paying

Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s Noah Goldberg, with an assist from Rebecca Ellis, giving you the latest on city and county government.

A majority of the Los Angeles City Council believed that an expansion of the L.A. Convention Center was absolutely necessary.

The venue was losing out on event bookings to smaller cities like Anaheim and Las Vegas. But the expansion would be one of the most expensive publicly-financed projects in city history, and taxpayers would be paying down the debt for the next three decades.

The year was 1985. The number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 list was — and it couldn’t have been more apt — “We Built This City” by Starship.

That year, the council approved construction of the Convention Center’s South Hall, which Angelenos now know for its curving green facade facing the 110 Freeway. The project added hundreds of thousands of square feet of event space at a price tag of $310 million — though it ended up costing $500 million.

Now, history seems to be looping around again in last week’s debate about another Convention Center expansion, this time across Pico Boulevard to link the center’s two buildings.

The City Council voted last Friday to move forward with a $2.6-billion expansion that city budget advisers warned will draw taxpayer funds away from essential city services for decades. Any construction delays could endanger plans to host judo, wrestling and other Olympic competitions in 2028, triggering financial penalties if the venue isn’t ready in time.

In 1985, only Councilmember Joel Wachs voted against the expansion — though he told The Times he couldn’t remember the exact reason. It’s been 40 years, after all.

“That said, I’m not at all surprised I opposed it … as I did other projects where I felt the city would be on the hook for untold costs with no real meaningful assurances of benefits that could possibly justify it,” he said.

Wachs said that barring any convincing arguments on the other side, “I would also likely vote against it if I was on the council now.”

In 1985, Wachs was concerned about the long-term effects of the Convention Center upgrade on the city’s general fund.

The South Hall was finished in 1993, and the city made a nearly $42-million payment the next year, continuing to pay between $13.1 million and $48.4 million a year until 2023.

Just a few years after that old debt was finally paid off, the city is set to start payments on a similar project.

“History is repeating itself, because it’s become necessary to compete with other convention centers around the world again,” said Doane Liu, executive director of the city’s Tourism Department. “I’m certain it was a hard decision to make in [1985].”

While debating the new expansion, some on the City Council wondered how the two projects matched up and whether the 1985 vote could provide guidance for the current moment.

Councilmember Tim McOsker asked City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo to report on the cost of the 1985 expansion.

McOsker compared the numbers, arguing that the annual payments were similar, if adjusted for the growth of the city’s general fund over time.

The city’s first $42-million payment for the old expansion was about 1.7% of its $2.48-billion general fund.

Payments for the new expansion ratchet up over a three-year period, starting with around $40 million in 2029, then jumping by 2031 to about $192 million a year until 2055.

Each $192-million annual payment would be about 2.3% of the city’s current general fund.

The similarities go further than the general fund percentage, McOsker said, alluding to the nearly $1-billion deficit that city officials recently faced.

“You know what else we had in ‘94-’95 and ‘95-’96? A $1-billion deficit that we were struggling with,” he said at a council budget hearing on Sept. 16. “It was a tough time then, and I know that we may hear that maybe we shouldn’t have done it, but we did do it, and 30 years later, we have a Convention Center that needs it again.”

But was it worth it?

Former Councilmember Zev Yaroslavsky has come to regret his vote in favor of the 1993 expansion.

“I think I did make a mistake,” he said. “I regret that I drank the Kool-Aid.”

Yaroslavsky said the council was convinced in 1985 that the expanded convention center would generate enough revenue to pay off the bond issuance, and then some.

But after 30 years of payments, Yaroslavsky said he saw no evidence that he and his fellow council members were correct.

“That didn’t happen.”

State of play

— FRESNO-NO: Councilmember Ysabel Jurado found herself in the crosshairs of Fresno politicians this week after she suggested that L.A. should not be ceding major events to the city. “We can’t keep losing out to Fresno. Shakira ended her world tour in Fresno,” she said at a press conference in which she voiced support for the Convention Center expansion.

Fresno shot back. “There’s no need to degrade or make fun of other cities that literally feed Angelenos by picking the fruits and vegetables sold at the DTLA markets daily,” Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez wrote on Instagram.

— LAX DELAYS: The Automated People Mover that will connect travelers between airport terminals and the Metro could be delayed even further, the CEO of LAX told The Times. The train, which was supposed to open in January 2026, may now be delayed until June 2026 or later, imperiling the goal of opening in time for the World Cup.

— NO LAYOFFS: Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday that the city has managed to avert all 1,650 layoffs she proposed in April as part of her plan to close a nearly $1-billion deficit. Bass negotiated for months with labor unions, who made concessions to help stave off hundreds of the layoffs. Budget reductions from the City Council also helped save jobs.

— BATHROOM POOH-POOHED: The city’s plan to install a bathroom at popular hiking destination Runyon Canyon has come under fire from locals who worry it may bring unwanted smells and safety issues. Bass said the city has received requests from hikers for years asking for a bathroom in the park. The bathroom will be ready by summer 2026.

CHIMP INFANT: Two chimpanzees born at the L.A. Zoo in August and September and are the first chimp births at the zoo in 11 years. They do not yet have names.

DROPOUT: Last week’s newsletter mentioned Jake Rakov as a congressional candidate; he dropped out of the race earlier this month.

QUICK HITS

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s signature program hit two locations this week. On Tuesday, it brought people inside from West 88th Street and South Grand Boulevard in South Los Angeles. On Thursday, the program went to Roscoe and Balboa Boulevards in the San Fernando Valley. Over the two operations, nearly 60 Angelenos were brought off the street.
• On the docket next week: L.A. County supervisors will hear about the findings of a long-awaited report from the McChrystal Group into what went wrong during the Eaton fire. The 132-page report found that poor communication, understaffing and a lack of adequate planning amid the chaotic conditions contributed to the failures.

