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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

So, what do YOU consider a luxury in your house.

98 replies

lucyellensmum · 25/07/2008 12:53

I know i know, a thread about a thread, which i think was also about another thread. But i would like to ask the question from a different angle as apposed to one of being poor or hard up.

I don't consider the internet to be a luxury as such. This is because it is has practical use that makes life much easier. I couldnt have done my PhD without internet at home. DD would have been stuck with homework etc, we use it for my DPs business to contact clients etc. Saying that, its not an essential in the same way say, the washing machine - but i remember my mother washing clothes in a twin tub and we were one of the first in our street to get an automatic washing machine. It wasn't THAT long ago (honest). That would have definately been considered a luxury. I certainly wouldnt want to be without an automatic washing machine, i just dont think i would cope. In fact i would battle without my dishwasher - but those maybe still considered luxury goods?

I don't have a tumble dryer, i don't consider that a luxury as to me the definition of luxury is something that we have that is totally for pleasure and is decadent. My tumbe dryer died and i have saved so much money on electric since it went that i will never buy another one.

We haven't been on holiday in four years, but we are going soon - wooohooo, thanks to a wonderful mumsnetter and her sun holiday codes. So holidays were the first thing to go when the going got financially tough. BUT one could argue that from a pyschological viewpoint these are quite an important part of family life. I consider a holiday a luxury, others disagree.

The price of technology is very cheap and all of these things are often available to the least well off. Flat screen telly? To me, a definate luxury, we don't have one, i don't actually want one - we don't have a wall to put it on (too many alcoves ). So wont buy one.

So what do you consider to be a luxury indulgent item in your house, REGARDLESS of your financial status. Thats why i started a separate thread so that side of things could be left to one side.

OP posts:
wrinklytum · 27/07/2008 02:04

CVQ

alardi · 27/07/2008 09:26

Saturday Guardian.
Buying new things when old ones are quite tatty (but not completely worn out yet, iyswim).

LynetteScavo · 27/07/2008 09:43

Interesting thread.

I don't think I've got any luxuries in my house; I'm so good at justifying things.

This may sound odd, but my DS's have 2 PE kits so I don't have to rush to wash them over the weekend.For some reason I think that is a luxury.

I'm about to buy some Fired Earth tiles instead of bog standard ones form Wicks, so I supose they will be a luxury.

objectivity Sainsburys have GU brownies for 2 for £5 this week, so while I would normally consider them a luxury, they haven't been this week.

WelliesAndPyjamas · 27/07/2008 09:47

meat
tumble drier
renting a dvd + buying a huge bag of crisps to go with it

missorinoco · 27/07/2008 09:51

Waitrose food. A rare treat.
A lie in.

katebee · 27/07/2008 22:06

A fourth bedroom would be a luxury for us!

MatNanPlus · 27/07/2008 22:11

Our luxuries are :

Takeaways/eating out

Molton Brown Products

Holidays

Essentials for us are :

Internet

Car

ellideb · 27/07/2008 22:12

Not having to stick to a basic budget when food shopping

Fresh fish and meat

Being able to buy fashionable clothes regularly

Having a new kitchen

Wooden floors (not laminate)

American style refrigerators

Car less than 2yrs old (mine's 10yrs)

charliecat · 27/07/2008 22:14

My dishwasher is worshipped each day. It is a luxury I will NEVER take for granted.

BibiThree · 27/07/2008 22:14

I class "luxury" as the first thing to go when times get hard financially, so that would be Sky+.

MaloryTowersUrbaniteLady · 27/07/2008 22:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

themoon66 · 27/07/2008 22:17

take aways

dishwasher (I waited so long for one)

Holidays

being able to pay bills as they arise without feeling panic striken.

sports car instead of bog standard boring car (mine, all mine)

hairdresser

nice shoes

good bras

FrazzledFairyFay · 27/07/2008 22:20

A day to myself

mylovelymonster · 27/07/2008 22:22

Clean cotton sheets dried outside so they smell gorgeous and a great shower.

abbieslife · 27/07/2008 22:27

mobile phones (constantly on incoming calls only in our house!)

good quality chocolate

wine

eating out

new shoes

Quattrocento · 27/07/2008 22:27

Luxuries - as in something that we allow ourselves infrequently?

On that basis:

A meal at a restaurant with one or more michelin stars

A visit to a spa

An outing to Harvey Nicks WITHOUT looking at the prices

A lie-in

A nice watch

blueskythinker · 27/07/2008 22:32

My luxuries are:
My cleaner
My bath (and time to lie in it)
Not worrying about money

pointydog · 27/07/2008 22:37

What do you work as, sheik? So little holiday

DanJARMouse · 27/07/2008 22:46

Luxeries I have :

Nintendo Wii/Wii Fit
Laptop with wireless BB
Chocolate

Luxeries I have rarely, but would like more :

Full nights sleep
Lie in
A night out with DH (cost wise, just cant warrant it)
Shopping for things at the farm shop (again, cost issue)

cremolafoam · 27/07/2008 22:50

2 cars
a computer each- dh is a geek and does them up for us
broadband and wifi
a garden that ends in fields
no neighbours
a cleaner( from time to time)
being out of the city

davidtennantsmistress · 27/07/2008 22:52

luxuries: my broadband (laptop came with it free)
car (old banger which might well have to go if things get worse but will keep it for now)
good cold meats (only get 4 slices thou)
non concentrated orange/cloudy apple (when on offer)
free range eggs/chickens (when on offer) would rather go without otherwise.

would really love a week of full nights sleeps without a little person coming into my bed! oh and a couple of new DVD's.

Acinonyx · 27/07/2008 23:36

get a gas dryer

my other luxuries:
can't afford a cleaner but we have our ironing done (bliss)

we spend quite a bit on wine and groceries (free range organic non concentrate blahdiblah)

what I would like for luxuries:

evenings out
new clothes

QuintessentialShadows · 27/07/2008 23:44

I have been watching this thread, and wrecking my brains. Luxuries?

I bought a fresh pineapple yesterday. We should really eat it before it gets off.

Everything we have is a deed of necessity, in my opinion. Expect for a few bottles of wine. They are not necessity, they are sanity.

QuintessentialShadows · 27/07/2008 23:46

We havent eaten out for 6 months.
We bought the cheapest car in the second hand car shop in the class we wanted (suv).
No holiday this year.

But, I have a pineapple, and I am really looking forward to eating it.

(Also doing a selfbuild, so my expenses are quite high anyway)

solo · 28/07/2008 00:53

I used to have my nails done(acrylics)once a month when I was earning(it was my only me thing). I gave up having them done because they were a luxury I can't justify.

I have broadband. A car. A motorbike. The broadband is my social life. The car is my way of getting around with two Dc's and my own iillness. My motorbike is my transport to work when I am working. I guess they could be classed as neccesities.

I'd love a 3rd bedroom so that I can have mine to myself again. That'd be luxurious.
I'd like my garden sorted and tended for me.
I'd love good health.
God! now I'm depressed!