To refuse to pay current prices?

[Blusteryskies]

I'm probably unreasonable for asking such a question, but has anyone else reached the point where they just won't buy things anymore even though they can afford to? I no longer see the point of buying things. Clothes, meals out, house items etc. Everything seems so overpriced and quality no longer correlates with price. I've decided I literally don't need to buy anything. I have enough clothes to last me years, furniture, homewares etc. Unless something dies, I won't be replacing it. Why do we need new clothes because someone has decided style has shifted massively in the past few years? Interiors likewise. I'm stating the bleeding obvious, but it all just feels like a con to fleece us out of our money and now brands are ever increasing their prices and their profit margins. I'm just fed up of it, and no longer feel like it's worth participating in mass consumerism. It's a never ending cycle of pointless, unfullfilling consumption.

Totally agree! And house prices are completely bonkers too.

Agreed!!

Absolutely. If you don’t need anything why waste your money?

Lmao only on Mumsnet would you get someone pompously bragging about how they're now living life how poor people live every day of their lives. As if it's a revolutionary idea to only replace things when they've worn out or stopped working.

Like everything else the price of producing anything has increased wages and energy costs
so naturally the resale price will increase

I sort of agree. I have just had my house decorated as it needs it, but as to clothes I don’t buy many now as, as you say, quality vs price puts me off, same with chocolate, used to eat loads, stopped due to increase in price and Shri kflation of the actual chocolate bar !

Yes to at home. Live by myself so as long as I'm comfortable no need to buy anything

No to eating out. OH and I enjoy dining (and drinking!) out and the socialising that goes with it. While I can afford it that will continue.

I've stopped eating out, not only because of the prices but because the quality of the food on offer has plummeted.

I can cook better food at a fraction of the price at home, and do it quickly.

Clothes, I'm buying very carefully. No impulse buys, mixing high quality sweaters with Tesco t-shirts. Reheeling & repairing five year old shoes so I can afford a decent pair of ankle boots this year.

I’ve just started reading Patric Grants book Less. It’s amazing that up until very recent history most people only had one set of clothes.

👏

Theatre tickets are INSANE prices. Would love to see Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo, but the cheapest, can't see a damn thing, tickets are £100! 'Mid' price tickets are £185!

Crazy.

Agreed

My DH is getting like this and I find it a pretty miserable way to live. I know £5 for a Starbucks coffee is outrageous but I’ll pay it once a week to treat myself. I work hard, I don’t go crazy but if I see something I like in the shops then I’ll buy it. DH has started to decline a lot of things because of cost and I just feel like he can’t take it with him. Might as well get some enjoyment out of life.

I think you’ll end up a bit miserable if you stick to this religiously. Where’s the joy in life please don’t say going outside for a nice walk.

I mean you do you but I work so that I can buy things I want and not just what I need. If I want a top I like or fancy a takeaway or a night out or a holiday I'm going to get it, life is to short and miserable to purposely make it worse when I don't need to

Decided that same.. I'm buying food only at the moment

D’you wanna live like Common People?

Oh no my feelings.

Are you going to ask me if I meant to be so rude next?

Live like a stingy old tramp then. You do you!

I understand understand what you mean. Its a miserable way to live. A treat now and again is fine. Life is to be enjoyed.

I have been trying to buy less clothes for years but agree with the COL it's even further down my priorities. Im also wearing things until they fall apart and buying less for the kids too.

We only eat out for birthdays now. If the food is a bit meh I get a kids meal as we have three kids in tow and the tiny 10 year old orders a adult meal.

I just can't enjoy spending £18 on a pizza anyway. It's not a treat at current prices. Since covid prices for going out has gone up so much and I know it's had too. But it's just got out of our reach.

I never buy alcohol either now. Sad but it feels like a waste of money when things like mince has seemed to increased £1.30 for 500g in a few weeks time period. Plus we just eat less. No snacks at all anymore which again feels like a unessary expense. Feeling more frugal than my war baby parents some weeks.

I have started economising on what I spend, I was surprised to realise that I have actually saved 200 quid this month just by reining myself in. I reorganised my cupboards and realised I dont need to spend anything on cleaning products for at least 3 months. I buy clothes from charity shops and recycle everything 😆 i have completely stopped buying crap that I dont need. I'm feeling extremely virtuous at the moment 😂😂

Well the post Covid world event changes especially the change in where energy is sourced from as well as enduring poor harvests of certain foods make price increases inevitable so yes of course, for the average wage earner it does make sense to adopt a more frugal way of life.

I’ve never been a huge fashion follower anyway and I think we live in an age where now where anything goes so I don’t think anyone could look at you and think you were not stylish as it were. There seems to be big love for vintage and retro apparel so people shouldn’t be so hung up on it anymore. I understand with the younger crowd though as probably there will be peer pressure for them but for older farts no worries!

I don't buy new clothes because fashion has changed, I buy them because the old ones have worn out. I don't buy a new car because my old one doesn't look sexy, I buy a new car when the old one is getting unreliable. I don't buy new furniture because it's not on trend, I keep using it because it's still in reasonable condition. I don't buy a new TV because I want a bigger screen, I do it when the old one stops working. What I do spend on is good books, good food, and good holidays. Each to their own.

There is truth in this for sure. I don’t think it’s mentally healthy to restrict yourselves and you’ve definitely got the right idea in my books. Like I’m trying to be frugal but if I see something I feel I really wan then based on its price, I’ll make a plan and cut smaller more frequent treats from elsewhere - it’s an art and requires patience but can be done without living like a miser. After all - none of us are promised tomorrow..