To think that luxury is addictive?

[QuirkyPearlEagle]

Once you get used to a certain level of comfort, it’s hard to go back. Whether it’s flying business class, staying in five-star hotels or even just small everyday luxuries like nicer skincare, it changes your standards.

I’ve noticed that when I experience something luxurious, I start justifying why I “need” it, even if I was perfectly fine without it before. It’s not even about showing off - it’s just that once you’ve had a taste of something better, the thought of downgrading feels almost impossible.

Has anyone else found this? Or do some people just not care about luxury at all?

I used to frown upon taking taxis and always spent ages getting places on buses and tubes and trains. Now I have a bit more income I have discovered the joy of Uber and it is very hard to be disciplined and not take them too often. Being taken door to door is a luxury I have really adapted to!

A mixture for me. Not hard up but still love hole-in-the-wall restaurants, supermarket picnics and cars that are straightforward rather than ones that "help" by beeping when your bag is on the seat/you're reversing/you're going over 20. I have to actively teach myself not to buy (most) clothes from the supermarket because frankly that's the kind of thing that comes most naturally and nicer things feel a con.

However - I am liberal in using taxis, buying experiences, solving problems with money and similar. Buying convenience is a big one for me - I'm on a health kick at the mo and bought weeks of a meal delivery service rather than faff with calorie counting.

Yes of course it can be addictive. Comfort, luxury, and buying yourself something great lights up the reward centres in your brain so you get a dopamine hit which feels good. That doesn't mean that everyone is addicted to buying stuff but it would be silly not to recognise that your brain's reward system plays a huge part in why people over spend beyond their means. They get pleasure from it- pretty basic really.

I completely agree.

There are things I will spend a lot of money on, e.g., winter coats, boots etc, BUT I look after them well and expect them to last a couple of decades, at least.

I've just put a pair of boots away for the summer, having had them resoled and heeled. They've been given a lovely leather treatment and a good polish and will have a nice snooze in their special boot box, with fancy boot trees and lavender sachets, until next winter.

They cost £300 15 years ago, which seemed like a frightening amount of money at the time, but they're still almost like new and I think they've paid for themselves.

Yeah, I’ll always drive a nice car, I’ll always have everything below my hairline waxed, I’m a shampoo snob etc. and I’m used to that level of living. I like to outsource, I rely heavily on my cleaner and we like M&S food.

Still buy my knickers and jammies in Primark though.

I also believe that nothing is as wasteful as economy can be. By that I mean buy cheap, buy twice

I agree with this. I splurged on an expensive leather bag about 10 years ago- it's still going strong and looking great. Prior to that I'd buy cheaper bags and end up ditching them every few months when the zip inevitably got stuck or the lining came out etc

Buying cheap isnt always the "saving" you think its going to be.

I was discussing this with a friend the other day. We both love a luxury holiday and agreed that while the lovely hotel room, excellent food, comfort etc is wonderful the extra money is mainly buying you space. More space on the plane, more space in the hotel/resort and more members of staff per person so you never need to wait for anything and nothing is a hassle. The sense of ease and relaxation in those kind of places is priceless.

However I also love a trip where we fly budget, stay in an air BnB and eat street food in a hot busy city. It’s a different kind of trip but still just as fun imo.

I'm not particularly bothered by luxury, so staying in 5* hotels, eating in expensive restaurants, travelling 1st class etc doesn't make me want more of that. I accept it as a nice experience but don't really want it all the time. I'm just as happy staying in a basic room, eating in cheep places etc.

I've had to adjust my lifestyle previously, and it's not easy, but you do get used to it. Just a case of managing expectations.

I don't know whether luxury is addictive, but scrimping and saving is definitely tedious.

Buying cheap buying twice is absolutely true and I always try and avoid that false economy.

Hotels ... I don't know. I stayed in a really nice hotel for work and it was nice but I didn't sleep any better or enjoy the shower any more than a Premier Inn. I think it must come down whether you value that higher quality and whether it makes a difference to you or not.

Similarly I will suffer through any economy flight to get to where I want to go - but I want it to be direct. I'm prepared to pay for flying direct but I'll make do in my tiny seat 😅

Absolutely, although you do adapt back if necessary. I used to work in a corporate role for an airline and part of the package was a certain amount of air miles in seats including some i could never afford myself 😂 since leaving and going back to paying full price for flights I've gone back down to economy but I really loved it and definitely miss it now I know what it's like!

Dopamine is addictive - our society is very good at selling ‘luxury’ whoch for many results in dopamine hits.

