£20 or Its Equivalent Challenge

[Pacion]

Anyone fancies taking part in a challenge? The challenge is to find a pleasure/leisure activity that costs no more than £20 or its equivalent in your local currency and then report back here as to what you did/how it all went, over the next few months? Here is a currency converter to help you work out what the equivalent is.

http://www.bloomberg.com/analysis/calculators/currency.html

:nope: feeding ducks £20 equivalent of bread or feeding fruit machines does not count :tongue: :lol: Oh, not sure if it can be a dance-related activity :oops: haven't decided as yet :idea: Actually, I have decided now :lol: It can't be a dance-related activity as that will be tooooooooooooo easy :lol:

Anyone want to play :banana: If you want to suggest a different amount, I am up for discussion :D

(I know £20 equivalent will go a long way in some countries :cry: but hey! As I am setting the challenge, I get to set the amount :D )

We might have to end up fixing the exchange rates :?

[MacMoto]

It can't be a dance-related activity as that will be tooooooooooooo easy :lol:
:( :( :( :( :(

[Sarah]

Anyone want to play :banana: If you want to suggest a different amount, I am up for discussion :D

(I know £20 equivalent will go a long way in some countries :cry: but hey! As I am setting the challenge, I get to set the amount :D )

We might have to end up fixing the exchange rates :?

£20 ~ $60 NZ, which is quite enough for chinese and a movie for two, but probably won't cover coffee and cake afterwards....
If you factor in local cost of living though, £20 in the UK is probably worth slightly less than $20NZ in NZ.

You could fix the amount to the big-mac index or something similar......

Cheers
Sarah

[pygmalion]

I live in the tourist capital of the universe. 20 pounds is roughly equivalent to $40, right at the moment, so that's way too easy. The cost of living is much lower in the US than the UK. :?

[Pacion]

Thanks Sarah and Pygmalion :tongue: rub it in that your cost of living is cheaper than ours :evil: :lol:

Okay, how about if we go for 5x the cost of a big Mac meal? I think here it is about £4? I will have to check and see :oops:

I am open to suggestions (left foot tapping patiently) :roll: :lol:

[MacMoto]

The challenge is to find a pleasure/leisure activity that costs no more than £20 or its equivalent in your local currency and then report back here as to what you did/how it all went, over the next few months?
Do I have to include transport costs here? I was going to propose going to Edinburgh next Friday afternoon, before the Festival ends, wander along the Royal Mile, window shop and watch street performers (there are so many during the Festival you could hardly move!), look at the new parliament building (now almost complete!), maybe throw in a visit to one of the free galleries/museums, have a light meal at one of Italian cafes, then hit the "club with a tree" later for salsa (optional -- entry is free anyway :wink:). Easily doable for 20 pounds or less, but it costs me 7 quid to get there.

[pygmalion]

Thanks Sarah and Pygmalion :tongue: rub it in that your cost of living is cheaper than ours :evil: :lol:

Okay, how about if we go for 5x the cost of a big Mac meal? I think here it is about £4? I will have to check and see :oops:

I am open to suggestions (left foot tapping patiently) :roll: :lol:

Works for me. I think it's about $4.50,so what's that? $18? Done. 8)

[tj]

The challenge is to find a pleasure/leisure activity that costs no more than £20

Does driving back and forth on the local Toll Road count as a leisure activity? :wink: If so, then that's about 10 round trips (including a tank of gasoline).

[Pacion]

Let me consult the Regulations Book :roll: Okay, according to Reg. 10.3.5.76.23 :lol:

"driving back and forth on the local Toll Road counts as a leisure activity provided that said activity is undertaken in a four hour period of time and not spread out over a number of day/months. Participants will also be required to be honest/truthful in their report back and must set out on their journey with a full tank of petrol. No top ups are permitted."

