Journal 61

What did you think of the latest Journal?
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Rob Houghton »

Daisy wrote:There is no reason why anyone should not pay over the odds if they so desire, as Rob has indicated. Even a small extra amount would, I'm sure, help to balance the books!
I agree - I'm happy to pay a bit more, as I think The Journal is worth every penny. :-D If people want to pay £15 or £20 or even £25 a year, there's nothing stopping them! 8)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Tony Summerfield
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Tony Summerfield »

Interesting to read all the posts about increasing the UK subscription, but it is always a difficult decision to make. I had to increase the overseas subs as I was actually making a loss on every Journal I sent out, but that had quite an effect/affect (!!) as we lost many overseas subscribers. I have sent out every Journal since our first issue, and this was the first time that I didn't send any to Canada - there were four subscribers for Journal 60 but none of them resubcribed for 61. We lose 40 or 50 members with every resubcription. This time the numbers stayed up as 24 Old members came back (some who hadn't had a Journal for several years, but none asked for any back issues) as well as the same number of new members.

There are already regular forum posters who feel that they can't afford the current £10 (20p a week!) and I am certain that any UK price increase would simply send more away. Obviously if Royal Mail increased UK postage prices heavily I would have to do something about it, but whilst we can still break even I prefer to leave it at £10.

I should add here that a few generous people already send more than the subscription price for which I am very grateful. no names mentioned but they know who they are and they're (I couldn't resist putting that in bold for the benefit of a forumite who isn't a subscriber so probably won't see this anyway!) helping to keep us in business - but this certainly isn't meant as a hint! :D
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Chrissie777
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Chrissie777 »

Tony Summerfield wrote:There are already regular forum posters who feel that they can't afford the current £10 (20p a week!) and I am certain that any UK price increase would simply send more away. Obviously if Royal Mail increased UK postage prices heavily I would have to do something about it, but whilst we can still break even I prefer to leave it at £10.
Exactly, it's only 20p a week. No big deal! :roll:
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Carlotta King
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Carlotta King »

It is to me. :)

My weekly budget is £50 and that has to cover food for the week, cat supplies, electricity for the week, landline phone, water for the week, household supplies (toiletries, cleaning etc) and council tax.
Most people couldn't do that. Most people spend £50 on one night out, let alone making it last for a week's living.

I dont have a contract mobile phone, nor do I have a fancy TV package like Sky.

So when I claim not to be able to afford the journal I genuinely mean it. I never have the luxury of a spare £10 to subscribe to the journal.
I agree it is definitely great value in the broad scheme of things but £10 is a fifth of my budget.
20p a week sounds like nothing and it isn't, but because I never have £10 spare I would literally have to put the 20p aside every week which means I'd have to save for a whole year to afford the journal for the next year.

I'm not having a go at you Chrissie, you're my friend xx
I'm just explaining to everyone.
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"

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sixret
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Re: Journal 61

Post by sixret »

Thank you for the explanation, Cathy.
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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Chrissie777
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Chrissie777 »

Carlotta King wrote:It is to me. :)
I'm not having a go at you Chrissie, you're my friend xx
I'm just explaining to everyone.
Dear Carlotta, good to hear from you!
No, I wouldn't have interpreted it a go at me. You're my friend. :D
And I never meant to hurt your feelings with my remarks.
Please don't take me too serious. :oops:
Chrissie

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Rob Houghton
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Rob Houghton »

I acknowledge there are indeed some people who struggle to pay £10 a year - but there's nothing stopping others from sending more if they can, as has been said earlier. Just because the fee hasn't gone up doesn't mean people can't donate more if they so wish.

I must say, Carlotta - you seem to be doing a good job of budgeting each week - brilliant in fact - as you say, many would think nothing of spending that much on a night out! :D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Carlotta King
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Carlotta King »

Thanks sixret and Chrissie, no don't worry you didn't hurt my feelings at all! :)
Rob Houghton wrote:I must say, Carlotta - you seem to be doing a good job of budgeting each week - brilliant in fact - as you say, many would think nothing of spending that much on a night out! :D
Haha thanks Rob, you just learn how to! :)

I've not used my heating for four years - my limit for electricity is £2 per day and that just covers my shower, my fan oven, and wall sockets for charging phone etc, and boiling kettles. If I used any more I'd have no money left! :lol:

I don't think twice about any of it really (except when people come round and exclaim how cold it is and that there's no big fancy meals, then I remember how differently we live!), but we're quite comfortable apart from when its below zero and that doesn't happen very often here! Its 14° today! :)
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"

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Rob Houghton
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Rob Houghton »

My dad has always been very good at budgeting and we have never had central heating. I'm quite used to living in a house where only one room is heated. I think people are amazed we don't have central heating - and don't have double glazing either - so we are quite hardy!! I've always been used to turning lights off when leaving a room, and shutting doors to keep heat in. We do have electric blankets though. I'd rather have a warm bed and a cool bedroom. :-) We eat fairly cheaply too, and neither of us really drink (my dad not at all) so I guess you might say we're quite frugal!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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sixret
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Re: Journal 61

Post by sixret »

I have been fascinated by the frugal living. I don't buy lavish things except books. I love being frugal in some parts of my spending budgets.
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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Rob Houghton
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Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Journal 61

Post by Rob Houghton »

I'm very similar! I spend more money on books than most other things, as they are my enjoyment. :-D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Lucky Star
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Lucky Star »

Rob Houghton wrote: I've always been used to turning lights off when leaving a room, and shutting doors to keep heat in. We do have electric blankets though. I'd rather have a warm bed and a cool bedroom. :-)
I am very similar. I rarely use my heating, really only if it's freezing in fact. It absolutely eats money. I don't have an electric blanket though, I use an old fashioned hot water bottle. Nightlong warmth for the price of boiling the kettle. :D
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero

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Chrissie777
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Chrissie777 »

We don't start heating before mid to end of November and run the heat as low as possible (62 Fahrenheit), rather put on a sweater and keep the head cool.

I'm the same. I always spent more money on books than on fashion. Books make me happy, fashion can't.
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

We also rarely put the heating on. Not only is it expensive, but it worsens my skin condition. Besides, we Blytonians have to toughen ourselves up as we never know when we might find ourselves falling into adventure! :wink:
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Rob Houghton
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Re: Journal 61

Post by Rob Houghton »

This is true! We haven't quite resorted to torches or candle light, but we are of course well prepared! ;-)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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