So has recession hit Ireland’s boomtown, Dublin? Well on my little visit to the capital yesterday, I noticed, to start with, my trip was brief.
I spent the grand sum of four hours, not the usual eight one would expect out of a ‘day trip’. My trip was also cheap – €15 for a day returnbus ticket, nothing for my packed lunch I brought with me, €2 something for a coffee the other side, but MMMM, it was decent coffeee. Then €2 tip after a friend paid for my food (I had splashed out on €2.90 chips and a glass of water). Luckily, my desire do some shopping was dealt with by a €20 voucher for Easons bookstore – I bought a book I wanted (Victoria Hislop’s The Return) and a magazine (Psychologies) I like. Boring, but I didn’t even manage to spend €10 in cheapo store Penneys next door. For that I could have gotten shoes, a dress, sunglasses and a g-string, easy. Then I bought a manky sandwich, bottle of water and bar of chocolate for about €7 at the bus station. The point of all that, is that although I had my credit card burning a hole in my pocket, despite the fact I just love buying, and eventhough I was within walking distance of Marks & Spencer’s food hall or a sushi stall I just did not have the guts or interest in buying fancy food when I knew there was a cheap packet of ham and a few slices of bread at home. Before I moved out of Dublin I thought, wow olives are only €4. Now I think olives are €4. But I could get enough mincemeat for four dinners out of that. So my day in Dublin was cheap, it cost me about €40. If they say people are spending less, I’m proof of that. In fact, there lately we bought 5 frozen chicken fillets for €5.49 in Aldi. The last two are currently being defrosted. They’re yum actually. Oh, and I was in Dublin for a job interview. Can’t splash out, you know until one gets offered a job.
This was first published on a blog in July 2008 that has now since been closed: http://therecessionreadingrooms.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/boomtown-rats/
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