Is anything even worth your money these days?
Discussion
I am lucky enough to have a healthy amount of money after bills but I am becoming more and more resistent with spending it. That includes restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, etc. Parking fees and all of the associated costs just make me really resistent to it as I just endlessly feel ripped off and left short by the service.
On Sunday, I went for two take away coffees near me - something I rarely do. £9.80 for two drinks and they were the wrong drinks.
I took them back and raised it politely - I didn't mind, it wasn't a big deal. Staff were full of attitude, left me feeling pissed off and just once again annoyed. To the credit of the coffee shop, I did email after to raise this and they provided free replacements.
My point here is, has anyone else got into the mindset of just avoiding spending money - not through necessity, but through choice. Even a few weeks ago, we bought Fish and Chips, ordered online and was charged £1.50 ordering fee. Fish was was small and the whole thing for two of us cost £35.
In short, absolutely nothing seems worth the money these days.
On Sunday, I went for two take away coffees near me - something I rarely do. £9.80 for two drinks and they were the wrong drinks.
I took them back and raised it politely - I didn't mind, it wasn't a big deal. Staff were full of attitude, left me feeling pissed off and just once again annoyed. To the credit of the coffee shop, I did email after to raise this and they provided free replacements.
My point here is, has anyone else got into the mindset of just avoiding spending money - not through necessity, but through choice. Even a few weeks ago, we bought Fish and Chips, ordered online and was charged £1.50 ordering fee. Fish was was small and the whole thing for two of us cost £35.
In short, absolutely nothing seems worth the money these days.
We, middle England people, have lived through a time when we genuinely "never had it so good".
That time is over. We are going through a correction. Those who were moderately affluent, but not prudent, are going to feel the squeeze along with the people who were not affluent.
Those examples you gave are small. Many other things are much bigger.
That time is over. We are going through a correction. Those who were moderately affluent, but not prudent, are going to feel the squeeze along with the people who were not affluent.
Those examples you gave are small. Many other things are much bigger.
Quite agree. Not just prices sky rocketing but numerous little add-ons which make it more expensive again. We spent quite a lot of time in Europe this summer and it was very refreshing to get a restaurant bill which listed the things you had ordered and added up the total. No 'cover fee' or 'service charge' - just the cost of the things you had ordered. The usual UK customer service doesn't help at all.
Where does it end? If everything is getting more and more expensive then when does it stop? Wages are not keeping pace with real prices and there's no end in sight. If you are a civil servant or on benefits then you will be cushioned from the pain but everyone else just has to cut back.
Where does it end? If everything is getting more and more expensive then when does it stop? Wages are not keeping pace with real prices and there's no end in sight. If you are a civil servant or on benefits then you will be cushioned from the pain but everyone else just has to cut back.
redrabbit29 said:
I am lucky enough to have a healthy amount of money after bills but I am becoming more and more resistent with spending it. That includes restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, etc. Parking fees and all of the associated costs just make me really resistent to it as I just endlessly feel ripped off and left short by the service.
On Sunday, I went for two take away coffees near me - something I rarely do. £9.80 for two drinks and they were the wrong drinks.
I took them back and raised it politely - I didn't mind, it wasn't a big deal. Staff were full of attitude, left me feeling pissed off and just once again annoyed. To the credit of the coffee shop, I did email after to raise this and they provided free replacements.
My point here is, has anyone else got into the mindset of just avoiding spending money - not through necessity, but through choice. Even a few weeks ago, we bought Fish and Chips, ordered online and was charged £1.50 ordering fee. Fish was was small and the whole thing for two of us cost £35.
In short, absolutely nothing seems worth the money these days.
Yep - I don’t see the value in most things now.On Sunday, I went for two take away coffees near me - something I rarely do. £9.80 for two drinks and they were the wrong drinks.
I took them back and raised it politely - I didn't mind, it wasn't a big deal. Staff were full of attitude, left me feeling pissed off and just once again annoyed. To the credit of the coffee shop, I did email after to raise this and they provided free replacements.
My point here is, has anyone else got into the mindset of just avoiding spending money - not through necessity, but through choice. Even a few weeks ago, we bought Fish and Chips, ordered online and was charged £1.50 ordering fee. Fish was was small and the whole thing for two of us cost £35.
