The obscene amount of vehicles pumping out noxious fumes in Italy

[sueflauto]

The smoking ban here has been very well observed as far as I can see. Only once have I seen it and that was in a bar at an all-night festa, and another at a lock-in. As a non-smoker I no longer have to shower when I get home after a late night, and it's sheer bliss in bars compared with my old local in the UK.

[sueflauto]

Oh, absolutely Carole, fish is much cheaper here, (certainly for your standard bass, bream) don't get me started on UK supermarkets in this respect! I exempt my local fishmonger in the UK..

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by Carole B

What's with this 'overpriced' food then Lombardia?

I only live at the other end of the lake from you and my fresh food shopping costs far less I think than it ever did in the UK.

I don't go for expensive ready cooked meals though oR take-aways, but prefer to spend a little time cooking fresh food and, if necessary, freezing it myself. Same with fruit and meat. Fish IS expensive though, but it still costs less than in the UK I believe.

Milk is more expensive here, but it is used far less than in the UK for daily consumption in the home. So maybe that's a question of supply and demnd.

Hi Carole,

Compared to the UK, a lot of food is more expensive in Italy, even pasta!! which is a shock to me, really. I was buying 3 x 500g bags of wholewheat brown pasta in Asda for £1 (37p each, or 3 for a pound), whereas the local supermarket charges over 60-75p for 500g, and the cheapest I can find it anywhere is 68 cents for 500g, which is around 49p. That's crazy, considering the pasta in Asda is made in Italy, and has to travel at least 1000 miles, probably 1500 miles.

I'm happy chicken breast can usually be found cheaper when on promotion in Italy - but UK supermarkets often do buy-one-get-one-free on chicken breast anyhow.

I also don't go for take away/ready made meals, and make everything from scratch.

Veggie burgers which my girlfriend likes are obscenely expensive in Italy compared to the UK.

I don't drink alcohol, so don't make any savings on wine/beer/spirits, and I don't smoke, so no savings on cigarettes.

I also don't eat red meat, so don't know about that, and rarely buy fresh fish.


A friend recently visited me from the UK and he commented "unless you get things (food) on promotion, it's dearer than England", which is true generally, when you take into account:

bread is more expensive
milk is more expensive
pasta is more expensive
rice is more expensive
cereals are more expensive
bananas are more expensive
yoghurts are more expensive (always got buy1get1free from Tescos)
tinned fruit is more expensive
tinned tuna is more expensive
tea is more expensive
deodorants and mens bathroom products are more expensive


Technology & blank CDs/DVDs and used cars are also more expensive in Italy, if you need/want those


...and wages are lower in Italy, with work being harder to find, and no benefit culture like the UK/not the same government benefits

As has been explained in the other thread about the high price of milk, the Italian Co-ops, re: 'Supermarket-Mafia', price-fix and monopolise the market, thus the over-inflated prices in supermarkets in Italy.



what's cheaper in Italy:

extra virgin olive oil
seasonal fruit and veg grown in Italy (e.g. cherries and vine tomatoes)
poultry, generally
coffee
alcohol


So overall my shopping bill is more expensive in Italy, especially since I used to buy lots of extra virgin olive oil and Italian coffee when I would come over on a budget flight holiday, and that I'm not a boozer.

[Relaxed]

Why don't you take up being a boozer? Also (if you are fixated on comparative costs) I can recommend smoking.

Horses for courses?

[lombardia2007]

Originally Posted by Relaxed

Why don't you take up being a boozer? Also (if you are fixated on comparative costs) I can recommend smoking.

Horses for courses?

Hi Relaxed,

'Been there and got the T-shirt. I was once a heavy drinker (weekend binge drinker like so many in the UK), and smoked regularly; first started smoking while drinking beer in the pubs at 15, then after a couple of years was a full time smoker. Smoked and drank myself silly for a good few years - was never an alcoholic, but used to wake up on Sunday mornings feeling like I had brain damage I'd drunk that much, then decided my health was more important, that there were better and more productive ways to spend my time and decided to knock it on the head. Another reason I give up smoking was because I hated being a slave to nicotine, which once you're addicted doesn't do anything for you except satisfy a never ending desire for more, much like any drug addiction.

I'm aware a little red wine is good for you, but I genuinely don't like the feeling of being under the influence of alcohol nowadays, and certainly don't like the hangovers and drained feeling, which I get even with small doses of alcohol.

These days I get my kicks from lots of exercise, eating good healthy food and spending time with my girlfriend, so there's really no place in my life for alcohol and cigarettes anymore.

[Nielo]

Lombardia2007, why don't you make your own pasta? You may find it quite therapeutic thumping and kneading the dough.

Also if you used to come to Italy to stock up on Olive oil etc, go back to England and fill your suitcase with loads of cheap stuff from Asda.

I find Italy less expensive but then I eat fresh food in season. Some I grow myself, some kindly provided by friends and neighbours from their gardens, I buy my meat direct from the butchers and don't have to pay for all the packaging.

While you are comparing prices do a price check on Parmesan cheese and Parma ham and figs and rocket and council tax and petrol and diesel and water and using a tumble dryer instead of drying your clothes in the sun because it is cold and raining all the time in England.

I expect that with all your care for your body and your finances your life will be a long one…. or it just might feel like it!

[Scrapspal]

So, you've seen the light and want to lead everyone towards it Lombardia?

[deborahandricky]

Hi all
it sounds like a few bods need to take a chill pill, we are all here to get away from all that c££p back in the world........2.5 millon people turn up for an anti war rally in the UK.....Tony B says do it and in we go......my local commune decises to close our local A&E......35 old blokes turn up in 3 wheeled wasps ( the pollution was minimal) and guess what..............ITS OPEN.....

love and kisses
Ricky

[deborahandricky]

FYI.........I also have a 7.5 tonne truck coming back this way Aug 1st.....I have made a deal with the local Tescos manager to deliver slabs (ie 36 cans etc ) of tinned / dry goods ...........anyone in dire of marmite ,baked beans etc drop me a line .

regards
Ricky

[PennyWhite]

Thanks for info about smoking ban, I am sure we had seen people smoking in restaurants, but maybe not.... will see this time. Maybe that is why we enjoyed it so much, not coming home smelling like an old ashtray.