:tongue: Bon voyage my friend :wink: :lol:

[tj]

Let me consult the Regulations Book :roll: Okay, according to Reg. 10.3.5.76.23 :lol:

"driving back and forth on the local Toll Road counts as a leisure activity provided that said activity is undertaken in a four hour period of time and not spread out over a number of day/months. Participants will also be required to be honest/truthful in their report back and must set out on their journey with a full tank of petrol. No top ups are permitted."

:tongue: Bon voyage my friend :wink: :lol:

Oh no! More receipts for my monthly expense report!

:shock: :shock:

[Pacion]

Oh no! More receipts for my monthly expense report!

:shock: :shock:

You don't have e-receipts (like e-tickets) :roll: :twisted: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Okay. So here's a question. Does the 4-Big-Mac-Meals outing have to pay for two people, or just one?

[Pacion]

:shock: :lol: Fair question but a bit optimistic from a London perspective. It has to pay for one, extra points if it covers two people :wink:

I suppose we should stipulate a minimum time duration as well (otherwise I will get Smarty Pants like TJ spending their 4 Macs equivalent in 10 mins and then trying to convince me that it is the quality and not the quantity :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol:

Any change left over has to be declared. The more change left over, the more 'points' :wink: :D

[pygmalion]

And one more clarification. Is this something you actually have to do and report on? If so, in what timeframe? (I have to find a suitable date for the things I have in mind ... :wink: :lol: )

[SDsalsaguy]

All I've got to say is that Pacion said a "pleasure/leisure activity" and that the ammount in question can cover the expense of a good ammount of chocolate sauce... :wink:

[pygmalion]

Chocolate sauce is only $2.59!! :shock: I win. :lol: :lol:

[Pacion]

:shock: Why do I get the impression that I was setup by Pygmalion and SD :roll: :lol:

Yes Pygmalion, it is supposed to be an actual event, and yes, it does have to be reported* :roll: otherwise, people will Google away/plan just sitting in front of their computer and where is the fun in that :lol:

* with the usual caveats applying :wink: :lol:

(Pygmalion, no candles :wink: )

[tj]

:shock: :lol: Fair question but a bit optimistic from a London perspective. It has to pay for one, extra points if it covers two people :wink:

I suppose we should stipulate a minimum time duration as well (otherwise I will get Smarty Pants like TJ spending their 4 Macs equivalent in 10 mins and then trying to convince me that it is the quality and not the quantity :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol:


True, true... I'd rather blow the whole thing on a single nice dinner date rather than 4 Big Macs...

Ok, seriously. How about hiking trips? I bet I could do that over several months and keep my expenses to water, the occasional sandwich/energy bar/snack, and gas to get there.

Oh and a confession (which has earned the enmity of several salseras in the past)... I play Fantasy Football with several friends back in Denver. It costs about $60 (yes, yes, I'm over, but this is from Sept to Dec), and keeps me entertained thru the entire season.l

[Pacion]

Hiking trips are acceptable TJ, check Reg. 9.32.85.14 :lol:

No, the activity (as a guide) has to last a minimum of 3 to 4 hrs and no more than a day :wink:

By all means TJ, spend the lot on a dinner date :wink: it doesn't matter what it is spent on, it is the most mileage for that outing/activity you can get out of it that counts (if you later discover that she is your long awaited love, that might get you bonus points but it depends on how generous I am feeling at the time :wink: :lol: )

I guess, what I am curious about is to see what is there that you can do in today's world that doesn't have to cost an arm and two legs AND increase your calorific intake 1,000 fold (for those who are thinking of the chocolate sauce idea :roll: :lol: )

Oh, oh, oh! One more rule/guideline is that even if someone else is treating you and therefore picking up all the bills, they can't spend more than the preset amount. That way, no Smarty Pants can say that they did such and such, it cost them zero therefore they won as they have "4 Big Mac Meals change left over" :roll: :headwall: :lol:

[SDsalsaguy]

