Mumsnet Talk

For me, it's nice perfume. I long for Jo Malone and Penhaligon.

What's yours?

Having to think about where we drive.

Gone are the days where we just decide to pop out for an hour or so.

This morning we were going to drive 10 miles to a near seaside town for a walk along the prom but then decided we wouldnt because of the petrol cost.

Its stuff like that I miss. There are lots of things we have given up or now go without but its the sponteniety of trips out like that I really miss.

Fresh flowers in the house.....

Not so much the recession, but fuel prices. We used to think nothing of driving down to the coast (40 miles) after work to have dinner on the seafront - admittedly this was before we had kids.

Now I really think carefully about how many miles we do in the car, largely because of the price of fuel.

Fresh flowers. Yes. I miss that too. Spring is good though because daffodils can be afforded. Well, they could last year. But flowers like lillies. Not any more.

I miss the ability to see something nice in a shop, not overlyexpensive, and being able to think "I'm going to buy it." Specifically perfume, make-up, clothes, boots.
More than anything though, I miss being able to go for a drive just for the sake of it. Call me a bit strange but I love driving out into the country, just on my own, then stopping for a quiet drink/meal in a country pub with a book. I have to keep a MASSIVE eye on my petrol now so it's just not possible.
Very depressing - I feel like I work my arse off just to exist. I certainly don't have any kind of lifestyle! Sorry for the rant!

Definitely going for a drive. Or anywhere unnecessary really.

We used to go to the beach or even just to see the planes landing at the airport.

We dont do so much just for fun. We live right in the city centre so not much outdoorsy stuff. But we are lucky to have free museum practically on our doorstep.

For me I miss regular hair cut, eyebrow waxing and decent clothes.

Buying new clothes online (I was one of Johnny Boden's best customers). Need some new jeans? Top for a night out? Shoes for work? Pop online, pick something out and it's here a few days later. Now it's supermarkets with the DC... i've tried eBay but have given up after a few really poor quality/ shrunken/ stained 'bargains'. I know Asda and Tesco do online clothes, but tbh, I don't really like them.

Petrol: I agree with many others, having to think about going any distance - such as to the coast or driving up north to see family -it's expensive

Going to London: The cost of the train is now £24 for me (without a travel pass!), added to all the other expenses it makes a day up there expensive.

Petrol - agree about loss of spontaneous fun trips out

Coffee in coffee shops - now I wait till I get home.

Magazines - just can't justify the expense.

Hair dye - gave up partly due to the costs although I had other reasons too.

The gym

Agree about petrol as well. We have less days out outside the local area now

The gym

Agree about petrol as well. We have less days out outside the local area now

I had to get rid of the gym membership too. I really miss it.

shoes, regular haircut and colour (nearly 2 years since it was done) and buying books just because I wanted to.

Buying books. Just browsing round Waterstones with the children. Buying what we fancied. Gulp! Suddenly feel a bit tearful. Shouldn't have started this thread.

Eating out

Oh yes to buying books as well. I felt loadef the one day I was able to go into Waterstones and buy whatever I liked the look of.

Meat - we've cut back drastically.
Magazines.
Books.
Days out.
Clothes (except for the children).

Eating out and holidays. I really want to take my kids travelling and I feel so bad that I can't.

Not being able to but things without really thinking. e.g. see a pair of shoes, buy them without wondering if I need them, what they'll go with etc. Strangely though I enjoy that too. I enjoy having to think about what I buy and the "virtuousness" of being less wasteful.

I gave up my perfume habit and don't miss it at all - can't actually believe the amount of money I used to spend on it.

Organic eggs. I feel guilty everytime I buy cheap ones, but we get through loads and it just can't be done anymore. (Dc go to school on an 2 eggs each everyday)

nfk - I was looking forward to the appearance of daffs in the shops this year. The only ones I've seen this year were £2 a bunch, I'm sure they were £1 last year. Hopefully they carried a premium because they were first and my cheap flowers will be back soon.

Yes and petrol - I used to think going to the beach was "free"

Holidays, from 3-4 a year down to a well researched single one.

Clothes for me, fresh flowers, ground coffee, magazines.

Decent moisturiser. Guerlain midnight secret to an Avon one. It still does the job, but I miss the Guerlain one.

Oh and takeaways / pub lunches etc. Not hugely regularly but we're down to very occasional fish and chips, which isn't the same.

My gym membership and especially being able to go 4 a morning swim in their beautiful clean pool (sad)

Nice haircuts, holidays, spontaneous meals out. Loads actually.

Oh yes, gym membership went too.