Stay in touch

That’s it for this week! Send your questions, comments and gossip to [email protected]. Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Saturday morning.

MILLIONS of Brits who rely solely on the state pension face having to pay income tax within the next two years.

Rises guaranteed under the triple-lock will push many dangerously close to the £12,570 tax threshold.

State pensions rise each year by the rate of either inflation, earnings growth, or 2.5 per cent — whichever is highest.

With wage growth at 4.7 per cent, the full new state pension will rise to £12,535 a year next April.

That is £35 short of the frozen income tax threshold, meaning OAPs in question are certain to be paying up by 2027.

Despite warnings, the Government has made no commitment to raising tax thresholds or making an exemption for Brits who have only the state pension.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to helping pensioners live their lives with dignity and respect, which is why millions will see their pension rise by up to £1,900 this Parliament.”

They also stated that people completely reliant on the state pension would not have to pay any income tax “this year”.

HMRC is expected to deduct tax directly through pension providers — or send pensioners a Simple Assessment tax bill that they have to work out.

Campaigners last night blasted the news, with ex-Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb calling it a “creeping injustice” due to “drag millions more into the tax net”.

Rachel Vahey, of pensions firm AJ Bell, said it would force many older Brits to fill out their first self-assessment, and warned that present financial woes made reforms on taxes and pensions unlikely.

1

A YouTuber who is originally from the UK moved to Dubai for two years to “avoid paying tax” – but he returned home saying there were “more cons than pros” to living in the city

A British YouTuber who relocated to Dubai has packed up and returned to the UK after two years, citing one significant issue with life in the Gulf state.

YouTuber Charlie Morgan initially moved to Dubai to “avoid paying tax”, but returned home to Britain earlier this year after concluding there were “more cons than pros” to living in the city.

Whilst acknowledging that most people view Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, as “this big shiny utopia”, Charlie highlighted one of the major drawbacks of the Middle Eastern destination.

He revealed that “the real primary reason” he decided to abandon his Dubai lifestyle. He said: “It’s impossible to emotionally unpack.”

He continued: “Living in Dubai feels like you’re on holiday or in an Airbnb because in order for you to have a healthy life, you need to have people that you love and you need to have a social life and you need to have a love life, a family life.”

Charlie identified one crucial weakness of the city: “The issue with Dubai is everyone plans to leave. It’s a revolving door of a city which means that people come and people leave. And 90%, 95% of the people that I knew in Dubai did not plan on staying there for the long term.”

While Charlie highlighted one specific disadvantage of living in the sun-drenched climate of Dubai, there are also numerous other considerations that British expats recommend weighing up when relocating to the Middle Eastern nation. The first thing Brits will notice when they step foot in Dubai is the drastic change in temperature.

In the scorching months of July and August, it’s not unusual for temperatures to rocket past 40C, while during the cooler months of November and December, it can still linger around the mid-20s.

Despite significant differences in climate, taxation, and culture between Dubai and the UK, the UAE city has become an increasingly appealing option for Brits seeking a new life abroad.

Recent estimates show a massive surge in the number of UK nationals moving to Dubai in recent years.

In 2021, it’s estimated that 30,000 Brits packed their bags for Dubai, with that figure rising to 35,000 a year later, and hitting 40,000 in 2023. It’s thought that a whopping 240,000 Brits now call the UAE city home.

If you thought artificial intelligence (AI) has a sizable addressable market, take a gander at the retail industry. Based on estimates from Mordor Intelligence, the global retail industry will grow from an estimated $27.3 trillion this year to about $36.9 trillion by the turn of the decade.

With an addressable market this massive, it should come as no surprise that retail is one of the most competitive industries on the planet. However, there are a handful of retail standouts, including e-commerce giant Amazon, superstore chain Walmart, and of course warehouse club Costco Wholesale (COST 0.64%).

While Amazon and Walmart have (mostly) grown their respective businesses traditionally, Costco is the oddball of the bunch. It’s known for its quirky deals, such as the $1.50 hot-dog combo for members, generous return policy, and its penchant for selling one-of-a-kind and unexpected items, such as gold bars and luxury jewelry.

Image source: Costco.

Costco’s 79.6 million paying members, as of the end of the fiscal third quarter (May 11, 2025), have come to expect these perks and surprises. But a new rule is a complete game-changer for many of its paying cardholders.

Costco’s executive members just earned a lucrative new perk

To shop in one of Costco’s more than 900 warehouse locations, you’ll need a membership. Approximately 42 million of its paid membership are gold star and business level, which each carry a $65 annual cost. The remaining 37.6 million are executive level, which carries twice the annual cost ($130), but also lays on the perks.

According to Costco, its executive members can earn up to 2% back on most purchases totaling up to $1,250 annually, as well as receive a monthly credit of $10 for eligible delivery orders topping $150. Executive cardholders may also qualify for discounts on Costco travel packages.

The reason the company caters to this group is because they’re responsible for the bulk of net sales. Despite accounting for “just” 47% of total memberships, executive cardholders were responsible for approximately 73% of sales during the fiscal third quarter. Keeping these folks happy and sustaining annual renewal rates above 90% is key to Costco’s success.

But a newly announced perk for executive members, which was unveiled in June but only fully implemented earlier this week, is bound to turn heads.

On June 11, Costco revealed plans to allow its executive cardholders exclusive shopping hours seven days a week in its more than 600 U.S. warehouses. On weekdays and Sundays, only executive members will be allowed to enter its warehouses from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with this exclusive shopping window narrowed to 30 minutes (9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) on Saturdays. Though this policy technically went into effect at the end of June, there had been a two-month grace period where gold star and business members were allowed in. This isn’t the case any longer.

