Having to Think & the Benefits of Rugby!

I have noticed the biggest change I have had to make already is the need to think and plan. I have wanted life to be as near to normal as possible during this period so a Saturday for me is playing rugby for my local club. I have played for 27 years at the club and mostly never thought about the expenses incurred. Today would be different. In fact by thinking and planning it turned out rather well! The normal ‘match fee’ is £6 which suddenly on £5 a day looks slightly overwhelming. Of course we have a £3 unwaged category which looked better but still quite a chunk out of my allowance for the day. I didn’t want my world to stop doing Simplify so I bit the bullet and went for it. I then discovered a whole range of benefits and ways to reduce the costs. I didn’t know that whoever agrees to take the shirts home to wash was let off the match fee. So suddenly at the end of the game it had been free. However, I had to make a snap decision and was trying to work out the cost in materials and energy of washing 16 shirts. I still don’t know if I have saved money in the long run!? Then of course it is still traditional in rugby to provide the away team with a post match ‘meal’. Some clubs are better than others and today it was a strange mix of curry & chips. Not quite the healthiest meal but very welcome as it was now free. I did buy a post match drink – Blackcurrent and lemonade costing £1.50. If I had not made the saving on the match fee I may have had to miss out on this ‘luxury’. Fortunately I don’t drink alcohol very often so I won’t miss this aspect of life. SO I got home quite pleased with myself on a day I thought I would be over budget. I had a day out for £1.50 and had played rugby, spent time with friends and eaten a hot meal. Unfortunately it still mans I have 16 shirts to wash – but at least at this stage of the season they are not very muddy. However, I did come away realising the cost of my normal Saturday rugby treat. I managed to hide from the customary raffle that takes place. Suddenly the £1 seemed very precious to me. I will be looking through the fixture list with a different slant for the rest of the month – away games now mean free hot meals!