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What do you do without which other people think are essential?

96 replies

ExtraPineappleExtraHam · 04/08/2017 17:19

My other thread got me thinking about budgeting and what cut backs I can make. I wondered if there's anything mumsnet-ers do without which lots of other people view as a necessity. Mine for example are:
Professional hair care (cuts, colour)
Manicures/pedicures
Fabric conditioner
New clothes for myself and dp

OP posts:
YoungBritishPissArtist · 04/08/2017 18:14

Buying coffees, lunches and snacks when out. I've stopped doing it completely and it's shocked me how much the people around me spend daily! Shock

lljkk · 04/08/2017 19:44

Having a stand alone freezer. And I'm convinced most people use theirs wastefully/could manage without.
Bleach.
A handbag.
Things that women refer to as their "maintenance"
Fags... Grin

GoldenWondering · 04/08/2017 19:48

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

OrphanAccount · 04/08/2017 19:53

Makeup. I hardly ever wear it and if I do, stuff from Poundland does the job fine.
Naice shampoo/conditioner/moisturiser. I buy Lidl's own brand and it's fine.
'Proper' haircuts. My aunt does mine twice a year or so.
Takeaways. Have one perhaps once or twice a year. I prefer to cook.

fuckoffdailysnail · 04/08/2017 20:36

Face wipes, I just use baby wipes
All different kinds of cleaning products, I buy washing up liquid, multi use cleaner and bleach and that's it

WhySunShines · 04/08/2017 20:42

Maybe not what you are looking for but all my friends have 2 cars. They think it's a necessity without considering alternatives

MeanAger · 04/08/2017 20:48

Tumble drier
Fruit
Coffee

woollyminded · 04/08/2017 20:49

Same as really. We share one car, I have two or three cleaning products (unbranded) that do pretty much all the jobs, haircut twice a year and don't have salon treatments. Don't do those sorts of 'big' holidays every year like skiing or hotels at the beach, I do have lots of holidays mind you, but just that they don't cost £££. If clothes still look nice I still wear them - I don't 'refresh' my wardrobe with the season.

NotAPuffin · 04/08/2017 20:51

Makeup, hair stuff, nails. I don't see it as doing without, I've just never been interested.

Going out. We don't do meals out, nights out, any of that sort of thing. We're shockin' boring.

yikesanotherbooboo · 04/08/2017 21:34

Tumble drier
Waxing/ depilation in general
Takeaways
New clothes for small children
Paid haircuts for small children
More than one pair of shoes plus trainers for children of any age
Nails/ eyebrows
Microwave
Multiple handbags

gillybeanz · 04/08/2017 21:39

Meals out/ unless special ocassion
Take aways
Processed shit ready meals Grin
Dishwasher
Holiday abroad
New or newish car
Any beauty treatment
regular haircuts/ usually one per year at most
Beauty products/ make up
fabric conditioner/ other washing products other than wp obviously.
car wash, valet
suits/ clothes that require dry clean only

Maybe lots more as we are frugal.

InDubiousBattle · 04/08/2017 21:43

A car
Fancy hair cuts/waxing/nails (to be fair I could be a millionaire and still hate that stuff!)
Foreign holidays
Smart phone
I also don't really care about shampoo and conditioner. I tried some expensive ones in my twenties and soon went back to pound land stuff.

Equimum · 05/08/2017 10:07

Make-up
Salon beauty treatments
New/ premium cars
Regular clothes purchases

Abra1d · 05/08/2017 10:11

Salon beauty treatments or nail treatments
Most clothes are hung out to dry, tumble dryer only used if essential
New clothes each season unless replacements are needed or special occasions require them
Car valeting
Car washes unless cars too dirty to want to do this
Cleaning help in the house
Gardening help

Both the last two regarded as standard in our neighbourhood,

BroomstickOfLove · 05/08/2017 10:12

Most of the things listed already.

A car.

IdentifiesAsASloth · 05/08/2017 10:17

Paying for television

Gooseberrycrumble4 · 05/08/2017 10:25

Window cleaner
Anything name brand

easternway · 05/08/2017 10:35

Car
Haircuts
Manicures, waxing, tanning
TV Licence/Sky
Tumble dryer
Cleaner
Takeout coffees
Branded groceries
Ipad/android tablet
Paying for books, music, films
Shop-bought lunches
House with a garden
Childcare
Expensive work clothes
Expensive toiletries/skincare
Cigarettes
Alcohol

specialsubject · 05/08/2017 14:37

Handbag - annoying clutter
Makeup - stinky gooey muck that makes me look older and ridiculous.
Fiddly vampire nails - I do stuff, so no ta
New clothes - hate shopping.
Hair removal - have a bic razor and tweezers. All else would really hurt so no.

Actually having any of these would be the hardship!

Annual indulgence in major hair surgery though, as my natural frizzball isn't what I choose.

Passthecake30 · 05/08/2017 23:46

Manicures, gin, coffee, lots of shoes, foundation and a cleaner. Everyone seems to have a cleaner these days...!

NormaSmuff · 05/08/2017 23:52

meals out - unless special occasion
coffees out ditto
holiday abroad
ready meals
posh rice
bought lunch from canteen (bring my own)
window cleaner

Cookie79 · 06/08/2017 08:51

A second car - we have 1 car which I use for work. DH has a works van which can only be used for work.

Occasionally we think another car would be nice but the 2-3 times a month it'd come in handy just doesn't justify the cost of running another car.

We do get looked at like we've got 2 heads sometimes though off some of my friends who just can't understand it Grin

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CremeEggThief · 06/08/2017 13:16

A car.
A bicycle.
Meat/fish.
An iron.
A hairdryer and any hair tools, apart from a comb.
Tea towels.
Most make-up (I have a concealer stick, powder and a couple of lipsticks I replace every year or 2).
Owning more than 1 bottle of scent at a time.
A slow cooker.

Running to the shops to replace something as soon as I've run out, instead of waiting a until my main shop is planned; except for milk, bread, toilet roll and washing up liquid.

bigmac4me · 11/08/2017 03:37

A smart phone
A car (still have my DHs)
Hairdressers

buggerthebotox · 11/08/2017 03:49

A dishwasher.
A cleaner.
Ready meals
Rice in a packet that you microwave.
A microwave!
Expensive make-up.
Take out coffees.
Multiple shoes for kids. One pair is sufficient.
Foreign holidays. I'm on one atm but first for 17 years.
Prescription glasses. Mine are £6 for two.
"Activities" . What's wrong with the park?
Tutors.

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