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.

I’m tight on some things but extravagant on others -I like living in attractive areas, holidays, European city breaks , good quality food, niceish wine - don’t go for stuff like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, changing decor or clothes every 2 minutes, nails, hair ( twice a year at hairdressers) - don’t eat out at night apart from when on holiday, but do like breakfasts out .

I’m tight on some things but extravagant on others -I like living in attractive areas, holidays, European city breaks , good quality food, niceish wine - don’t go for stuff like Halloween, Valentine’s Day, changing decor or clothes every 2 minutes, nails, hair ( twice a year at hairdressers) - don’t eat out at night apart from when on holiday, but do like some breakfasts out .

I buy and sell a lot of clothes on Vinted. Not only is it good for my pocket, it’s good for the environment. My only extravagance is holidays.

Bravo.. I've a new rule. For every new piece of clothing I buy, two go to charity. Haven't worn something in last 12 months, out it goes.

My wardrobe is looking great.

This was what life was like growing up in the seventies and most families budgeted exactly like this. didn't do us any harm 👍

What are smasts ?

With you on the car..I drive an old Polo which is 23 years old now. I've spent loads on it because it's my baby and I'm hoping it will be a classic one day (really holding off saying 'she' rather than 'it' here!"). But lately I have noticed the cost of garage bills have rocketed. Maybe it's cheaper to run an electric car but I can't stand the thought of driving what feels like an appliance rather than a car! I'm at the point of wondering how long I can run a car for but I need one to get to work and can't rely on public transport as it's a rural area. It feels all wrong.

Fortunately my DP can do a lot of jobs on my car which keeps costs down, I also know a friendly mechanic who is very well priced. I’ve recently spent quite a lot having a number of jobs done on my car, but that now means it should continue running for another few years with minimal expense beyond usual running of the car (fingers crossed). It’s still so much cheaper than me buying another car!

It’s also a “special” car, so despite it being old, it’s very smart and eye catching and over the years I’ve had so many comments on it, as recently as a few months ago! ❤️

Its so sad. All our nice little treats gone. I've totally stopped eating out. I can't push it over my throat anymore, knowing it's a total rip off.

As soon as your bum hits the seat you've bought 2 cokes, a beer and a wine.
30 quid.

Smarts?

I agree OP, lots of things that I could afford to buy but don’t really need are feeling like they’re “not a good use of money”. But I think that has more to do with what I have to do to get the money.

The people saying ‘you can’t get it with you’ are right though. So I’m thinking the right answer might be to buy less stuff and use the money I’ve saved to buy back my time. Work less, get a cleaner, whatever that looks like to you.

At least for me, I think it’s about what the money represents, which is time and sacrifice.

I grew up in the 70s, it was crap! I have no desire to live like that again.

Ultimately, people are allowed to spend their money on what they want. I'm not interested in Halloween decor but if someone is, well that's their choice. I get a bit fed up with the sneering way people on here talk about "tat" and "clutter". Acting so superior. Let people do what makes them happy.

I like my stuff. I like it every day. It's not a "5 minute high" that wears off for me. The things I buy are chosen carefully and it makes me happy to have them around me. You (general you) haven't discovered some secret I'm not yet in on. I just don't want to live in a minimal way, I never will.

I wanted to take my young 8-yr-old niece to see The Nutcracker in our California City - NOT San Francisco and NOT Los Angeles, nor was it the New York City Ballet Company.

I looked online at the box office and to get seats where a little girl could see, they were $400+/per seat.

So an afternoon out with my niece would cost almost $1000 if I took her out to eat at a nice restaurant as well.

I adore my nieces and nephews but I just don’t have the money for that.

My granny used to take us to special ballet and orchestral performances even though we live far from the big cities - I just wanted to continue that lovely tradition.

It makes me very sad.

I wonder what seats cost in the big cities.
My guess would be that they’re crippling.

Actually I feel guilty now referring to it as tat- because you are quite right , we all should just accept everyone is different - one persons ‘crap’ week in Benidorm is another persons great fun holiday etc ( me included and I’m a holiday snob - had a fab fun time)

Yes, but some people work and still only have enough to cover bills and food :(

But thats not what this thread is about its about people being tight through choice

I am finding that going out for meals has become more expensive while the quality has gone downhill. There are exceptions, but most of the places I have been with friends in the last year have been poor.

My social life is mostly meeting a friend for coffee or lunch for a couple of hours, which is so much better value. Local bakery is about £12 for 2 lattes and a cinnamon bun. I go out for coffee quite often - sometimes on my own to study/work for an hour - and have no intention of stopping that, as I really enjoy it, relative to cost.

I don't find clothes too expensive but I don't buy often and I do expect them to last. Really I should sell my unworn clothes on Vinted but I usually just donate them to charity shops, as the ones near us are always in need

I got what turned out to be a very small oat milk latte today to keep me going over lunch time as was on my way to the hairdressers which takes a few hours.

It was £4.25 from an Italian chain restaurant. I WFH most days and make my own coffee nowadays so maybe I’ve lost track of prices. Is this price normal now? no wonder they want us all back in the office , so they can fleece everyone more easily 🥹

I used to get a coffee all the time when I was freezing in winter waiting for another delayed train after work which was more or less every day lol

Agree, liberating I would say. I struggled to think of what to buy when given a JL gift voucher, nothing grabbed me in John lewis itself, so I saved it for a few months then used it to buy decent walking sandals.

I have stopped eating out, cancelled subscriptions and insurance. Still broke. It’s rubbish. I’ve ended up eating far too much processed sugar for comfort which is no good either.

Try getting a retail job. You'll be competing with dozens, if not hundreds, of other applicants.

Same. Now pre diabetes. 😐

So why were we constantly being told we need to get those not working, elderly, mums at home etc back into the labour market, visas needing to be given out, all as not enough people available for the jobs which need doing?

I totally agree, took my DD out to eat as a treat over half term and was so disappointed, the quality of the food wasn’t great, really seems to have gone down hill, is so expensive, such a relatively huge amount of our disposable income, In comparison, we spent half as much doing mini bowls and buying some bits from her favourite shop, next time will definitely be lunch at home or maybe a happy meal at the most.