What have you bought lately?

A Victoria sponge cake. I couldn't resist! Oh: and a bottle of Coca-Cola.

Something arrived today that I didn't buy... but my younger sister did! She sent me a Star Trek mug that's heat-changing, so the Enterprise "warps" away. Very cool!

The mid week grocery shop, and paid the council tax. Also the electricity bill. It's an expensive week

I ordered an iPad Pro. I picked up the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard today. I'll have to wait a bit for the iPad itself.

Water is expensive here too. We have a water meter and we have to pay water rates on top. Thats to keep canals and waterways free of debris and for the purification costs.

Internet, well  I suppose Dutch charges are average I have the superfast package now and pay €50 a month. 

The Netherlands is expensive, our road tax is high,  I pay  €584 per year for a  peugoet 2008 compared to (I think ) about £200 in the Uk but my insurance is fully comp and only €27 a month. 
However roads here are well mantained I cannot remember the last time I saw a pot hole. Signs are cleaned regularly and improvements are done quickly and properly.  Our income tax rate starts at an eye watering  at 37%, but the social benefits are fantastic, dole money is 75%, of your wages for up to a year,   sick pay is a miminum of 75 % of your wages for the first 2 years then theres a scale depending on the disability. If you are totally unable to work you will continue to get 75% until retirement. So people dont face losing their homes etc if they become sick.
Health insurance is private but for my €165 per month the waiting lists are minimal, ( 2-3 months for a hip replacement) my dentist wait times are good espcially if its an emergancy I can get a GP appointment within a day or two. And that case worker I mentioned ? Shes included as part of the health insurance. In all its a case of getting what you pay for ..
  Its no paradise but its a nice place to live and I still think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I may as well tell you guys: I paid my Internet provider £65.00 today.

It had to be paid.

WE could have all these benefits too. We just have to want to pay the taxes.

Sadly we don't. Thatcher is largely to blame. She taught us to look after number 1 and **** everyone else. Sadly her message is still inherent, even though those that voted for her, are now the elderly in need of the services.

Hey hope is free, you can try again as many times as you want.

I might buy a few chocolate bars today.

The last holiday, I forgot my foundation brush....

So you had your foundation but no brush. Did you improvise?