Showing posts with label grey pound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grey pound. Show all posts

Thursday, 1 October 2009

Called to account?

Whilst basking in the pluses of being 50+ I was reminded last week that our generation are not universally admired or approved of. Just reflect on this letter published in the Guardian of Thursday 24th September 2009;

'How is it that your generation feels it can continue to shaft my generation (CBI advises raising university fees to £5,000 a year to tackle funding crisis, September 21)? I am 23, and have many friends who are unemployed due to an economic crisis caused by your generation. We can't afford houses as your generation preferred anything rather than burst the bubble. We will have no oil, and will face a climate crisis that your generation has continually refused to fix. And now your generation is proposing raising university tuition fees due to a funding crisis which you caused.

I have an alternative suggestion. Instead of increasing the already huge debt that most students face when leaving university, how about we place a windfall tax on the generation that received funding while in further education? How about we make you pay for your university funding crisis, by making you pay the equivalent loan that we have had to pay – with interest?

Now, it's unfair that it should be based on the average student loan – after all, things were cheaper – but then you're going to have to pay your grant back as well. So, let's give you the average £15,000 loan, apply the RPI from the 25 years since you graduated. That's no interest while you're at university, as we're feeling kind. That comes to £373,515. Payable tomorrow.

Maybe this will force some of you off the property ladder, bringing down house prices. You'll have to spend less and economise; forget your patio heater. And finally, maybe it will make you take some responsibility for what you've done. You've made this mess, so you can pay to clear it up.

George Lewkowicz London

Well said George! You will be a brilliant addition to the 'grumpy old men' in 50 years time!

Thursday, 11 December 2008

Over-50s Could Spend Millions More Online


The over-50s hold the key to continued growth in online food and grocery shopping, according to new consumer research from international food and grocery expert IGD. The report, called the Golden Generation predicts that the value of online food and grocery shopping will nearly double in size by 2013 to be worth £6.2bn (up from £3.2bn in 2008). It suggests that older people today remain open to new ideas and experiences and many enjoy shopping online. However, food and grocery is lagging behind certain other categories and there are some barriers to overcome.

The key issues are delivery charges; ease and security of ordering; and product reliability.

In a survey of just over 1,200 older shoppers (50+) conducted in the autumn, 27% said that they would start shopping for food and grocery online in certain circumstances.

  • Nearly half (48%) of those considering online food and grocery shopping would do so if various price issues were dealt with - eg, scale of delivery charges for small orders, guaranteed same prices as in store, and the same promotions available
  • More efficient and secure ordering was mentioned by 46% - including greater security against ID fraud, better view of products on the web site and a quicker ordering process
  • Two fifths (39%) were unsure about the reliability of product quality and delivery - suspecting, for example, that they would receive products with a short shelf life.
The 'Grey Pound' is proving very attractive and the recession is likely to enhance that attractiveness.