In short, absolutely nothing seems worth the money these days.
Doesn’t seem to bother my wife though - she’s cheerfully ploughing through our money.
Interesting on the coffee - we were on an AI holiday recently but ventured out one day and stopped at a cafe for coffee. Table service etc. I got €10 out to pay and my wife laughed and said it’ll be more than that. The bill was €8.
To be fair though, even she has baulked at £30 for two fish and one portion of chips.
Some things are.
A pair of rear wheel hubs/bearings for the wife's Mini for £32 delivered, with a 2 year guarantee
Annual car tax for the Mini @ £20
A set of four new wheels/tyres for £285 for the plant trailer
All good value I thought, though I do find myself more and more nowadays going 'Jeez, how much?', particularly for weekly shopping.
A pair of rear wheel hubs/bearings for the wife's Mini for £32 delivered, with a 2 year guarantee
Annual car tax for the Mini @ £20
A set of four new wheels/tyres for £285 for the plant trailer
All good value I thought, though I do find myself more and more nowadays going 'Jeez, how much?', particularly for weekly shopping.
MC Bodge said:
We, middle England people, have lived through a time when we genuinely "never had it so good".
That time is over. We are going through a correction. Those who were moderately affluent, but not prudent, are going to feel the squeeze along with the people who were not affluent.
Those examples you gave are small. Many other things are much bigger.
Totally agree, and the years past Covid have been the worst in my opinion. I remember back to the late 90s/early 2000s we would go out most weekends with friends, I never once questioned the cost. We would go to the cinema without a second thought, the last time I took my children it was £86 for the four of us. Everything is such a rip off now that I don't even want to go out most of the time. Here are a few examples.That time is over. We are going through a correction. Those who were moderately affluent, but not prudent, are going to feel the squeeze along with the people who were not affluent.
Those examples you gave are small. Many other things are much bigger.
2 Espresso Martinis, a Negroni, Double Vodka Red Bull and a bowl of chips was £57 in a london put a month ago. Frankly I feel sick at these prices, no wonder Wetherspoons is always busy.
Cod and chips twice, onion rings and two cans of Coke Zero is £45 when we sit in at our local fish and chip shop. I used to get fish and chips at least once a month, now it is once every six months if that.
Concert tickets, looking at £80+ for the worst seats at the 02. I was one of the people who paid £160 each to see Oasis, if it wasn't for growing up in the Britpop era and having never seen them I would never have paid it.
A crappy restaurant chain selling reheated Sysco food with no Alcoholic drinks is getting on for £150 for four now.
Even Nandos which was our go to cheap meal out was £80 for four of us.
I went to Hawksmore about 5 years ago and it was £150 for two, I dread to think what it costs now.
My girlfriend went to the dentist today, 30 minutes with the hygenist and a 20 minute checkup was £209
Don't get me wrong, we earn OK money and we balk at the prices, how do people on an average wage even afford to think about going out?
Yet my partner was in London last weekend and she said it was so rammed that you couldn't move, so clearly a lot of people still have a lot of money?
Sheepshanks said:
AI holiday recently but ventured out one day and stopped at a cafe for coffee. Table service etc. I got 10 out to pay and my wife laughed and said it ll be more than that. The bill was 8.
I said recently but mainland Europe doesn't seem to rinse people quite like the UK for this kind of thing. With some exceptions, when I've been in a tourist area, the prices still seem reasonable. I don't mean relative to the UK either, I just mean fair. I know exactly what you mean OP. There are so many things that simply feel like poor value which then puts you off bothering. Plus everything is designed to remove money from you but they're crap.
It's little things too, I was on holiday the other week in Devon with my two youngest children. Parked up and went to pay, tried three times on two different machines but it kept failing. So I use the Ring Go app as I have no choice but that charges you a fee on top, so because their machines don't work, I pay more. Check my account and two of the three failed attempts were taking too. Just sh!t.
Pop to a pub, order four drinks, two are alcoholic and two soft drinks, £20. That's a brief stop for a refreshment and it's not a trivial amount.
