Table of Contents
New Travel Restrictions And Fees For Travel in 2023
It is a new year, and with it comes new travel restriction, and travel fees for some Visas to enter various countries.
To start as you probably are aware, do not even think about going to China. You can read more about restrictions and what has changed here.
Forget going to Russia as well, not that you would want to go.
But what about going abroad on holiday to the EU? That will change in November 2023, as we will now need a “European Travel Information and Authorisation System e-visa”. This is similar to the ESTA form required to enter the US as a UK Citizen.
Read here about the new EU e-Visa.
There will be a fee of £6, and there are some eligibility requirements for free passes.
This does not mean you do not need travel insurance and/or a Global Health Insurance Card also called a GHIC, when you travel to the EU.
As for going to America, not much has changed, unless you have visited Cuba since March 1, 2011. If so you can no longer just use an ESTA form to enter the US, but you need a different Visa, and have an interview, and pay a £120 fee.
More on these travel changes can be found and read here.
One Hand Gives….One Hand Takes Away
Beginning January 1, 2023, until March 31, 2023, many bus operators outside of London were capping bus fares at £2. The government was helping with this to the tune fo £60 million.
Now we are being told, some bus services and routes are to be cut. They are to be cut due to insufficient demand for the services, and rising costs to operate.
Read all about it here.
Inflation and High Living Costs Could Benefit Charity Shops
We know that 2023 is going to be a challenging year for the retail sector and the High Street shops. People may spend the same, but buy less. And many are trying to spend as little as possible to be able to continue to pay their mortgages, and energy bills.
Retail has changed many times in the past, and as stated, will change again to keep up with us….the consumers.
However, as consumers trying to save money, we may look at repairing items, mending things before tossing them out and replacing them; as a way to save money. We also may turn our eyes to the local charity shops.
I have 3 such shops all within 5 minutes of where I live, and each seems to have its own different items it carries. In reality it is whatever is donated to the shop.
There has been an increase in purchases at charity shops, and “pre-loved” clothing.
It seems the embarrassment and stigma of shopping at these charity shops has changed.