Things you could afford but choose not to spend on?

Jewellry, (apart from costume jewellry), expensive make up and beauty products, takeaways (they used to always disappoint) and also begrudge paying coffee shop prices. (I have a friend who regularly buys a £5 coffee and leaves half of it.

A second car. We work from home, why do we both need a car. We can very easily plan around each other for the one we have

I had a facial once. I lay there thinking “children are starving around the world and here’s me paying to get my face washed”

It was little more than an attempt to get me to buy ridiculously expensive face lotions and potions.

M&S food.

I really don’t get the whole “nail art” thing either. Just as well as I have an allotment . Factor in the horrible fumes in the salons, plus the questionable employment practices of the whole industry.

No long haul holidays? A whole world outside of Europe exists you know.

Getting my nails done, make up, posh car, overseas holidays

Fashion. Obviously I buy clothes as and when I need them but I have no interest in wearing anything to be 'on trend'. It's bonkers to me that people will wear impractical and unflattering clothes so they can look/feel like everyone else.

A gym membership - we have weights/equipment at home and it saves an extra 30-60 minutes of fagfing about driving, changing etc.

Beauty treatments - having hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails etc. done are so far down the priority list that they have fallen off the bottom.

New clothes - much prefer a Vinted bargain.

New furniture - secondhand vintage tends to be much better made and there are lots of charity shop/marketplace bargains around.

Everything! I chose mostly to put everything extra into savings with the intention of retiring early. It was a risk, no one knows their lifespan, but it was worth it.

New phone and macbook. Mine are 5 and 9 years old - and the 5 year old phone was free from the Apple store when they broke my
much older one trying to change the battery, so the last phone I paid for was an iphone 6.

Nails and any form of facial treatment.

Spa days etc

Newer car - nothing wrong with my ten year old Fiesta.

What do I spend on? Travel.

Inspired by something that just popped up on my FB...

Those day beach clubs that cost hundreds of euros minimum to get in.

Oh yes and I can cook better than cheap to mid range restaurants so eating out / takeaway is usually reserved for when it works for situations rather than habitually (except fish and chips that you can’t beat) similarly I make better coffee, so that we have at home

Cleaner - dh is retired so he does it mostly, new cars, nothing wrong with the ones we have, fancy things more generally, happy with what we have

New cars. Never had one and could easily afford but seems a waste of money and I’m not interested in the status value.

Double glazing. It looks horrible and I don’t want to lose my lovely stained glass. I’m sure it would make my house warmer but I’m willing to suffer.

Getting nails done. Don’t see the point and they would probably last 5 minutes on me. I do get my hair done regularly but don’t dye it as I don’t want to be caught in a maintenance trap.

Like a previous poster I’m not interested in eating out at mid range restaurants as I can often cook much better at home.

New cars, have literally never had a new car or a car on finance.
Plastic surgery.
New tech that I don’t need- yes that means you Alexa.
Private school fees.
False nails- I think I have a sensory aversion and I play a musical instrument which makes it impossible to wear them when I am practising.
Food out at “mid” restaurants- although this is mainly because I’ve had too many shitty meals which I would have cooked better at home!

What I will spend money on-
Good quality second hand cars which are well made, not gimmicky and nice to drive.
Veg box and milkman.
Nice gin and tonic.
Fortnightly cleaner.
Eco cleaning products- firmly believe that bleach etc is terrible for your health and we also have a septic tank.
Food at restaurants which I know are good or which I would never do at home (Hot Pot/ sushi).
Framing pictures that remind me of places/ I’ve bought on holiday.
Good quality coffee including coffee out.
Musical instruments/ hobbies.
Plants and stuff for the garden.
Making my house look nice including some seasonal decorations.
Holidays- have had a lovely few domestic holidays this year and planning a trip somewhere hot next winter.
Activities for my kids which keep them off you tube and make me feel like a competent parent- we have a non negotiable list of swimming lessons to stage 6 (at least), one instrument, and a physical or group activity which costs a fortune!
Tickets for interesting things, I’ve seen some amazing theatre stuff, but also other quirky things with my kids like a bat walk, moth walk, bug lab, paddleboarding, playing curling, kayaking etc.

I’m very sorry for your loss of your beloved daughter. 💐

High heels….cant walk in them
designer sunglasses…why?
Nescafé coffee…Sainsbury’s tastes just the same

This is so true isn't it. Once you can buy things many times over they become much less desirable. I was want want want when I was younger and perpetually skint, now I can buy anything I want within reason and no longer have any desire to do so!

What makes you use the expression 'stuff their faces' about eating snacks?
Food shaming is not cool.

From cheapest to most expensive:
Throw-away fashion - I'd rather buy good quality second hand.
Coffees out - such a ridiculously high mark up
Brands when own brands are just as good
Fake nails - hate the feel
Designer leisurewear and handbags
A gardener - tho' I would love a complete makeover if I could afford it
Cruises - just yuck
New cars - my 13 year old hybrid does me just fine.

I don't understand why people have to stuff their faces while they're watching a film or show.
Apart from the facet I've never felt the need the prices are extortionate.

I love going to the cinema and theatre but I'm not really into the snacks element. Popcorn is meh and smells pretty nasty. With theatre tickets, our local theatre costs £23-7, £39-45, £55-59. I'd rather buy the cheap tickets and go more often.

A car
A tumble drier

The former is both idealogical and based on our mutual dislike of driving. The latter has something to do with space in our quirky cottage and also that when we lived in a flat and had one, I found the idea of the very long drying cycles a bit weird.

Another one for me is branded supermarket items. There are only a few things I believe the more expensive version is better, and I will spend money on the following:

1. Good bread
2. Tinned Tomatoes
3. Red Wine
4. Chocolate
5. Grapes (this is a bit niche to me though I fear)
6. Fats (Butter/Olive Oil)

Everything else I get the essentials version of.