Comment: No rabbit, no hat, no more kite-flying

For example, as Tom Ham of Calton writes: “Speculation was especially fervid about a ‘raid’ on pensions, with rumours about a cap on tax-free cash causing the most dread. The worst did not come to pass...”

There was little to actually cheer in the Budget, with many observers concerned that the cut to the tax-free cash ISA limit will add more complexity to savings products and won’t actually prompt people to invest.

And the fact that, from April 2029, only the first £2,000 of employee pension contributions through salary sacrifice each year will be exempt from National Insurance has not been welcomed.

But there are some winners – including those of us who like the occasional bet on the gee-gees or enjoy a game of bingo. No changes were announced to in-person gambling or horse racing, and bingo duty was abolished.

Away from Budget chat, did you make any Black Friday impulse buys? And are you thinking twice now about whether you really needed that new air-fryer? If so, you’re not alone.

New research caught my eye that revealed Edinburgh is in the top-ten of “regret cities”.

Some61 per cent of residents in the Scottish capital have made a “regret buy” this year. The survey carried out by banking app thinkmoney in the run up to Black Friday unearthed a list of items UK citizens most regretted purchasing this year. The much-heralded air fryer came fourth in the poll (12 per cent), only behind clothes (29 per cent), takeaways (24 per cent), and shoes (17 per cent). The survey of 2,000 Brits found that just under two thirds (59 per cent) admitted to making at least one bad buy, with the average person admitting to a staggering 21 regret buys this year, totalling £608.

And while it’s Gen Z making the most mistakes with 29 regret buys, it’s Millennials who wasted the most cash at an average of £963. The figure was £760 for Gen Z who bought fewer items at a higher value.

Phone cases came fifth in the poll (10 per cent), alongside TV streaming services (10 per cent), and mobile phones (10 per cent). Supplements (10 per cent) and perfume/aftershave (8 per cent) came eighth and ninth respectively, followed by electric toothbrushes(8 per cent).But, never mind, if you bought one of these and no longer want it, someone, somewhere must want a toothbrush for Christmas.

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