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Discounts for OAPs

It takes nothing into account. My house is worth £300k up here. However I don't have any real money. Same house in the south east it's worth a million.
So I'm a millionaire in London and have a very good median wealth up here. But in both instances the reality is I don't have a pot to piss in.

"Around 3.4 million pensioners are struggling financially, with millions relying on debt, reducing food portions, or turning off heating to pay for other essentials. Low-income retirees are particularly vulnerable, with over half reporting extreme difficulties in keeping up with bills and credit commitments.

Key Facts on Pensioner Financial Hardship:
  • Long-term struggle: Nearly half of the 3.4 million older people facing financial difficulty have been struggling for three years or more.
  • Debt and safety nets: Roughly 30% of low-income pensioners are carrying some level of debt, and 21% have to dip into their savings just to pay for everyday expenses.
  • Energy bills: Energy costs remain the single biggest financial pressure for older households. Many pensioners would rather turn off their heating than fall into debt, putting their health at risk.
  • Unexpected costs: One in five low-income pensioners would find it impossible to pay an unexpected emergency bill of £200, such as a boiler repair, without borrowing money".
They're all minted man- heard from it all from the spiteful and envious on here.
 

are you arguing that a pensioner in a million quid house should get a season ticket discount vs a 30 year old renting?

Are you genuinely arguing that ability to spend is based on income and doesn’t include wealth at all?

That’s an absolute batshit argument

Call me a WUM if you want, but it’s nonsense
I didn't say you were a wum based on this thread. It's based on years of reading your posts and your attempts to belittle, laugh at and generally annoy others on here. Like that danger mouse bloke, two of a kind.

Using your daft logic should they sell their house to buy the ticket? I mean they live in their wealth they can't spend it without selling.
Actually don't bother to answer that it's boring now.
 
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Incentives to keep them moving and spending .
I was in favour of cutting fuel allowance because there's plenty wealthy pensioners but little bits of discounts etc are nice . Loads retire with no boost from private funds so its something to look forward too
 
I need my discounts thanks as my annual travel insurance (inc world wide cruises) now costs a fortune. It's a must have for my 6 holidays a Year. Jordan and India cancelled last couple of months but hopefully Egypt stay and Nile cruise in 2 weeks😃
Most spots serving "Senior specials" will serve any age if asked. The Kingfisher in Keswick certainly do upstairs as Daughters and nice had them.

Strange attitude begrudging folk a free bus pass. I'm planning to use mine for free travel to Keswick on the Wright Brothers bus this July/Aug. With all the other Adas and Ethels. 👍
Excellent service is Wrights, first used as a teenager. Have a Caravan in Greystoke now so use it to go in for a mosey and few pints.
 
Likely exists the same reason student discount exists. Known potential income to live off is not as high as full time workers. Sure a pensioner that has access to other pension incomes or could downsize living putting six figures or high five figures in the bank in the process doesn't need OAP discounts, but so do students of wealthy families.

Things like the cinema might make sense as a way to drive in extra income due to free time. Instead of having a pensioner see two films a month at £10 a ticket, they might see three at £7 a ticket. £1 extra ticket income, but more if they go for any drinks or anything at the cinema. So really probably more a business ploy to get more money off them than thinking about potential financial health. Especially if they're more likely to have a high markup drink at the bar before a film.
 
All the retired people I know have more money than they know what to do with, and that includes my Da who didn't work from mid forties and never put into a private pension.

My Da bought some chairs for a few hundred quid, got bored with them maybe a year or so later and got settees near a grand. Then you put the news on and some wifey in Shields claims she can't afford a toaster. 😆
 
I’m fully aware this will be as popular as a guinness fart in a lift, but nevermind. Not trying to be contrary, just intrigued

Why is OAP a discount still a thing. OAP wealth is greater than all other age groups, why do they get a discount for the match, transport, the cinema, whatever?

Don’t give me Mavis who is living on the state pension, the counter is Steve who is living on unemployment benefits.
To answer your question seriously . Look up " Bourdieu’s Forms of Capital"
Then look at each and think how discretionary payment or preferable rate might maintain, promote or add to each in older people, even the more affluent ones .
Then consider the difference is that unemployed Steve, although potentially marginalised at present, has a fair chance of re-establishing all forms at some point, his position is temporary , where as a pensioner who loses them doesnt..
Also consider if we want a society that maintains the capital in the older generation or sees them as redundant and too expensive given its the fate of all of us to go there
 
It’s far from perfect. Like any measure of wealth. But it’s probably a better indicator than the mean given stupid outliers at the top end.

Pensioners are wealthier than millennials, sorry but that’s a fact
Well I’m certainly wealthier now than when I was in my 20s or 30’s. That might be to do with the bus pass and the discounts for getting into the pictures… or it might have been the working at various jobs since I was 15, building up the qualifications and experience, contributing to private pensions plus paying my national insurance, paying off a mortgage as soon as I could, and finishing off my career/s earning a reasonable salary from which I saved as much as I could.

I refuse to feel guilty about the accident of being born in the 50s and simply living a life alongside everybody else that happened to be of the same generation. I’m at the mercy of whoever decides what I’m entitled to and I’m no longer able to do anything much about changing my circumstances even if I wanted to.

