xMAS BOX

As my Scottish granny used to say as she gave me a sixpenny piece “Don’t spend it all in the one shop!”

Or as my Great Aunt would have said “better than a poke in the eye with a wet kipper!”

Yes, just had an alert from the bank saying the account has been credited. Now, what can I spend it on? Bread, gas, electric, meat...............nah! Gin!!!

I had to Google to find out why I had been credited with £10 this morning. Can anyone remember who was in power when this Christmas bonus was introduced? It was probably generous at the time.

So have I, let’s party 🎊 🥂🍾

I’m putting mine towards buying some food for the food bank collection at our local supermarket.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_bonus_(United_Kingdom)#:~:text=A%20Christmas%20bonus%20of%20%C2%A3,government%20in%201973%20and%201974.

First established in 1972 so it is time it was reviewed or scrapped.

It was Edward Heath Parsley3

The value of the Christmas bonus would now be roughly £134.94 had it been updated.

Parsley3

I had to Google to find out why I had been credited with £10 this morning. Can anyone remember who was in power when this Christmas bonus was introduced? It was probably generous at the time.

It was introduced by the Heath Government under the Pensioners and Family Income Supplement Payments Act 1972. It was £10 then and is still £10. It is a madness redolent of the "Big House" handing out the Christmas Box to their retainers.

It is not only pensioners who get it, but I am sure that, when a large increase happens such as, in the pensioners case a rise of 10.1%, they could add an extra £10 and abolish this anachronism.

You would be able to do the same for those on other benefits than State Pension too.

Parsley3

I had to Google to find out why I had been credited with £10 this morning. Can anyone remember who was in power when this Christmas bonus was introduced? It was probably generous at the time.

Me too! It's only my second year of state pension, so I didn't remember what it was.

I like purplepixie's idea of using it for foodbank food.

Sadly, some of those receiving it will be very much in need of it, but it is a very expensive way to get £10 to someone.

£10 extra on my pension today, also my £250 Winter Fuel Payment,

I miss the days when my surname was near the beginning of the alphabet. Now it's a long wait

I have bought bleach for our Food Bank as we are very low on stock of it, along with other cleaning products.

Off topic:

I would be happy to do that NotaGran. I am lazy and pick up one of the ready put together bags in the supermarket. I don't think I have ever seen one with cleaning products in it. I have always assumed they are told by our food bank what they are short of but possibly not.

I like the foodbank idea, so I'll make sure I send my 'bonus' to the nearest one.

We got our fuel payments and £10 this week. It will definitely be needed for fuel.

I need the £10 Christmas bonus. I'd much rather it had kept up with inflation as £134 would be preferable. But £10 is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick so I'm happy I got it. It's lovely that those of you that don't need it spend it on foodbank items. They're desperately needed. But please don't forget people like me who need that extra £10.

Every time I see this thread, I think it is about giving Xmas box gifts to tradesmen.