Countdown To Breadline 17 Days

[Time to raise the rents.]

IMO society has designed itself to keep people off balance & therefore in the rat-race. I'm sure you rats will love playing with this story today:

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-13523099,00.html

[warwickbloke]

IMO society has designed itself to keep people off balance & therefore in the rat-race. I'm sure you rats will love playing with this story today:

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-13523099,00.html

Blair wished a return of family values & family values are never stronger than when nobody has anything but their family, so his policies are working.

Keep up the good work Tone!

[BillyShears]

IMO society has designed itself to keep people off balance & therefore in the rat-race. I'm sure you rats will love playing with this story today:

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-13523099,00.html

Well, if interest rates rise, or just for people with unsustainable mortgages coming off the introductory period, then it won't take long for the effects to become visible then won't it.

Though the other day I had a thought about what would happen if I lost my job and it looked like I wouldn't get another job in the same area for some reason. [i do think this is unlikely]. My main thought was whether there would be a one year masters degree that would make me employable again. Oh dear, the following will sound rather arrogant, but especially since for any technical-ish topic without certain requirements I could name given that I could guarantee first class honours.

Billy Shears

[Time to raise the rents.]

Well, if interest rates rise, or just for people with unsustainable mortgages coming off the introductory period, then it won't take long for the effects to become visible then won't it.

Though the other day I had a thought about what would happen if I lost my job and it looked like I wouldn't get another job in the same area for some reason. [i do think this is unlikely]. My main thought was whether there would be a one year masters degree that would make me employable again. Oh dear, the following will sound rather arrogant, but especially since for any technical-ish topic without certain requirements I could name given that I could guarantee first class honours.

Billy Shears

IMO success in unemployment is less down to qualifications & more down to having not loaded oneself up with enormous commitments prior to the crisis.

[BuyingBear]

IMO society has designed itself to keep people off balance & therefore in the rat-race. I'm sure you rats will love playing with this story today:

Not bad, so TTRTR I presume you do their first knee-cap after 14 days (following due notice, of course) and finally do the other one in on the 17th day. Nice.

[Time to raise the rents.]

Not bad, so TTRTR I presume you do their first knee-cap after 14 days (following due notice, of course) and finally do the other one in on the 17th day. Nice.

The myths that tenants make up about landlords. Renting property out is an honest business you know, I don't condone or support anything illegal.

[Catch22]

Not bad, so TTRTR I presume you do their first knee-cap after 14 days (following due notice, of course) and finally do the other one in on the 17th day. Nice.

[BuyingBear]

The myths that tenants make up about landlords. Renting property out is an honest business you know

I didn't say otherwise, why do you feel the need to reiterate that?

Slavery once was legal too.

[Time to raise the rents.]

I didn't say otherwise, why do you feel the need to reiterate that?

Slavery once was legal too.

Absolutely pathetic. My tenants are free to go any time. To make any association with slavery is just a joke.

[Guest Guy_Montag]

Absolutely pathetic. My tenants are free to go any time. To make any association with slavery is just a joke.

Is the pretty girl in the metal bikini that you keep chained to your throne a slave or a tennant?

[Rachman]

It's an article designed to make the stupid get saving and think about tomorrow.

the problem is that it's only read by the sensible, so it's a waste of bandwidth.

The only way the most profligate will learn is when the squeeze hits them personally.

[BillyShears]

IMO success in unemployment is less down to qualifications & more down to having not loaded oneself up with enormous commitments prior to the crisis.

But why can't you have both? I.e. because you're not loaded down with enormous committments prior to the crisis you have the breathing room to experiment with other things, such as obtaining further qualifications if appropriate.

Some one year degrees will cost 7-8K in fees alone, though 3K is more typical. With living costs, there needs to be a fair financial buffer to allow this.

Billy Shears

[othello]

The article is another story that says to me that the whole property dream is about to collapse. Without debating the detail, common sense suggests to me that we are looking at one hell of a bubble that is about to burst. It is taking longer than expected but I am certain in my own mind it will happen and that interest rates will be the trigger. I had thought a change of sentiment would bring around the turning point but I don't see any evidence of that and I no longer see it being needed.

The people who will be hit most are the amateur BTL investors and, unfortunately, recent FTBs and MEWs. I am sure that the professionals will ride out the storm as will those who have merely bought a house to live in.

[BillyShears]

The myths that tenants make up about landlords. Renting property out is an honest business you know, I don't condone or support anything illegal.

Like most industries, there are a variety of landlords, from the criminal to the saintly. I will say that I've not seen anything that TTRTR has written that indicates to me that he (or she, I've not noticed TTRTR confirm gender) is of the criminal or "grab whatever money possible by hook or crook" variety.

TTRTR, if it's not too much of an invasion of your privacy, can you tell us what has happened when your tenants have required your services, such as repairs or decorating? Edit: I don't mean that you would repair or decorate yourself, but that you would arrange for it to be done.

Billy Shears

Edited May 10, 2006 by BillyShears

[Time to raise the rents.]

Like most industries, there are a variety of landlords, from the criminal to the saintly. I will say that I've not seen anything that TTRTR has written that indicates to me that he (or she, I've not noticed TTRTR confirm gender) is of the criminal or "grab whatever money possible by hook or crook" variety.

