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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Frivolous things you used to spend money on?

403 replies

Lemon221 · 03/04/2022 19:24

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!

OP posts:
Wishihadanalgorithm · 03/04/2022 21:16

Brand new cars.
Magazines.
Clothes.
Shoes.
Fancy ready meals.
Weekends away in European cities.

It was a fun, selfish way to live. Of course I regret the wasted money but I was single with no responsibilities and earning a decent salary.

Roses1221 · 03/04/2022 21:16

New outfit for every night out. Heaven forbid there would be a photo of me in the same outfit!

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/04/2022 21:17

@twolittleboysonetiredmum

When younger - booze. So much booze all the time on nights out. What an absolute waste of cash. Now - probably highlights but yet I haven’t stopped. They make my hair look thicker and nicer. Shall I stop?! I have debated it to save money
@twolittleboysonetiredmum

No! You wear your hair everyday.

You notice it and so does everyone else.

As Hilary C says, Hair Matters

AChocolateOrangeaday · 03/04/2022 21:17

@FelicityFlops Have you tried National Geographic Traveller magazine? It's the only one I buy now and always read it cover to cover.

RoseJam · 03/04/2022 21:17

Expensive Restaurant meals
European weekend mini breaks (pre-kids)
Top theatre tickets
Long haul holidays (pre-kids)
Lunches out everyday

MurmuratingStarling · 03/04/2022 21:17

Me and DH used to spend frivolously on Chinese takeaways. Two a month. (Occasionally we would have an Indian one.)

Cost us £13-14 a time. Hardly had any during the pandemic as they were shut a lot, and by summer/autumn 2021, the same takeaway had gone up to £19-20! Ditto fish and chips. Used to have it from the chippy 2-3 times a month. Cost us £6 or so. Now gone up to £11.

Extortionate!!!

We now get 4 fish from Aldi for £2.25, and a bag of chips that has 10 portions for a pound, and 2 pots of Harry Ramsden chipshop curry sauce. (2 for a pound, and each curry sauce feeds 2.) SO for roughly £4 we get 4 meals (2 each obvs) instead of paying £22!

Can't replicate the Indian and Chinese takeaway, but we only have one every month now. Sometimes we will leave it 6 weeks.

Also used to spend silly money on the pub and meals out. Would never spend that kind of money on such things now. We go to the pub occasionally, and for a meal too occasionally, like 5 or 6 times a year each. But we used to go to the pub 2-3 times a week, and a meal out once every week!

Oh, also, like some other posters, I used to spend around £10 a month on magazines. Only spend that on magazines in SIX months now.

AND I used to spend £40-50 on blonde highlights, once every 8 to 10 weeks! I have done it myself for 12-13 years now. Looks just as good, and my hair is in nice condition... Even though hairdressers tell me it's TERRIBLE for my hair if I do it myself! (Terrible for their business more like!)

OMG the money I have squandered when I could have done it myself, and/or found a cheaper option! Shock

I have also spent a lot on travel and holidays over the years, but I don't regret a PENNY spent on that! Smile

goingback · 03/04/2022 21:18

Frivolous - cartoon socks and less frivolous, driving lessons ,failed a couple of times and was determined to pass, now unlikely to try again,
DP has given up drinking , liked a nice whisky and says its for health benefits.

LuckyLuckyWoman · 03/04/2022 21:19

Lots of things previously stated, but most recently I've stopped buying Lenor Unstoppables. Gone from £4 to £5.50 in Tesco. It's only a little thing, and to be honest I have no idea how much everyday things cost, but this I did notice and thought I just don't need them.

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/04/2022 21:20

@littlefirecar

This post is so depressing :( Yes most of these things aren't necessary but we enjoyed them. How has it come to be that everything not soley essential is now frivolous? Sad
I was about to - sort of - say this.

I don’t know that’s it’s depressing, because priorities change through life, and it nice that we live long enough for different pleasures..

.. but the point of life is life, so it’s good to enjoy it - and also, you are supporting A LOT of people’s livelihoods, often locally, and often women

Supersee · 03/04/2022 21:20

Magazines, stopped that a few years ago and eyebrow/eyelash tints, I also do my own now.

I've tried a few brands but I like the Strictly Professional brand, with the separate developer. I didn't like Julienne. Don't know why I didn't do this before it's so easy.

Next to tackle is takeaways, and buying candles. I'm going to buy a candle making kit and refill all the nice candle pots I've collected.

LazyJayne · 03/04/2022 21:20

To those who have stopped splashing out on the things listed in this thread, what is the main reason?

Having children?
Increased cost of living?
Investing in pension?
Maturing taste/less interest in ‘frivolities’?
All/none of the above?

AiryFairy1 · 03/04/2022 21:20

Yes to waaaaaayyyyy too much on booze when I was younger, particularly as I was on a reasonable-ish wage and probably could've saved and travelled heaps more (as was my supposed dream throughout high school), but no, Friday and Saturday bevvies took precedence Hmm

buddhasbelly · 03/04/2022 21:21

For anyone saying magazines, check if your local library has pressreader. With your library card you'll get access to a ton of magazines (Inc most of the ones mentioned) for free Smile

(maybe not the same as flicking through a hard copy but still good)

PinkSyCo · 03/04/2022 21:21

Food.

