There were many an economist who spoke out against Ireland adopting the Euro and jettisoning the Pound. Sure enough, when the Eurozone went into freefall and the Euro began to sink, many called for the reintroduction of the old Pound.

After all, the Pound has serious buying power for many of us back in the day. You could live well on a pound if you were only a gossun.

Here's just a small sampling of what you could pick up...

 

1. BAG OF CHIPS (WITH BATTERED SAUSAGE)

Nice and salty, you could get yourself a decent-sized bag of chips for one pound. Depending on the chipper you went to, you could even get yourself an optional battered sausage to compliment your savoury feast.

 

2. A BUS TO ALMOST ANYWHERE

Heading to Dublin from South Kerry? That'll be a pound please. Headed up the road to your girlfriend's house because her parents are away? One pound.

 

3. THE FIRST ISSUE OF A COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINE

Collectible magazines definitely took their business model from drug dealers. We'll give the first issue of Make Your Own Fighter Jet for just one pound. Oh, you want the next one? That'll be £5.50. CHRIST.

 

4. 10 CIGARETTES

Not in singles, mind. Oh yes, if you were headed to the local teenage disco and you needed to look cool, buying a ten-pack of cigarettes was the way to go. Of course, when you're 29, unable to do a push-up without wheezingand cursing the fact you took up smoking like an idiotic teenager, you won't think you're so cool.

 

5. A BUCKET OF ARMY MEN

Seriously, these things were sharp. If you stepped on one of these, you could seriously mess yourself up. And, y'know, if the dog ate them, he was going straight to the vet. And you'd be in trouble. Probably not the wisest choice on this list.

 

6. SMASH HITS! / SHOOT / MATCH / BUNTY / JUST SEVENTEEN

You'd migrated from Dandy / Beano to proper magazines. Plus, the pull-out posters from Smash Hits! and Shoot were a gift onto themselves. And, if you were creative, you could get a scissors and make a collage of Eric Cantona or Dieter Brumner for your corkboard.

 

7. TEN 10P BAGS OF CRISPS

Meanies. Banshee Bones. Burger Bites. Chickatees. Snax Or you could just cut loose and buy two bags of McCoy's Crisps. They were pricey, but they were totally worth it.

 

8. RENT A VIDEO / VIDEOGAME

This was a total Summer Holidays treat. For £1, you could rent Super Street Fighter II Turbo and try clear it in a day. Or run the risk of late charges.

 

9. TEN 10P LUCKY BAGS

You really were rolling the dice when it came to lucky bags. It could be get a Rolo, some kind of Cola Bottle or Sherbert - or some kind of gone-off Freddo Frog. Yuck.

 

10. ABOUT FOUR PREMIER LEAGUE STICKER PACKS

Have. Have. Have. Have. Don't have. Have. Have. Have. Don't have. Don't have. Don't have. Have.