The Great British Benefits Handout

[e21Mark]

Frimley111R said:

Its more about 'Whats the alternative'? Single mum with 4 kids and no time to do a job because there's no-one to look after the kids. Do they end up on the street? Very low earners who barely/just make what they would on benefits. Its frustrating at times (don't mention phones, fags and alcohol, etc) but these are mostly very difficult cases to deal with.

Barely making what you get on benefits always used to be preferential though didn't it? Working for a living isn't just about the money though is it? I don't see attitudes changing anytime soon though.

[e21Mark]

Ready to pull the trigger on £14k without even looking at the books or pricing stock.

Where did £5k on household bills go too?

Sophie and her tacky dresses seems like a bit of a day dream to me. Especially with 4 young kids hanging around. No sign of the Dad/Dads to help out either. Why do I get the feeling she's just making hay while the sun shines?

Edited by e21Mark on Thursday 16th March 21:27

[nicanary]

How can you spend £700 in Primark? Did she buy the company?

Burger-bar lady says they took £180 in a day. That'll be £90 net, but what about the rent for the site? And the gas, and electric?

Party bus guy loses interest as soon as he finds out there is paperwork to sort out. Where was he going to keep a double-decker?

[Laurel Green]

What's the betting there's a motorway or some such going straight through the business park. As to the 5K, probably paying off debts?

[e21Mark]

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

[e21Mark]

Adam needs to get a grip and not spend a penny till he sticks with the same business idea for more than 20 minutes!

[nicanary]

e21Mark said:

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

Quite. What's wrong with a bank draft or cashier's cheque? I suspect the vendor insisted on cash.

I know people who do grass-cutting. There's business out there, but round here it's about £10 a lawn. You need to do an awful lot of gardens to make a living.

[Laurel Green]

WTF, didn't even check what stock they had before opening.

[cjs racing.]

e21Mark said:

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

Bet he went straight out and opened a new van around the corner, that has happened a few times around here.

People that buy a business like that generally have no idea of a no compete clause.

The money follows the person, not the van.

I'm not convinced it's going to work out for them.

[nicanary]

cjs racing. said:

e21Mark said:

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

Bet he went straight out and opened a new van around the corner, that has happened a few times around here.

People that buy a business like that generally have no idea of a no compete clause.

The money follows the person, not the van.

I'm not convinced it's going to work out for them.

It's quite possible you didn't see the end credits which contained a trailer for next week's episode. They showed this couple's bank balance. I'll say no more.

[e21Mark]

nicanary said:

cjs racing. said:

e21Mark said:

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

Bet he went straight out and opened a new van around the corner, that has happened a few times around here.

People that buy a business like that generally have no idea of a no compete clause.

The money follows the person, not the van.

I'm not convinced it's going to work out for them.

It's quite possible you didn't see the end credits which contained a trailer for next week's episode. They showed this couple's bank balance. I'll say no more.

Yes, I saw that. Hardly what you'd want just a few short weeks after being gifted £26k! All they needed to do was ask the previous owner to write out his daily/weekly routine. They could have even stipulated the kiosk was handed over fully stocked! He must have been giggling like a schoolgirl when they handed him all that cash.

[nicanary]

Last episode last night. Virtually every family has spent the lot. Interestingly the burger van seems to have been a good buy - regular takings of £200 per day. I suppose the mark-up is about 100% so that's a net £600pw if you work Saturdays.

The last we saw of the kids' dressmaker suggested she was getting regular orders. I hope these orders are meaningful - £3 income form a craft fair isn't worth the bother. The gardener still suffers from depression and undercharges. No hope for them IMHO.

I still reckon the best bet was to return to paid employment, like that lorry driver. They'll have regular money coming in and no need for sleepless nights.

[blindswelledrat]

nicanary said:

Balmoral said:

nicanary said:

Mother of 6 kids intends to open a sandwich shop. ?

Mother of 4 kids wants to open a shop selling bespoke kids' dresses.

Not to do with benefits telly, but on this subject, my home town has a number of shops that seem to be on a continuous cycle of...

let > repainted & refurbed > trade for 6 months or so > fail > shop cleared > empty for a bit > re-let and repeat.

Each and every time I've thought, how can that possibly work? just doing basic figures in my head for costs and likely turnover, I'll give it 3 months, 6 months or whatever.

Each time there must be a good £30K wasted or written off, or a new bankrupt and a dream shattered. I'm all for enterprise and having a go, but so many seem to have no idea.

I've wondered whether they get the idea from the TV company. They apply and get interviewed, and at the interview they get asked what skills they have. It's then suggested that they open a shop where they can utilise those skills (i.e. dressmaking). It'll make for good TV, even if the poor woman will be completely out of her depth, and the business will have no chance to succeed.

I know someone who had a dressmaking shop - trying to get people through the door is very difficult, because there's just no demand. She went bankrupt.

I am amazed at the number of people who excitedly throw this level of cash at a venture like this without having any notion of whether it will succeed beyond "I think its a great idea". They work under the belief that getting a shop creating their brand is the goal of the project, rather than making money and existing.
My wife is an intelligent person and yet she is forever suggesting ventures she fancies trying which are so patently not going to make money and yet there is a huge hole in her thought process with regards to the nitty gritty. It is traumatic.
THe problem is that with people like that, all their mates and family say "Yeah, that's a great idea - you should go for it" and nobody says "Hold on a minute. THat is a st idea and will fail. I don't care what you friends say. Get them to put money in it if they believe that"

[e21Mark]

I feel for anyone suffering depression but hardly makes him a prime candidate for this scheme does it? £26k gone and an old van and some garden tools to show for it. I feel for his Mrs but she's got enough to do in looking after her kids.

Burger van seems to be doing well but hopefully they'll learn not to spunk all their profits on bikes and treats for Dad? How could they not know they were down to their last tenner?

Kids clothing woman looked to have potential but £26k gone, back on housing benefit at least and making £3 at craft fairs. It looked like she needed some help with child care? Where was the kids Father?

I know they touted this scheme as being a success but, from where I'm sat, I'd say not so much.

[DSLiverpool]

Guys the last 3 people were rush edited, not sure why they did this but they made the story fit the time slot in a social / enterprise / failure / success (potential) standard layout without going into the detail of the first people on it.

Burger van - £10 - impossible, the stock can only be a few hundred quid in the freezer - this was a fully manufactured cliff edge

Dress making baby factory - no support as such and carting 4 kids to a craft fair, not a hope

Sad garden rubbish man - luckiest of the lot, he has a great supporting Mrs who will get her hands dirty - a lucky man.