Janedownourlane · 03/04/2022 21:22

Someone up the thead has also mentioned Pressreader for magazines which you access free through a library card...and there must be hundreds on there. I'm a sucker for gardening magazines but now read all the monthlys and weeklys online.
You dont get the free seeds unfortunately but they tend to repeat a lot of the advice anyway so I think I've saved a lot of money.

RoseJam · 03/04/2022 21:23

@QueenLagertha

For dying your brows at home buy these from Amazon

APRAISE PROFESSIONAL EYELASH & EYEBROW - TINT No.3 DARK BROWN 20ml [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KYQN812/ref=cm]]swwrcppapiii1B2THPSJ1DPCB4ZFQSAQ?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Julienne | Tint Lash Brush + Dappen Mixing Dish | Eyelash Eyebrow Tinting Tint [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096SRN8JX/ref=cm]]swwrcppapiiiGS0R045SRE2XHPYMVNHS?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Apraise Liquid Tint Developer 50ml by Apraise [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M2DEKYN/ref=cm]]swwrcppapiii3VQFPKWZ043ZBYPWPFB5?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Will last way longer than buying the eyelure kits. I use an eyebrow brush when applying so I don't even need to put Vaseline on the skin to prevent staining.

Good links - although Liv Cooper's review had a marked transformation!
allfurcoatnoknickers · 03/04/2022 21:23

Another vote for magazines. I had to cancel all my subscriptions because I just don't have time to read them since I had DS. I used to have Vanity Fair, US and UK Vogue, Town and Country and Elle Decor PLUS the New Yorker.

I kept the New Yorker and Vanity Fair in the interests of supporting journalism, but kicked the rest of them to the curb.

Also, flying first class Grin. Can't afford to do it with 3 people and DH and I cut way back on our work travel and lost our platinum etc. statuses and therefore cheap(er) upgrades.

RosesAndHellebores · 03/04/2022 21:23

In my 20s shoes and clothes. I thought nothing of buying Bruno Magli or Ferragamo shoes. Generally I was a very tame dresser and worked in the City and loved nothing more than a Jaeger pleated skirt and classic cardigan with gold buttons. My late 20s/early 30s saw some lovely Mansfield dresses and coats for work and Austin Reid tailoring which was great in the early 90s evolving into Droopy & Brown's. Went to NY once for a dinner party. When I had dc I cut down. Lancome replaced with No7, Magli with Clarks for the park although never averse to an LKB heel.

I've worked locally since the early 00's and anything more than M&S, Boden, Seasalt or Toast would be hideously out of place, worn with sensible shoes.

I do still have a good hairdresser though and won't compromise on perfume. Never been fussed about nails, etc.

Luredbyapomegranate · 03/04/2022 21:24

@Flapjackninja

I can be the same, but - Put cook meals in the freezer, the microwable ones. With veg, fresh or frozen - also microwaved. Rice pouches or frozen mash (surprisingly good!)

A microwave steamer is great for fresh veg

lightisnotwhite · 03/04/2022 21:24

@SpringLobelia

also magazines- about £15.00 a month. I stopped last year and have not missed them at all.
In lockdown I bought magazine subscriptions for my locked in parents and other relatives. I’ve kept it up because they genuinely loved them. Both the surprise through the letterbox and having something to read. And not £15 a month!
QueenLagertha · 03/04/2022 21:24

@RoseJam I think the first pic of her is with the dye still on her brows. I hope so anyway Grin

thenightsky · 03/04/2022 21:25

@Dippydinosaurus

Clothes oh so many clothes. Every Saturday we'd go into warehouse, kookai, Topshop etc and buy new outfits for Saturday night. I sold them all on eBay over the years and they were such good quality fabrics such as silk. I really wish I'd kept them as they're back in fashion now except the quality is crap
I have kept most of mine, but I can't get into them any more. Sad
MurmuratingStarling · 03/04/2022 21:25

@LazyJayne

To those who have stopped splashing out on the things listed in this thread, what is the main reason?

Having children?
Increased cost of living?
Investing in pension?
Maturing taste/less interest in ‘frivolities’?
All/none of the above?

Choice No 4 for me. Got a bit bored with some things, and/or realised they were a waste of money and I could do them cheaper.

@littlefirecar

This post is so depressing ... Yes most of these things aren't necessary but we enjoyed them. How has it come to be that everything not soley essential is now frivolous? Sad

There's nothing depressing about this thread. If something is unnecessary, then it IS frivolous ...

Atomiccat · 03/04/2022 21:26

Sky diving every weekend. Expensive but no regrets.

CherryPieface · 03/04/2022 21:28

@SewingWarriorQueen76

Dud you knew w tgat if you have a library card, they have a huge list if e magazines you can download for free?
I didn’t know this! Thank you x