Page 3 | To feel ripped off

Bunny2607 · 2025-02-17T20:50:18+00:00

Nipped out to a local cafe at work today for some lunch to take back and eat at my desk. Very rarely buy lunch as either take it with me or nip home but circumstances today meant i ended up buying it. small independent cafe, i got a mocha coffee, flapjack slice and a soup to take away. £12.60!!! I paid and didn’t say anything but i was so shocked at the price. Its been bugging me all day and tbh i don’t think i will go back due to the prices, it was only average at best as well. when did you last feel ripped off?

Original poster

Bunny2607 · 18/02/2025 21:11

ClareBlue · 18/02/2025 20:39

I understand the high prices based on high over head costs and wouldn't think that wasn't too bad. But what is putting us off spending money on food and drink is the savings being made on staff so you don't get good service, the lack of any quality of the product to save a bit and even not heating premises. It seems the excuse of everything has gone up in price has also lead to giving up on any value or service or even any pleasure in going out. It's not really the price that makes me feel ripped off but the rubbish product and service. You feel like a fool paying the prices for some of the rubbish we get.

Yes totally agree. You don’t mind paying more money for something if service is good and also the food/item.

OP posts:

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 18/02/2025 21:08

Marine30 · 18/02/2025 20:01

I know! Always full of teenagers - well off ones I imagine.

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Some teenagers have a load of money!

DS works every Sat & Sun and so doesn't get much chance to spend the money he's earning. He's not 18 yet so on a low wage but racks up the hours so gets a good amount every month - he has more in his sa ings than us! 😁

Franjipanl8r · 18/02/2025 21:05

Welcome to 2025. This is life, everything is expensive now.

ClareBlue · 18/02/2025 20:39

I understand the high prices based on high over head costs and wouldn't think that wasn't too bad. But what is putting us off spending money on food and drink is the savings being made on staff so you don't get good service, the lack of any quality of the product to save a bit and even not heating premises. It seems the excuse of everything has gone up in price has also lead to giving up on any value or service or even any pleasure in going out. It's not really the price that makes me feel ripped off but the rubbish product and service. You feel like a fool paying the prices for some of the rubbish we get.

JandamiHash · 18/02/2025 20:38

Yep standard astronomical prices. I wish someone would do something about business rates and overheads for small businesses so people have more incentive to spend money there. I rarely go out now because whilst I don’t mind paying good money for food, I begrudge paying good money for bog standard plain food I can make easily at home. Which is why I rarely bother anymore.

powershowerforanhour · 18/02/2025 20:34

Non exhaustive list of stuff that is expensive:
takeaway coffee
Domino's pizza
small packet of crisps
a haircut
booster vaccination for a dog
pair of chainsaw boots
a tank of petrol
a pint in a pub
new tyres for a front end loader
big bale straw for bedding lambing sheds
Bar of good quality chocolate w/o palm oil
a night out
fish supper from the chippy (not cheap as chips)
15kg bag of chicken feed (not chicken feed)
Bag of peanuts for wild birds (not absolute peanuts)

Stuff that is cheap:
Shit off Temu, probably made by kids in sweatshops , that nobody wants or needs and will probably end up in landfill in about a week.

Moveoverdarlin · 18/02/2025 20:25

Mumlaplomb · 18/02/2025 15:48

I nearly fainted at Five Guys when burgers and fries and milkshakes for two adults and two kids came to over £70!! It did taste good but given I had to collect like I do at macdonalds and it wasn’t like a table service meal I was expecting a bit cheaper!!

Five Guys is effing extortionate. Nice but in no way worth it.

DazzyRascale · 18/02/2025 20:24

I paid £5.95 for a take-away toastie (cheese and beans filling). Nothing special. Bread bog standard packet loaf. Needless to say, I have not returned!

(Not London!)

