to not get the fuss over the VAT rise

[teceral]

Its only going up by 2.5%, something that costs £10 now costs £10.21, its not a major deal. It also not on food etc. AIBU to think its much ado about nothing

There is VAT on petrol/diesel.

Thanks, so confused with fuel/diesel/petrol. blame my dh he calls filling the car with fuel, whereas regardless to me it is petrol!

Im a bit perplexed by some of the mathsearly on here. If you buy 2 products which would have been £10 each, then both will have an increase of 25p so overall the increase will be 50p. So you will be paying £20.50 instead of £20. Thats just for 2 items so in a big shop your overall amount will be higher.

So whoever said their £100 bill would now be £102.5 is a bit misguided.

Or do they do vat on an overall amount?

Raising VAT was the fairest way to do it, that way everybody pays the same and everybody chooses what they buy/use. We are in serious debt as a country and have to do something to raise revenue - its either that or cut more services. Whilst a few things may be essential, most arent so its down to the person what they purchase.

Raising income tax would once again penalise those that work whilst those that dont net more money as most benefits are not taxed or tiny amounts anyway so under treashold. Many people on benefits or low wages choose to be, how many people cut down their hours when WTC came in and they could suddenly work 16 hours rather than full time? How many wont work as they have children or sit on JSA for months/years until they find their dream job? Those that truly need welfare wont be buying huge purchases anyway and are likely to not have a car to worry about petrol costs.

Its sad it will affect small businesses, but if the 2.5% was enough to close them then they were close to trouble anyway. Larger businesses will look at inhouse cost savings in order to comabt diesel prices etc.

no no HappyMummy...don't use logic to argue your point. Won't you please think of that poor person who will now be unable to afford food because of the vicious 2.5% rise.

The thing that frustrates me is that yes, some people are worse off than others but there seems to be a lack of belief that we are in debt. Perhaps because the govt unlike a bank loan doesn't send us a loan statement. Perhaps if they had to then the voters would have said "Hang on a minute.....years ago".

Another thing I've found is that with our very generous state benefits system, I find it hard to believe that 2.5% will cause anyone to go without the absolute basics.

There's a lady I know who a while back was crying because she couldn't afford to turn her heating on in her house. Gas apparently was too expensive. Not sure she appreciated me suggesting that perhaps she may be able to if she wasn't spending hundreds a month on her 20 a day habit. Often I find its a case of wrong priorities (not always I accept).

Understand your point butterfly but you can adjust your behaviour to compensate if you truly cannot afford to buy new because of the VAT increase.

For example your memory foam mattress. You can search online for someone selling cheaper, or maybe a different brand. Or even if things were REALLY bad, a 2nd hand one.

Ditto with clothes. We all need clothes.

My point is that whilst it will affect everyone you can to a certain extent avoid paying it if you so choose to. That is in contrast to say income tax where you pay regardless of spending behaviour.

For me there will be things I choose not to buy now. But for the most part I'll probably pay the extra 2.5% and have a moan now and again.

Surely the point in a memory foam mattress is that once it needs replacing - well it needs replacing because it's no longer doing what it's supposed to do (ie mould to you).

I doubt a second hand one would be any good for someone that needed a memory foam mattress

And the clothes - we don't all need clothes we can put on with one hand. Most of us have full use of 2 hands and therefore the need to shop around more carefully (and perhaps having to end up buying new rather than in a charity shop) is greater.

is it really wrong I just snorted at

"Glad you're on the same page as me about being clothed, though"