While some non-executive members have expressed frustration with this new policy, it’s a smart move by Costco to put the proverbial carrot at the end of the stick and encourage existing gold star and business members to upgrade.

Image source: Getty Images.

Membership fees are a key ingredient to Costco’s competitive edge

Though membership fees aren’t the only factor responsible for making Costco such a successful growth stock and phenomenal multidecade investment, they play an undeniably important role.

Groceries act as the primary lure responsible for getting people into Costco’s warehouses. However, food and beverages traditionally sport razor-thin margins. Since membership fees flow almost entirely to Costco’s bottom line, they can be used as something of a buffer to offset the minuscule margins tied to groceries.

Arguably even more important, membership fees afford Costco a pricing buffer. Management understands fully that members of all levels expect various perks, including prices on most groceries that’ll undercut traditional mom and pop shops and national grocery chains. The membership fees Costco receives are one of the reasons it can keep prices on basic need goods so comparatively low. It’s something of a repeating cycle that works in the company’s favor.

Costco Wholesale’s size shouldn’t be overlooked, either. When a company has deep pockets, it’s often able to buy products in bulk, which reduces the per-unit cost for each item. These lower costs can then be passed along to its members as a key perk to shopping in its warehouses.

Even though cardholders are likely heading to Costco for groceries and other household necessities, it only takes a handful of higher-margin discretionary purchases for the company to benefit. It also doesn’t hurt when members buy Costco’s private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, which tends to boast premium margins, relative to comparable products.

There’s no denying this formula works. Just over 90% of its worldwide customers renewed their memberships, based on fiscal third-quarter data, with an even higher 92.7% renewal rate in the U.S. and Canada. It also boasts exceptional membership pricing power, with the number of paid memberships growing following a fee increase on Sept. 1, 2024.

There’s a reason investors have been paying a traditionally head-scratching (for a retail company) forward-year earnings multiple of 47 to buy shares of Costco stock. Given its array of competitive advantages, and the exceptional loyalty of its shoppers, there’s a good likelihood this new perk is going to mint even more executive level cardholders in the quarters that lie ahead.

Ryanair’s optional seat reservation fees can quickly add up – but a former cabin crew member has shared a clever tip that could help you sit together without paying

Flying with a budget airline such as Ryanair can sometimes feel like rolling the dice.

While flight prices are often low, the extra fees for things like luggage, priority boarding and choosing your seat can quickly add up – especially if you’re travelling in a group and want to sit together.

Many travellers assume they’ve got no choice but to shell out for seat selection, but a former flight attendant has shared a clever trick that could help your party sit together without paying the fee. Jane Hawkes, a travel guru and ex-cabin crew member, explained that while this approach isn’t suitable for everyone, it can be highly effective for mates, couples or grown-up travellers.

READ MORE: Popular UK beach made famous by Poldark is closed off to the publicREAD MORE: Shower screens will be shining when using one natural item that cleaners love

She explained: “Obviously if you’re travelling with children you might not want to do this. Because if you’re travelling as a family, you’ll probably want your children with you to keep an eye on them. But if you’re travelling with friends or a partner, then never pay to book a seat together.”

Instead, the travel guru recommends holding off until you board and then having a word with the flight attendants or other travellers, reports Galway Beo.

She continued: “Just wait to get onboard and then say ‘we’re travelling together and we didn’t realise we’d be separated’. You could just ask other passengers around you, who can be very accommodating. It’s worth asking but there’s not much point asking before you get onboard.”

Jane also noticed that passengers are generally more eager to help if it means they can escape an unwanted middle seat.

Ryanair offers a range of seating options, with prices varying depending on the location of the seat, the route, travel dates, and whether the seat is reserved at the time of booking or at the airport.

The cheapest option is the standard seats, which cost between €4.50 and €21.50 per flight. Extra legroom seats, usually located in the first two rows, are the most expensive, with prices ranging from €12 to €38 per flight.

Additional extra legroom seats situated further back in the cabin cost between €8 and €26 per flight. Front seats, covering rows 2 to 5, are slightly cheaper than extra legroom, costing between €7.50 to €24.50 per flight.

Families travelling with children under 12 – excluding infants – must also comply with Ryanair’s mandatory family seating policy. At least one adult must purchase a reserved seat and sit next to their children, however the airline allows up to four children free reserved seats in rows 18 and 33. Charges for compulsory family seats range from €4.50 to €13.50 per flight.

TURNBERRY, Scotland — It may not be typical golf attire, but one of the most ubiquitous outfits seen on President Trump’s golf course Friday ahead of his visit was the reflective yellow vest worn by Scottish police.

The standard issue garb that is far removed from the traditional Turnberry tartan was highly visible on the dunes, the beaches and the grass as thousands of officers secured the course in advance of protests planned during the president’s visit to two of his Scottish golf resorts.

Trump was expected to arrive Friday evening to a mix of respect and ridicule.

His visit requires a major police operation that will cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds as protests are planned over the weekend. The union representing officers is concerned they are already overworked and will be diverted from their normal duties, and some residents are not happy about the cost.

“Why isn’t he paying for it himself? He’s coming for golf, isn’t he?” said Merle Fertuson, a solo protester in Edinburgh holding a hand-drawn cardboard sign that featured a foolishly grinning Trump likeness in a tuxedo. “It’s got nothing whatsoever to do with public money, either U.S. or U.K.”

Policing for Trump’s four-day visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost more than $19 million, according to Freedom of Information figures. That included more than $4 million spent for his two-day golf trip to Turnberry, the historic course and hotel in southwest Scotland that he bought in 2014.

Police Scotland would not discuss how many officers were being deployed for operational reasons and only said the costs would be “considerable.”

“The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements,” Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the visit would not be detrimental to policing.