Very rare these days that I consider something good value and that's not because I've turned 44 and now think how my parents did when houses for £20k and brand new cars were in the hundreds. Everything as we know has just gone up and up, to the point I don't know many people who don't find themselves cutting back.
It's little things too, I was on holiday the other week in Devon with my two youngest children. Parked up and went to pay, tried three times on two different machines but it kept failing. So I use the Ring Go app as I have no choice but that charges you a fee on top, so because their machines don't work, I pay more. Check my account and two of the three failed attempts were taking too. Just sh!t.
Pop to a pub, order four drinks, two are alcoholic and two soft drinks, £20. That's a brief stop for a refreshment and it's not a trivial amount.
Very rare these days that I consider something good value and that's not because I've turned 44 and now think how my parents did when houses for £20k and brand new cars were in the hundreds. Everything as we know has just gone up and up, to the point I don't know many people who don't find themselves cutting back.
Alex_225 said:
I know exactly what you mean OP. There are so many things that simply feel like poor value which then puts you off bothering. Plus everything is designed to remove money from you but they're crap.
It's little things too, I was on holiday the other week in Devon with my two youngest children. Parked up and went to pay, tried three times on two different machines but it kept failing. So I use the Ring Go app as I have no choice but that charges you a fee on top, so because their machines don't work, I pay more. Check my account and two of the three failed attempts were taking too. Just sh!t.
Pop to a pub, order four drinks, two are alcoholic and two soft drinks, £20. That's a brief stop for a refreshment and it's not a trivial amount.
Very rare these days that I consider something good value and that's not because I've turned 44 and now think how my parents did when houses for £20k and brand new cars were in the hundreds. Everything as we know has just gone up and up, to the point I don't know many people who don't find themselves cutting back.
As per my earlier post, we have been very fortunate over the past 3 decades. Things are now heading back towards where they were before. It's little things too, I was on holiday the other week in Devon with my two youngest children. Parked up and went to pay, tried three times on two different machines but it kept failing. So I use the Ring Go app as I have no choice but that charges you a fee on top, so because their machines don't work, I pay more. Check my account and two of the three failed attempts were taking too. Just sh!t.
Pop to a pub, order four drinks, two are alcoholic and two soft drinks, £20. That's a brief stop for a refreshment and it's not a trivial amount.
Very rare these days that I consider something good value and that's not because I've turned 44 and now think how my parents did when houses for £20k and brand new cars were in the hundreds. Everything as we know has just gone up and up, to the point I don't know many people who don't find themselves cutting back.
BangGoesAnotherDay said:
Don't get me wrong, we earn OK money and we balk at the prices, how do people on an average wage even afford to think about going out?
Yet my partner was in London last weekend and she said it was so rammed that you couldn't move, so clearly a lot of people still have a lot of money?
Agreed. Just scoffing constantly at prices but having to pay it anyway. Doing it as just myself now further compounds everything without being able to split some costs. I'm not on bad money but I had a £2k+ bill for the car and catching up if you have another hiccup or bill to pay is just relentless. Yet my partner was in London last weekend and she said it was so rammed that you couldn't move, so clearly a lot of people still have a lot of money?
My mate is a big Godzilla fan, wanted to take his missus to see the new one at the IMAX in Waterloo. 2, tickets and return on the train (20 minutes btw) for them, over £75 ... to see a movie. What?
A neighbour near me took his 2 boys and wife out for a treat after their cat died. They went to a movie, Wagamama and the boys got a football jersey each and he was blown away that he'd spent north of £300 just trying to "do something nice for a few hours".
Popped to the pub the other week for a drink with my mate who's suffering from cancer an Asahi and a Estrella shandy ... £15.80
Mostly not. Went through a phase where I'd get a nice coffee or get a breakfast somewhere most weekends. But once you realise most of it is from the same foodservice places, then you can see what's worth it and who are taking the piss with pricing and are selling the same things. Same sausages, bacon and hash browns, etc.
Now I stick to local places who are very good and we know them quite well now. Maybe not as often with everyone needing to save. There's going to be a massacre of small businesses soon. Some I see locally expanding quite quickly but also think it's going to end in tears too.
But car and bike servicing for example is obscene now. I'll be doing more myself where I can instead. Parts they fit don't seem to last either.
