citizenship then left.

 

[Errol]

8 minutes ago, crashmonitor said:

 If the outback is green

Is this green enough for you - http://www.australia.com/en/articles/nat-australias-rainforests.html