I agree if you mean once you've had a brilliant Chinese takeaway for £10 more, a cheap one doesn't cut it anymore.

However, I've had expensive face creams that are like, meh, always gone back to good old E45. Same with loads of products actually. Costing more doesn't mean better in many cases. Good old organic olive oil is brilliant!
I also dislike posh hotels as I don't feel comfortable. Prefer a friendly B&B any day.

I fly long-haul frequently, and will always book first class. I like being able to stretch out and be comfortable, and the food is infinitely better.

Same goes for hotels - there’s a huge difference and I’d much rather stay in a 5* property or resort. I find the staff are so courteous and helpful, and always go above and beyond to provide a good service and recommendations. I also find them useful to make reservations at nice restaurants.

I’d also rather spend more on things like coats, bags and shoes, as I take good care of them and they last so much longer.

Absolutely couldn’t do a cheap hotel. The scratchy sheets would leave me opting for sleeping in the car

I think it must come down whether you value that higher quality and whether it makes a difference to you or not.

Agree, the additional cost doesn't represent good value for me.

I've flown business with work. Yes it's nicer, but it's not that much nicer that I'd spend 5 grand of my own money on it rather than the £500 economy seat.

Same with hotels, I'll pay for location but I'm happy with a decent bed and a shower. I don't care what type of toiletries they provide, designer sheets, having a spa bath or a concierge to advise on trips etc.

Totally disagree. I prefer variety and hunting down the good value and interesting over the homogenous luxury offering. This Spring we stayed in a run-down, Caribbean style hotel that was adjacent to a luxury, 5 star, £1,000 a night place and I think we had the better option as we really felt we were in the Caribbean rather than being somewhere that could be anywhere. We flew coach too because 9 hours on a plane is a means to an end, not part of the holiday.

You can unlearn the dopamine hit; but you have to actually unlearn it, not just replace it with something else. (Think about how some people loudly perform 'saving the planet, which actually seems to be mostly telling other people what they should be doing while ignoring their own rules.)

With international travel, luxury wins - we always take the least stressful option. Unless the flight is late at night we always go up to Heathrow and stay at the T5 Sofitel the night before, being able to stroll over to the terminal, fast track through security, have a quick look in the duty free before settling in the business class lounge, taxi from airport to hotel at the other end is priceless. However on our annual holiday to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, happy to break the journey in Premier Inns or whatever is available.

I was lucky enough to get upgraded to business class Singapore to London, it was amazing, I'd love to be able to fly BC every time for long haul. As it was I felt I'd pushed the boat out paying to fly premium economy to Australia and back to see my DD.

hotels I'm not that bothered about so long as they're clean etc, we prefer SC apartments for the space to chill out and do our own thing. Cars, I'm not bothered about, I've driven Land Rover defenders (original, not the new style) for decades now and I like their classlessness and that they're quite small compared to modern cars. Although I realise many of them are now very much toys for the rich rather than functional utility vehicles.

I do enjoy lovely high quality clothes though, but happy to find/buy them in charity shops/vinted rather than pay full price. My real weakness is expensive boots and leather or suede bags.

I do wonder sometimes if I actually had the funds to live like a millionaire and buy £100k+ cars without needing to think long and hard about it, and generally live the high life whether I would spend accordingly, I'm not sure I would...

I like luxury, but I can also go without it. I’m not well off enough to spend the money if the difference is huge- if I’m taking the train and a regular seat is 50 and first class is 100 then I’ll do it. But it’s 50 and 300 then no 😅 and ive definitely seem bigger gaps in price than that. Would also depend on the distance, if it’s a direct one hour train then I’d happily stand.

with holidays I’ll happily take the children camping but if I’m going to a London hotel etc then I want 4/5 star. I’d rather change my dates or length or stay to get the price right then go down on quality.

I don’t think I’m unusual in this ? Most people like a treat ?

I’m not convinced by “luxury” but Quality is what I go fo every time. I’ll not spend on low quality. Better to go without.

I agree. Since we started buying better quality mattresses, I can’t stand cheap ones. The one we’ve got now was £1600 down from around £2k. The one before that was around £1200. Also, holidays. We now stay at much better quality hotels than ever before and it really improves the experience. One thing I’ll never stop doing is rummaging through the yellow sticker shelf at the supermarket! Love a good bargain 😂

That is where the 'lifestyle you have become accustomed to' saying comes in.

I started off in a 2 bedroom terrace. I am now in a large 6 bed barn conversion. I would really struggle to downsize.