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What things do you only use pricey versions of? And why?

165 replies

Limth · 15/07/2024 10:23

For me its:
Gym wear: I find it fits better, lasts longer and doesn't get that weird spring onion smell that I can never seem to get out of cheaper stuff.

Shoes: After many years of many thousands of fast fashion pumps and ballet flats, I've started buying expensive shoes. They last, they don't generally leak, and they're comfortable.

Socks: Wider choice of pretty patterns, wash well and don't wear through as quickly as cheaper versions.

Knickers: I've spent too many years in generic, badly fitting, off the shelf under crackers. Now I invest a little bit more in no cross seam boxers. They're not enormously more expensive but my minge and my arse crack are thankful.

Cheese: Cheap cheese these days just tastes like a whole load of nothing so I invest in good, strong cheese that actually tastes of cheese.

Pies: We eat a lot of pie in my house 😬I find supermarket pies bland and not very 'filled'. We spent about £75/month on pricey pies nowadays.

Some alcohol: Some alcohol is definitely better when you throw some cash at it. Wine, mostly. Not all though - I can't tell the difference between Value vodka and expensive stuff. And Tesco Cognac is my absolute favourite even when stacked against very very expensive versions.

Squash: Once you've had Vimto squash (20p per 100ml), there's just no going back to supermarket own (6p per 100ml).

Foundation: Lasts and can actually be blended properly so I don't end up looking like a paint-by-numbers face mask.

What about you?

OP posts:
holjam · 15/07/2024 11:42

Gym gear - it's worth spending the money on sweaty Betty as it washes so well and lasts. I love their power leggings and shorts and also their vest tops for training.

Coffee - serious coffee drinkers here so we buy good quality beans for our machine.

Foundation - I was a MAC girl for years and years but recently switched to NARS and it suits my ageing skin so well. Lasts a long time too.

Hair cut and colour - I think it's so important to do this properly so I will spend the money on a good cut and highlights 2/3 times a year, could not be arsed to go anymore than that).

Trainers - I workout a lot and like to run so good fitting, good quality trainers are a must. I've had too many bad pairs and it really affects my knees and hips.

holjam · 15/07/2024 11:44

Oh and wine! I forgot to add wine! Life is too short to drink cheap crap wine Grin

KintheCottage · 15/07/2024 11:44

Coca Cola. I’ve yet to try any cheap brand that I prefer.

TheaBrandt · 15/07/2024 11:45

Food and drink except basics. Lidl is ok for tins / oil but their fruit and veg are rotten before you get it home and their processed food inedible. I got a pack of bagels that had been nibbled by rats. I complained as the lovely lad on the til and I were both horrified. The manager could not have given less of a shit. That was the end of Lidl for me.

MrsLangOnionsMcWeetabix · 15/07/2024 11:51

Hoodies/jumpers and clothes generally. I buy from Vinted though so actually cost the same as Primark etc. The weather can be brutal where we live and it really makes a difference having decent clothes. For the same reason I got myself a pair of soft leather Doc Martens which are worth their weight in gold to me.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 15/07/2024 11:53

Knitwear - I live in Scotland and it gets a lot of wear!

Cat food/litter

Heinz ketchup and HP sauce

Leather shoes/boots, decent bags (Cos/Arket type level, not designer)

Diet Coke

Foundation (Lisa Eldridge) and powder (Fenty)

During Covid I switched a lot of my skincare because counters were closed, and actually remained with the off-the-shelf stuff - mainly Inkey List and Cerave. We prefer the Asda red box teabags in this house, and I am happy to drink cheap-ish wine.

Thisoldheartofmine · 15/07/2024 11:53

@Seeline IME even hi juice squash has sweeteners. Is there one that doesn't?

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 15/07/2024 11:54

I only buy my son Kickers shoes. They last all year.

The rest of his uniform is a mix of school branded and supermarket but it all gets trashed.

Mitsky · 15/07/2024 11:58

I have a penchant for expensive hand soap (Aesop you are my financial downfall)

Good wine, I’m pregnant and I absolutely cannot wait to go to our local small wine bar who only sell natural wine from small producers.

Nice bread from a local deli / bakery. Stupid amounts of money but so much nicer than a supermarket

stayathomer · 15/07/2024 11:59

Ketchup, rice crispies, washing up liquid, Birds Eye waffles, beans, tea, dog food (although hearing what others spend it seems mine isn’t as bad as I thought), cat food (again nothing compared to what I’ve heard of!), jelly, avene moisturiser.

edited to add: fizzy drinks too

GingerLiberalFeminist · 15/07/2024 12:00

Expensive:
good shoes last longer
Coats look better and are warmer
Bedding and towels are an investment!
Pillows - bought dunlopillow a few years back and it's still fab

Midrange
I'm free from -fun- and cheap free from is shite
Shampoo/conditioner
Toiletries generally - olay and nivea suffice

Cheap
Pasta, flour etc, all bulk buy essentials are fine
DH prefers own brand weetabix!
Frozen veg

greenpolarbear · 15/07/2024 12:03

Timeisnevertimeatall · 15/07/2024 11:01

£75 a month on pie??

