Have you ever done something you thought was moneysaving but actually isn't?

Imelda

I am a bit annoyed with myself. It's a friend's hen weekend this weekend, and we're off to sunny Spain. Lots of the other girls are going on Thursday night but to save money (flight was cheaper, one less night food and accomodation) I am going Friday night. However I have just worked out that a taxi from the airport to the apartment we have booked it going to cost me £50 + and since I am on my own I am going to have to pay all of it. The other girls have got a minibus booked and it's going to cost them £15 return (me £7.50 for the return leg on Sunday). The apartment is only £20/ night and since a few of the others are worried about money they are staying in on the Thursday night cooking pizza, doing nails and hair etc (also they thought it wouldn't be fair to have a big night out without me). So it turns out that not only am I not actually saving anything I am missing out on a fun night with the girls! :mad:
So, please, tell me I'm not the only one to mess up like this!

briona

Imelda wrote:

I am a bit annoyed with myself. It's a friend's hen weekend this weekend, and we're off to sunny Spain. Lots of the other girls are going on Thursday night but to save money (flight was cheaper, one less night food and accomodation) I am going Friday night. However I have just worked out that a taxi from the airport to the apartment we have booked it going to cost me £50 + and since I am on my own I am going to have to pay all of it. The other girls have got a minibus booked and it's going to cost them £15 return (me £7.50 for the return leg on Sunday). The apartment is only £20/ night and since a few of the others are worried about money they are staying in on the Thursday night cooking pizza, doing nails and hair etc (also they thought it wouldn't be fair to have a big night out without me). So it turns out that not only am I not actually saving anything I am missing out on a fun night with the girls! :mad:
So, please, tell me I'm not the only one to mess up like this!

Hi Imelda

You haven't messed up! You just need to look at this from a different angle...

For starters, do you need to get a taxi from the airport? You don't say where in Spain you're going but when I went to Barcelona [on my own], the easiest and cheapest form of transport was the local bus [I believe I paid around EURO 4 for a 15/20 minute journey].

Drivers of public transport to and from airports are used to tourists not speaking the language and will have enough English to help you out with fares and drop off points. Bring a map – guidebooks usually contain reasonably good maps – know whereabouts your hotel is in relation to central drop off points and walk to the hotel from there, or use cheap local transport [metros, other buses etc]. Failing that, text your mates to tell them where the bus is dropping you off and get them to meet you there. Problem solved and money saved.

As for missing a fun night in, you know if you were there too, you'd be having a BIG night out so although they may not be doing that, you are in fact saving money, both in terms of the night's accommodation, the night out and/or the pizza/drinks etc.

Fly out there on the Friday looking forward to your holiday and congratulating yourself for having saved money!

Enjoy

Briona

lazy&indebt

I agree with Briona - don't worry about it, try and plan a different mode of transport and give yourself just a few days off from moneysaving! Oh, and get a nice tan in the process

climbgirl

Definitely check out other modes of transport - even if it's not one of the major cities (which will be well supplied for buses/rail and other cheap means of getting into the city), there are probably likely to be shuttle buses etc that will take you into town.

Also try calling the place you're staying at - they might do pick-ups from the airport or can recommend you the cheapest way of getting there.

I'd be very surprised if there wasn't at least one slightly cheaper means of getting into the city....

Imelda

Thanks guys, you're right Briona I am still saving money.

I have looked up buses (we're staying in Marbella, it's a privately owned apartment) the only problem being they're at 9.45pm or 11pm, I land at 9.30pm so I would be hanging around for ages and would still not get a night out on the Friday. I really should have thought about it before.
I have done some searching on the internet and the only thing I can see is a pre-booked car service which costs £45 whereas I have seen that average taxis fares from the airport to Marbella are 78 Euros (£55). Think I am going to just have to pay out.....

joanne0620

Hi Imelda

Are you flying to Malaga? There is a train station at Malaga, I know the train goes as far as Benelmadena, might go to Marbella too? Would be worth checking as I know that the train runs till quite late on and is really cheap.

Whatever you decide to do have a fab time and I am soooooo jealous, I love Spain!

Felicity

I've lost count TBH!

angchris

if i find a good deal on something i often buy in bulk so that it will last me a year or two depending on the expiry date, this is all very well and works perfectly untill my 14 year old lad does a reckie in the cupboards and eats it all within a week or so without my knowledge :mad: so it costs me a fortune and i see no benefit from my thriftiness at all:rolleyes:

newlywed

angchris wrote:

if i find a good deal on something i often buy in bulk so that it will last me a year or two depending on the expiry date, this is all very well and works perfectly untill my 14 year old lad does a reckie in the cupboards and eats it all within a week or so without my knowledge :mad: so it costs me a fortune and i see no benefit from my thriftiness at all:rolleyes:

Yeah BOGOF - not worth it on cakes, biscuits, crisps etc as the hubby is likely to eat it all when he's got no work! Unless of course I hide the cakes and crumpets in the freezer as icecream seems to be the only freezer item he'll scoff!

Snaggles

I do this kind of thing all the time - trailing half way across town to buy something 50p cheaper, missing my bus and having to get a taxi home so I'm not late for the school run! And just this week I spent £2 on some cheap tuna in the reduced section of the supermarket, went home really pleased with my bargain, then forgot to freeze it (left it out overnight), smelled a bit dodgy the next day, so it went straight in the bin lol!

kathryn196

Hiya
If you are flying to Malaga, there is the train station within a short walking distance and its really well signposted , it will cost you just over 1 euro. This will take you to fuengirola, which is where the service ends. You then can either catch a bus to Marbella , which is around 3 euro's or you can take a taxi for about 28 euro's. The train station is where the bus station and taxi rank is so no need to worry about getting lost.
Kath