“It’s nonsensical to say it won’t impact it,” said David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, the officers’ union.

Kennedy said he expects about 5,000 officers to take part in the operation.

He said a force reduction in recent years has police working 12-hour shifts. Communities that are understaffed will be left behind with even fewer officers during Trump’s visit.

“We want the president of the United States to be able to come to Scotland. That’s not what this is about,” Kennedy said. “It’s the current state of the police service and the numbers we have causes great difficulty.”

The Stop Trump Scotland group has planned demonstrations Saturday in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries. The group encouraged people to “show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.”

Trump should receive a much warmer welcome from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is expected to meet with him during the visit. Swinney, the left-leaning head of Scottish government and former Trump critic, also plans to meet with the president.

Ha and Melley write for the Associated Press. Melley reported from London. Will Weissert contributed to this report from Edinburgh.

A study comparing the price of drinks on airlines including Ryanair, easyjet and Jet2 to those available in the supermarket has found the budget carriers have big mark-ups in place

Passengers jetting out to holiday destinations face a significant mark-up on drinks onboard planes.

The airport pint/pints before flying is now as ingrained a part of British culture as donating a tin of beans for Harvest Festival or regular portions of chicken tikka masala. Drinking on the plane, however, is a more complex pursuit. Often the portions are small, the drinks trolley infrequent, and the prices high.

New data from Kadi Luggage show the prices you’re likely to fork out when flying with budget airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair, and Jet2, and the markups facing customers. According to the study, in some cases prices can soar up to 289% above supermarket rates.

READ MORE: Spanish holiday hotspots call in hundreds of police to deal with unruly Brits

On easyJet, wine costs up to £6.60, and beer £5.60, while Ryanair charges £6.84 for wine. Meanwhile although Jet2 ranks as the most affordable UK airline for in-flight drinks, it still trails far behind international competitors, with prices significantly higher than those offered by Iberia Express and Transavia France.

By contrast, top-scoring airlines like Spain’s Iberia Express charge nearly £2 less per drink, offering beer for just £3.85.

“UK carriers are enforcing stricter alcohol policies, yet are not offering much value to passengers in return,” says Harry Saunders, CEO of Kadi Luggage. “We expect to pay more at altitude, but these prices are eye-watering, especially for everyday brands you can get for a third of the price on the ground. And when comparing globally to leading European airlines, Brits really are overpaying for a basic drink at 30,000 feet.”

READ MORE: Easy trick can help your bag be one of the first on the carousel and it’s freeREAD MORE: UKHSA has issued an important warning for anyone with holidays booked in July

UK and Irish airlines consistently fall short on value for money, with European counterparts offering better-priced drinks across all categories.

Overall, the cheapest airline was Iberia Express, which offered beer for £3.85, wine for £5.56, and spirits for £5.13. At the other end of the scale was flyDubai, where beer will set you back £8.03, wine the same price and spirits £8.77.

Jet2 is the cheapest UK or Irish airline that was ranked, serving up £5.60 beer, £6 wine and £6 spirits. Ryanair was next up thanks to its £5.56 beer, £6.84 wine and £5.99 spirits. This compared favourably to easyJet, where beer cost £5.60, wine £6.90 and spirits £6.60.

The study looked at the price mark-ups customers face. They included:

• A 289% mark-up on easyJet for a 330ml bottle of Morretti, which costs £1.53 in the supermarket and £5.95 onboard.
• A 264% mark-up on Ryanair for the same beer, that costs £5.56 on the Irish budget airline.
• A 193% mark-up on Jet2 for a BrewDog Punk IPA, that cost £1.91 in a supermarket and £5.65 on the plane.

Supermarket prices are according to sainsburys.co.uk at the beginning of July. The study analysed online in-flight menu prices for each airline, retrieving prices for beer, wine and spirits. All prices were converted to GBP.

EasyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 have been contacted for comment.

Martin Lewis shared a handy tip for holidaymakers who are keen to keep costs down when it comes to dining out abroad and it all comes down to how you pay

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has shared a nifty tip for globetrotters seeking to pinch their pennies – particularly when dining or drinking out overseas, and it all comes down to your mode of payment.

On his latest instalment of The Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds, the financial guru offered key advice for those opting to use cards. In an intriguing segment titled “Should you pay in Pounds or Euros on plastic abroad?” Martin reveals his insider knack for cutting costs.

Encountering the option to pay in either the local currency or Great British Pounds at checkouts and ATMs is common, prompting a decision every traveller faces. Martin, however, asserts that there’s indeed an optimal choice here.

Martin advised: “Well the correct answer is you should always pay in Euros or whatever the local currency is, because that means it’s your plastic that’s doing the exchange rate conversion, not the overseas shop or ATM.”

For getting true bang for your buck, Martin suggests acquiring a specialised overseas debit or credit card that offers “near perfect exchange rate” – a savvy move for any thrifty traveller, reports the Express.

He elaborated: “But even if you don’t have one of those, then even your bog standard UK credit or debit card that’s adding about a three per cent fee onto the exchange rate, in all the experiments I’ve done and when most people go abroad, they do a pub crawl, I do an ATM crawl to check these rates.”

Summing up his findings, he said: “In all the experiments I’ve done, even a bog standard UK card is beating most overseas ATMs, or shops exchange rates so you want it to do the conversion which means you must always pay in the local currency.”

His advice was clear: “Pay in Euros, pay in dollars, pay in Dong if you’re in Vietnam.”

Martin Lewis and the team at Money Saving Expert have detailed a number of the best travel credit and debit cards available. Find more information, here.

