Scrutable

Cardinal Fang wrote: Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:57 pm Cut in stamp duty helps those who can afford to buy houses.

No it doesn't. It only helps those who are selling houses. The selling price goes up to match the tax cut.

A house is for sale at £310,000. There are 5 people who'd like to buy, but the 5 can only afford £296,000, £297,000, £298,000, £299,000 and £300,000. The estate agent tells the seller they can't achieve £310,000 and they should knock the price down to £300,000.

The government cuts £5,000 off the tax. Great, thinks, Mrs £296,000, I can now afford to offer £301,000. Mrs £296,000, like the chancellor of the exchequer, forgets that Mr £297,000, Ms £298,000 etc can also now afford to offer £5,000 extra. The house sale goes through at £305,000 and person writing the thankyou note to Number 11 Downing Street is the seller.

If there had been a £500 card that was earmarked for spending in vulnerable areas of the economy, I'd have been very tempted to splash out on something big and special from a museum or art gallery shop.

Doubled up

Well Sunak's just announced 50% off hot meals from a restaurant (valid Monday-Wednesday, up to £10 per person, participating restaurants only), which would certainly tempt me to risk catching a dangerous virus and spreading it to my family and friends.

Impressive wide-ranging vision that this government has. I wonder which coupon from a local newspaper they're going to rip off next?

I used to think, when I first arrived here, that Como city centre felt like an open-air airport duty free shop.

Apparently now they really do want to suspend IVA (Italian VAT) for a bit. Mainly to get the Swiss to come and spend here.

Meanwhile the government wants to give families €500 each to spend on a holiday in Italy but it doesn't seem like resorts and hotels etc. are falling over themselves to accept the vouchers.

I hadn't heard of this scheme until now, so thanks for that.

EM and I would like to move to a bigger house as it is likely he will be working from home for the foreseeable. We have no space for an office, so he has taken over the lounge 9-5 and I can't really go in there while he is on video calls. Futhermore, the 1 toilet situation has come to a head with Mr. Go-go-gadget-bowels.

I guess we'd spend £1000 between us on furniture. When we moved in here we didn't have any and we have not bothered accumulating much. EM is currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor so I think he might want to buy a bed if we move house.

egbert26 wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:33 am I hadn't heard of this scheme until now, so thanks for that.

EM and I would like to move to a bigger house as it is likely he will be working from home for the foreseeable. We have no space for an office, so he has taken over the lounge 9-5 and I can't really go in there while he is on video calls. Futhermore, the 1 toilet situation has come to a head with Mr. Go-go-gadget-bowels.

I guess we'd spend £1000 between us on furniture. When we moved in here we didn't have any and we have not bothered accumulating much. EM is currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor so I think he might want to buy a bed if we move house.

No there is no £500 voucher it was a vicious rumour.

FFS.

To be honest, it sounded more plausible that the Eat Out To Help Out Scheme.

egbert26 wrote: Mon Jul 13, 2020 10:42 am FFS.

To be honest, it sounded more plausible that the Eat Out To Help Out Scheme.

Especially when you might have to start wearing a face mask indoors.