TTRTR, if it's not too much of an invasion of your privacy, can you tell us what has happened when your tenants have required your services, such as repairs or decorating? Edit: I don't mean that you would repair or decorate yourself, but that you would arrange for it to be done.

Billy Shears

It's a two way street, tenants pay the rent & I pay the mortgage & do the maintenance. I repair and decorate as needed in other words.

[Guest Guy_Montag]

It's a two way street, tenants pay the rent & I pay the mortgage & do the maintenance. I repair and decorate as needed in other words.

The best landlord I ever had gave us a list of approved contractors to call whenever we needed anything done. He knew the tradesmen wouldn't rip him off & didn't have to worry about phone calls from us. We knew we would get a decent job & fast service - I have found when LLs do jobs themselves they are often not up to the task, (just like lots of owner occupiers,) though I am sure TTRTR is very competent.

[BillyShears]

It's a two way street, tenants pay the rent & I pay the mortgage & do the maintenance. I repair and decorate as needed in other words.

Quickly? Using quality goods (everything from paint to white goods) and reputable workers/companies? Or more "price-driven"? If a tenant's hot water went off during winter, and it was 10pm, would you "get on it", or wait for the next day or later?

Billy Shears

[LargelyIgnorant]

Some one year degrees will cost 7-8K in fees alone, though 3K is more typical. With living costs, there needs to be a fair financial buffer to allow this.

Maybe look at funded courses. Depending on research area, find the relevant research council (e.g. EPSRC, ESRC, etc), look at the courses they fund and apply for the ones you like. You need a 2:1 minimum to get funding for a masters, and the few places available are at the discretion of the course leader, so you need to have a good CV & impress at interview. They're difficult to get, but if you do, the research council pays your fees and just enough money to live off for a year (cheap beer).

[BillyShears]

Maybe look at funded courses. Depending on research area, find the relevant research council (e.g. EPSRC, ESRC, etc), look at the courses they fund and apply for the ones you like. You need a 2:1 minimum to get funding for a masters, and the few places available are at the discretion of the course leader, so you need to have a good CV & impress at interview. They're difficult to get, but if you do, the research council pays your fees and just enough money to live off for a year (cheap beer).

Yes, but are these the degrees that tend to lead to high paying jobs? For more research-orientated jobs, I think my current qualifications would suffice.

Billy Shears

[vinny]

IMO society has designed itself to keep people off balance & therefore in the rat-race. I'm sure you rats will love playing with this story today:

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-13523099,00.html

Good post TTRTT - I'm wary of your motives.

I see we agree on something else then TTRTT.

We will have to stop meeting like this.

[BuyingBear]

Absolutely pathetic. My tenants are free to go any time. To make any association with slavery is just a joke.

No, you're right... slaves didn't have to pay their owners.

[AFineMess]

Yes, but are these the degrees that tend to lead to high paying jobs? For more research-orientated jobs, I think my current qualifications would suffice.

Billy Shears

I'm currently doing a Master's degree distance learning via the Internet from a reputable college. It's taking me three years rather than one as I'm working at the same time. I began the degree after I was made redundant (company "merged" with another - all the technical jobs went to Karachi). I found that despite my experience and previous degree, I just could not get an interview.

The thing is though, more and more people are doing Master's degrees to set themselves apart in the job market. We could be looking at MSc devaluation over the longer term...

[BillyShears]

I'm currently doing a Master's degree distance learning via the Internet from a reputable college. It's taking me three years rather than one as I'm working at the same time. I began the degree after I was made redundant (company "merged" with another - all the technical jobs went to Karachi). I found that despite my experience and previous degree, I just could not get an interview.

The thing is though, more and more people are doing Master's degrees to set themselves apart in the job market. We could be looking at MSc devaluation over the longer term...

But there isn't just one sort of Masters degree. The market has peaked a bit now, but it used to be that anyone who did an Information Security/Computer Security degree was in good shape. I'm sure that it would be possible to find a degree topic where there is currently a skill shortage, if choosing a degree in a skill shortage area was a primary aim.

Billy Shears

[abroad]

It's a two way street, tenants pay the rent & I pay the mortgage & do the maintenance. I repair and decorate as needed in other words.

To give you your due you also take the risk, the view of some folks of landlords being some type of evil doers is laughable. It looks more like green eyed envy to me. I speak as a renter

[AFineMess]

But there isn't just one sort of Masters degree. The market has peaked a bit now, but it used to be that anyone who did an Information Security/Computer Security degree was in good shape. I'm sure that it would be possible to find a degree topic where there is currently a skill shortage, if choosing a degree in a skill shortage area was a primary aim.

Billy Shears

Yes, I think there are still plenty of areas where there are temporary skills shortages, although Master's degrees are only really a snapshot of ability at a moment in time, in a specialised field, so they don't have a long shelf life in terms of practical applicability, and skills shortages don't often last for a long time.

I chose Info Sec because I'd been informally working in it for a while, and I just find it damn interesting. I reckon there will be better jobs available because of it, although not as many or as well paid as in the recent past, as a lot of people are jumping on board this particular bandwagon.

Personally, I couldn't bring myself to study something just for the possibility of a high paying job - I really do need to find it fascinating, and in some ways, it is it's own reward. It's very nice to be formally challenged at a high level and to do well at it. Does your confidence no end of good, and it's fun too (if a bit time consuming).