My friend Maggie has a theory about money. Once when she had to go and buy an iron, she was shocked to discover that it cost, like, $50. She blanched at the idea of spending $50 on an iron despite the fact she would be using the iron EVERY DAY for many years.

This is the same woman who routinely drops $500 on a pair of shoes she may wear a dozen times IN A YEAR. That’s when she realised not all dollars have equal value. Iron-Dollars feel far more expensive than Shoe-Dollars. I’m going to go further…….

You see, I really need to buy socks. All of my socks seem to be single parents….none of them have mates. But I’ve been putting this off for months because BUYING SOCKS IS SO DAMN BORING AND I CANNOT BEAR TO SPEND A SINGLE CENT ON THEM. The thought of getting into my car and going to a shop and standing in an aisle and looking at all the different socks and then choosing – ARGH!!! I’m so bored I can’t even bear to type it let alone do it.

And the fact they cost money? Well, this is plainly outrageous. How can I hand over my hard-earned cash for something as boring as a bloody sock? I resent it. Socks should be free.

When I twittered about this the other night, I inadvertently started a game: What Else Is So Boring It Should Be Free?

Here is my list. Feel free to add your own below or on Twitter under #shouldbefree:

1. SOCKS

2.

TWEEZERS

3. CLOTHES PEGS

4. CAR TYRES

5. STATIONERY (staples, scissors & sticky tape)

6.

T

AMPONS

7. BATH PLUGS

8. ANY KIND OF CARTRIDGE

9. DOOR STOPS

10. SPONGES

11. TISSUES & TOILET PAPER

12. SHOELACES