Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Really fucked off with Euro exchange rate

478 replies

GrumpyOldBag · 27/08/2017 15:39

We have been going on holiday self-catering to the same place in Europe for over 10 years.

This year everything feels prohibitively expensive - to the point where it is really inhibiting what we can choose to do.

We are here for 2 weeks and it's really hard as family of 4 (with 2 teenagers) to spend less than £100/euros a day on activities/eating out.

Not in a beach resort type place, so taking a picnic to the beach for the day isn't an option - nearly everything there is to do here costs money. 3 euros for a coffee, 3 for an ice-cream - it all quickly adds up. Even the 'cheap' food in the supermarket is expensive. Practically at parity with £.

Bloody Brexit!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 19:22

Oh its funny orlanti

I will find it and post it in a minute

It was funny because the honestly hysterical headline bore no resemblance whatsoever with the relatively neutral article

Its like they were written by two different people

brotherphil · 28/08/2017 19:25

I trust the government apportions the money we are allegedly getting back to the people who need it the most.

Good one Centurion!

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 19:25

Got it

ETIAS visa: New rules to PUNISH Britons that could deny YOU entry to Europe after Brexit

The capitals are not mine

orlantina · 28/08/2017 19:30

ETIAS visa: New rules to PUNISH Britons that could deny YOU entry to Europe after Brexit

That's got to to be the Daily Mail.

It's got the capitals. Mind you - it could easily be the Express.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 19:36

Aaah very good

Your 2nd guess is right

brotherphil · 28/08/2017 19:38

I remember that one - it was their reaction to the EU tightening up the rules on immigration like some paper or other had been campaigning about, and the sudden realisation that being outside the Schengen area, it would apply to us, and that once we are outside the Customs Union it would apply even moreso.

orlantina · 28/08/2017 19:39

Your 2nd guess is right

Just call that experience of glancing at headlines at the newsagents!

I am planning a holiday to France next year - I just need to know when to book the campsite as it's in Euros. When to jump in and 'buy'.

orlantina · 28/08/2017 19:40

it was their reaction to the EU tightening up the rules on immigration like some paper or other had been campaigning about

I know - the Express has been campaigning for tougher immigration at European borders and more checks - and then started complaining when Europe put in tougher checks - because they applied to Brits Grin

So ironic.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 19:43

From the article

Though Brexit was not the catalyst for the visa, UK citizens will be subjected to its rules once Britain has left the EU

It will cost €5 for adults and last for five years or until the person’s passport has expired.

*Even if you had a criminal conviction from years before, you could easily be denied entry into the country.

Certain health conditions might also prevent you from entering Europe post-Brexit, based on similar schemes around the world. You will likely have to provide information on your state of health, particularly infectious diseases.

See...quite restrained, compared to the headline

orlantina · 28/08/2017 19:48

Even if you had a criminal conviction from years before, you could easily be denied entry into the country

Bloody Europe - not letting criminals into Europe just like the Express have been calling for Grin

smilingontheinside · 28/08/2017 19:56

It's happened before and it will happen again brexit or no. As a kid I can remember being on hols in Ibiza and my mum was unable to get any currency as the pound was so weak they would not change sterling travellers cheques (yes I'm very old!) we had a very quiet couple days. Its great when the rate is in our favour (strong pound) but we have to accept its not always the way. If you holiday in UK it can be expensive so just cut down on activities, eating out etc. We go abroad and find the food much cheaper than at home eating in or out (alcohol definately cheaper ) and just take more euros if rate not so strong.

Agustarella · 28/08/2017 19:57

@ MissMoneyPlant

[B]"You joke, but as someone who grew up in the South East and now can't afford to live there near my family, it does grate a bit.
I think the lack of consideration about the importance of community and family, and policies supporting these things, is a big problem. I mean, where does it end? Loads of UK born people no longer able to afford to live here, pushed out to poorer parts of Europe? (Like a large scale London/SE thing). Where they have less rights, as they are not a citizen of the country..? I think it's so important, the world over, that people can have a relatively decent life close-ish to where they were born, if they want! But that issue is way bigger than Brexit and the EU"

Yes, that's me. Couldn't afford to live where I'd grown up (Essex/Herts) or anywhere else in Britain either. So I carried on heading south east until I ended up in eastern France! My guess is that we were on the cusp of a big wave of emigration from Britain to the continent as housing became increasingly unaffordable, but Brexit will almost certainly prevent that even as it concentrates British minds on the subject of emigration. What will happen to those 'priced out' of all decent accommodation is a mystery. Sure, house prices and rents may plummet in the UK, but with runaway unemployment and inflation, affordability may not improve. Interesting times.

