clive francis
Guest
I recently spent 2 months working in Italy and before we went they kept telling us it was 40% cheaper in Italy than the UK.
After the first week we questioned their logic as it did not appear to be cheaper, but again they insisted it was.
By the end of the 2nd month we had come to the conclusion that the management were living on or somewhere very near to cloud 9 as it was not 40% cheaper.
We said that meat (super markets) was more expensive in Italy than the UK.
"Arr, in Italy we don't eat a lot of meat, so yes it is more expensive, don't buy meat"
OK, but vegetables are more expensive as well
"Arr, there is a drout in Italy at the moment, so veg is a luxury, don't buy veg"
OK, but cans of coke are double the price
"Arr, they are non essential, so don't drink coke"
OK, so we can't eat meat and we can't eat veg, and we can't drink coke so what are we supposed to eat and drink?
"Pasta and water"
But bottles of water are twice the price as well!
We got no response to that, we then asked our HR back in the UK to get a cost of living comparison.
To our surprise it was 28% more expensive in Bologna than it was in Watford (this is easy comuting distance by train or tube into London - it is that close!)
Everyone we spoke to that was not part of our company told us that prices doubled over night and their salaries stayed the same when they switched to the Euro.
Several of my friends have been on holiday in Europe and they have said it is very similar where they went Greece and Spain.
After my stay in italy, I think that the UK is quite good value!!!
After the first week we questioned their logic as it did not appear to be cheaper, but again they insisted it was.
By the end of the 2nd month we had come to the conclusion that the management were living on or somewhere very near to cloud 9 as it was not 40% cheaper.
We said that meat (super markets) was more expensive in Italy than the UK.
"Arr, in Italy we don't eat a lot of meat, so yes it is more expensive, don't buy meat"
OK, but vegetables are more expensive as well
"Arr, there is a drout in Italy at the moment, so veg is a luxury, don't buy veg"
OK, but cans of coke are double the price
"Arr, they are non essential, so don't drink coke"
OK, so we can't eat meat and we can't eat veg, and we can't drink coke so what are we supposed to eat and drink?
"Pasta and water"
But bottles of water are twice the price as well!
We got no response to that, we then asked our HR back in the UK to get a cost of living comparison.
To our surprise it was 28% more expensive in Bologna than it was in Watford (this is easy comuting distance by train or tube into London - it is that close!)
Everyone we spoke to that was not part of our company told us that prices doubled over night and their salaries stayed the same when they switched to the Euro.
Several of my friends have been on holiday in Europe and they have said it is very similar where they went Greece and Spain.
After my stay in italy, I think that the UK is quite good value!!!