Five perks we might have to pay for!

[Geezer]

http://www.moneyhospital.co.uk/blog/pos ... -for-20207


by MoneyDoctor Tuesday 29 September, 2009

It's political conference season and one four letter word is dominating the debates:

Cuts.

At the TUC conference in September, Gordon Brown finally rose to the challenge of uttering what some had been calling 'the C-word' - because officials refused to say it, instead talking more vaguely about 'redefining spending priorities'.

Now the debate has truly been ignited about what a future government might have to do in order to reduce our public spending and rein in our galloping national debt.

The plans will have to be 'prudent', all parties agree.... but it's fair to say the prospects won't be particularly pleasing!

Certain public provisions are taken for granted here in the UK, but would anything be safe from cuts? The picture is far from clear, so it got us wondering: what might we have to cut back on once the country realises how broke it is?

Here's our (possibly playful) list of five perks we might soon have to pay for!

Pens & Pencils

Pity the schoolteacher who has to buy pens for her pupils. Education budgets are certain to be plucked at by penny-pinchers, and the pencil supply might just run dry.

Playtime

Playing twice a day could be pushed into the past as budget pressures pile up - after all, 'time is money'. And playgrounds could be pawned to developers (everyone knows property prices pick up if they're near a good primary)!

Passports

Pockets will quite possibly be plundered for our next passport, as the government plies the ID card scheme at reduced public cost.

Pensions

Plainly, the pension pot is getting leaner, as plenty of us are expected to survive for longer. When it comes to retirement, personal planning will be paramount - but at what cost?

Protection

Public money might be pulled from the Trident missile replacement, and private measures might have to be taken. Perhaps we all ought to plant a protective privet hedge?

Postmen

Poor old postmen. Since the carve-up of the postal market, the profitable services have been preyed on by private firms, while the Royal Mail has to keep on plugging away at the plain old overnight letter service. Perhaps all subsidies for this will be cut and we'll have to pick up our pile of post from the local sorting office ourselves?

What do you think?

Provocative? Pathetic? Pushing things a bit too far?

Don't take our list too seriously please - but feel free to leave feedback in the comments below!

[jockstrapp]

I seriously think in the not to distant future you will have to pick up your mail at the delivery office after all it would only needhalf a dozen people to dish it out as it will come into the office already sorted by street and number.

[pickaname]

I seriously think in the not to distant future you will have to pick up your mail at the delivery office after all it would only needhalf a dozen people to dish it out as it will come into the office already sorted by street and number.

I wouldnt bother...