I’ve made the mistake of taking the op seriously. I strongly suspect that in a decade or two their perspective might have altered somewhat, but I’ll not bookmark the thread cuz I’ll be dead.
 
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I’m fully aware this will be as popular as a guinness fart in a lift, but nevermind. Not trying to be contrary, just intrigued

Why is OAP a discount still a thing. OAP wealth is greater than all other age groups, why do they get a discount for the match, transport, the cinema, whatever?

Don’t give me Mavis who is living on the state pension, the counter is Steve who is living on unemployment benefits.

Hahahahahah. How time f***ing flies.

I was getting shit on by everyone on here for saying they should means test the bus pass but now the Overton window has caught up to where I was ten years ago.
 
Well I’m certainly wealthier now than when I was in my 20s or 30’s. That might be to do with the bus pass and the discounts for getting into the pictures… or it might have been the working at various jobs since I was 15, building up the qualifications and experience, contributing to private pensions plus paying my national insurance, paying off a mortgage as soon as I could, and finishing off my career/s earning a reasonable salary from which I saved as much as I could.

I refuse to feel guilty about the accident of being born in the 50s and simply living a life alongside everybody else that happened to be of the same generation. I’m at the mercy of whoever decides what I’m entitled to and I’m no longer able to do anything much about changing my circumstances even if I wanted to.

I’ve made the mistake of taking the op seriously. I strongly suspect that in a decade or two their perspective might have altered somewhat, but I’ll not bookmark the thread cuz I’ll be dead.
I’m not asking you to feel guilty. And you’ve done well clearly

My point is that you shouldn’t receive discounted services, I stand by that
 
Hahahahahah. How time f***ing flies.

I was getting shit on by everyone on here for saying they should means test the bus pass but now the Overton window has caught up to where I was ten years ago.
Another 10 you'll be thinking " i hope they keep the bus pass , sounds cushty " . Thats life .
 
I’m not asking you to feel guilty. And you’ve done well clearly

My point is that you shouldn’t receive discounted services, I stand by that
Fine. Is it ok that I’m entitled to them but don’t take them. In addition: are you merely speaking of the discounts funded by council tax or other forms of tax - such as bus passes and… I can’t think of any more.. or discounts like entry to cinemas or other events that are entirely at the discretion of the private entrepreneur or business and are simply means of generating custom from people and encouraging them to attend - of which you have no skin in the game and has fuck all to do with you and cost you nowt.
 
The only benefit I have used since I got my state pension is my bus pass, and it doesn't matter how my times the price of my home as gone up since I bought it as it is only worth it if I sell, I have lived in it for 38 years and have no intention of selling it , so if it was worth a million (it's not ) I wouldn't see any of it.
 
My point is that you shouldn’t receive discounted services, I stand by that
What discounted services do you mean? Bus pass is subsidised because public transport is subsidised. What other services should not be discounted?
Fine. Is it ok that I’m entitled to them but don’t take them. In addition: are you merely speaking of the discounts funded by council tax or other forms of tax - such as bus passes and… I can’t think of any more.. or discounts like entry to cinemas or other events that are entirely at the discretion of the private entrepreneur or business and are simply means of generating custom from people and encouraging them to attend - of which you have no skin in the game and has fuck all to do with you and cost you nowt.
It makes economic sense to offer discounts to a group that would spend less with the organisation if prices were higher. Two together railcard is a perfect example of a discount that generates more revenue for an organisation. Nothing to do with pampering pensioners.
 
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Strange attitude begrudging folk a free bus pass. I'm planning to use mine for free travel to Keswick on the Wright Brothers bus this July/Aug. With all the other Adas and Ethels. 👍
Is that actually included?

Folks may be interested.
Excellent service is Wrights, first used as a teenager. Have a Caravan in Greystoke now so use it to go in for a mosey and few pints.
smb coast to coast possee in Greystoke next friday.

Id steer clear!! 😂
 
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It is marketing, simple as that.

You run a seaside cafe that is quiet during the week out of term time, so you need to attract people in. The cafe 5 minutes walk away does an OAP discount, because OAPs are generally the people out and about at the time you need customers through your door. Do you give a similar (or better) discount to get more customers, or not bother and make a loss that morning?

The question really is, should private businesses have the freedom to offer discounts to any group they like, in order to market their business and increase income? Surely the answer is yes, so long as it doesn't disadvantage any protected characteristic, such as a white skin only discount.
 
It is marketing, simple as that.

You run a seaside cafe that is quiet during the week out of term time, so you need to attract people in. The cafe 5 minutes walk away does an OAP discount, because OAPs are generally the people out and about at the time you need customers through your door. Do you give a similar (or better) discount to get more customers, or not bother and make a loss that morning?

The question really is, should private businesses have the freedom to offer discounts to any group they like, in order to market their business and increase income? Surely the answer is yes, so long as it doesn't disadvantage any protected characteristic, such as a white skin only discount.

Stop making sense. Favourite album of mine. Just thought I'd mention it.
 
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