This idea that the NHS is 'free' is complete and utter rubbish.  It is paid for from National Insurance Contributions.  Every worker has 11% deducted from salary in addition to income taxes.  Employers pay extra.  Yes, part of this money goes towards other benefits such as unemployment, national pensions etc.  But a large part is to pay for the NHS.

Imagine someone earning a reasonable 50,000 per annum.  They pay 5500 a year in National Insurance.  A typical person works 40 years, so that's 220000 over a working life not adjusting for inflation etc.

Now imagine if that money was instead invested in an annual investment plan.  Even at a modest 5% a year that money would grow to somewhere near to 1,000,000 - easily enough money for retirement and health.

What would you rather have - free NHS and a small Government pension, or one million pounds in the bank?

... very bad month here, too... since April, things changed dramatically...

This idea that the NHS is 'free' is complete and utter rubbish.  It is paid for from National Insurance Contributions.  Every worker has 11% deducted from salary in addition to income taxes.  Employers pay extra.  Yes, part of this money goes towards other benefits such as unemployment, national pensions etc.  But a large part is to pay for the NHS.

Imagine someone earning a reasonable 50,000 per annum.  They pay 5500 a year in National Insurance.  A typical person works 40 years, so that's 220000 over a working life not adjusting for inflation etc.

Now imagine if that money was instead invested in an annual investment plan.  Even at a modest 5% a year that money would grow to somewhere near to 1,000,000 - easily enough money for retirement and health.

What would you rather have - free NHS and a small Government pension, or one million pounds in the bank?

A free National Health Service thanks. The average wage is about �25k and I wouldn't throw the disabled and ill people who can't work under the bus as I'm OK. The NHS is free at the point of delivery no one says it doesn't cost anything.

Quote from: Pauws99 on August 01, 2019, 02:03

Quote from: hatman12 on July 31, 2019, 23:37

This idea that the NHS is 'free' is complete and utter rubbish.  It is paid for from National Insurance Contributions.  Every worker has 11% deducted from salary in addition to income taxes.  Employers pay extra.  Yes, part of this money goes towards other benefits such as unemployment, national pensions etc.  But a large part is to pay for the NHS.

Imagine someone earning a reasonable 50,000 per annum.  They pay 5500 a year in National Insurance.  A typical person works 40 years, so that's 220000 over a working life not adjusting for inflation etc.

Now imagine if that money was instead invested in an annual investment plan.  Even at a modest 5% a year that money would grow to somewhere near to 1,000,000 - easily enough money for retirement and health.

What would you rather have - free NHS and a small Government pension, or one million pounds in the bank?

A free National Health Service thanks. The average wage is about �25k and I wouldn't throw the disabled and ill people who can't work under the bus as I'm OK. The NHS is free at the point of delivery no one says it doesn't cost anything.

200% agree.
If you were insuring for a wasteful private health service (all the extra people and fabric in the insurance company) you could easily spend more than �5500 pa, esp when you consider the other things NI pays for. Angela says the minimum is $400 dollars a month.
You can choose not to insure and run with the risk of getting ill, but it would be poor parenting to do that on behalf of a child.
Besides, what would I do with �1 million after I'm dead? And how is it if I buy travel insurance when I go to the States, I have to buy a minimum of $1 million health insurance? Oh yes, because health care is so expensive there.

If only NI did pay for all that 80% of NHS costs comes out of general taxation. The fact is Health Care is very expensive.  Its really a matter of philosophy/politics whether you think its an individual or social responsibility.

Quote from: hatman12 on July 31, 2019, 23:37

What would you rather have - free NHS and a small Government pension, or one million pounds in the bank?

The answer to that can only be given in hindsight, and the answer is going to be very different for somebody in perfect health and somebody who has been plagued with a long and costly illness. National Insurance... the clue is in the title!

Only if you think the only issue is your personal wealth.