If you want ideas and inspiration to plan your next UK adventure plus selected offers and competitions, sign up for our 2Chill weekly newsletter here

Mums and dads hope the financial scales will tip in their favour and they’ll no longer have to cover their child’s costs by the time they turn 30, according to a new study by digital wealth manager Moneyfarm

Adults should stop taking their kids on holiday at 30, at least if the results of a survey are anything to go by.

After a decade of carefully planning mealtimes, noting nappy-change facility locations, forking out summer holiday rates for a resort with a kids’ club, and then another decade of ensuring teenage children don’t gain illicit access to an all-you-can-drink wristband, parents may be forgiven for deciding to go on holiday without children.

However, a significant chunk don’t. A 2023 study found that two-fifths of adults (42%) were planning holidays that year with their parents, as rising living costs squeeze families’ travel budgets. And the Starling Bank poll revealed that more than a quarter—27%—of parents who are going away with their grown-up children said they are paying for some or all of their travel expenses to help them out during the cost-of-living crisis.

Not everyone considers the set-up to be ideal. Mums and dads hope the financial scales will tip in their favour and they’ll no longer have to cover their child’s costs by the time they turn 30, according to a new study by digital wealth manager Moneyfarm.

READ MORE: Eurocamp is looking for families to volunteer to test its new pools and waterparks

When their child reaches 33, a majority of parents would love for their offspring to take them on a staycation or minibreak, while they aspire to be taken on a foreign holiday by the time their child reaches 36 years old.

This may be a pipe dream for most. Seven in ten (69 percent) say they still regularly buy and pay for things like clothes, holidays and even bills for their adult children, doling out an average of £324 a month.

While 79 percent say they always buy their children a birthday and Christmas present, 17 percent only receive gifts back occasionally, while one in ten (13 percent) never get one in return.

As a result, four in ten (41 percent) admit that they get annoyed about having to pay out so much for their adult kids.

READ MORE: ‘Absolutely beautiful and cheap’ country is ‘most underrated in world’READ MORE: Woman sells everything she owns to move onto a cruise ‘with no end’

Chris Rudden, head of investment consultants at digital wealth manager, Moneyfarm, said, “It is evident that many parents are quietly hoping for a financial tipping point, where the years of giving gradually give way, from the age of 30, to moments of receiving.

“While it is clear that most parents are happy to continue financially helping their children well into adulthood, there is clearly a growing desire to see that support reciprocated in meaningful ways. From small acts like an invite to dinner or a home-cooked meal to bigger gestures, if they can be afforded, these milestones reflect a shift in how families view financial inter-dependence.

“These financial milestones represent more than transactions, they are about finding joy and satisfaction in your children thriving enough to be able to give back.”

Packing for a weekend getaway can be a struggle when you’re trying to keep costs low – but one woman has shared a simple trick to avoid paying cabin bag fees

We all want to score the best deals when jetting off to soak up some sun abroad.

But with major airlines cracking down on luggage allowances, packing for a quick weekend getaway has become tricky — and often expensive — especially when you’re trying to keep costs low.

Luckily, one savvy traveller has shared a clever hack that lets you avoid paying for a cabin or underseat bag altogether.

If you’ve already visited far-flung places like Australia or South America, chances are you might already own the perfect item for this trick.

Instead of splashing out on an extra carry-on, TikToker Nina Edwine showed how much you can actually fit inside an empty travel pillow cover.

READ MORE: Influencer’s travel hack gets you an entire row of seats on plane to yourself

Not only does this keep your clothes safe, but the packed pillow also doubles as a comfy cushion for those long flights. Don’t be fooled by its small size — Nina stuffed the pillow with plenty of clothes.

In her video, the German traveller unpacks a non-padded bra, a strappy dress, multiple tops, a stunning red co-ord, and more — totalling ten pieces of clothing.

She revealed that this stash was enough to put together “more than six” different outfits.

Proud of her budget-friendly hack, Nina said: “Smart trick to avoid paying 50 euros (£42) for cabin luggage.”

While some airlines allow a small free cabin bag, their size restrictions often aren’t enough — making this hack a game-changer.

The clip has gone viral, racking up over 2.6 million views on TikTok, with more than 75,000 likes and nearly 1,900 comments.

“This is actually genius, for real,” one user commented, liked over 4,100 times.

Another was amazed: “Wait, you fit so much stuff in there!”

A third said: “Legendary… how have I never thought of this?”

And one more chimed in: “Love doing this — it saves so much space.”

One fashion-savvy viewer added: “One of those Uniqlo crossbody bags fits loads. Wear it under your coat with a scarf to hide the strap.”

It comes after another influencer shared a simple trick that will help you get an entire row to yourself on your next flight.

Maddie revealed she had signed up for a service called Neighbour Free when she flew with Etihad. In a video posted to her social media platforms, she explained: “I bid on the seats next to me on the plane, and if the flight isn’t completely full when I board, I get the whole row to myself. It’s basically like Business Class in Economy. I can lie down, sleep, all that.”

The content creator was “excited” to discover she had “won” the seats, meaning she had the entire row to herself. Maddie managed to sleep for eight of the 13.5-hour long-haul flight.

When asked how much this luxury had cost her, Maddie revealed in the comments section of her video that she had paid £200 to upgrade to three seats. In response to a suggestion that it might have been cheaper to upgrade to Business Class, she retorted: “Business Class upgrade would have cost £1,900++.”

READ MORE: Hair loss sufferer says hairdresser ‘couldn’t believe’ growth with 55p-per-day supplement

In a now viral video, a TikTok user shares their travel hack for packing more clothes while avoiding excess baggage charges. While some commenters praise the hack as ‘genius’ others see some faults.

A plane passenger has stunned others by revealing where she secretly stashes her clothes to avoid paying extra baggage charges.

The video, posted by Nina Edwine (@nina_edwine) to TikTok and which has amassed two million views, shows how she stuffs her neck pillow – as opposed to her hand luggage – with clothes.