We spend £120 a month on 4 steaks. So the pie life sounds like a money saver to me 😂

linelgreen · 15/07/2024 12:04

Lurpak butter

TinyYellow · 15/07/2024 12:06

Coleslaw. The cheap stuff is too oniony.

C8H10N4O2 · 15/07/2024 12:07

Flexon glasses frames for children.

After multiple cheaper frames died just a few months in we tried them and they really were indestructible. Horribly expensive up front (especially as DC had to have two pairs) but cheaper than replacing frames every few months.

Purplecatshopaholic · 15/07/2024 12:11

Shoes, well footwear in general.
Bedding - a decent thread count is worth paying for.
Butter, got to be Lurpak.
Eggs.
Salad cream.

beguilingeyes · 15/07/2024 12:15

Heinz ketchup is non- negotiable.
Welsh Tea is the best. We get it by mail order.

359fj · 15/07/2024 12:15

Fairy washing up liquid. Have tried cheaper ones but Fairy just lasts longer.

Also bin bags, as mentioned by others. (Current favourites are "Beast" brand, which are expensive but worth it.)

WetBandits · 15/07/2024 12:18

Pet food, cat litter, ketchup, bed linen.

WetBandits · 15/07/2024 12:20

Oh and eggs! Once you have grown accustomed to eating freshly-laid, bright orange yolk eggs from the local farm, shop-bought eggs just won’t cut it.

BigDahliaFan · 15/07/2024 12:22

Bin bags
shoes
t bags
meat - free range where possible....british and from a decent retailer otherwise.
Decent winter coat - mine is a north face with a warm inner lining - I hate being cold/wet on walk to work.

Tinned tomatoes - mutti.

Posh pasta if I'm making something where the pasta is the thing

sausage rolls...

Oneearringlost · 15/07/2024 12:22

GameOfJones · 15/07/2024 11:24

DH and I have had this conversation recently. After years of having virtually no spare income and have to buy cheap (and therefore buy twice) we have finally agreed that some things are just worth the extra expense.

My list would be:

Mattress. We have a lovely memory foam mattress.... I'm never going back to cheap sprung mattresses.

Gym leggings. After trying Sweaty Betty power leggings I won't buy any others. They hold their shape, don't ride down and actually make my wobbly bum look great.

Shoes. I need proper arch support and something that won't fall apart.

Coats. I have bought so many cheap coats over the years then finally decided to invest in ones that are properly warm, actually waterproof with a decent hood that stays up and proper pockets.

Jewellery. No more cheap jewellery that tarnishes. I have one proper gold necklace that never leaves my neck and one pair of gold stud earrings. I'm planning on investing and purchasing more when I can afford to but I won't buy cheap in the meantime.

Yoghurt. It's Longley Farm yoghurt or nothing.

Tea bags. Clipper or Twinings only.

Bedding. Life is too short to sleep under polyester.

Kitchen knives. We bought an expensive set of Japanese knives years ago and they're still amazing. Now when we use cheap knives in holiday lets etc they feel actually dangerous they're so rubbish.

Body lotion. I'm addicted to Champneys Body Balm. It smells amazing and is worth it in my opinion.

Things I have no brand loyalty to and am happy to buy cheap are:

Face cream. I've tried cheap moisturiser, I've tried expensive moisturiser. I really don't notice much difference so tend to buy whatever is going cheapest at TKMaxx.

Lip balm. I'm perfectly happy with Nivea or Vaseline.

Coffee. I'm a coffee heathen and Lidl Deluxe Colombian instant which is about £2 suits me just fine.

Pillows. After spending a fortune on expensive pillows I bought one from IKEA for £8 and it's amazing.

Can I ask which memory foam mattress you bought? And that you can unequivocally recommend?

KoalaKube · 15/07/2024 12:28

Meat - lucky to have a local (rural) butcher and they can name exactly where the farms are that they source from inc,using their own within a 10 mile radius.
Eggs - used to keep,a few hens and hate having to buy caged or non free range.
Skincare - Elemis, buy it on Klarna a pot of moisturiser lasts 3 months, so works out about £1 a day.
Diffusers - love my house smelling fresh, cheap brands just don’t last long enough or smell as nice
Travel - love a new destination and a lovely hotel, extra points for a good spa.

Dallasdays · 15/07/2024 12:29

Loving your 'minge and arse crack being grateful' 😂

butterfly0404 · 15/07/2024 12:34

TinyYellow · 15/07/2024 12:06

Coleslaw. The cheap stuff is too oniony.

Make your own, it's soooo much better and cheaper and you can jazz it up with apple, celery, walnuts etc. Way better than pre packed

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