Frivolous things you used to spend money on?

[Lemon221]

What did you used to spend your money on that your now seems completely extravagant and frivolous? I’ll go first, jo malone candles ridiculous how much I spent on wax!

Also travel souvenirs. I'm notorious for buying crap. I'm slightly better now as I try to limit myself to a tshirt or food.

I’ve only just started getting my nails done and love it. It’s £22/3 weeks and it’s really a chance to relax for 40 mins. I get a little burst of joy after looking down at nice nails. Conversely to eyebrows etc (which I also do) you can really enjoy seeing your nails

Agreed. That was my point when I mentioned theatre tickets nor being frivolous. I think a lot of posters are just now listing activities they can no longer afford to do due to money or children etc. Theatre and other nice things are experiences and make us feel good. How is that frivolous?

I had listed theatre tickets as something that I used to spend a lot on and don’t anymore. I don’t have any regrets about spending on theatre tickets (cars, regrets yes) but now don’t spend hundreds per month on theatre because we have DCs and we tend to do more family activities that are physical due to my DCs not especially enjoying the theatre (in spite of our best efforts!)

I agree that theatre tickets aren’t necessarily frivolous. But they certainly aren’t a necessity

[quote MurmuratingStarling]@LuckySantangelo35

Bit surprised at so many saying they no longer spend any money on makeup…why?

Maybe because they don't use it, ergo, don't need to buy it. I don't wear any, except a bit of eye-liner and eye shadow. It enhances my eyes. I have quite large eyes anyway, and they're my best feature, so I do like them to look nice IYSWIM. I spend a tenner every 3-4 years on make up now. Used to spend LOADS more.[/quote]
@MurmuratingStarling

I guess the question is why they don’t use it any more? If they didn’t wear it during the covid lockdowns then I could get that, but life and going out has now resumed! Hopefully it’s not just that they’ve stopped wearing it since becoming a mother and feel it’s not important any more if makeup was something they used to like and enjoy etc as that would be a bit sad!

@RestingPandaFace

Coffees and breakfast and lunch from Prêt every day. Nine West heels that needed reheeling every bloody month. Nail extensions, eyebrow shaping and eyelash tinting Taxis ( see heels above!) Ready meals from M&S A new work wardrobe for every new contract.

I could honestly weep now. If I’d lived through my 20’s and 30’s as I do now I’d be mortgage free.

@RestingPandaFace

Don’t feel like that…it sounds like you had fun and that’s what life’s all about!

Aw @LuckySantangelo35 that’s so sweet of you!

I had a blast in my 20’s and 30’s and there’s lots that I don’t regret, especially travel, concerts, festivals, amazing nights out clubbing with friends, brilliant meals out with family and DH, but I just had so much “stuff,” and looking back only the experiences really matter.

@Fairislefandango
My only current extravagances are loose leaf tea from an independent tea seller (still not very expensive tbh), yarn (sometimes quite expensive but I get a lot of hours of pleasure out of using it, plus a usable item at the end) and an expensive notebook once a year.
Your husband, if you have one, is a very lucky man!
On the subject of tea, loose leaf does pretty much force you to use a teapot. This avoids the shocking extravagance I once encountered when there were four of us for tea and our hostess used eight teabags for two mugs each! Imagine!

Probably fast fashion. That’s the main frivolity of my youth. I didn’t properly enjoy it either, they weren’t lovely, I just wanted more clothes and shoes than I needed/could afford!

Everything else… things I enjoyed at the time and don’t anymore, but wasn’t a waste or frivolous IMO. And what I enjoy now isn’t inherently better, just different. For instance we have a fair few subscription services now, for the whole family, but we enjoy it and so that’s what we do.

@Fairislefandango

The popular one I find it hardest to get my head around is how much people spend on their nails, and how often they seem to have it done . It just seems like such a funny thing to spend such a lot of money and effort on! I mean... obviously it's objectively no more frivolous than a lot of other things on this thread, and a lot less unhealthy than some! It's just a kind of alien concept to me (and I say that as someone who wears make-up every day and used to sometimes buy fairly expensive stuff). I paint my own nails with normal nail polish maybe twice a year.

My only current extravagances are loose leaf tea from an independent tea seller (still not very expensive tbh), yarn (sometimes quite expensive but I get a lot of hours of pleasure out of using it, plus a usable item at the end) and an expensive notebook once a year.

For me it was about £30 to get them put on and then £20-30 every 2-3wk to get them refilled or redone. I had acrylics.

Personally it was worth it to me at that time as I genuinely felt as though having really nice nails elevated my look, I got pleasure every time I saw my hands and felt that they made even casual outfits look much better. I just loved having them and the money was worth it. I'm quite detail oriented, if I meet someone and then walk away I could easily tell you what jewellery they were wearing, the colour of their nails or glasses or makeup, etc. Those little things meant a lot to me at that stage in my life. Less so now I have a child!