Original poster

Bunny2607 · 18/02/2025 20:21

I think reading what others think its a sign of the times and agree its a stark reality of the cost of living. You wonder how long the small independents can keep on going, i do always make a point of supporting small businesses where i can rather than the chains etc.
perhaps i am out of touch as i don’t buy lunch often, i think as well because the coffee was half froth and the soup just “average” in one of those polystyrene cups it felt abit rubbish for £12. For anyone wondering also this was in a small West Yorkshire town so not london etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bunny2607 · 18/02/2025 20:17

Terfarina · 18/02/2025 19:40

how TAF can you do a food shop for a family for £86?

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I said nearly a full shop. We spend £100/110. Husband works in retail so gets 20% discount which helps although he works at m&s so we don’t get much from there as its expensive to start with. Youngest is at nursery 3 days so she has all meals there on those days. Aside from that we tend to “make do” and don’t eat meat every night etc - some nights we have soup and a toasted sandwich although thats because we’re shattered rather than a budget thing.

OP posts:

Witchtower · 18/02/2025 20:17

Everyone saying it sounds about right are correct.
This is the issue!

Bonbon249 · 18/02/2025 20:09

Sadly, they are probably experiencing the cost of living same as everyone else.

Marine30 · 18/02/2025 20:01

Tamrastarr · 18/02/2025 17:03

I can't believe that that place seems to be flourishing!

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I know! Always full of teenagers - well off ones I imagine.

chocmalt · 18/02/2025 19:42

Yeah, if the prices aren't listed, I'd either ask or not order. It's too risky to just hope for the best, and I'm not about to spend more than I think it's worth, unless I'm desperate and out of other options. So yes, I'd feel ripped off by those prices, but I wouldn't have ordered food without knowing how much it cost.

Terfarina · 18/02/2025 19:40

Bunny2607 · 17/02/2025 21:52

Yes a table for 4 people we’re paying as i was waiting for my order and their bill was £86! Thats nearly a weeks shopping for our household (2 adults 2 children) and i was astounded as they’d only had breakfast items and coffee etc from what i could tell.

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how TAF can you do a food shop for a family for £86?

Supergirlscousin · 18/02/2025 19:32

All this talk of cakes is making me want to bake again at the weekend

Lassango · 18/02/2025 19:03

That sounds about right. Which is why I avoid places like that.

Ahsheeit · 18/02/2025 19:03

My favourite local cafe still do a very decent breakfast with hot drinks. Mine's a veggie one. Under £18 for both me and my mate. Huge portions. Yes, in the north 😉

TheodoraCrumpet · 18/02/2025 19:00

I don't mind paying if it's a bit of a treat. Bit of fancy side salad with dressing will do it - I'm not expecting a 3 course meal for a tenner. But I refuse to pay through the nose for something very basic just to stop feeling hungry. I'd rather grab something cold from a mini market. If it's going to be shit, it might as well be cheap.

gunsnrosacea · 18/02/2025 18:18

£4.95 for a (small ish) slice of carrot cake to take away at my local garden centre. Up north but it does have notions.

Ihavenopatienceforthis · 18/02/2025 18:14

If I forget my lunch I go to sainsburys for a meal deal at £3.50, main, snack and a drink.

Our local sandwich shop is better can get a jacket potato for £4.50

Owwmumo1 · 18/02/2025 18:12

Went to a cafe yesterday with my son - £6.15 for a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. Today - another town, another cafe - pea and mint soup £8.50, prawn and salmon sandwich £16.
Prices just seem to be crazy now!

IDontHateRainbows · 18/02/2025 18:09

Food costs have risen massively though especially eating out type. Just ordered a takeaway from somewhere we used to order from around 7 or 8 years ago and some of the dishes have literally doubled. Used to get a tandoori mixed grill and a bag of chicken pakora for around a tenner. Now it's 17 just for those.

Noodles1234 · 18/02/2025 18:05

That’s probably about average, minimum wage to be around £12.20 an hour plus all manner of running costs they need to make a lot of money just to cover these costs. I’m all for a good minimum wage but we also have to pay for it.

Sandandsea123 · 18/02/2025 17:58

Sounds quite reasonable tbh! It would cost more where I live!!