How much!!!

Yes kitty I agree and have you seen the price of shoe repairs over a third of the cost of new ones(but then I suppose it depends on how much you paid in the first place no Jimmy choo here plain old m&s) it's a throw away world now. Not make-do- and-mend of my yester year

kitty our dry cleaners offer a 20% "seniors discount" if you hand in on Thursdays. So when I do go in there I'm laden!

Last weekend I took 3 GC to the cinema. I last went about 3years ago. Because it was my treat I allowed them a bag of chocolate and a small popcorn,and then very special treat,a McD happy meal. I came home with 5p change out of £50 and I didn't have to pay parking as I was taken and picked up.I came home muttering and realising how out of touch I am.

£11 to re-heel a pair of boots, wondering whether I like them that much!
Turkeys.... Christmas Trees.....#bahhumbug

The costs of regulation are behind a lot of apparently expensive items.
Yesterday I was at the local tennis club and the coach came in muttering to himself.
We asked him what the problem was - he had to pin a notice up, advising parents of the dangers of allowing their children to run about outside, exposed to the UV light. You know, that really strong stuff we have up here in darkest Northumberland.
Then he had to send a letter to the parents of each and every child he coaches, reiterating this information.
He had to do this to get his certificate stating that he's a fit person to give children tennis lessons.
The cost of doing all that (and that's only a very small part of it) will have to be recouped through the fees charged for the lessons.
Just one example, but most businesses in this country have similar requirements in compliance (MrA once worked with a woman who had a notice saying 'Comply or die' On her desk) and ultimately, the consumer pays.

I use our mobile library (if you don't use it, you lose it). Often I'm the only one on it. It only comes round once a month so I renew my books online. Last month I was dismayed to see that the very long book I'd only just started couldn't be renewed because it had been reserved by somebody else. I'd only had it for two weeks and I couldn't get into the main library in town for another week to ten days.

£4.50 fine not to mention the cost of petrol for a twelve mile round trip........

If it wasn't for DH needing real books as he can't cope with a Kindle I'd tell them where to stick their reading matter.

Yes dry cleaning and shoe repairs are very expensive now. DH resents the cost of the window cleaner (£14 per month) but I don't really want him going up ladders now and I get a chance to look up his shorts (the window cleaner that is). Car parking is quite cheap here in MM but can be astronomical.

Has anyone bought tickets for next years rugby world cup ? I wanted to treat DH and myself for his birthday (cunning plan ) one look on line and that idea was out the window!

Like you nina, one look at the prices and I dropped the idea.

How much are they? We went to Wimbledon this year and the tickets were £55 each for No 1 court during the second week.

merlotgran - I buy my books from a local (as opposed to a national) charity shop for the princely sum of 10p each and then return them. Much cheaper than the library fines and is open more often. I started doing this when our much loved mobile library drove off into the sunset never to be seen again.

A family ticket for the pantomime is £68 and is only available on less popular days. Otherwise it will cost a minimum of £108 for two adults and two children.

Totally out of mine and many other peoples reach which is a shame because pantomime is such a wonderful Christmas tradition for all the family to enjoy together.

I haven't had anything dry cleaned for years because I wash things even when they say dry clean only but I think I would have to take a proper wool coat for dry cleaning.

I think a lot of things, like the pantomime, are priced according to supply and demand. Maybe the money raised by the panto funds other shows for the rest of the year? If you can find a local amateur one they are usually very good and leave out all the smut of the big commercial ones.

My fridgefreezer packed up yesterday. It was exactly 4 yrs since I bought it and it cost £360. I was informed that a new thermostat would be £150ish plus repair charges.
I ordered a new one, almost identical, for £189 with free next day delivery!

No wonder there's a mountain of dead appliances!

The price of stamps!

Stamps. 3 cards abroad and 6 second class £12¡!!!!!

Merlot - did you explain this to the mobile library? My mum had the same problem a couple of times as she relied on the mobile library or me taking the books for her. They let her off when she explained.

When we did have a mobile library we paid no charges as it was not considered reasonable to fine us if we missed the a 20 minute stop every 2 weeks.

£44 for a family of 4 to go and see Aladdin at Consett Theatre, which is lucky because my youngest granddaughter is in it again. No concessions for that.
There are advantages to moving away from York. We used to pay for groups of ten to go there.

As Nonnie says, local amateur pantos can provide a good alternative to the big commercial shows. We've just finished a four night run and charged £6 adults and £4 for concessions. There were pyrotechnics, flying scenes, snow and Olaf the snowman, along with ice creams and glow sticks. I think we offer good value for money. I am taking my gc to professional panto as well at £104 for dress circle for 4.

Obviously, prices for everything have to go up, but stamps, dry cleaning and sports events seem to have gone through the roof. I no longer buy anything that has to be dry cleaned [even cushion covers which say 'dry clean' seem to wash ok.] However, curtains once didn't fare so well in the wash so they do have to be dry cleaned [£40] gasp! Can't remember when I last had any shoes or boots heeled, and yes, appliances for the kitchen may as well be chucked away and bought new, as repairs cost so much.I bought DGS1 a Beano comic a few weeks ago.... £2.50 and it was such a thin comic too.That's the last one he gets, but also now bought a Beano annual for £4 and it's worth the money, lots to do and read in it.When going to the cinema I always take some cans of soft drink and some sweets for the children with me.

I agree with prices of theatre tickets and it is a shame because it introduces children to the world of threatre. I have wanted to take my teen to a comedy show or his first gig but all the prices have been too much, around £80 per ticket so for us both would be well out of my price range but it would have been so good for us to have some fun together and for him to have the experience.

I heard that Michael McIntyre raked in £21 million from his tour last year. No wonder if the prices are so expensive and they all play to these big arenas now, not just a small theatre. Our kids are going to grow up not knowing what it's like to go to a show etc. I brought mine up that on Christmas Eve it was panto time, tired on way home and bedtime made so much easier plus it was a lovely treat for me and their dad too.

Have you seen the price of National Trust membership lately. £95 for joint membership. When we first joined we only had to make a couple of visits per year to make it worthwhile, heaven knows how many we'd have to make now.

I know they offer reduced membership for the over 60's, but don't say how much unless you ring them.

In comparison, English Heritage offer Over 60's Joint Membership for £60.

Senior membership if you have been a member for 5 years is £59 for a couple. We looked at joining English Heritage, but they have very few properties that we would be interested in visiting.

Given that for a couple to visit Waddesdon Manor is £32.40, I think the membership is good value if you use it several times. We probably visit 10 or more properties a year.