@Sandy68......Now you’re talking, there is nothing like a FEB!!! I learned a lot about hosting from my time in England.
You Poms do it to perfection, but you always did...... and I guess I try to emulate you a bit.
I do tend to go overboard with what I offer. The fridge in the guest cottage is stocked with fruit juice, bacon and 3 eggs (someone is always greedier than their partner), two yoghurts, two tubs of fruit, a beautiful local Brie cheese, a golden ale beer and a dry cider, milk, both full cream and skim, a plate of butter, and a pâtes. Whatever is in that fridge is yours to enjoy....no charge! I also offer cracker biscuits (for the Pate and Cheese) two cereals, a selection of Beerenberg jams, bread for toasting, the obligatory Vegemite (which Australians hate) three different teas and three coffees and a bowl of the best fruit I can find in my area!! Every bit of this is included in what the guest has paid.....I don't charge extras!
The standard comment is...."How on earth can you provide this and still make something out of it"
You have to shop judiciously. I buy a large carton of Lindts chocolates from Aldi when they are on super special. Every guest gets one on each of their bedside tables at night. The beer and cider I will buy when Dan Murphys have a door buster carton special! The bread is always on special for $1.00 a loaf somewhere in the area. I have a great relationship with the Paech family who own Beerenberg...the jams cost me nothing!! I buy a four pack of full size Dove moisturising soap from 'Cheap as Chips' for $2.00 (50c a cake) so every guest, even overnighters get a new full size cake of decent soap!!
I buy everything at the right price, I have set myself a budget, and what I include for every booking would never cost me more than $8.00 AU in total....that generally equates to $4.00 per guest. You might say 'more fool you' but read my reviews, it really does pay off. On top of that, for longer stay guests I love to cook the odd meal, and this has been described on another section of the forum, (Salmon Wellington, Chicken and Leak pies, Risotto)....
Yeah, it is going overboard but, I firmly believe that people come to a hosting site to be 'Hosted' and by God, that is what I do, and that is why, despite my humble level of accommodation in an out of the way area, I am a Superhost!!!!
Cheers.....Rob