Things you could afford but choose not to spend on?

New/better clothes. I generally have leggings from a British made, female owned business and T-shirts from vinted.
Weve come away on holiday and before we came, we spent about 6 weekends trying to find clothes for all 4 of us that would last the Spanish sun! I ended up on vinted for the kids shirts and my husband Amazon-ed T-shirts in the end. That’s how bad we are for wearing old clothes!!

Mani pedis. I do them myself.
Takeaway coffee.
New phones. Keep mine until they’re dead.
Gym membership. Bought some dumbbells and do online classes now.

A lot of it is more about choices though which I find a little less interesting: e.g. I don’t have a bigger house because I like to travel, or I don’t buy books so I can get my nails done.

It’s more interesting imo to know what people don’t spend money on when they’re making a choice based on principle/taste/some other intriguing reason, rather than just because they’d rather spend it on something else.

e.g. private education because they don’t believe in the ethics; eating out because they don’t trust chefs, or the art of Picasso because he is as abusive

Designer bag
Expensive sushi
Morning Starbucks

Getting my nails done
Upgrading car unless it needs doing
Expensive holidays - feels like a waste, it will be over and you might not enjoy it

Takeaways, makeup.

Also never buy expensive clothes. Waste of money to me, I can't tell the difference anyway.

Same, we are way into 6 figure income household and we have 2 cars both bought outright and worth around £2k each. My dad worked with cars and said new cars are the biggest con in this life.

Bigger house
Beach/pool holidays
Make up - haven’t worn it since I retired
Designer labels
Brand new cars

Well, loads of things. I only spend on what I actually want, which is what I thought most people did, but I’ve come to realise many people don’t.

New car - we are a 6 figure household but one of our cars is 12 years old.

Designer clothes - unnecessary and often look tacky

So what gives you the idea that you can compare the 2?

Some people don't care about fancy cars but there's no denying that a Porsche is clearly different to a Corsa.

Fancy cars. I love my little car that gets me from A to B and fits into even the most awkward parking spaces.

I obviously have no sense 🙄.
I've never owned luxury clothing nor have I any interest in doing so.

Anyone with any sense can see the difference. And expensive clothing doesn't have to have the brand plastered all over it. If you haven't owned luxury clothing then it's easy to say you can't see the difference but to anyone who has, it's night and day.

Cheap denim is especially crap.

Eating out regularly. The price is going up and up and the quality is going down. I only eat out at really good places that do food I can't cook myself now.

Replacement double-glazing (current frames are wood, installed 35+ years ago). New frames would arguably look more aesthetically pleasing on the outside, but we don't live on the outside🤷‍♂️.
Oh, and same with new cars (current car is 2014 and still going strong).

Botox, new cars, alcohol, designer clothes, hair salon trips, new kitchen/bathroom. The more I have in money, the more I realise a minimalist lifestyle is better. My car is 16 years old on a street full of brand new BMWs and Audis and Mercedes. Yet half the street claim they can’t afford to get to the end of the month financially. I’ll never understand it. The UK is really extreme for keeping up with the Jones’s type living even when you can’t afford it. Madness.

Won't spend a lot on:

Mobile phone. Mine is 2nd hand and basic. As long as it will call, text and take reasonable photos I don't care about any other fancy features or what others think of it.

Luxury accommodation on holiday. We self-cater in a caravan - it's just a base as far as my husband and I are concerned.

Streaming services. We make do with what's free.

Car. Don't care what car we have as long as it gets us from A-B in tolerable comfort. Current one is over 10 years old.

Gym/ other paid-for exercise. Walking is good enough for me.

Alcohol. I'm teetotal.

Will spend a lot on:

Antique/vintage items
Jewellery
Cosmetics, fragrance, hair and skin care (although not treatments, what I buy for myself)
My cats
Nice food, e.g. expensive cheese
Tobacco

Designer handbags. What’s with the arms race?
heavily logo’d clothes make me feel like a mug
Very expensive wines

Getting my nails done.

Getting all the massive dents and scuffs on my car repaired.

Give a shit about neither.

I am willing to spend on:

• holidays
• having a large house with a big garden in a desirable area (holds its value)
• my children doing whatever hobbies & activities they want
• good food & wine at home

Cleaners/housekeepers
Expensive cars
Private school
A lot of "grooming". I dont do botox, fillers, hairdresser hair dye, eyebrow microblading etc. Not my bag.

Could easily afford all of these but genuinely do not think they are worth what they are charged at, i can find better use for that money.

Cleaner

bigger house ( just don’t see the need of having a place later than we need )
Fancy household appliances - I always buy the cheapest that does the job correctly.
private schooling ( apart from 1 child )

I have an 18 year old car which will probably outlive me.
I don't want to go on longhaul holidays ...but enjoy short breaks ( 14 this year)
Hate jewellery
We spend a lot on food, gigs and travel.