h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

First rip-off:

I'm paying for a phone connection I have no way of using because I no longer live where that service is available, but when they so kindly told me that I could switch to their lower-priced package they failed to mention it would extend my contract by two years That's 40€ per month!

Second rip-off:

The German rail system, ever since it was privatised. The prices are ridiculous, the trains are always late, and the service is lousy. Rather than try to get more people on the trains, they try to milk the remaining few passengers for all they're worth.

Value: Mohammed said that any money spent on a horse was an alms directly to God. I've certainly never regretted time spent around horses, even if I do have to pay for the privilege...

And since everyone's being so negative about utility bills - clean water is an extremely precious commodity, and higher unit prices just mean less of it is wasted. It's easy to complain when you have it!

Oooh, more good purchases: clutch pencils with 2B leads and that little sharpener that goes round and round and round, proper boots, musical instruments, and the happiness-in-a-bar called dark chocolate