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.

Eating out regularly. The price is going up and up and the quality is going down. I only eat out at really good places that do food I can't cook myself now.

Anyone with any sense can see the difference. And expensive clothing doesn't have to have the brand plastered all over it. If you haven't owned luxury clothing then it's easy to say you can't see the difference but to anyone who has, it's night and day.

Cheap denim is especially crap.

I obviously have no sense 🙄.
I've never owned luxury clothing nor have I any interest in doing so.

Fancy cars. I love my little car that gets me from A to B and fits into even the most awkward parking spaces.

So what gives you the idea that you can compare the 2?

Some people don't care about fancy cars but there's no denying that a Porsche is clearly different to a Corsa.

New car - we are a 6 figure household but one of our cars is 12 years old.

Designer clothes - unnecessary and often look tacky

Well, loads of things. I only spend on what I actually want, which is what I thought most people did, but I’ve come to realise many people don’t.

Bigger house
Beach/pool holidays
Make up - haven’t worn it since I retired
Designer labels
Brand new cars

Same, we are way into 6 figure income household and we have 2 cars both bought outright and worth around £2k each. My dad worked with cars and said new cars are the biggest con in this life.

Also never buy expensive clothes. Waste of money to me, I can't tell the difference anyway.

Takeaways, makeup.

Getting my nails done
Upgrading car unless it needs doing
Expensive holidays - feels like a waste, it will be over and you might not enjoy it

Designer bag
Expensive sushi
Morning Starbucks

A lot of it is more about choices though which I find a little less interesting: e.g. I don’t have a bigger house because I like to travel, or I don’t buy books so I can get my nails done.

It’s more interesting imo to know what people don’t spend money on when they’re making a choice based on principle/taste/some other intriguing reason, rather than just because they’d rather spend it on something else.

e.g. private education because they don’t believe in the ethics; eating out because they don’t trust chefs, or the art of Picasso because he is as abusive

Mani pedis. I do them myself.
Takeaway coffee.
New phones. Keep mine until they’re dead.
Gym membership. Bought some dumbbells and do online classes now.

New/better clothes. I generally have leggings from a British made, female owned business and T-shirts from vinted.
Weve come away on holiday and before we came, we spent about 6 weekends trying to find clothes for all 4 of us that would last the Spanish sun! I ended up on vinted for the kids shirts and my husband Amazon-ed T-shirts in the end. That’s how bad we are for wearing old clothes!!

Another one for me is branded supermarket items. There are only a few things I believe the more expensive version is better, and I will spend money on the following:

1. Good bread
2. Tinned Tomatoes
3. Red Wine
4. Chocolate
5. Grapes (this is a bit niche to me though I fear)
6. Fats (Butter/Olive Oil)

Everything else I get the essentials version of.

A car
A tumble drier

The former is both idealogical and based on our mutual dislike of driving. The latter has something to do with space in our quirky cottage and also that when we lived in a flat and had one, I found the idea of the very long drying cycles a bit weird.

I love going to the cinema and theatre but I'm not really into the snacks element. Popcorn is meh and smells pretty nasty. With theatre tickets, our local theatre costs £23-7, £39-45, £55-59. I'd rather buy the cheap tickets and go more often.

I don't understand why people have to stuff their faces while they're watching a film or show.
Apart from the facet I've never felt the need the prices are extortionate.

From cheapest to most expensive:
Throw-away fashion - I'd rather buy good quality second hand.
Coffees out - such a ridiculously high mark up
Brands when own brands are just as good
Fake nails - hate the feel
Designer leisurewear and handbags
A gardener - tho' I would love a complete makeover if I could afford it
Cruises - just yuck
New cars - my 13 year old hybrid does me just fine.

What makes you use the expression 'stuff their faces' about eating snacks?
Food shaming is not cool.

This is so true isn't it. Once you can buy things many times over they become much less desirable. I was want want want when I was younger and perpetually skint, now I can buy anything I want within reason and no longer have any desire to do so!

High heels….cant walk in them
designer sunglasses…why?
Nescafé coffee…Sainsbury’s tastes just the same

I’m very sorry for your loss of your beloved daughter. 💐