I guess, what I am curious about is to see what is there that you can do in today's world that doesn't have to cost an arm and two legs AND increase your calorific intake 1,000 fold (for those who are thinking of the chocolate sauce idea :roll: :lol: )
Aside from your dubious mathematics I'd like to point out that there are reduced calorie/sugar chocolate sauces available for the diabetic/caloric-minded in our midst... :wink:

[Pacion]

:doh: It is called blatent exaggeration Dear Watson, I mean SD :lol:

(so leave my mathematics out of this :P )

The other thing is, because DF is so geographically/culturally diverse, I think it could be fun to see what other members can do in their part of the world for roughly the equivalent amount of money :D

[pygmalion]

So true, Pacion. 8) I have an agenda all planned out. Just gotta do it, before I report it. :wink: :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Ummm, I'm not sure my "agenda" can be reported... we do have younger members after all! :wink: :wink: :wink:

[Pacion]

:nope: you two! I am sure it will read something like:

We got the chocolate sauce out and [edit]. After that, we [edit, edit, edit] followed by [edit, edit, edit]. Not sure what else to do with the sauce, we [edit, edit, edit]. We debated storing it in some ice to keep it cool but we [edit, edit, edit] instead. :D

[pygmalion]

[edit, edit, edit!] :lol: :lol:

[MacMoto]

Do I have to include transport costs here? I was going to propose going to Edinburgh next Friday afternoon, before the Festival ends, wander along the Royal Mile, window shop and watch street performers (there are so many during the Festival you could hardly move!), look at the new parliament building (now almost complete!), maybe throw in a visit to one of the free galleries/museums, have a light meal at one of Italian cafes, then hit the "club with a tree" later for salsa (optional -- entry is free anyway :wink:). Easily doable for 20 pounds or less, but it costs me 7 quid to get there.
Pacion, I'm still waiting for your instruction -- reply before Friday morning, if you please, since this plan has to be put into action this Friday, before the Festival ends. I need to know if I'm allowed to have £27 in my purse when I set off or only £20.

If it makes any difference in your ruling on whether or not the travelling part is a leasure activity, the journey into Edinburgh takes 10 minutes on a bus + about 50 minutes on a train + waiting time of up to 40 minutes altogether, and I usually end up nodding off on the train as I listen to my favourite salsa CD for the 99th time...

[Pacion]

Hi MacMoto. Thanks for the enthusiasm! Okay, let me 'sleep on this'. Unless there are some other suggestions, I would say travel is included and £16 as a guide? Will try and find out the actual price of a Big Mac meal and then we can set the amounts.

If you make £16 last a whole day including a salsa venue :shock: :lol: then great :banana: It is the whole experience/outing that shouldn't cost more. :D (I hope this is clearer?)

So, for example, you know how we sometimes have a £1 fare to European cities :roll: then, if I were to do something like that, my whole £16 would have to get me to/from the city and not that I would do it but hitchhiking or what ever to get to my destination and back.

[tj]

Ok, so here's an example of what it costs to go into DC from here:

Parking at the Park & Ride (which goes by the silly name of Kiss & Ride or something like that): $.25 per hour.

Fares are $1-4 depending on distance and time of day/day of week.

So let's say 6 hours. $2 Fare each way. Maybe a museum (it's free) (http://www.nasm.si.edu/) or something similar. Go get lunch. $10-15

Total cost would be around $20.

Something else I used to do (back when I had season tix) - hockey games. Parking was $10 & tickets were $35 each. So splitting the cost 50/50 would put me at our $40 limit. Baseball games are usually a lot cheaper (since there are 81 home games per season). In Denver, the cheap seats (called the Rockpile) were something <$5 if I remember right. So that, plus parking $5, plus food/beer $15, will keep you well under the limit. (Totals to around $20-30.)

[tj]

Another cheap activity is to go to the local Public Library. Taking advantage of the free Internet access plus all of the other resources, one could easily spend 3-4 hours if you wish.