Despite the small size, Nina pulls garment after garment after garment out of the neck pillow – showing just how much you can fit inside. She was able to pack in 10 individual items of clothing – including a bra, tops and a dress – inside her neck pillow. She captioned the video: “rat technique to avoid paying 50euros [£43] for cabin baggage”.

READ MORE: Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet and Jet2 exact hand luggage sizes confirmed to avoid fines

In addition to drawing millions of eyes, the viral video has generated much discussion in the comment section, attracting almost 2,000 comments. The tactic has been widely applauded by the TikTok community, but some people have pointed out some flaws.

“This is actually genius [for real],” wrote one commenter. “I will surely do this my next trip” wrote another, with many others also agreeing they were ready to put this hack to the test.

However, some commenters were sceptical that this would actually be allowed by airline staff. Especially on low-budget airlines like Ryanair that are sticklers for overweight and oversize luggage.

One user wrote: “I was traveling with Ryanair last Thursday and if you only have a small luggage you can’t have [anything] else. The lady by the gate told EVERYONE to put the pillow in their bag or throw them away.”

Another user claiming to work at an airport said: “As a gate agent, we still notice and we’ll still charge you for that.” While a different commenter said their attempt to use a similar hack failed: “Did this with a normal pillow and Ryanair staff at Marrakesh were not having it”.

Others joked that, even if gate agents weren’t already inspecting people’s neck pillows for ‘contraband’ they would from now on. “You lot are exposing this and when we get to the gate about to hop on a Ryanair flight, they will want to check everything,” wrote one commenter.

Commenters were quick to share other great tips for how to sneak extra clothing onto a flight without paying for additional baggage. “Buy any item at duty free [store], get a bag to go and you can put your clothes etc in that bag,” wrote one user.

Another tip was to use “one of those Uniqlo cross body bags”, and to “wear it under your coat with a scarf round your neck to disguise the strap”.

One simple trick can help you get plenty more cabin storage space on your cruise ship without having to upgrade to a suite or larger room on holiday

Brits heading on cruise holidays this summer won’t need to fork out for a cabin upgrade if they want extra storage, thanks to a simple but effective trick.

While cruise suites often come with perks like extra storage space, they’re not always within your budget; but opting for a cheaper cabin doesn’t mean you’ll need to pack a little more lightly. In fact, there’s one clever trick that cruise regulars swear by, and all you need to do is pack one extra item.

The insiders over at Cruise Critic revealed the trick, explaining: “In many onboard bathrooms, there’s just not enough space for all your toiletries, cosmetics, jewellery and other personal items you like to keep by the sink and shower. An old favourite trick of many cruisers is to hang up an over-the-door shoe organiser and fill the pockets not with footwear but with hairbrushes, detangling spray and other beauty needs. The cloth organisers are easily foldable to fit in your cruise luggage.”

READ MORE: Cruise passengers can currently get free drinks packages on over 40 sailings in 2025

It wasn’t the only tip they had. If you’re packing lots of toiletries but think you won’t have enough space for things like your shampoo or razor, then the travel experts recommend also bringing a “magnetic or suction hooks to hang on doors and walls to hang toiletries from etc too”.

Of course one of the perks of cruises is that the ships don’t tend to have strict luggage limits, so you can often rock up with two large suitcases and a personal bag (although if you’ve booked a cruise that departs from abroad, check your airline’s luggage limits as these will apply!).

Whatever itinerary you’ve got planned, one cruise expert recently revealed the six items he recommends that you always pack. Out of those, there’s one easy mistake that a lot of people can avoid with a bit of planning.

Sign up to the Mirror Anchors Away newsletter

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

It’s completely free and takes minutes to do.

Mirror Travel

Click here to sign up

You can get a selection of the most interesting, important and fun cruise travel stories sent to your inbox by subscribing to the Mirror’s Anchors Away newsletter.

According to Bob McGowan, Chief Experience Officer at Ambassador Cruise Line, most people only pack a rucksack for shore excursions in mind, or poolside days on the deck. However, when it comes to the evening time, they suddenly find that they don’t have an appropriate bag for the restaurants and bars. He explained: “There is a common misconception that cruises are only about lounging around”. He explained that while you’ll want a backpack for your onshore excursions, it’s worth thinking about an evening bag too when you’re on the ship.

“Having a compact bag whilst at dinner, enjoying a show or popping to the bar can be handy – helping to avoid that moment of panic when you realise you’ve left your phone in the restaurant – whilst a rucksack is great for a big day of exploring once in port.”

Speaking of the evening, don’t forget to bring something a little fancier than your T-shirt and shorts combo for your adventures. He added: “Whilst the flamboyant and grandiose clothing once associated with cruising is less common now, it is definitely a good idea to bring along a smart outfit with gala dinners and speciality dining options often available on board. On most cruises there will be at least one black tie evening and it’s always better to be slightly overdressed than underprepared. Plus, you’re on holiday – the perfect excuse to get suited and booted for the occasion!”

Do you have a simple travel hack you want to share? Email us at [email protected].

APPROACHING British passport control, a mum grips her young daughter’s hand nervously.

She fidgets with the documents they hope will fool airport officials into letting them through.

7

7

7

7

With her eyes darting nervously and head hung low, it doesn’t take long for border control officers at Manchester airport to clock something is not quite right.

And on closer examination, it is clear the paperwork is forged.

Immediately, they are blocked from entering the UK.

But while this mum and daughter failed, there are plenty more queuing up to take their place — and the majority are Iranians, cops believe.

And far from risking death in treacherous boat journeys across the Channel, these chancers are prepared to pay £20,000 for a forged document pack enabling them to travel to the UK from airports all over Europe.

