What's Hot and What's Not

When it comes to the cost of things, I have found that certain things here are unbelievable cheap and others ridiculously expensive. My job while the guys are in school is to scout out the nearby stores and find what’s hot and what’s not. At the end of the day, we tell each other about our experiences and when it is my turn, I like to play something I call, “Deals and Steals”. I pull out the receipt from my purchases, hold up the item and get them to guess how much it costs. My favourite bargain so far is a 440 gram jar of curry sauce for 7 pence. Now, for you Canadians reading my blog, for ease of conversion, just double the price. Tell me where you can buy a 440 gram jar of curry sauce for 14 cents? Let me know when you find one. I made a terrific chicken curry dish with this sauce, so it is now on my “hot” list.

I also found a tube of toothpaste for 17 pence and I just had to buy it to try it out. This is a purchase I regretted, however, because most of that night while Rick and I (mostly Rick) were sleeping; he was breathing his not so minty breath on me. The next day, I went out and bought “Aquafresh” and dumped the other tube. Obviously, this item is not worthy of my “hot” list.

There are at least five thrift shops in the town centre and the British Heart Foundation operations a really nice store. There is a good turnover of stock, the quality and the price of the items, from what I have experienced with similar shopping at home, is quite good too. I bought a black leather purse for 2 pound 50 (by the way there are literally tons of purses to be found at this place and I always think of my good friend, Debbra, and how she would have a fit over this), a pair of top notch “Next” jeans for 4 pound 30 (perfect fit, too, no need for hemming), and a cute three quarter length sleeve jersey knit shirt with grey stripes for 1 pound 99. So thrift store shopping is most certainly on my “hot” list.

Away from shopping for a second, I have to tell you that the most “hot” item of all is the young dry wall guy that is working on the house next door. I really wish he would stop taking off his damn shirt when he comes out to get tools from his truck. Not looking, not looking.....

To help me stay on topic here, what I find unreasonably expensive is the cost of buying a home. For example, the place that we are renting is about 1,200 square feet, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, a fenced yard that is about 50’ by 25’ and it would sell for around 220,000 pounds (don’t forget the double factor). It is in a nice area and is brand new mind you, but $400,000! We really struggle with wrapping our heads around how Brits can afford their own homes. Next time I look through the Peterborough real estate section, I won’t go on about how stupid the prices of homes has gotten. So buying a house in England, unless I was loaded, unfortunately will sit on “what’s not” list.

Because I generally like to end my blogs with a positive note, picture this for a second (this is obviously for all of my female readers so sorry guys)....tattoo on the right shoulder, wash board abs, sandy blonde hair......