£500 Shopping Vouchers?

[mushroom25]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/05/sunak-considers-500-vouchers-for-all-uk-adults-to-spend-in-covid-hit-firms

what would you do with yours?

[Bobbisox1]

the obvious would be to stock fridge /freezer and chest freezer but after that I'm not really sure, yet the big supermarkets have been doing okay throughout the pandemic anyway

[Old_Geezer]

They give us back our own money, that they then need to tax us again for in order to replace, in order that we spend our own money in the places they dictate. Hmmm....

And you daren't refuse or you're a further £500 down.

[bednobs]

i cant read the article, but i wuld suppose it wouldnt include supermarkets

[Bobbisox1]

very sketchy from the Guardian but one line suggests hospitality has been hit badly, yes it has but would this mean all of us going away for a few days in this country to a hotel? Nah, I think not

[woofgang]

"The proposals, drawn up by the Resolution Foundation think tank, which has had recent talks with the Treasury about its ideas."

oh look another flying pig.

My first thought is that unless they could be spent by a representative of the person then it would discriminate against those people who are unable to "face to face" shop or use hospitality businesses.

What would I buy with mine? gold.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Get the chipaway man around to touch up a few bits on the car courteousy of the wife, share a chinese with friends in the garden socially distanced for a belated birthday

[Prudie]

Wouldn't it be better to give the money directly to specific companies? I've been on full pay the whole time as have all my work colleagues, most of us have saved money on top so a voucher seems undeserved - I'd be more than willing to spend and support, problem is the businesses haven't been open to allow me to (apart from supermarkets and amazon who must have made massive non-typical profits during the lockdown).

[Old_Geezer]

Exactly. If something is in trouble and needs help, then consider a one off helping hand where it's needed. Don't mess about with the public. They'll spend again and boost the economy when conditions are right.

[pastafreak]

A voucher to use in the hospitality industry would mean little to me as I rarely go out for drinks, or food. If I can use it in a bookstore, or for things for my home, I'll be happy. I'm not holding my breath. Can you imagine letting some 20-30 somethings loose with £500 in Wetherspoons?

[Mamyalynne]

I am much the same as Pasta, if restricted to use in the hospitality area they would be no use to me - if transferable to someone in the family or a Charity then fair enough.

I'd like some new bedroom furniture though.

[pastafreak]

I want a frost free freezer...or new flooring downstairs.

[iluvmargie]

Have the outside of my house painted.

[Hopkirk]

It makes more sense to give money directly to the public.

Previously they have pumped money in by quantitative easing, but this ends up making the rich a bit richer.

Giving it to us and insisting it is spent boosts the economy better, and increases the chance of saving jobs.

[ladybirder]

It wouldn't be of much use to me in the hospitality industry either so I would give it to my children. They'd spend it soon enough.

[jackthehat]

I'm not entirely sure but I'd hope to seek out small, independent, local manufacturers/retailers rather than large corporate or multi-nationals who are more likely to have weathered the storm.

[bednobs]

i'm with prudie - it feels undeserved to me i've also been on full pay, and spending far less, so have a pot of savings i've never had before in my adult life, which i would be more than willing to spend.

[Hopkirk]

Spend it then Bednobs, but please don't give it to Amazon.
Jeff Bezos is rich enough already, and it won't really boost our economy.