Many will get through — mysteriously disappearing once they have conned their way through customs.

Or they will dump their forged or stolen documents and immediately head to the closest immigration office to beg for asylum.

But on this occasion, Greater Manchester Police were called and an investigation — named Operation Alfriston — was quickly formed.

Its aim is to discover who these ruthless smuggling gangs are and how they operate across the UK.

This week The Sun was invited to watch as cops smashed down doors and arrested the crooks they believed had been trafficking untold numbers of illegal immigrants into Britain.

At 6am yesterday, 129 GMP police officers, alongside seven immigration compliance and enforcement officers, stormed 15 different addresses.

They arrested eight men, between the ages of 18 and 52, and two women, aged 32 and 43, all allegedly involved in a conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law by assisting illegal entry into the UK.

If charged and found guilty, each member could face life in prison for their role in the smuggling ring.

‘I think we’re just scraping the surface’

The arrests took place in Greater Manchester — Bolton, Sale, Bramhall, Salford, Leigh and Cheadle — and Cricklewood, North London.

We saw cops from the Tactical Aid Unit shatter a glass door and then break down an internal one to enter a property in Bolton.

They alerted the occupants to their arrival with shouts of “police” as they marched inside in full protective gear.

Greater Manchester Police’s Head of Intel, Detective Chief Superintendent John Griffith, told The Sun: “Tackling immigration crime has become a priority for us. With the arrests yesterday morning, I think we’re just scraping the surface.

“By focusing on gathering intelligence on the infrastructure around how people are entering the UK illegally, hopefully we can deter other people from doing it.”

7

Often people who are smuggled into the UK will end up working for little money at businesses such as car washes, nail bars and hairdressers. DCS Griffith, who has a background in counter terrorism, added: “These people are hugely vulnerable.

“If you can imagine some of the travelling conditions that they will have faced across Europe when coming into the UK — to put up with that, there must be a real desire to get here.

“That desire often transfers into a willingness to pay a lot of money to individuals to facilitate that entry, irrespective of the success of that entry or not.

“There are numerous individuals who have paid these facilitators and actually have never arrived in the UK, but continue to engage with them and pay them just for the attraction of coming here.”

Not long before Christmas last year, the ringleader of an organised crime gang dealing with migrants was picked up at the airport and flagged to police.

At the time, he was not arrested. Instead, cops gathered intelligence so that when they struck, they could take out all the key players.

While this is technically smuggling, it sits in a grey area that shares characteristics with modern slavery.

Justine Carter

The crook did most of his communications in the Persian language Farsi, adding a stumbling block for the team of 12 police officers.

For fake documents or stolen identities and paperwork to enter the UK via an airport, the group was charging around £20,000.

Investigation leader Detective Chief Inspector Tim Berry told The Sun: “Our main suspect, who is actively involved in facilitating people into the UK, is generally using false documents of various nationalities.

“To do that he needs a number of people around him to facilitate and support with various elements, such as supplying false documents, booking travel, moving monies — that kind of thing.

“We know that he’s offering the full package for around £20,000. It’s that profit that motivates organised crime gangs to do this kind of work.”

The Manchester force has spent thousands of man hours to identify all the key players in the group, with their tentacles extending as far as Cricklewood.

Police believe most of the people who have paid the extortionate fee to travel safely through the air, rather than crammed on a small boat in the Channel, are of Iranian nationality.

7

7

But not all the fake documents work, meaning the holders are turned away at the border and sent back to the country they have flown in from.

The process of sorting what is sold as safe passage to the UK requires a team of people.

DCI Berry explained: “We have evidence of travel booked by travel agents and our view is that they’re doing that knowing that they’re acting illegally, rather than blindly.

“We’ve also arrested people involved in money exchange services because you have to move money across Europe to pay for these documents.

“A lot of the people arrested fall into the logistics and facilitating category rather than being the organiser.”

‘Exploitation isn’t always visible or physical’

But things could be more sinister than just people smuggling — it is possible that the gang is also going on to exploit the people it has helped to enter the country illegally.

This would fall under modern slavery, where illegal immigrants are forced to work long hours for low pay or be exploited sexually to pay off their debt.

DCS Griffiths said: “Modern slavery in organised immigration crime is interlinked significantly. For me, organised immigration crime is the primary offence.

“People are coming into the country illegally, and we need to stop that collectively through our police action and partnership action.

“But once people are here, they are tied into the country through debt bondage.

“They get pulled into the grey economy as gangs exploiting these people either utilise their labour or engage them even further in criminal enterprise.

‘Ahead of the curve’

“This would be criminality such as drug supply and cannabis farms and other sorts of premises where crimes can be undertaken.”

Traditionally, immigration offences were dealt with by the National Crime Agency, Border Force and immigration enforcement officers.

But with the flood of illegal migrants by boat and other entry points, local police have been asked to step in too.

DCI Berry said: “In recent years, there’s been a real push from the Home Office and from the National Crime Agency for police forces to improve their response to organised immigration crime.

“I would like to think as a force that we’re actually fairly ahead of the curve because we have a dedicated team.

“We absolutely do look to take this work on and we’re still developing an understanding about our work from an intelligence point of view.

“But wherever we get opportunities to investigate this, we will do — because we recognise the risks around it and the vulnerabilities and the harm that can be caused by it.”

Justine Carter, director of strategy and business services at anti-modern slavery group Unseen, said: “While this is technically smuggling, it sits in a grey area that shares characteristics with modern slavery.

“These cases typically involve recruitment, movement, deception, and significant financial exploitation, which can often lead to debt bondage and long-term vulnerability.

“Even without forced labour, the legal threshold for trafficking may still be met if the acts, means and purpose are present.

“In these cases, the purpose is not labour or sexual exploitation, but financial gain through the exploitation of vulnerable people.

