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Original poster

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

447 replies

NorthEndGal · 29/05/2019 10:55

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?

OP posts:
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NotMeNoNo · 29/05/2019 13:07

Yorkshire tea would be the last to go here. Agree that it's very different idly wondering what your last luxury would be be, and actually being really broke. Maybe I should put some YT in the food bank and pay it forward just in case!

NannyR · 29/05/2019 13:08

Luckily I've never been in the position where I am seriously skint, but I work closely with a food bank and related community projects and I think this thread is a bit in bad taste. I know it's supposed to be lighthearted but would you really prioritise butter, coffee beans, expensive loo roll, branded food, toiletries over basics like fresh fruit, milk, easy to cook proteins etc if you were down to your last couple of pounds?

Roseandrhubarb · 29/05/2019 13:10

Proper highlights in a salon.

BenWillbondsPants · 29/05/2019 13:11

Maybe I should put some YT in the food bank and pay it forward just in case!

I always contribute to the local food bank every week. My bad times were pre food bank, but having the opportunity to make a small difference to someone who is in the same position I was in 25 years ago is one I'm glad I have.

Original poster
NorthEndGal · 29/05/2019 13:14

Butter is useful in nearly every meal, every day. You only need a little bit, to make a difference. It lasts well.
When you have eggs for breakfast every day, because someone was nice enough to give you a tray, you appreciate being able to add a dollop to a boiled egg, or mashed for a sandwich.
If you eat bread every day for lunch, it makes it palatable.
If you are eating plain noodles, or rice, or potatoes, or beans, they are all so much nicer with a bit of butter.
It makes the rest of the grinding sameness bearable.
Also, I had no kids, it was just me I had to provide for, so I wasn't making someone else suffer for my choices
Ffs, I never thought I'd have to defend buying butter while poor.

OP posts:
StripeyChina · 29/05/2019 13:15

TeaFortheWin
Yes, you make a very good point there.
Many people have no choice but to put up with draining/ difficult jobs, where they may also be belittled or even bullied. Freedom from that is a luxury beyond ones' choice of butter / coffee / book / facecream/ beans

S0CKS · 29/05/2019 13:16

Toilet rolls i will not have the stuff that breaks and makes my arse sore!

mabelsgarden · 29/05/2019 13:17

Coffee. Ground coffee only. I mean I will drink normal coffee if it's given to me, but only buy ground coffee myself. It's not expensive - £2.00 for a 'Morrisons own' make that lasts 2 weeks, and an £8 cafetiere ...

Also, decent loo roll, as I don't want my fingers going through it when I have a poo! 💩 Shock

Chocolate. I will eat only cadburys dairy milk or galaxy. Everything else tastes very average, or like crap now.

supertruck · 29/05/2019 13:17

I've never been rich enough to try most of these things. We buy own brand. With some things I would rather go without that week than buy certain ones, Ham is one. So I'm not saying I buy expensive ham, it's just some is more acceptable than other, personal taste.

I wouldn't judge all own brands by having tried one. I prefer Tesco own brand beans over Sainsbury's which I find too grainy. We have also found a good own brand toilet roll after previous issues.

Anyone care to recommend a good own brand strong cheddar? I find Tesco's like rubber. My favourite is colliers Welsh cheddar, but I can't afford that unless on some mega offer.

mabelsgarden · 29/05/2019 13:18

Oh and yes, defo 'real' butter. As a few others have said, I would rather have nothing, than cheap shitty alternative 'spread...'

HotChocolateLover · 29/05/2019 13:19

@Walkamileinmyshoesbeforeujudge Yeah, I know it’s a weird thing to say but i’m Sure other meat eaters will testify that cheap bacon tastes like the smell of pigs (farmyards maybe?) Whereas expensive bacon has lovely delicate and delicious flavours.

Diamondbean · 29/05/2019 13:20
  • Cheap shampoo / conditioner. Think buying a branded one and using a tiny bit rather than a cheap one and using shed loads is better (that being said, I use L’Oréal thickening shampoo & conditioner and shop around and buy it on offer!). Also, my eldest daughter has hair past her bum so I buy salon shampoo & conditioner for her to keep it in tip-top shape. Usually from b&m!
  • Coffee. Not a coffee snob, I’ve drank own brand coffee but I just don’t like the taste. I now drink the Nescafé chocolate mocha and decaf but again, only buy it when it’s on offer.
  • Deodorant & toothpastes. Only buy on offer or from pound shops but feel they work better than own branded ones.
Comefromaway · 29/05/2019 13:20

Properly fitting shoes for the kids
Heinz beans
Decent teabags

PhillipeFellope · 29/05/2019 13:22

I'm sort of gobsmacked and laughing at these. And clearly there are a lot of people who have never been on the bones of their arse long term or for prolonged periods.

I know there's a huge demographic of people in here but fuck me, there are actually people who have nothing. If it's a case of eat or starve then you buy 7p noodles and get on with it.

SupremeDreamz · 29/05/2019 13:22

I'm surprised there are so many people who don't know what it is to be actually, seriously, really broke.

Indeed.

Not that I would wish it on anyone but being broke doesn't mean less luxuries or not being able to choose your preferred groceries. To me being broke means having like a fiver to buy food for a week and you have no choices at all except as much as you can get for that.

No wonder some people don't see the problem with austerity if they think this is what it means.

Saracen · 29/05/2019 13:22

Nothing. There is absolutely nothing I think I "must have" if I were genuinely broke. I would give up whatever I have to.

Southwestten · 29/05/2019 13:22

I say this as an omnivore but bacon that tastes too piggy? Wtaf? hmm

I know exactly what the pp means. Some bacon and pork tastes of the smell of the sty and tainted in some way. It’s as disgusting as good quality pork is delicious.

Southwestten · 29/05/2019 13:23

X post with hotchocolate

YetAnotherSpartacus · 29/05/2019 13:25

I know there's a huge demographic of people in here but fuck me, there are actually people who have nothing. If it's a case of eat or starve then you buy 7p noodles and get on with it

Or choose between food and heating :(

Roseandrhubarb · 29/05/2019 13:25

I’m not reading it as previous posters are.

I have been very strapped for cash but I took it to mean ‘that you’d rather go without.’

I wouldn’t use home dyes. They look awful on me. If I had no money, I’d just have my natural hair colour —whatever that isn’t—

Cheap coffee tastes unpleasant so I’d drink water instead.

StitchingMoss · 29/05/2019 13:26

This is the most middle class “what couldn’t you do without” thread I’ve ever read Shock!

Couldn’t do without a cleaner?? Wow!

bigKiteFlying · 29/05/2019 13:26

Having been there - nothing.

Though really cheap toilet rolls and washing up liquid can be a false economy IME.

theDudesmummy · 29/05/2019 13:26

Butter too

QueenOfTheTofuTree · 29/05/2019 13:28

Peanut butter and just nut butters in general. The cheap ones are nasty.

CalamityJune · 29/05/2019 13:28

There isn't anything. I simply wouldnt buy the cheap version if I didn't like it and couldn't afford anything else. I've lived off pasta and pesto for a week too