The real cost of friendship

There are some things in life one just cannot put a price on. But that hasn’t stopped people trying. According to a new piece of what we refuse to call “research” the cost of a great friendship has been identified.

Apparently, the cost of birthday presents, visits and nights out really does tot up. Over the years, for example, birthday presents can end up costing almost £3,500, while travel costs can tot up to more than £21,000.

Other expenditures, including £200 spent offering support during relationship break-ups, bring the total “cost” of a lifetime of friendship to a chunky £26,558.

We’re not entirely sure what purpose these revelations serve. Are people expected to cut back on what they spend to visit friends? Are they to consider smaller gifts in future?

As far as we are concerned, these findings are complete nonsense.

Yes, we might buy gifts for friends and yes we might shell out a fair chunk visiting them but none of these can surely be considered costs? The simple truth is that real friendship is both free and worth more than all the money in the world.