Quote from: ShadySue on August 01, 2019, 02:41

Quote from: Pauws99 on August 01, 2019, 02:03

Quote from: hatman12 on July 31, 2019, 23:37

This idea that the NHS is 'free' is complete and utter rubbish.  It is paid for from National Insurance Contributions.  Every worker has 11% deducted from salary in addition to income taxes.  Employers pay extra.  Yes, part of this money goes towards other benefits such as unemployment, national pensions etc.  But a large part is to pay for the NHS.

Imagine someone earning a reasonable 50,000 per annum.  They pay 5500 a year in National Insurance.  A typical person works 40 years, so that's 220000 over a working life not adjusting for inflation etc.

Now imagine if that money was instead invested in an annual investment plan.  Even at a modest 5% a year that money would grow to somewhere near to 1,000,000 - easily enough money for retirement and health.

What would you rather have - free NHS and a small Government pension, or one million pounds in the bank?

A free National Health Service thanks. The average wage is about �25k and I wouldn't throw the disabled and ill people who can't work under the bus as I'm OK. The NHS is free at the point of delivery no one says it doesn't cost anything.

200% agree.
If you were insuring for a wasteful private health service (all the extra people and fabric in the insurance company) you could easily spend more than �5500 pa, esp when you consider the other things NI pays for. Angela says the minimum is $400 dollars a month.
You can choose not to insure and run with the risk of getting ill, but it would be poor parenting to do that on behalf of a child.
Besides, what would I do with �1 million after I'm dead? And how is it if I buy travel insurance when I go to the States, I have to buy a minimum of $1 million health insurance? Oh yes, because health care is so expensive there.

If only NI did pay for all that 80% of NHS costs comes out of general taxation. The fact is Health Care is very expensive.  Its really a matter of philosophy/politics whether you think its an individual or social responsibility.

True, to an extent; but lots of studies have shown US medicine in particular is very wasteful.

Anyway back to the subject of the thread

July was as bad as June lo and behold the same number of downloads but compared to previous years half the money.

And what is really bad is the little flurry of 33 cent SOD sales when my minimum should be 38 cents.

These people are worse than drug dealers   

Yes, it seems part of the downward spiral for some people, is same amount of sales, but less money. I don't know what you have that sells SO for less than a sub, I don't get those, but I understand how that could happen. Big contract buyer, discounted prices.

There's a whole cycle kind of like drug dealers, or addiction? Ego dealers with promises of money early on, the levels, future growth and more promises, make more as you make progress. Then they pull the rug out, no more levels, lower commissions, and we're still hooked, on lower earnings, because it's a kind of addiction. I finally broke free and dropped the parasitic agencies, I won't feed them for some spare change. But what's left isn't much to brag about. Four agencies is less work though.

Why do I stay, why do I keep uploading? Because what I do make seems to be worth the weak effort I'm putting into this now.  I'd be taking these photos, most of them, even if there was no Microstock. I still think some people do well and work hard and get their rewards. I don't and I get what I deserve.

Look at the poll. That's people who decide to take the poll, but it represents the state of things. SS is double, AS, IS has gone from #1 to below FT/AS and DT? 2.5 holy cow, a dozen of the "middle tier", do better, including five people who still work self hosted.

SS is close to dead.

Occasional subs only.

The swings are just huge. Last month (June) I made mid $900. July was mid $400, half.

For me big GAME OVER on all sites

After a good July, bme fo me

August is a wme
1 subscription so far
But August is a vacation month

Let's hope sales will come back in September

Something other than summer is affecting my sales. Just making $3-5 a day. I am usually making $25-$50 a day. Only at $140 so far for August and July netted only $460, when my last few months before July have been $800-$900. Probably getting summer slump plus the recipient of a search change/test. Either way the last two months have been horrible, Aug worse than July, overall on track to be down 60% this month.

Could well be a tweak...of course it could tweak back so fingers crossed.

Myself.... July was a little lower than last year but not by much, only $20 or so (780 total). August has been a strong month, especially this week with days of 60-95 (480 so far). I'm sort of expecting this to suddenly stop... at which point it'll probably be your turn! June-Aug tend to be quieter months for me at SS.

SUPER SUCK BAD