Things you could afford but choose not to spend on?

[Netcurtainnelly]

Things you could afford but don't bother with/choose not to spend on.

Inspired by the cleaning thread.
What could you afford but don't have/do?

A cleaner, just do it ourselves.
A long haul holiday. No interest.

A bigger house. A fancier kitchen. General home improvements unless really necessary.

We spend all our disposable income on eating out, days out and holidays.

Handbags.

Designer labels
Expensive/newer cars
Gadgets and tech, our TV is one DH owned when we met, in 2007. 😂

But we spend loads on travel and nice food. Happy to spend where we get genuine enjoyment out of it and save where it's of no interest to us.

Designer clothes
Porsche or a n other expensive car
Tech
£100+ skincare
There’s lots I do spend on but not the above

So much. Don't do designer, don't have nails, brows, hair done (cut my own, have done for years), holidays because of having animals, posher car. All my cars have been old and finally bought a new (cheap, no street cred) one 3 years ago, that will see me out.

Only thing I tend to spend money on is nice things for the house and the garden. Love the garden.

Kitchen roll

Designer label anything

Expensive skin and hair treatments

I have zero interest in tech. I’ve never. Bought a tv, never owned any gaming things, we have sky but to me it’s literally the biggest waste of money, I buy the cheapest SIM only contracts I can find. My phone is 7 years old and I’ll keep it until it dies. Couldn’t interest me less. Don’t have Spotify or any music channels just a waste of money.

Botox or lip fillers - horrible stuff and definitely never an improvement.

Branded weetabix - dd prefers Tesco own brand.

Private school and associated vat - happy to pay it if we choose private but not something we are choosing at the moment.

Hot tub - horrible.

Cruises - not my thing, but dd and dh would be sick the whole time anyway.

Spendy skin care / Botox / lashes etc
A cleaner
The Maldives and suchlike
Designer clothes and bags
Watches
Takeaways / Deliveroo (I DO spend on nice restaurants)

Takeaways
Going to pub or wine bar
Anything new that I can buy second hand
Cleaner and gardener - but that’s mainly because it’s hard to find a reliable one
Newer car than my old banger

100 percent agree with this, I’m the same! Although I do think that the quality of everything has gone down a lot since 2020 so most things don’t feel like value for money any more which makes it easier to decide not to spend.

My nails cracked n the menopause. Having natural looking gel nails has prevented a lot of discomfort. I don’t need to worry about them splitting and causing pain.

Tbh we could definitely afford to shop somewhere that’s not Lidl but it’s so conveniently located and sometimes I go with my dad and we do our big shop together which is nice.

Could afford a fancier car but I love my Fiat! It’s very inconvenient, and we do have a big 7 seater as the family car but I love Fifi and I won’t give up my cool car just because I’m a mum, I also don’t want to upgrade because I’m very emotionally attached to her.
We could probably get the kids more toys but tbh I really don’t want a house full of crap. Doesn’t mean I love them less.

TV subscriptions/ packages. We only have a TV in our room don’t have one in the living room (I never had one as a kid). Our TV is just basic free view with on demand iplayer ect. I’m not a big TV person to be honest apart from The Real Housewives (judge all you want I love it) but I watch that on my laptop.

A cocaine habit.

Is it ageist of me to think that an over 50s (I'm 59) woman taking social cocaine habit is just plain old tacky.

Organic food (no evidence it’s any better for you)

General self-maintenance (I just don’t give a shit enough to do stuff like get my eyebrows shaped or lashes done … just not for me)

New furniture (so easy to get quality second hand)

Holidays have become so expensive. I have to go in the school holidays. My lovely home is my sanctuary and so I am now thinking I get much better value from my house!

I could afford pretty much anything I want (excluding larger things like a boat or a second home.)
I really don’t want anything much any more.
I don’t spend money on branded/designer wear as I am not interested in it.
One thing I don’t spend money on is new cars as they lose value so rapidly. I buy a top-spec second hand one 3-5 years old.

2nd home. Can’t think of anything more boring.

@LadyMacbethWasFierce I’m sorry about the loss of your daughter

I'm so very sorry for your loss @LadyMacbethWasFierce💐

More holidays longhaul and just holidays in general. Far too stressful with sen child, as sad as it is.

Busy places like theme parks that again we just avoid!

Private education
Expensive cars
Designer clothes
handbags
make up

Definitely long haul flights. We’ve been to the US a couple of times but no interest in Thailand, Aus, etc. the idea of 24 hours flight and the jet lag puts me off.