No matter how broke I am, I will not compromise on

[NorthEndGal]

Butter
If I only had a few dollars left, I'd still buy butter.
Not margarine, not 20-80 spread, just real pure butter.

Anything else, I'll do without, or by a substitute, etc

What is your "I'm not going without" thing?

@SilverySurfer you’re about 4 pages late; someone mentioned caviar back there.

I've tried caviar and I have to say I've never known what the fuss is all about.

I think what many people are confusing is being young & temporarily poor with perpetually struggling to survive, let alone thrive.

@catsinthecupboard has articulated very well what it’s like when circumstances change & you really struggle.

Or there’s the even harder scenario when you never are able to afford these little luxuries.

So yes, this may be lighthearted but it may also hit a nerve with people who have never had the opportunity to work out what their luxury item is or who are struggling to keep up the pretence that all is well.

I would prefer not to upset people feeling that way. But knock yourselves out...

I'm definitely going to add a nice brand of instant coffee to my basket for the food bank next time I go shopping.

That's a nice thing to do

So if it's so difficult to read for some why don't they just....not read it
Hear hear.

Ragwort, phew, I'm glad the porridge I donate isn't useless!

I would prefer not to upset people feeling that way. But knock yourselves out...

By coming on to a light hearted thread and tapping in a couple of likes about their love for good coffee or butter?

lines

Thought of another one for me - Heinz ketchup!!!

I have no money and very little in the cupboards to last til Friday, I'm not begging or asking for anything!

I know what its like to sit in a freezing cold house with no food, no electric and no heating or hot water, now before anyone says I'm using an old phone that was given to me, I put between £6/10 on monthly and I get data.

I still like hearing what everyone's must haves or wee luxuries are!

Good quality shoes, coats and clothes for the kids.

Kids vitamins of a particular brand

Thank you all.

I didn't realize that I was angry.

I think that bc my dh and I have worked every day and we "followed the rules" somehow, at our age, we didn't expect to be in a tough situation financially.

I didn't mean to take a light hearted thread ...and turn it upside down.

I don't usually simmer, but dh has grown ill lately and I am worried about him.

Thanks for all of your comments bc you've actually made me realize how worried I am about him.

I think that this thread hit a nerve bc until last year, I was optimistic that we would be ok when we were old. We've certainly had good times financially.

But this time was worse, longer ...and we are now old. Honestly, this time, first time ever, there wasn't an option of "can't live without."

There are only 2 emotions: love and fear.

My anger was really fear. And love.

@Catsinthecupboard that was really decent of you to say. I hope things find a way to be better for you and your DH

Catsinthecupboard 💐

You have a right to feel how you do and also a right to express that here or anywhere. I am genuinely shocked at the attitude on here by some that if you find it hard to read move on.

Please don't apologise to those people who think you are ruining a lighthearted thread. A dose of reality is important and hopefully has triggered some empathy in people whether they have lived your experience or not.

I really hope that things improve for you soon.

Freshly squeezed and not from concentrate juice

Butter
Good SPF30 face cream

Thanks to Brexit I did a huge stockpile which made me actively remember what I used to eat when broke. Loads of noodles, cous cous, pasta and potatoes to fill you up and usually cheese, beans and tuna because they last longer and seem to go in most combinations. Although I have been told I am weird mixing them all

I also discovered Amazon deliver what I presume is an office sized bag of Yorkshire tea bags. Only 1 adult here but frequent friends over for tea and it's only half used 5 months later.

Luxuries are butter (Lurpak if flush but usually own brand), Hellmans mayonnaise - texture and taste so different with other brands, moisturiser with an SPF over 20, cheddar that isn't rubber (Aldi's own for whoever was asking upthread in the Cathedral City style packaging). I also always buy full fat milk. Anything else just tastes like murky water to me!

Bread. Stoneground spelt and rye sourdough only.

@Catsinthecupboard

A really inspiring thoughtful message
I wish you all the best

DeeCeeCherry, out of curiosity, what face cream do you use? I use a separate SPF but would like to cut down the faff and number of products and use an SPF moisturiser. I've just got no idea where to start.

LonelyTiredandLow, cheese, beans and tuna mixed is the food of the gods IMO!

Free Range Eggs (Always)
Yorkshire Tea
Decent Coffee
Proper Diet Coke (Instead Of Supermarket brands or Pepsi)
Quilted Toilet Roll

Nescafé coffee without a doubt

Nescafe???
I wouldn’t drink Nescafé if I was richer than Bill Gates - both from desire not to support Nestle and because it doesn’t really taste are like coffee..