What do refuse to give up to save money

[LowlandLucky]

After reading the thread about what we will go without to save money i was thinking about what i just couldn't do without. For me it is tea, i will cut down or buy a cheaper brand of most things, but not my tea, i will stick to my brand no matter what. What can't you give up ?

I love a hot bath every morning otherwise I can do without most things.
My cat. (But we discussed it and he wont be economising.)

The economy is going to take another pounding essentially. More jobs lost in the wider economy, more food bank use. All to prop up the energy companies.

What get to me is that the standing charge has gone up so much, it’s not even that I can save a great deal by being frugal with the heating!

Anyway, I’d sacrifice a lot to keep my gym membership. It keeps me sane!

Oh I wouldn’t re home my cat! He was a stray before we had him and I might just let him take more mice.

Quilted loo roll

The cats and decent coffee beans. And decently produced meat - although I've chipped that back to once a week and cheaper cuts.

I would ditch Sky like a shot but dh and dcs disagree!

Not swapping Rose's lime juice for any cheaper brand, or Mitchum deoderant.
Other than that, not fussed.

@OldTinHat

Hate bringing doom but I've given up absolutely everything. My hair needs cutting, I haven't had a cup of tea in months, my boiler has probably forgotten how to work. I've even surrendered at the final hurdle now namely baked beans. And I didn't buy them that often but Lidl/Aldi/supermarket value offerings are nowhere near 'the' only brand of beans. So now I don't even have baked beans.

I have nothing else to give up or do without, I've even stopped wearing make up to save money. No one has seen me without make up since the age of 12. I'm 50 now and this is the age I really need to wear it!

💐 that all sounds very difficult! I'm sorry you're at that stage, at all, let alone already!!

Have you check out any benefits you're entitled to? There may be help you've yet to discover!!

What is it about 'tea' that's made you give up? The milk, boiling the water or tea bags?

There is nothing I wouldn't give up if I needed to save money.

"Refusing" to give up a brand of tea or ketchup just means you still have the luxury of choice.

I'm on the other thread and listed there all the stuff I've given up/won't be buying to save money (haircuts, dental treatment, heating, etc).

Things I won't give up include Prime (I'm disabled and there are times I can't leave the house, so it's essential), internet (DH wfh so we couldn't manage without it), playing my guitar/bass when I feel up to it (the cost of electricity/strings etc is negligible), and hopefully my one takeaway a month (me and DH split a main course and we order some noodles on the side, so it's only about £15 or less). The takeaway will go if we absolutely have no choice, the other things are non negotiable.

My cats and my tumble dryer.

Because of the way my garden is angled I can only dry washing for a few months of the year outside. 7 people live in my house we generate a lot of washing. If I dry inside I’ll need to put the heating on more otherwise it takes so long to dry it smells musty. I thought about a heated airer but last time I costed it up it would take quite a while to pay for itself compared to using my pretty efficient tumble dryer. So I keep filters etc clean and maintained and go for it.

@Seemssounfair

There is nothing I wouldn't give up if I needed to save money.

"Refusing" to give up a brand of tea or ketchup just means you still have the luxury of choice.

@Seemssounfair

Yeah. I totally agree with you. However, the OP said 'what wouldn't you give up to save money?' I don't think she or other posters meant IF you were down to your last few pennies. I took it to mean, if trying to cut down on spending what/where wouldn't you cut down.

I think it's a bit of a tone deaf question/thread given the state of the economy, but I think the OP started it as a lighthearted thread, but it's hard to read posts from people who have cut everything down/out & are still struggling v the posters saying holidays/business class flights etc.

I hope you're ok & are getting as much help as you can🌷(if things are tough, which they sound like they might be from your user name & your comment.

To answer the light hearted question from the op...

My diamond tiara buying habit.

🤣🤣🤣 (not really that compatible with leggings & oversized T-shirts!!

Food that makes being a low carb vegetarian bearable. (Vegetarian is a choice, low carb is a necessity or have to take medication)

@Ted27

Rooibus tea Breakfast with my friends on a Friday morning My allotment The cat My son ( he does cost a lot)

I like the order of priority :-)

Having one of us at home with DD (we don't have a SAHP though, we have one parent home some days and one the others). We decided well before we had kids that was non-negotiable. (We then made all our financial decisions with that in mind, e.g. which house to buy, which job to take) I accept we're in a privileged position even to be able to make that decision, but that's definitely the absolute last thing we'd give up.

Dishwasher, cat, internet and coffee pods, finally found Aldi ones, recyclable, tries other brands , till these except nespresso

Fruit and veg box - yes DH I know it's more expensive than Lidl but the quality is far superior!

Marmite - literally the only brand that I would never even consider swapping for a supermarkets own.

Apple Music and Disney plus subscriptions.

Internet as we use it for business
Coffee pods
Basically buy mostly own brands from Aldi anyway buy do prefer heinz beans and proper coke I can't stand cheap cola!

Proper coffee
My gym membership
Haircuts

@giggly

Free range eggs and free range chicken but rarely pay full price for the latter and stalk in M&S at yellow sticker time. Can’t afford to buy it at normal price.

Have you tried Lidl/Aldi they have FR for reasonable prices

Music lessons. Stagecoach for the children, private vocal lessons and choir subs for me.

It's an investment in our mental health and worth every penny.

Thanks @Crackercrazy, will look out for it

Decent coffee and my iPhone.

Don't care much about clothes, shoes, make up, bags etc.

My dog. I'm disabled and pay my lovely dog Walker for his daily run
He brings me such joy, I'd go without myself to give him the best life
My haircut and colour every 6 weeks
It's my one treat that makes a huge difference
My internet... literally opens up my world

@MrsLargeEmbodied

brands - i am only loyal to marmite

Try Asda Yeast Extract!!

Heating - I am not walking around in my house dressed like an Eskimo.
Good Dog food
Decent kids shoes
Decent food and lots of fresh fruit.
Happy to use cheaper toiletries and cleaning products they don’t need to be branded.

@EffOrfagain

TV streaming services and Sky

Someone's never had to really tighten their belts...

Basic sky subscription is what, nearly £30. When I was on my knees I could have made that stretch to a week of groceries (lots of pasta!), and if push came to shove I'd give TV services up in a heartbeat