Back for 2025: What's the best £1(ish) you've ever spent?

smitchy73 · 30 July at 8:59PM

I was at a Pipe Band Contest in Belfast a number of years back and bought a ticket (well two) for a charity draw for a kids hospital fund raiser, it was to win a set og bagpipes. Low and behold got a call a week or so later to say I had been drawn as the lucky winner, my son who was learning was gifted them, giving them his own set of pipes to practice and learn on, still using them now.

Glad · 31 July at 9:46AM

Other half bought 1 ticket, from one of these draws that pop up on FB, he won a £950 motorbike helmet

steve_do · 6 August at 1:14AM

A 5 day car hire at Barcelona airport for £1.23

A flight from Gran Canaria to uk for 76p

rchj4 · 6 August at 7:55AM

The 1£ i give to a homeless person sitting outside my local supermarket . It reminds me how fortunate I am to have my home comforts & a roof over my head .

MSE_James · 7 August at 3:30PM

I recently booked a two-hour coach journey for £1.70

And in my town, all local bus journeys are now £1 after 7pm which is a pretty good bargain. Though I was delayed getting on the bus late at night a couple of weeks ago because the passenger in front of me kept querying his fare with the driver as he couldn't believe it was really only £1...

ggus · 8 August at 9:23AM

A few years back, I popped into a car boot sale with exactly £1 in change left in my pocket. I spotted a slightly battered but solid cast iron frying pan on one of the stalls — the seller just wanted to get rid of it, so I handed over my coin.

Took it home, scrubbed it up, re-seasoned it, and now it’s my absolute favourite piece of cookware. It’ll probably last longer than I will, and every time I use it I think, “Best quid I’ve ever spent.”

Not quite a grand lottery win, but it’s made countless breakfasts, so I reckon it’s paid for itself many times over

projectreset · 8 August at 1:26PM

When I was a student at University of Nottingham, I would travel back home to North Wales at least termly. This involved changing trains at Derby, Crewe, and Chester.

One day at maybe 8pm I was at Crewe with a long delay so I went to the chippy near the station for tea. They were just about closing up, and for 60p I got battered sausage, fish, and a fishcake! I did pay a couple of quid for the chips to begin with, but 20p for a battered fish was a bargain! Also got 'scraps' for free of course. I tell you, as a hungry student with not much money, that was the best chippy tea I've ever had!

Murphybear · 8 August at 3:58PM

Many years ago when I was a small child my mother found a £1 note in the street. She bought a big tea set, blue and white stripes, just like Cornishware, I don’t suppose it was “real”. It was 19s 6d so we even got change. 😃 We had that set for years.

Many many years later I went to a big Sunday market/car boot sale. I bought a nice wool jacket for £1. I felt something in the pocket. It was nearly £4 worth of change. Real bargain.