What is expensive but worth every penny?

[Teadrinker11]

Following on from the previous thread about expensive purchases that weren't worth it, what is expensive but actually is worth it? What do you own or have done that is very expensive but you don't regret it at all?

@Isonthecase

Really nice quality vanilla essence and chocolate for baking, everything tastes better and at £6 a bottle barely more expensive than the cheap stuff you have to use loads more of.

Great pillows. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

I would really appreciate it if you could recommend some great pillows, Thankyou @Isonthecase

@Susu49

*offered my children the latest iPhone etc for Christmas or a smaller present and memories! They chose the latter. So £20 for Xmas day and then I’ve taken one to Harry Potter world (other doesn’t like hp) one paddle boarding for the day (again other one doesn’t fancy it) a swimming course for one and a painting course for the other etc we call it investing in ourselves. Have just returned from all day course with eldest foraging and cooking our own stuff and she cried on the way home and say I love these days and I’m learning so much as well As having time on my own with you.* *@Nailsbythesea* this is lovely!

This made me feel quite emotional. What a great way to bring up your kids.

I’ve seen a couple of people mention really good mugs. Does anyone have any recommendations for mugs that are really, really good for tea? Not too chunky. Really beautiful. I’m really ritualistic about my hot drinks and my quest for the perfect tea mug is ongoing

I will only drink out of Sophie allport China large mugs - tea jn anything else is a bit bluerghh

Nothing beats fine bone China tea cups with the tea (loose of course) served from a teapot

@Susu49

*offered my children the latest iPhone etc for Christmas or a smaller present and memories! They chose the latter. So £20 for Xmas day and then I’ve taken one to Harry Potter world (other doesn’t like hp) one paddle boarding for the day (again other one doesn’t fancy it) a swimming course for one and a painting course for the other etc we call it investing in ourselves. Have just returned from all day course with eldest foraging and cooking our own stuff and she cried on the way home and say I love these days and I’m learning so much as well As having time on my own with you.* *@Nailsbythesea* this is lovely!

This is lovely but it's take it your kids are under 12?

[quote Everydaydayisaschoolday]**@ThePlumVan* and @Unsure33*

I was scared too but I was desperate. I was running out of options. As my prescription got worse with age there were fewer and fewer glasses and products available to me. And wearing contacts day on and day our was not good for my eye health. So I bit the bullet (after a lot of research) and had the surgery. It was amazing. 24 hours of flashes and difficulty focussing, then I was driving again 48 hours later

My night vision isn't great , I get a lot of flaring so I don't like driving at night. but it was bad before the surgery so I haven't lost anything there. What I do have is perfect close up and distance vision in normal and dim light. That's not something I have ever experienced in my life before. I can wake up in the middle of the night and dine my way to the loo on a strange place. And as for swimming and being able to open my eyes under water ! It is honestly like a miracle. And it will last a lifetime.

PM me if you'd like my surgeons name.[/quote]
If I could please have the details too.

I have china mugs from Wilko. Tea tastes just great.

Just searched and they don’t do them anymore but they’re just very plain white china mugs. I also have coffee cups and saucers from the same range.

Seconding the ViSpring king size bed.

@Wagsandclaws

I will only drink out of Sophie allport China large mugs - tea jn anything else is a bit bluerghh

Oh I like her prints!

Dry robe
100% linen bedding
Latex pillows
Superking bed for sure, but before that had superking duvet which was lush-always size uo the duvet if possible

“Susu49

offered my children the latest iPhone etc for Christmas or a smaller present and memories! They chose the latter. So £20 for Xmas day and then I’ve taken one to Harry Potter world (other doesn’t like hp) one paddle boarding for the day (again other one doesn’t fancy it) a swimming course for one and a painting course for the other etc we call it investing in ourselves.
Have just returned from all day course with eldest foraging and cooking our own stuff and she cried on the way home and say I love these days and I’m learning so much as well
As having time on my own with you.
@Nailsbythesea this is lovely!“

That all sounds lovely, and very special.

