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

[lucyellensmum]

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.

*necessities !

Flat screen TV.
Takeways.
Hair dye.
New lounge suite when there was nothing wrong with the old one you just didn't like it any more.
Buying new rather than getting something repaired.
Heated towel rails.
Manicures, pedicures and paying someone to polish your nails.
Driving rather than walking a couple of km.
Having people bring you drinks by the pool on holiday rather than getting your own.
Babysitters.

Of course I know plenty of people for whom these would not be luxuries and I'm sure that we have things other people would consider not essential.

I suppose it keeps advertising people and shops in business.

The AGA which we inherited when we moved into the house and is turned off at the moment because it is so expensive to run.

broadband
Good toothpaste

family who lived nearby and helped in the school holidays would be a luxury for me

Eating out with girlfriends. Holidays other than going to my parents' house. Babysitters (although ds1 is 13 so won't be necessary soon).

Not living in my overdraught

lie in's

Buying clothes because I like them (rather than because I've got nothing to wear)

Beauty treatments

my brand new underfloor heating, which is just fabulous! :) dd can now roll all she wants on the floor without me worrying that she feels cold! ooh, and the thermostat looks like an iphone, i love it!

my ensuite and the downstairs toilet! growing up all we had was the family bathroom, and in the 3 houses DH and I lived in prior to this one, we only had one bathroom. Now I have a choice of 3 toilets to use, and don't have to leave my bedroom at night

I also considered paid-for Sky a luxury when we had it, now we have BT Vision and it is rubbish

i consider the tv a luxury
pepsi and minstrels in the evening.

my children have a bed each where my dp and i dont we sleep on a matress on the floor so their beds are a luxury

we have a garden-so so pleased!

Things we can't afford but would love to have:

Sky Sports (DP, not me)
A cleaner
One of those in-floor vacuums so you just sweep the crumbs to the kickboard and it sucks them away mysteriously
Holiday abroad

Things we treat ourselves to occasionally:

Takeaways
Waitrose food
Kerastase hair stuff (me, not DP - though I suspect he uses it!)
New clothes

Sky TV

Takeaways

The car

Spare time

Getting control of Sky+ - now that def a luxury for me!!

Oh yes...definitely the contents of my bathroom cabinet (and make up bag for that matter), both TV's......some of our furniture items, glassware, computer, blackberry's, food items (we get the best), drinks collection, blackberry's, phones, dishwasher, some of our clothes....anything that is more than basic.

I would say that having internet useage at home is DEFINITELY a luxury...but because we have become so dependent on it we consider it necessary.....it's not...just bloody convenient.

oh yes...the car, our garden, sky plus...

@wynne11: what do you mean looks like iphone?? don't thermostats just come as white plastic boxes?? underfloor heating sounds good i must say, i can't get my baby to keep her socks on and mil keeps dropping remarks like she'll catch a chill from the floor, maybe i'll look into it.

pshan ~ you should, you'll love the warm floors! i got mine from Warmup underfloor heating and i'm telling you the thermostat is just gorgeous - you can check it out here www.warmup.co.uk/uk-3ie-thermostat.phtml.

coke in glass bottles

Take out coffee and m&s sandwichs instesd of packed lunch. Green and blacks, magazines , hair cuts (things I do buy but not as often as i'd like and are therefore treats.

I would love to be able to;

• Go on holiday, haven't for over 10 years
• Be able to get my hair cut every 8 weeks at the(only £6) hairdressers
• Buy clothes for myself new and not from the charity shop or car boot sales (I manage to get some new stuff for dh and dcs)

Buying fresh food every single day.

Being able to just sporadically go away for the weekend or go out for dinner/order dinner in.

Holidays
Take aways
Being able to work only part time
Buying nice sandwiches rather than taking my own packed lunch

Sex
8 hours uninterrupted sleep
A hair cut
A small bottom

Just re-read the original OP. These aren't items, though I want them dearly.

Um; items on the wish list are:
A cleaner who also likes ironing (can a person be an item?!)
An upstairs loo that works

Luxury type things we have already (on occasion)
Take Aways
Meal with just the DH in a nice restuarant

I literally can't think of anything else. Sad life!