To be glad I don't have 'expensive' tastes (or am I in denial?l

[Iggypoppie]

Some times I feel lucky because I feel my taste in things is quite basic (food, clothing, small home, like UK holidays in old fashioned, fave hobby is reading/ TV). It definitely makes it easier being a single parent on average income.

On the other hand, I wonder if maybe I'm just settling for what is available and when I get older I'll regret not striving to get more money and have more 'experiences' particularly with my DD.

Does anyone else feel this way? In some ways I feel like it might equate with losing zest for life and not getting excited about anything because excited usually = spending.

Disclaimer, I did travel more when younger and would like to go a few places abroad with DD to give her some educational exposure to Europe etc.

*should say holidays in old fashioned (usually cheaper) hotels.

Just to also add that the concept of 'luxury' makes me feel a bit sick...

Be you. When you are an old codger you won't regret not wasting money on frivolous items. You'll think of a life well-lived with people who love you and you have loved. You can travel later with dd and it's ok to read and just be you. It's the frivolous gathering of stuff and equating spending money on memory making which is nuts.

I am similar. Except food, I like expensive food, but clothes, I'm not a fashion slave and I prefer charity shops over normal ones. My hobbies are basically the same as yours, and I like walks outside in the woods or along the river etc. I'm not a fan of holidays fullstop but generally prefer them to be in the UK.

Though once when I had more money, I stayed in an amazing hotel (in London) and it was worth paying the extra. It was... Luxurious.

If it ain't broke...

I stay in shitholes. My mum agrees. My dad cannot understand why we do. If I have more money I stay in shitholes further away. I wouldn't want the Hyatt.

I'm glad I'm not the only one, I feel that my desire for more is always being prodded though, the urge to consume is triggered by advertising etc and I can mostly resist. However constant striving for more does seem to give people a drive and purpose (if not meaning) to their lives.

@MrsTerryPratchett totally agree about staying in shitholes. Finding a gem of a shit hole is a real challenge and joy.

@BlueHarry What did you like about the luxury aspect? Sorry if this is a stupid l/obvious question...

If it's good, it's a find. If it's terrible, it's a story. And hey, you didn't waste any money.

When I've looked at really splashing out, for a honeymoon for example, I'm put off. Because those 500 quid a night places don't have great reviews. Because, NOTHING is worth 500 a night.

If you want to travel in Europe with your DD then you could have a look at Monastery Stays website. I booked through them last year for accommodation in different parts of Italy - staying in convents. It was a bit of an adventure, not least because the nuns mostly spoke very little to no English, which was on a par with my Italian! But an interesting and relatively inexpensive way to travel.

No requirement to attend services or worship. It’s part of the long established tradition of religious houses providing hospitality to strangers and travellers.

@Iggypoppie, it was such a long time ago that I'm struggling to remember, but I have a feeling it was the food...

And FlixBus was an amazingly cheap way to travel around Italy. From memory it cost me equivalent of £4 to get from Matera to Naples, a journey of about 3 hours or more.

I feel like you do too.

@iggy I agree 1000% why waste money if you are getting the same memories.

@Seeingadistance thank you those suggestions sounds amazing + perfect

There's something about luxury type experiences that seem to strip away all human connection.

George Orwell put it thus in Down and Out in Paris and London (on fine dining):

"Whenever one pays more than, say, ten francs for a dish of meat in Paris, one may be certain that it has been fingered in this manner. In very cheap restaurants it is different; there, the same trouble is not taken over the food, and it is just forked out of the pan and flung on to a plate, without handling. Roughly speaking, the more one pays for food, the more sweat and spittle one is obliged to eat with it."

I find this an odd question to ask.

If you’re happy with your choices, you wouldn’t be concerned they’re not the right ones for you.

If you’re not happy with your choices, you seem to have a problem (other than the obvious) because you’ve imposed a moral barrier for yourself. It’s odd for the mere idea of “luxury” to make you feel sick. Gluttony, waste, wanton excess, greed, lack of appreciation - these things, I can see how they’d make a person feel sick. But thicker towels? Higher thread count sheets? A private bathroom and bedroom rather than a dorm? Room service rather than a canteen? These are luxuries but not nauseatingly so by modern standards.

Maybe we just draw our lines differently, but your thinking sounds tortured and a bit hairshirt-ish to me. If you want to explore the world with your DD, go ahead. No need to deny yourself or be martyrish. Backpack, take the train, stay in hostels, it doesn’t have to be the Ritz Carlton and first class air travel.

Just seen your Orwell reference. Yep, that’ll explain the tortured dystopia! He did NOT die a happy man

I love a little luxury. I have had some short stays in five star hotels on my own. I check in I order amazing room service food, swim in their indoor heated pool, watch movies, read & sleep in their comfortable beds. I’m aware it wouldn’t be everyone’s idea of a good time but I love it. I’m planning another soon.

I am the opposite. I unfortunately have expensive taste in everything. No idea why as I was raised on a farm lol.

There's something that lifts my heart when I see something beautiful or well-made.

I can wander into an art gallery and like some cruel joke, manage to take a fancy to the most expensive painting in the gallery.

Similarly with clothes, hand-bags, shoes, I have an eye for detail and I get very excited about something beautiful until I see the price tag.

I hate slumming it, but needs must and I slum it in cheap accommodation.

I am a Libran (apparently we have an unusual appreciation for things of beauty) and I also lived in Italy for quite a while which invoked the inner sartorial critic in me.

Other than those reasons, I have no idea why I have such expensive taste. I live like the pauper that I am however! It offends my greater sensibilities but needs must!

I would rather save up for a year for one handbag I loved rather than buy 10 cheap handbags. My dd has inherited this characteristic which makes her expensive to buy for but I approve of her taste!

I prefer to buy an expensive jumper, to wear over the years rather than 5 cheaper ones. If I love something, I'll wear it to death. I buy quality food. We prefer to share premium chocolate rather than buy a larger quantity of cheap chocolate.

and I also lived in Italy for quite a while which invoked the inner sartorial critic in me.

So did I and I have an abiding love for their beautiful paper products and wrapping. Clothes? Meh. They're too formulaic compared to edgy Britain.

Yes and no. I was back-packing through China and it was a 3-day bus ride or a 1.5 hour flight and I just thought fuck it and spent an extra 30 pounds on the flight.

I have no interest in a Mont Blanc pen, but I do think a pen that costs a few pounds is better quality than a pack from the pound shop. I think it's about finding the balance of what is important for you.

I have absolutely zero interest in a Kardashian lifestyle with bags costing 100,000 pounds and 1,000-dollar bottles of champagne, but I've lived on a very low income and it's pretty miserable. I like just being comfortable. I'm happy buying my furniture in IKEA and my clothes from the high street.