3EyedRaven · 28/08/2017 20:06

Wages depressed by Eastern European labour' Wtf you on about? As an English teacher I find this a non issue

Because 'teaching' is classed as 'labour' now. Lol
It's continuously proved that although immigration has a positive effect on the economy, as a whole it negatively affects 'low skilled' jobs.
And who works in 'low skilled jobs'?
People on here massively underestimate the affect that EE immigrants have had on builders, labourersr, lorry drivers etc.
I can't really cry about your expensive holiday, when I, and many people I know, can no longer even afford to take the kids on fucking day trips.
And let's not even get into the rising rents...
And the fact that the housing benefit cap hasn't changed in years.../

FaveNumberIs2 · 28/08/2017 20:14

@motheroffourdragons
A lot of European countries buy from other euro countries, including us, so for them right now, they will be getting more for their euro.

IroningMountain · 28/08/2017 20:21

Best get used to it op,food prices are going to rocket when we're actually out. We'll be paying tariffs to buy European food,then there are the subsidies we'll be paying to our farmers now the EU won't be.

If you want cheap food pray we get good deals with China and US( although maybe transport costs will be higher). Personally remembering the Chinese baby milk scandals and US chlorine chicken,hfs and hydronated fats I'd rather have European food.

Things are going to be shit for your average family. Boris kept that quiet when lying how the NHS would get the money spent on Europe. Rich tories won't feel it at all so won't care.Personally when everybody has experienced Brexit Britain I think there is going to be uproar over the lies.

Maireadplastic · 28/08/2017 20:30

'I think the lack of consideration about the importance of community and family, and policies supporting these things, is a big problem.'
As long as we fall for the lie that government is ONLY about the economy, we haven't a hope in hell. Somehow life has become all about The Market and we are so used to it, we don't question it.

Bobbi73 · 28/08/2017 20:46

A holiday abroad was completely out of our range this year so we went to Cornwall and had a brilliant holiday. We got a self catering place which wasn't too expensive We were lucky with the weather which helped and the kids had a fantastic time surfing, bodyboarding, faffing around on the beach etc. Things are going to get a lot worse once we actually leave so I think this is the future for us. I hope you manage to enjoy your holiday anyway 😀

IroningMountain · 28/08/2017 20:55

Food aside Cornwall would have worked out just the same if not more expensive than the caravan holiday we've just had in France.

We took loads of food but still spent a fortune.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 21:19

A friend of mine has a house in france which she lets us borrow

So obviously thats very cheap, we do eat out a bit but its not that sort of village

So thats a very cheap holiday for us

orlantina · 28/08/2017 21:26

Romania looks cheap for a holiday at the moment.

And it's not in the Euro either.

Sara107 · 28/08/2017 21:43

We went self-catering in Europe too. I had to pay the full cost up front early in the year which annoyed me at the time, but I was really glad in the end as our holiday would have cost about 15 % more if I had paid it last week. We were in the Alps bordering Austria and Germany and the great thing there is the visitor cards you get free with your accommodation which then give you free entry into loads of local attractions and activities. We went in cable cars, tobaggon runs, to a climbing park, rented canoes, went swimming etc all for free. So the only thing we paid for was food and you can take picnics / self catering to keep the costs down. It also cost around 1 euro for a scoop of lovely homemade Italian ice-cream, which even at the current exchange rate is really cheap compared to £1.99 for a manky Mr Whippy in our local park!!

MarcyMercy · 28/08/2017 21:46

A weak pound will not affect everyone just now. Only those fortunate enough to go abroad for holidays really, and it does suck. But you can always staycation and help the economy here I suppose.

It also affects expats living on fixed sterling incomes abroad. They are rightly stuck.

Imports will cost more, exports will flourish.

For now, moral of the story is be thankful your supermarket shop is so inexpensive in comparison with most other EU countries, and just get on with it.

FOR NOW.

It is a bit elitist to be complaining about not having a few more euros to spend whilst away, you just suck it up and get on with it.

I am in Euroland, so ordering from Amazon UK is a dream for me now.

Any time I visit UK I am absolutely astounded at how inexpensive supermarket shopping is compared to where I am in the EU. Astounded I tell you!

Hopefully, things will change and a ten year transition to Brexit is negotiated. Faces saved all round. And the pound recovers.

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 21:57

Orlantina

Friend of mines son has gone to romania for a holiday with 9 other boys following their A levels

Seems a errrmm strange? Place to go as 10 lads

But they did a spreadsheet and it worked out brilliantly cost and experience wise...apparently

orlantina · 28/08/2017 22:00

Place to go as 10 lads

I bet the beer's cheap Grin

Rufustherenegadereindeer1 · 28/08/2017 22:02

While i don't disagree with your post marcy i wish people would stop saying stuff like this

It is a bit elitist to be complaining about not having a few more euros to spend whilst away, you just suck it up and get on with it.

I have one friend on holiday at the moment who has saved for 4 years for her boys first foreign holiday to celebrate their two big birthdays

Another has four children and her parents have very kindly paid for the holiday and she has saved for the spending money

They are not elitist