Talking about 3-4 hours... there's this one buddy of mine that is a *really* slow eater. We were in Bonaire, enjoying a nice dinner out on the patio of a restaurant, having dinner and drinks. Ended up taking like 3 hours to eat! :shock: But that came out to be only about $20.

[MacMoto]

Hi MacMoto. Thanks for the enthusiasm!
Well, I was thinking about going to Edinburgh on Friday anyway :wink:. The weather may put a stop to the plan though... It's not looking very promising at the moment.

I would say travel is included and £16 as a guide? Will try and find out the actual price of a Big Mac meal and then we can set the amounts.

If you make £16 last a whole day including a salsa venue :shock: :lol: then great :banana: It is the whole experience/outing that shouldn't cost more. :D (I hope this is clearer?)
Okay, so I have to rethink on the italian cafe idea... cheaper nosh required. There's always the Big Mac meal I suppose (yuk!)... :(

you know how we sometimes have a £1 fare to European cities :roll:
Before tax :roll:. After tax your £16 is already gone... :lol:

[Pacion]

Before tax :roll:. After tax your £16 is already gone... :lol:

Try Ryanair :wink: sometimes their £1 fares include the taxes :shock: The only problem is that these budget airlines tend to fly to the lesser airports which may be some distance from the actually city itself and the flight might get in very late at night - after the buses/trains have stopped :roll: So, by the time you get into the city, the remaining £15 might be used up :? that is assuming someone gave you a lift to the originating airport :roll:

[Pacion]

Just posted this in the Events Forum:

--Sep 19: South Street Sea Port, New York, NY: Spanish Harlem
Orchestra.

Got the above in an email. There was no further information. South Street Sea Port events are free so this could be a great opportunity to hear them play. :D :banana: :D

Hmm, if I were in NY that weekend, I think I could do this, buy a drink or three, possible have lunch or dinner and still be within my 4x Big Mac equivalent :lol:

No, the cost of my flight over to NY would not be included as I would be there already for the weekend anyway :wink:

[MacMoto]

September should be a good month for the 4x Big Mac challenge in Scotland -- the "Doors Open Days (http://www.doorsopendays.org.uk)" every weekend. You get into participating historical buildings for free, many with guided tours and lectures thrown in. Some of the buildings are not normally open to public, so this is the only chance to see inside. Last year I visited 4 buildings in my town one afternoon.

I believe this is part of the European Heritage Days, and other European countries are doing similar things this month?

[MacMoto]

No, the cost of my flight over to NY would not be included as I would be there already for the weekend anyway :wink:
And you happen to be staying near South Street Seaport so it doesn't cost much to get there from your hotel? :eyebrow:

[Pacion]

No, the cost of my flight over to NY would not be included as I would be there already for the weekend anyway :wink:
And you happen to be staying near South Street Seaport so it doesn't cost much to get there from your hotel? :eyebrow:

:oops: Actually, :oops: :oops: :oops: as it so happens, my friend (who I stay with when I go over) lives just around the corner from South Street Seaport, so its a five minute walk :lol: :banana: so it wouldn't cost me anything, other than calories, to get there :lol:

[Pacion]

Hmmmmm. Have been thinking about this challenge recently. Given the increases in prices over the last four (!) years, may have to amended the amount to £40!

[etp777]

25KD (with taxes) round trip plane ticket to Dubai from Kuwait.

Love it, 1KD each way for ticket, 13 and 10Kd respectively tax on the flights.

Course, KD is most valuable currency around, along with the Oman Dinar(think they call it Dinar).

[Pacion]

25KD (with taxes) round trip plane ticket to Dubai from Kuwait.

Love it, 1KD each way for ticket, 13 and 10Kd respectively tax on the flights.


:shock: :lol: Glad to see that here in the UK, we are not the only ones who can get basically give away prices for flights but then pay a huge amount in taxes! :nope: Really crazy, when one thinks about it.