Reply to: The pound in your pocket

[Sysman]

Comparison of military and civilian pay in WWII by Barron's

compared with

BBC - WW2 People's War - Never was So Much Owed to So Many Who Received So Little

Ta for the links.

Which were a bit of an eye opener.

If I remember correctly my dad got 10 shillings a week in tje army, but he was still a teenager when he joined, and single.. Don't know whether he sent money back home or not.

Bill Barnes proabably had quite a good job in civvy street at 6 quid a week. When I got my very first holiday job (1971?) I managed to get 9 quid a week, but many of my schoolmates were only on a fiver.

[Sysman]

Just think: there was a time when it was $4.00 to the £.

Hence "half a dollar" for the half crown (12.5p for the uninitiated).

Significantly that was during the war and for 5 years following it, when lots of Yanks were on this side of the pond.

And in spite of the higher value of the pound back then, they were still regarded as being rich. Hence that other phrase.

"Overpaid. Oversexed. Over 'ere."

[Sysman]

Wilson was talking about the decision to devalue the £ - which has always been the standard British policy to deal with an economic down-turn, and still being used today.

And that is a solid reason for hanging onto your own currency. Unlike Greece, Birtain kept that option.

[BrilloPad]

Prices on food easily doubled, same for gas, electric, petrol, diesel, taxes are up etc.

Yes. I went into co-op to buy a loaf of bread the other day. £1.49!!

At least petrol seems down a bit from about £1.40 to £1.30. But then that is probably bad news as it just reflects lack of global demand....

[Bacchus]

Annoying. I've got a song in my head now I was going to post but I don't know what it is. I think it has the lyrics 'Work all day long' or 'Work all night long'. It's like an 70s/80's song with a heavy beat and all I remember it goes 'Dum dum de dum dum dum All day long'.

Anyone name that tune?

I think it's "All night long" by Rainbow, but it goes Dum dum de dum dum, dum dum dah

[AtW]

since 2005, prices in the UK are up 22.8 per cent.

Prices on food easily doubled, same for gas, electric, petrol, diesel, taxes are up etc.

[Lockhouse]

More QE for sure by next month if there's not already been a(nother) Euro crisis before then.

[ThomasSoerensen]

We will all die at our desks. Now zip it and keep turning out those TPS reports.

[Gonzo]

From wiki

Wilson was much criticised for a broadcast in which he assured listeners that the "pound in your pocket" had not lost its value. It was widely forgotten that his next sentence had been "prices will rise".

It is that sort of attitude which caused the UK to go downhill until Maggie came along.

Wilson was talking about the decision to devalue the £ - which has always been the standard British policy to deal with an economic down-turn, and still being used today.

[ChimpMaster]

Strangely I never planned early retirement. It doesn't concern me at the moment if I have to work beyond 65. I might actually prefer it. My dad was able to take early retirement, did a few things, then he got a bit nostalgic for his old job.

Early retirement - with sufficient income - would allow me to focus on the more important things in life. I miss seeing my children, whom I barely spend an hour each evening. I don't get to meet up with friends enough, though I guess if they're working when I'm 'retired' it wouldn't be any better. I would also like to 'work' on something else of my own choosing, rather than just chasing the money.

[SimonMac]

Annoying. I've got a song in my head now I was going to post but I don't know what it is. I think it has the lyrics 'Work all day long' or 'Work all night long'. It's like an 70s/80's song with a heavy beat and all I remember it goes 'Dum dum de dum dum dum All day long'.

Anyone name that tune?

[BrilloPad]

all I remember it goes 'Dum dum de dum dum dum All day long'.

Anyone name that tune?

Is it the wheels on the bus?

[Doggy Styles]

When I was young(er), I thought I would retire at 35 with a residual income of £1k a month. But I was single, living with my parents, and naiive.

Then I thought maybe 40 - 45 (no I'm not quite that age yet); this was deduced when I was married, had a kid, bought my own home and had been contracting for a little while. To some extent 45 could still be achievable, but only if I could continue contracting at this pace/rate for another 5 years or so, but that is highly unlikely given the direction of my skillset and of the economy as a whole.

And recently, we've thought about private schooling the kids. Of course, when that ball starts rolling, you can't just put one kid in private education, you've got to do all 3.

And so, 45 is now a pipe dream and I think it's more likely I'll never stop working, especially as my income falls and expenses escalate.

Ho hum

Strangely I never planned early retirement. It doesn't concern me at the moment if I have to work beyond 65. I might actually prefer it. My dad was able to take early retirement, did a few things, then he got a bit nostalgic for his old job.

[MarillionFan]

Is it "Sixteen Tons"? Here's the chorus but I'm not so sure now:

You load sixteen tons an' what do you get?
Another day older deeper and debt.
St Peter don't you call me I cause can't go:
I owe my soul to the company store.

Not even close.

[Doggy Styles]

Annoying. I've got a song in my head now I was going to post but I don't know what it is. I think it has the lyrics 'Work all day long' or 'Work all night long'. It's like an 70s/80's song with a heavy beat and all I remember it goes 'Dum dum de dum dum dum All day long'.

Anyone name that tune?

Is it "Sixteen Tons"? Here's the chorus but I'm not so sure now:

You load sixteen tons an' what do you get?
Another day older deeper and debt.
St Peter don't you call me I cause can't go:
I owe my soul to the company store.