Living costs

We had a little concern before moving here that we were going to find the cost of living a lot higher on a Scottish island than in the south east.

We are not buying clothes or furniture - neither of which are available much on the island anyway - so we are not bothered by how much they may cost.

Some things are dearer - for example, diesel for our vehicles is at least 5p per litre more than at the supermarket in Sittingbourne where we used to buy it.  

Some courier companies look on Skye as not being mainland Britain (in spite of our toll free bridge) so won't deliver internet ordered goods here. However, Argos are happy to deliver for their country-wide charge of £5.00.

And I came out of the Co-op in Portree the other day with a fresh cabbage, half a swede, six tomatoes and a pot of cress having spent the grand total of 59p - special offers and 'mark downs' happen here just as much as anywhere else, and generally supermarket food prices are no higher than Kent. Another bonus - most of the fresh produce is Scottish sourced, so actually tastes better than the supermarket veg we used to buy.