Now I stick to local places who are very good and we know them quite well now. Maybe not as often with everyone needing to save. There's going to be a massacre of small businesses soon. Some I see locally expanding quite quickly but also think it's going to end in tears too.
But car and bike servicing for example is obscene now. I'll be doing more myself where I can instead. Parts they fit don't seem to last either.
redrabbit29 said:
In short, absolutely nothing seems worth the money these days.
I would argue it's not even about the money. Modern consumerism is just weird if you step back and think about it. Most people now think the things you mention are "treats", "luxuries", "necessities", and occasionally you'll hear people state they "deserve" it.None of those terms should be applied to:
- Sitting in a dull cafe and ordering a cup of hot flavored water.
- Buying hot flavored water in a cardboard cup to drink while walking.
- Ordering lukewarm food to be delivered in a plastic bag on the back of a moped.
We were in Mallorca a couple of weeks ago, and I commented while we were there that eating and drinking out was much better value than here.
We only spent £100 plus on one evening meal, we found an excellent Mallorcan cuisine restaurant where we ate twice. First time, a glass of wine each, a bottle of wine, starter and main each plus coffee was £82.
Second time starter, main and a bottle of wine £62.
Made eating out at home look very expensive for not brilliant food costing upwards of £150 for the two of us.
As the OP says, makes you think about what you actually want to spend in order to feel you get value for money.
We only spent £100 plus on one evening meal, we found an excellent Mallorcan cuisine restaurant where we ate twice. First time, a glass of wine each, a bottle of wine, starter and main each plus coffee was £82.
Second time starter, main and a bottle of wine £62.
Made eating out at home look very expensive for not brilliant food costing upwards of £150 for the two of us.
As the OP says, makes you think about what you actually want to spend in order to feel you get value for money.
A couple of issues touched on by the OPer - the first is one that sounds more like a reflection of modern day pisspoor customer service. People providing a service just do not give a s
t these days. And they'll complain when they're sacked or their business is dead.
As for value for money, well, I certainly prefer Wetherspoons these days, especially as you get to try different ales.
One thing I do end up doing is tipping "well." As a general rule, I tip 20% unless the service or experience was bad. I know it's expensive to run a catering business these days, so I like to help a little. (I used to try to avoid tipping or tipping just 10% or whatever I could "get away with.")
t these days. And they'll complain when they're sacked or their business is dead.As for value for money, well, I certainly prefer Wetherspoons these days, especially as you get to try different ales.
One thing I do end up doing is tipping "well." As a general rule, I tip 20% unless the service or experience was bad. I know it's expensive to run a catering business these days, so I like to help a little. (I used to try to avoid tipping or tipping just 10% or whatever I could "get away with.")
Family of four. Last week (or whenever half term was), we decided to have a day out in Bristol. We live on the Gower in Swansea, so it's about a 1.5hour drive.
We visited "We The Curious", which for anyone who hasn't been, is essentially a large, modern science museum. Afterwards, we went to Zizzi's for something to eat.
Nothing particularly extravagant. Just a fairly ordinary family day out.
I added up all the costs, including fuel, parking, entry tickets and the meal, and it came to almost £400.
I mean, it was an "OK" day and we enjoyed but it definitely was not worth the £400 we spent.
We visited "We The Curious", which for anyone who hasn't been, is essentially a large, modern science museum. Afterwards, we went to Zizzi's for something to eat.
Nothing particularly extravagant. Just a fairly ordinary family day out.
I added up all the costs, including fuel, parking, entry tickets and the meal, and it came to almost £400.
I mean, it was an "OK" day and we enjoyed but it definitely was not worth the £400 we spent.
Someone mentioned Wetherspoons and we’ve started to use them more when away as eating out has got a bit ridiculous.
We recently visited Newcastle and went to the Wetherspoons near the river. A curry and Chicken meal with drinks -£23! Wasn’t bad at all and a nice location.
We then spoilt it and went round the corner to another pub - £21.50 for two glasses of wine which was a bit rank.
We recently visited Newcastle and went to the Wetherspoons near the river. A curry and Chicken meal with drinks -£23! Wasn’t bad at all and a nice location.
We then spoilt it and went round the corner to another pub - £21.50 for two glasses of wine which was a bit rank.
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