Olly Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 well there is a part of me that feels 'I DESERVE this because I have to go to work' ... but honestly when I stop to count up what I spend, it is shocking. I could have a massage every month for that (or after six months, I'd have nearly enough for a Cube!) I only drink one cup of coffee a day, and I buy that (at vastly inflated price) because it's worth it to me, but I could easily make everything else that I eat during the day, or buy it at supermarket prices rather than coffee-shop. I wish I could buy a few extra hours ... that's my problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I don't think you should feel guilty using supermarkets just don't stick to the same one! and if when you can support local shops. When I was growing up (not too long ago) there used to be shops called 'Family Butcher' at the end of the street. I find it sad to see them all go cos 'Every Little Helps'. Looking at our High street these days is rather depressing. It's full of cheap tat 'everthing for a pound' kind of rubbish. The only food shops that are left, we try to use but it is difficult if you work the same hours that they do. If I see one more Kebab shop spring up I will seriously consider leaving this country! If I fired one thousand rubber suckered arrows at random in Redcar 956 would hit a Kebab/Pizza/Drunken Chav food kind of emporium window. the rest would probably land in the sea. I understand people cut their cloth to suit their budget but if you can you should support good local shops. I heard some politician on the Radio today who wanted to enforce parking charges on out of town shopping centres to make a level playing field for town centres and help climate change. Wouldn't abolishing town centre parking fees have the same effect, or perhaps reducing town centre rates to help the town centre shops? Oxfordshire council knows the way forward, at the Blenheim get together i was amazed to be able to park for free in Woodstock. Not many Pound shops though! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 You need to be able to park for free in Woodstock because it then costs an arm and a leg just to go through the gates at Blenheim I am surprised though because Oxford itself is really expensive if you don't use the Park and Ride. Guess which of these Stratford models itself on? and Stratford town centre has suffered the fate of many - all the same shops and very few independant retailers now. We do have a wonderful cheese shop.....at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Guess which of these Stratford models itself on? and Stratford town centre has suffered the fate of many - all the same shops and very few independant retailers now. We do have a wonderful cheese shop.....at the moment. Its the same with Henley. We have a couple of fab Butchers, a Deli or 2,then Waitrose in town & Tesco just out of town. I would kill for a wonderful cheese shop in town............... There is a monthly Farmers market,which I wish was twice a month......but then again you have to tackle the Henley traffic,which is never much fun The town is bursting at the seams with Estate Agents & Banks,but smaller shops struggle against the huge rent fees we have here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Banbury is now mostly charity shops, £1 shops and fast food outlets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 We have a few local shops about 10/15 minutes walk away from our house. Most of them are open the same hours I work so I can't use them. But I have noticed they are starting to close down, one by one. In one row we had a Kwik-Save, now closed, a newsagent, closed and when I took Jules to the Library the other day, I noticed the greengrocers had closed We are left with a Greggs bakery, an off-license and a chip shop in that row now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