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash No, eldest is nearly 15.
At times parenting teenagers is like wrestling with a hyper cat and trying to get it to the vets. Since we started this I feel like I’m getting to know them better as their own people and what they like rather than my assumptions. Some we do as a family of 3 and some we do as a 2.
Eg family light festival. Foraging course with number 1. Etc
I’m not excluding the other. If I asked her do you want to go on a foraging course she would probably umm and ahh or say no it might be wet etc
Lots of local places offer amazing courses. Today we were a group of 6 with two ‘tutors’ split into groups of 3. Yes you might find more adults. But I find the tutors on these courses to be absolutely amazing and so kind and organised as well as making sure you had a good day. We cooked what we found and the six of us had a wonderful lunch together etc

We spent 8 hours together learning something new. I learnt loads and so did she. The tutors are so kind and places on courses can be hard to book - sometimes I tell them sometimes I don’t. Youngest wants to swim properly and the want has come from him - local course in a local pool over half term in a group of 5. The paddle boarding I asked about. Harry Potter I booked and then told them about. Etc

So far it is working out very well.

Not had a bad experience yet. I think we under estimate that even teenagers like attention and praise and a talking point.

Most of mine I am booking for Sundays and they had a relaxed Saturday - bonus if the course starts at 10 or 9.30 and is local 😂not too grumpy after a lie in.

It’s also helping support local businesses and people.

Eldest came up with some ideas and so did younger ones and then I added some. Some I will just say I’ve booked something Tuesday evening in half term and others they know eg swimming

A lot of good courses are booked up a year in advance! Roll on light festival and swimming next week.

@Draineddraineddrained

Counselling. Cost me a lot of money over the years but saved my sanity on several occasions.

The kids obviously!

Train travel to London. It's bloody exorbitant from my city but I'd rather roast in hell than do London traffic as a prelude to an outing.

Now can anyone help me - socks! What socks are actually worth spending money on that last? I've tried every kind from Asda multipacks to £15 per pair from Seasalt Cornwall and they all go through at the ball in about three wears!!! I'll pay any money to have a pair last more than a year like they used to!

For socks if they are wearing through so quickly I'd suggest wearing a bigger size. If you are already wearing the biggest "female size" then switch to men's socks. I used to wear mine through very quickly too until I started wearing "men's socks".

Then just buy your favourite version of the female socks.

Proper air conditioning.

@ThePants999

Proper air conditioning.

Where do you live?

Samsung Frame TV. I love it so much, especially when I’m not watching TV.

I forgot about counselling. It’s been life/changing for me and worth the money. My experience with NHS counselling, however, hasn’t been as good.

@southeastdweller

I forgot about counselling. It’s been life/changing for me and worth the money. My experience with NHS counselling, however, hasn’t been as good.

How is you find your counselling if you so r mind me asking?

If you don’t mind

@Maireas I have proper air conditioning throughout my downstairs and in my master bedroom. I’m UK, ‘down south’. My house has lots of glass though and is south facing and it gets HOT. It makes it bearable. I also got a solar film put on the glass, too.

@SpikeySmooth

I spent a few days in Edinburgh last year and got the taste for lorne (square) sausage. You can't get it anywhere in my area. Donald Russell the online butcher does it but they charge £2 per pack...and £10 p&p. (Free p&p kicks in at £50). So I pay way over the odds for lorne sausage. I order other bits like bacon and sausages but I rarely make that £50 minimum, damn them. I am a mug.

Jack Fultons used to do it. Try a larger branch of B&M or Home Bargains that does frozen food.

@Thewindwhispers

Private health treatment

Private school

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Private school is an absolute abomination! Most of them aren't even qualified! It's a business and will ALWAYS put profits before education.

As with private healthcare, the doctors are the same as NHS docs! My consultant does the same operations at a local Bupa hospital as he does for NHS!

Clinique mascara. And I don't use own brand toothpaste, has to be colgate total.