How much!!!

There's been recent criticism of the National Trust which has increased its income by £4 million to £460 million. This is partly down to lucrative TV and film deals, such as Downton, Mr Turner and Game of Thrones.

Despite these very healthy profits, 2,000 of their workers are not paid the living wage and are really struggling. It's also felt that other skilled and knowledgeable staff members are not being appropriately rewarded. I think it's great that the organisation is doing so well but I do feel that their workers should be paid properly.

Regarding theatre - my young friend is a PE teacher, head of dept. And head off year. She also takes the drama class and contacted the local theatre to ask would they give her class a short tour of the theatre, which the theatre was happy to do. Next day she got a phone call offering 20 free tickets to bring her class to the current show.
Nice to hear of a freebie and also encouragement for young drama students.

Another difference between the two is that if you want to take your grandchildren to NT properties you have to pay full adult price, whereas with EH, you can take a classful of kids ( slight exaggeration, I think it's up to eight) even on reduced membership. I was told I could bring them in off the streets if I wanted to.
As a family we have both, as we go to Gibside quite regularly and Cragside occasionally, and Hadrian's Wall is mainly EH.

Two Christmas cards to the USA and one to Canada - £6.45.

I took 3 dresses and a top to be dry cleaned after holidays two weeks ago....£47!! I said I could buy a new dress for that ( slight exaggeration). I had to tell them how much each item had cost

Forgot to say that Morrisons dry cleans 4 items for £16 so we save them up until we have enough!

There's no reciprocity between NT in Scotland and Historic Scotland as we discovered when we tried to visit Stirling Castle on our NT card this summer. It cost us a fortune to get in....think it was in the order of £40.

Thanks for that Pompa. That certainly makes it more reasonable, but there are very few NT properties in our area so I still think I'll give it a miss.

I'm a member of the National Trust for Scotland. Membership is reciprocal. Individual senior membership is £30.06; and senior joint membership is £41.40. I've been using my card in England for at least 20 years. And you don't have to live in Scotland as far as I know.

https://www.nts.org.uk/Membership/Monthly/

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

£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.

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.

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.

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

The price of stamps!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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