I didn't particularly enjoy the process of getting them done though, I found it quite dull having to sit and make conversation with someone for an hour or two or whatever it was. But it was worth it. The biggest factor other than money was the time it took to make sure I went regularly.

I guess the question is why they don’t use it any more? If they didn’t wear it during the covid lockdowns then I could get that, but life and going out has now resumed! Hopefully it’s not just that they’ve stopped wearing it since becoming a mother and feel it’s not important any more if makeup was something they used to like and enjoy etc as that would be a bit sad!

I wear it a bit now but nowhere near like I used to, I used to wear a full face (primer, foundation, concealer, blush or contour, highlighter, eyeshadow primer, multiple shadows, liquid and pencil liner, mascara, brows, lips) every single day even just to pop to the shops. I love makeup and the whole artform. Used to love watching tutorials and recreating them and so forth!

But yeah, the pandemic and parenthood (my baby was a couple months old when the first lockdown happened) has really put an end to a lot of that and I only wear it once per week now if that.

I don't see it as being sad, personally I feel as though it's a fantastic thing for me. I never disliked my face but I was so used to makeup my natural face felt bare and tired looking in comparison. Since not wearing makeup for weeks on end I started to get used to my normal face and now think I look pretty without makeup. If I hadn't had that long period of not wearing it I don't know if I'd ever have got to this point. I don't even wear it for work anymore and I feel great. I still love it but it's been so freeing for me to use it as an occasional boost rather than part of my daily routine.

In the 80s & 90s I spent money on:
Magazines
Dry cleaning
Takeaway sandwiches for lunch
"Good" shoes, tights & make up (tho not expensive brands).
I no longer need/want to spend on any of these, perhaps because I no longer have a full time office job.

I still spend a great deal on holidays, books, theatre tickets & tennis tickets - but to me these are essentials!

Your husband, if you have one, is a very lucky man!

Because of my limited extravagances? I guess. He's probably more extravagant than me, in that he has slightly more expensive interests. Plus I sometimes knit him things . Neither of us is interested in spending much on personal grooming. We don't go out much either .

On the subject of tea, loose leaf does pretty much force you to use a teapot. This avoids the shocking extravagance I once encountered when there were four of us for tea and our hostess used eight teabags for two mugs each! Imagine!

Shocking! I love making proper tea in a teapot. I have a very lovely one, with a nice purple tea cosy I knitted. .

I actually just cancelled some magazine subscriptions. I don't have time to read them, so it's a total waste.

I've also swapped Clinique make up remover for Nivea and Chanel eyeshadow for Aldi!! So impressed with the quality.

Now I only fill up at supermarket petrol stations. I never previously noticed the price difference to the branded garages.

Try Revolution make up too. Very cheap but made by snazzy companies

Books, I have loads of books I havent evan had chance to read yet.

Levi jeans and fresh flowers now down to trackie bottoms and silk flowers

Going out drinking

@AskItaliano

I guess the question is why they don’t use it any more? If they didn’t wear it during the covid lockdowns then I could get that, but life and going out has now resumed! Hopefully it’s not just that they’ve stopped wearing it since becoming a mother and feel it’s not important any more if makeup was something they used to like and enjoy etc as that would be a bit sad!

I wear it a bit now but nowhere near like I used to, I used to wear a full face (primer, foundation, concealer, blush or contour, highlighter, eyeshadow primer, multiple shadows, liquid and pencil liner, mascara, brows, lips) every single day even just to pop to the shops. I love makeup and the whole artform. Used to love watching tutorials and recreating them and so forth!

But yeah, the pandemic and parenthood (my baby was a couple months old when the first lockdown happened) has really put an end to a lot of that and I only wear it once per week now if that.

I don't see it as being sad, personally I feel as though it's a fantastic thing for me. I never disliked my face but I was so used to makeup my natural face felt bare and tired looking in comparison. Since not wearing makeup for weeks on end I started to get used to my normal face and now think I look pretty without makeup. If I hadn't had that long period of not wearing it I don't know if I'd ever have got to this point. I don't even wear it for work anymore and I feel great. I still love it but it's been so freeing for me to use it as an occasional boost rather than part of my daily routine.

@AskItaliano I totally get what you are saying. I only feel confident when I have make up on so I can’t imagine not wearing it, regardless of whether or not I am a mother

@Fairislefandango
Because of my limited extravagances?
Indeed. What is wealth but a thrifty wife.
NB the wind chill factor was so great last week I was able to wear the Fairisle sweater my mother knitted me in 1984-85 so knitting is certainly a worthwhile pastime.

Coffees lunches out fags booze so much wasted

Brazilian waxes

Cigarettes 😟

Handbags. None now since 2017 after a ridiculous amount of spending.

@110APiccadilly

Flying lessons. (I hope one day I'll do it again, but it'll probably have to be once the kids are grown up!)

How about gliding? Far cheaper, the whole family can be involved and kids (if they can reach the controls) can learn too and solo at 14

Clothes I don't like. I love a bargain and I've bought so many that are a bit tight, bit too big and not my style, just because they were in special offer.