“It’s a reminder that exploitation isn’t always visible or physical — it can be economic and deeply systemic.”

The ten people arrested are being interviewed under suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law, assisting illegal entry into the country by non-UK nationals in breach of immigration law, conspiracy to money launder and participating in the activities of organised crime.

A poll of 2,000 travellers found three in 10 felt they have often paid more for something on holiday because they were a tourist

Holidaymakers have shared some of the priciest purchases they have unintentionally made while abroad. A survey of 2,000 travellers revealed that three in 10 felt they had often been charged more for items on holiday due to their tourist status. One unlucky holidaymaker shelled out £30 for a single glass of Coca-Cola in Rome, while another unsuspectingly bought a T-shirt for £80, believing it was only £10.

Other surprising expenses reported by respondents included paying a staggering £48 for a single shot of whiskey. Another person spent £25 on a taxi ride in Amsterdam, only to discover their destination was less than a mile away.

The study, conducted by the Post Office, indicated that travellers frequently struggle with ‘currency confusion’ – becoming muddled about the value of money ‘in pounds’ when they are away. This has resulted in a quarter of people paying more than they anticipated for an item.

The most common currency conversion for Brits, changing to euros, also baffled respondents, with nearly a third unsure of how much £5 would equate to in Euros. Moreover, 40% were in the dark about the conversion rate for dollars.

According to the survey, four out of ten try to calculate local currency rates in their heads, while 6% will ask someone nearby and then take their word for it.

Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, commented: “Our research reveals many travellers overestimate their ability to mentally convert currencies on the go, and that can lead to overspending. We wanted to highlight how easily confusion around exchange rates can impact holiday budgets – no one wants to waste time abroad worrying about money. “

The study was commissioned to promote the Post Office’s Travel Money Card, as well as their Travel App which allows holidaymakers to check exchange rates and monitor spending in real time.

Currently, 17% rely on conversion apps to work out how much they are spending. “It’s surprising that only 19% of travellers use a prepaid travel card for their spending abroad when it can allow travellers to lock in a good rate before travelling,” Laura said.

Meanwhile, 49% utilise a separate card not connected to their primary bank account for overseas spending in an effort to safeguard their ‘main funds’ from fraudsters or thieves.

Laura further stated: “Nothing disrupts a holiday like a financial mishap. Keeping your travel money separate from your main account is a smart move to give you greater control, clearer visibility of what you’re spending.

“Whether you’re budgeting carefully or just want to avoid mixing travel purchases with everyday costs, this small step can make a big difference to your trip.”

Dreaming of retiring already? A stunning country just a couple of hours from the UK has one of the highest paying pensions in Europe – but there are several big catches

Million of Brits could see a huge boost to their retirement, after HM Treasury unveiled plans to double the number of UK pension megafunds by 2030.

As previously explained, this is where smaller local authorities and private workplaces come together, with the aim that bundling larger funds will result in a much greater return. The government states these changes will ‘drive more investment directly into the UK economy for new homes and promising scale-up businesses’.

“With over £50 billion secured through the recent voluntary commitment from pension funds to invest five percent of assets in the UK and new local investment targets for Local Government Pension Scheme authorities,” HM Treasury added. “This tackles the gradual decline in domestic investment from UK pension funds, where around 20 per cent of Defined Contribution assets are currently invested compared to over 50 per cent in 2012.”

READ MORE: Underrated EU island welcoming Brits where tourism backlash doesn’t exist

For now, Brits on the State Pension will receive just £230.25 a week (£11,973 per year) as long as they have enough qualifying years of National Insurance (NI). If your NI record started after April 2016, you will need 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of the New State Pension.

But in comparison to nearby countries, the UK’s state pension seems mediocre at best. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – as of 2022 – the full basic pension in Iceland is valued at ISK 3,439,428, equivalent to 31 per cent of average worker earnings. This roughly converts to £20,063.08 per year – more than £8,000 compared to the UK state pension.

“There is an annual allowance of ISK 300,000 (£1,751.11) for exempt income, equivalent to three per cent of average earnings,” OECD added. “Above this allowance, the basic pension is withdrawn at a rate of 45 per cent against income from pension funds. It is also withdrawn at 45 per cent against employment income but only after employment income is above ISK 2,400, 000 (£14,011) in addition to the allowance. There is also an annual holiday payment of ISK 106,765 (£623) which is withdrawn at two per cent above the income limits.”

However, the State Pension age is currently 66-year-old for men and women in the UK – although it is slated to increase to 67 by 2028 – whereas the normal pension age in Iceland is already 67 (except for seamen who have been working for more than 25 years in the occupation, who can retire at 60). If you claim your basic pension in Iceland before you reach 67, your funds will be reduced by 6.6 per cent for each year that the pension is claimed early.

Iceland also has a pension supplement which is applicable for single pensioners. The maximum value of this benefit is ISK 869,124 (£5,0712) per year, some eight per cent of average earnings. This benefit is withdrawn at 11.9 per cent, subject to the same thresholds as the basic pension.

If you’re tempted to ditch Britain for Iceland, you may want to think twice, as you can only receive the full basic pension if you have 40 years of residency. While Iceland’s pension may seem extremely generous, it is worth considering that the cost of living here is around 40-50 per cent higher than in the UK. This means you’d be spending almost double on your weekly food shop, property, and basic goods.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

The United Nations has called this the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world.

Killings, rapes and famine are affecting millions of people. What will happen to the people of Sudan if things don’t change? And why is this crisis being mostly ignored by the international community?

Presenter: Stefanie Dekker

Guests:
Elbashir Idris – Political affairs analyst
Bayadir Mohamed-Osman – Activist and poet
Omer Elnaiem – Head of UNHCR Africa content hub