Rip off Britian or is IT - Page 2

ScotJimland · 09-11-2009, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braunston

I'm not knocking Europe I'm just asking the question has the revaluation of the £ vs € turned the tide of Rip off Britain,

Hi Jim

I think there is more to Rip Off UK than just a straight comparison of the price of goods or the exchange rate .. for example.

* Rogue traders
* shoddy goods
* poor service
* unscrupulous or sharp business practices,
* exorbitant charges
* bank charges
* railway and bus fares
* speed cameras
* the demise of final salary pensions
* TV license
* Stealth taxes

I'm sure there are many more examples..

Now, I'm not suggesting that other countries don't suffer from any of the above .. how do we know if we don't actually live abroad, we only get a snap shot while go on holiday .. but for all that I still believe we live in the best country in the World, have the least corrupt government, police and judiciary and the best welfare and heath service .. always room for improvement though ..

jim

barryd · 09-11-2009, 17:59

Spent 124 nights away in the van this year. Scotland probably works out the cheapest because we wild camp closely followed by France. Diesel is a bit cheaper (or was in the summer) and you can stay as long as you wish for free. Beer in supermarkets about the same price as here maybe a tad cheaper, wine cheaper and food a little bit more but not a huge amount. Hardly ate out or drank in bars so generally it is a cheap place to stay in a MH for us. Germany, Switzerland and Italy you had to pay to use their Aires (where we were) so worked out more expensive.

Salopian · 09-11-2009, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by savantuk

I agree with Peter.

Nothing has really changed in Europe but the exchange rate. Prices there are similar to what they were a couple of years ago, when we were paying almost of a third less for our euro's. The only country that I have visited recently which seems to have got (relatively) more expensive, is Spain. Used to be the place for a cheap holiday, but now it's as expensive as France, and in some cases, more so. Barcelona in particular, is really expensive!!

If you want value for money, Holland still seems a lot cheaper to me than other European countries, and there are great bargains to be had in Amsterdam.

The shops in Canal Strasse offer really good deals and the Presentation of the goods is phenomenal !!!...

Beachbum · 09-11-2009, 20:42

The standard of living and most importantly the wage structure is superior to GB. Example:
if gasoline cost £1.10 in GB and you earn around £200 pw and you find it expensive. In Germany IF it is the also £1.10 but they earn the equivalent of £350, it would of course be cheaper in that respect.
I agree with most of the folks on here that Europe is also very expensive but their wages are far superior to ours.
Reading Jimscotland's view, I think he has hit the nail on the head. You forgot to mention the Politicians, Bankers and so on.

Braunston · 09-11-2009, 21:20

Hi,

I would be very interested to see comparisons of wages in France and Germany and if possible the other original members of Europe against similar jobs in the UK.

I have tried searching on Google but i can't seem to get direct comparisons, it dose keep highlighting that taxes are high in France but I would like to see some direct comparisons, after deducting taxes and health care costs, have you or anyone else any links where this can be viewed.

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beachbum

The standard of living and most importantly the wage structure is superior to GB. Example:
if gasoline cost £1.10 in GB and you earn around £200 pw and you find it expensive. In Germany IF it is the also £1.10 but they earn the equivalent of £350, it would of course be cheaper in that respect.
I agree with most of the folks on here that Europe is also very expensive but their wages are far superior to ours.
Reading Jimscotland's view, I think he has hit the nail on the head. You forgot to mention the Politicians, Bankers and so on.

Heyupluv · 09-11-2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotJimland

Hi Jim

I think there is more to Rip Off UK than just a straight comparison of the price of goods or the exchange rate .. for example.

* Rogue traders
* shoddy goods
* poor service
* unscrupulous or sharp business practices,
* exorbitant charges
* bank charges
* railway and bus fares
* speed cameras
* the demise of final salary pensions
* TV license
* Stealth taxes

I'm sure there are many more examples..

Now, I'm not suggesting that other countries don't suffer from any of the above .. how do we know if we don't actually live abroad, we only get a snap shot while go on holiday .. but for all that I still believe we live in the best country in the World, have the least corrupt government, police and judiciary and the best welfare and heath service .. always room for improvement though ..

jim

I live in France ...is it cheaper...No...the food , the clothes, the shoes, the white goods, the telephone service, the dongles, the list goes on....are far cheaper in England...........My opinion the problem is in France, there is no Competition they do not want competition (they seem happy with what they have got), it is like price fixing, what one chargers for goods or a service they all charge and they are not cheap.....wine may be cheaper in France ?...beer is similar to England.....food seems better Quality and a lot cheaper and more variety in England ( but that is maybe because it is more to my pallet than what the French eat).....there seems to be three main elements in France ...Bread,...wine,. cheese...and everything evolves from them in some way form or another........ in France, the Family...the Food,..the wine, the conversation that’s is what matters...( well that is how I see it.)......Do I still like living in France...YES....is it safer in France than England ....Yes ( well it is in the area where we live and all the other places we have been (and that is many).......people do no lock items away they just leave them outside( and they are still there when they get up in the morning), even doors are not locked, there is a different feeling here....it is like old England 50 years back, when I was a young boy, when it was safe to play outside without been taken to school in a 4 wheel drive in fear of abduction or knife attack or young gangs, verbal abuse, .....I was asked by my neighbour if I could mend the door lock (being a joiner,… you don’t charge friends and neighbours you help each other) as the couple aged 65+ was going south to stop with family and leaving the grandmother at home aged 84...the door had never been locked for 4 years ?......how many places can you say hand on heart, that you feel safe walking in the evening and night, out in the country females walking on there own with children in prams, children playing outside as children (not drinking )… …….there is lots I could say

johnnerontheroad · 09-11-2009, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braunston

Hi,

I would be very interested to see comparisons of wages in France and Germany and if possible the other original members of Europe against similar jobs in the UK.

I have tried searching on Google but i can't seem to get direct comparisons, it dose keep highlighting that taxes are high in France but I would like to see some direct comparisons, after deducting taxes and health care costs, have you or anyone else any links where this can be viewed.

Thanks

This is the best I can find from 2007 the uk is near the top for average wages.

List of Average Wages per Country - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia