Took Amy clothes shopping the other day, we went to one of the retail parks that contains a variety of fashion shops, mainly for the younger customer, ie teenagers and 20-something's. I struggled to find anything for myself in the "trendy" shops but did seek out a couple pairs of jeans in M&S, always an old favourite of mine. I was quite surprised though at the price tags on some of these garments in the "trendy" shops. Amy picked up a baseball cap that was white with a silver beak and it said "New York" on the front. It was a massive £13.00. We bought one each at a country show not long ago for a quid, I was astonished at the price of the one in the shop. Thirteen pounds. Thirteen British pounds, for a very average cap with a label. Ridiculous. Then she tried a couple pairs of skinny jeans on, or do they call them jeggins? Looked nice on the rack but poor Amy couldn't get them up her leg. They're definitely for slim legs and do look good on some girls, but obviously not for us.
One of Amy's favourite shops is New Look and she never fails to get fixed up with tops, jeans, shorts. They have a lovely selection for teens and youngsters, and even I managed to get myself a nice thin cotton cardi that I'd been needing. Their prices aren't bad either. Makes me wonder how all these "trendy" shops keep going. Aren't we supposed to be in a recession?
Unfortunately, we ate in Pizza Hut. Amy was dying to go in so I decided to take her as a treat. It was like eating greasy cardboard, bloody disgusting, tasteless shite. I was seriously unimpressed. The stuffed crust was vile and even though Amy seemed to be enjoying it at the time (she was hungry!) she admitted afterwards that she isn't going back! And when the bill came I was shocked to see £22.75 printed on it. We shared a large pizza, Amy had a side order of wedges, and we had a drink each. What an absolute rip off. Scandalous. This particular Pizza Hut is next to the cinema and I imagine people make a night of it. I also reckon they wouldn't get much change from £60 for their night out. Aren't we supposed to be in a recession?
*shakes head and crawls back to the 1950's*
Hear hear.
ReplyDeletewe are...and everyone is trying to make every last dollar they can to compensate...the price of grocery is becoming ridiculous...
ReplyDeleteWe went to Pizza Hut a couple of weeks ago, and I'd been really looking forward to a big family meal out. There are five of us and we shared a few starters, had two pizzas and a dessert each...the bill was horrific and so much more expensive than I'd remembered! Not worth it at all!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't get me started on the 'trendy' shops...couldn't believe the prices when we were looking a few weeks ago!
Glad it's not just me, Lisa! I was starting to feel like a skinflint but the pizza really was awful.
DeletePizza Hut is always so dirty too, floor sticky, tables dirty yuk.
ReplyDeleteThings do seem to be getting more and more expensive.
I have given up on shopping for new clothes. I love looking in thrift stores. If you take time to look you can find some good clothes and other treasures.
ReplyDeleteIt is getting harder and harder to go out to eat at a restaurant and feel you got your money's worth. I have added more restaurants to my "do not go to list" then my "eat there again list" over the two years. I have not eaten at Pizza Hut in over three years not because of the food but how the company the runs the Pizza Hut stores where I live treats their employees. I will try Pizza Hut when I find one not run by that franchisee.
You're right about the clothes, Dan. There are some shops that offer good clothes (perhaps not brilliant quality) but at reasonable prices and when our summer over here in the UK is so short, it seems pointless spending a fortune on summer clothes.
DeleteI am 23 and I can't afford a single thing in the 'trendy' shops, I don't know a single person who can!? But they seem to stay open. I hate shopping it depresses me x
ReplyDeleteA true spring chicken! I tend to steer clear of designer shops because of the principle - I refuse to pay for a label when one can buy a very similar item in a cheaper shop down the road.
DeleteI have this debate with my label fan teenager. It normally goes 'I am NOT paying £50 quid for a hoodie just cos it advertises a brand on it, if they want you to advertise them they should pay you, not the other way round' . my teen of course just hears 'blah blah blah' and thinks I am mean. Oh well!
ReplyDeleteI sooooo agree with you!! My dad was a huge label fan and would only buy top quality gear, but I obviously don't take after him for that. I just won't spend extra money on clothes just so I advertise their label. That's their job!
DeleteGosh I am very surprised at the price of Pizza Hut, I had heard you could get lunch pizza for a fiver - obviously not at this one or this year! I have noticed the prices seem higher than ever in some shops - I now do most of my shopping online so I can search for best prices and I definitely don't go for label anymore - I have found the label I used to like has changed the quality of its products/although not the workmanship so the fabrics bobble or deteriorate quickly. At least you had a good day out with Amy -
ReplyDeleteA fiver?!! I didn't see anything on the menu for a fiver, except the puddings and they were far too overpriced. If the pizza had been tasty and a lot more filled, then I wouldn't have minded so much but the fact it was disgusting, greasy, all dough and little topping made me feel I'd been totally ripped off.
DeleteWe did have a great day out - a huge consolation :-)
Pizza Hut has lost its way - I remember when they used to keep it simple ... over 30 yrs ago! Now they look processed too.
ReplyDeleteDo you know, Roy, I would definitely say that pizza was processed - it was seriously vile. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've had better frozen pizzas with an Iceland or Aldi name on them - it really isn't good enough.
DeleteWe tend to live in Aldi, Home Bargains, Lidyl and B and M. I wonder why!
ReplyDeleteLol, I hear Aldi has some amazing bargains. No point spending more than you need just for the sake of saying you bought it from XYZ instead of a cheaper shop..
DeleteI'm off to the Lowry Outlet on Tuesday with MIL. The M&S store there is brilliant, can't say the same for the other shops though. We'll have lunch at Bella Italia as I always manage to get a discount coupon - this time it's buy one main meal and pay only £2 for a second.
ReplyDeleteI went to the Lowry a long time ago and can't really remember it, my mum goes a lot though and loves it. We'll be eating at Bella Italia a few times next week when we go to Center Parcs.
DeleteGlad you had a good day out with Amy, but that was a serious rip-off.
ReplyDeleteI think restaurants charge far too much for drinks and desserts. I know both are optional (now I usually just ask for tap water) but if they charged less then poeple might go out more often.
As to the pizza, that is a ridiculous price, for what is basically a sandwich. I remember bring totally shocked a few years ago in Italy when a pizza was €3! i assumed it was a little one, but it was a 12" and delicious. That's what I call value! It is only flour, water, tomato and cheese, after all!
It was certainly nowhere as nice as a sandwich! I imagine a pizza in Italy would be far superior to a Pizza Hut one! They should definitely bring their prices down. We have a few restaurants in the area that I think are extortionate and I really do wonder how they get people through the door.
DeleteThanks for the giveaway! What an awesomely unique prize!
ReplyDeleteI used to adore New Look, still do to be honest even though there's none locally now. Fab shop!
ReplyDeleteI will admit to loving Pizza Hut though, despite the price tag that goes with it it's one of the trash foods I just adore!