Aside from the all the economic doom and gloom where jobs or lack of are concerned, for those of us not from the Eurozone there are also the effects of the currency fluctuations.
When I arrived here just over 2 1/2 years ago the pound was REALLY strong. At one point it was nearly €1.50 to the £1.00! That made a big difference here. Now all my costs have risen by a 1/3rd! When utilities are still going up this makes a BIG difference! Take my most recent gas bill - it is horrendous as always, but a year ago it cost me the equivalent of £300 less for the same amount in euros! £300!! That's two month's school fees for Antonia, a month's food shopping, you get the idea...
The only thing that stops the pessimism really creeping in is that, this time, I think we are all in this together. If you aren't effected, please, count your blessings! ;)
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2 comments:
I can't believe you guys are affected by it also. It sucks that now that we're gone, the euro isn't as strong. We were throwing money away earning the dollar and paying the euro! um yes, we're affected, my husband earns money selling a luxury item! Where will our next months mortgage payment come from!!??
It's swings and roundabouts as usual - I just never really talked about it! I'll e-mail you at some point with further tales, but one friend was telling me how a solicitor she knows is complaining about lack of work!!
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