So...Are we the new poor??

[katy]

Had a delivery of wood two days ago and OH gave him 10E tip as usual. Paco put his arm around him and said "no es necesario" OH joked with him and said about his Brother-in-Law putting up the wine 4E in his restaurant etc. I ran into him today and he said to come to the restaurant and the bottle of wine would be gratis. He said he had been reading about us Brits crushed by the exchange rate Will it be free Tapas all round

[Paula]

I think you may be right Katy. The Monarch flight I was on to UK a week ago had more Spanish on it than I've ever known. Lots of youngsters talking about shopping they were going to do in London etc etc.
At least we will feel the benefit of any free tapas, being as we have rarely had them. Just need to afford the drinks to get them

[julian]

I doubt he really thinks you are poor after getting a10 euro tip from you!!
he probably thought that inviting you to a bottle was a good investment for future tips !!

[Jool]

and spending!!

[oliveview01]

My flight back into Sevilla last night had almost all Spanish passsengers, very few Brits on board. Bet they had fun spending all their extra cash

[Jool]

Yes many of them seem to have discovered low cost travel this past year or so.....

[Bongtrees]

Yes many of them seem to have discovered low cost travel this past year or so.....

MANY---------- I dont think so

Given the drastic reduction in cheap flight routes to the UK let´s be realistic and say maybe a FEW

[Paula]

Hey Bongtrees, lighten up
Jool may be lucky and post something that you don't pull her up on soon

[frog]

i agree with julian,its a ploy,his brothers restaurant needs a few more customers,maybe not doing so well
stil if your going out and like the place take the freebie

[oliveview01]

Well this month we are certainly the poor folk..... we have 2 lots of friends coming to stay over Christmas, no way can we keep up with them if they want to go out eating/drinking. We certainly won´t be going mad buying up all the food in the shops. Got the cake made, made a pud (and one for 2009 too ) veg (grown in the garden) is in the freezer, just got to buy cheese, meat and potatoes (got some growing in the garden, only 4 plants though)
We are not going mad with the meat either, a joint of pork is ordered (with the skin on) and I´ll buy some prawns (semi-veggie friend) and that is that. Got sausage meat in the freezer (not Irish) for the sausage rolls and that is that. Perhaps if they don´t get well fed they won´t come back next Christmas

[Scot]

Well we are a lot poorer this year as we have tried to help a few friends out. We are also 3 lots of friends down too. Not too many Xmas cards sent or received this year!! The first lot didn't pay the leccy for 3 years having left it in our name - all paid up now albeit after lots of hassle. My OH went back to London for work in July. He is renting a 2 bed flat in London. His friend offered to share second bedroom - 3 months later and a huge central heating bill it was time for him to move on Then another friend came for 2 weeks from Malta, central heating on constantly and he brought his 10 year old son to stay too (who lives nearby with the mum). When he left he said I'll just keep the key cos I'll be back to spend Xmas and New Year!! Unbelievable!! Think we are top of The Times Poor List - or should that be the bottom?

[Jool]

BT - I deal in evidence and actual real life experience as opposed to pre-set prejudices.....I think Oliveview´s quote shows that the word many applies here where the phrase almost all is included.

My flight back into Sevilla last night had almost all Spanish passsengers, very few Brits on board

My own experience over the last year is that the proportion of spanish passengers is ever increasing, before they were a tiny minority, now a lot more, often up to the majority of the plane, but these days always a significant number as opposed to 5 or 6 individuals in years gone by.

[Julie]

Anyone traveling on or about the 10th January, may be surprised to see how many young Spanish people will be traveling to England, it is a really popular week for young people to travel to the UK, the young Spanish class England as a place that has enough work for anyone, who doesn't mind, hotel, shop and cafe type jobs, on the spanish forums you can read were they say how easy it is to find work

[wagon ropes]

I knew I had become the 'new poor' when I found myself cutting the edges of Chrismas cards so I could fit them into standard size envelopes. It more than halves the cost of posting.

[Chrissie]

wagonropes - and if you're VERY careful you can cut up last year's cards and use them for present tags

[Paula]

I've decided I'm not sending xmas cards, other than ones that I include a letter. It just seems pointless, getting and sending cards from and to people you see regularly. Bunches of cards that say to blah blah and family, love from blah blah and family, what is the point
Bah humbug

[Scot]

I've sent my best friend in the UK the same Xmas card as last year from the same pack! Is there a difference between economising and tight?

[Julie]

Scot, its the thought that counts, and i would be surprised if your friend notices, i never would

I don't send cards for the fun of it maybe 20, but all with genuine effection

[Miro]

Just a note on the popular topic of where it's cheaper, Costa or "Real" Spain; I had occasion to find myself in Orgiva (Alpujarras) last weekend. We stopped at a bar/restaurant in the town centre. Nothing fancy. We had a house salad between two, two "typical Aplujarran lunches" (the waiter, who clearly doubled as official village idiot, had extreme difficulty explaining what this was, even though it basically consisted of jamon serrano, chorizo, potatoes and eggs)a beer and a soft drink. The bill came to over €23.
We can get two three course menu del dias, including drinks, for not much more than half that here on the Costa del Caro. Am I missing something, or are we (Coastal Urbanites) the new Poor People?!

[Paula]

I think Orgiva has always been a little more expensive Miro for inland. (Thanks to Chris Stewart maybe)
Bet you were glad to get back to Torre