What little things do you buy if you are finally financially stable?

[catfunk]

I'm not talking big houses or flash cars. More innocuous things.
Mine is fresh lemons and limes. I'm extremely frugal when it comes to shopping and always bought the bottles of concentrated juice for cooking or drinks but realised in the past year or so I've added them to my grocery shop without a second thought about the extra couple of quid.

Fresh fruit, and from a local greengrocer rather than from a supermarket, l’occitane shower gel, cans of fizzy pop (I’ve also noticed that helps limit my intake rather than bottles!) and I’ve noticed DH more recently has started getting people in to do work I think he would have tried to do himself first 10 years ago. I don’t begrudge him that though, who wants to spend their Saturday fiddling about with bolts and pipes etc after working all week!

Buying steak to cook at home. I have always loved steak but went about 3 years when things were really tight. Just could not afford to buy it and certainly not eat out. I feel happy every time I eat it now :) oh and also branded sanitary products. I've given the Aldi/Lidl varieties a really good go (and didn't have much choice but to buy them from there) but now I prefer the well known brands as they are much more comfortable and fresh feeling.

A laundry lady. £30 a week. Starts this week and I'm so excited.

Branded kitchen roll.

Better shampoo and conditioner.

Keeping up with hair appointments.

Better quality clothes. Still not designer as such, but Nike's instead of Primark. Superdry hoodies for example.

@azimuth299

Good shoes. I don't have loads of shoes but the ones that I have are good quality. No longer sighing about the rain because my shoes leak. And I have the correct shoes for each occasion, like shoes for the beach, proper running shoes and warm winter boots.

This is what I'm aiming for now too! Exactly this. I'm on the lookout for good rain shoes, which are suitable / pretty for work. Any recommendations gratefully received

I home cook more challenging/exciting recipes with lots of ingredients - the ingredients you don't mind paying £5 for a small jar of but wouldn't normally if this was my budget for the entire meal!

2 x £1 bunch of daffs per week . I don't buy myself flowers any other time of the year.

Paying people to do the regular jobs I hate the car valeting man comes monthly to do the cars, hot tub is emptied and cleaned bi monthly, house cleaned top to bottom by our wonderful cleaner on a weekly basis and she has now also taken on the ironing as she wanted more hours.

Omg I recently got a free mega kitchen roll from Lidl and it's opened a can of worms in our house

YES!!! We got that too - revelation

Not there yet but cleaner and a kitchenaid

Flowers - cheap ones, always daffodils when available
Tea and scone in a cafe
Expensive shampoo
Ffern perfume subscription

Natural fibres - cashmere, merino, cotton.
Lovely dressing gowns.

I look at full price clothes and not just sale stuff.

Hard back books rather than waiting for the paperback or ordering from the library.

Donations to charity.

House plants. It's my equivalent of fresh flowers.
My window ledges are full of tiny, finicky, odd looking succulents and I love them. Each one costs £5 to £10 (occasionally more if it's something big or rare) so being able to buy anything that catches my eye is a real treat, and one I couldn't have afforded a few years ago.

That french butter with salt crystals.
The warburtons gf tiger bread.
Fountain pens and ink.
Lunch when we are out without worrying.

Hi - about your inflatable tub which you say is for pain, I have ongoing backache, do you think the tub would help with that?
Many thanks for any help you can provide.
Rosie

I love buying myself a coffee from the coffee shop in our village - it's delicious and also helps support a small, family run business.

• beautiful sheets with high quality thread count
• lovely wine

-candles

• clothes - just love seeing something lovely and having
• pedicure monthly - even in winter love seeing lovely

feet at night

• facial every month
• my puppy

I grew up in lots poverty and these things still amaze me.

@Silvercatowner

Donations to charity.

🙏🙏that the s truly lovely.

A professional Shellac pedicure every 6 weeks.
A cleaner every week (and she makes up all the beds with clean bedding which is bliss).
Eating lunch out every Saturday & Sunday.

Nice soaps. TK Maxx offerings but still a step up from Cussons or Imperial leather.
Currently enjoying The Scottish Fine Soaps 'Au Lait Rose'.
I occasionally treat myself to a bar of Lindt chocolate or a box of Guylian seashells which feels luxurious.
Coke Zero or Pepsi Max instead of supermarket brand.
Essie nail varnish. Currently wearing ' Ballet Slippers' so feel like The Queen.

@catfunk

Omg I recently got a free mega kitchen roll from Lidl and it's opened a can of worms in our house 😂

Haha! We recently stayed in a holiday home with blue roll. You know it's used in catering. So handy! Especially with little ones around. I'm alway very anti kitchen roll but this almost swayed me.

Mine is definitely very regular iced coffee. I do make it at home but it's a faff cooling it down etc. So this is a nice treat.
Great thread op.

So jealous of some of you

Mine is blitz kitchen roll and frozen rice

Agree with the natural fibres - this year I bought 100% cotton or linen blend pjs for the first time ever. H&M so not super expensive but more than I used to spend. Took a while to get used to as they're not stretchy but so lovely for summer.

Thanks for sharing everyone I'm loving reading these small pleasures ☺️