Luxury V Essential, ive pasted this from another thread, but would quite like to know what everyone else thinks but PLEASE, be nice

[MadCreamLady]

Ah, i can see this has moved on to necessity v luxury. That is really interesting.

Anna has said about computors and internet not being a luxury and actually, i tend to agree - we use ours for our business, such as it is, but we still need it. Then of course there is mumsnet , an evil necessity.

Car? I guess it depends where you live, if you can get to work on public transport, but yes, in some circs a luxury.

Dishwasher?? Are you MAD? absolute essential.

Sky or broadband? For me, a total luxury, ive never had either, dont want either really so my attitude towards that comes out of my not really wanting it. Some might, but i still think its a luxury.

Washing machine - nuff said

Tumble dryer - luxury, ours broke, we manage, although DP is nagging that we need one, im determined not to cave in. They are cheap enough to buy but too dear to run.

Central heating/adequate heating - essential

decent shoes for the children - essential, i only buy startrite/clarks or equivalent, even though sometimes i have to borrow to do so.

New clothing - luxury, i buy from charity shops and quite enjoy the challenge (its like my little hobby).

Holidays, hmmmm, now this is one i hesitate on - i was going to say luxury, but im not so sure actually. We have had our problems, finances nearly caused us both to break down - we did a SUN holiday (thankyou again chippy) and i try believe it saved our relationship, things have been so much better between us since then - so, no, not a luxury actually - it of course depends on the holiday.

Activities for the children - somewhere in between luxury and essential i think. My DD does ballet and adores it, i was really loathe to start it but she enjoys it so much - I don't think i would do anything else though.

Computor games - luxury (or are they?)

TV?? Id rather do without this than my computor, but Silent Witness is finished and i feel bereft, i got two doses of eye candy for the price of one there. Fecking crap story lines though

Meals out - luxury (we do this too much)

Take away - luxury, although they are never really that nice so its weird referring to them as a luxury

Nice bubble bath - essential for my sanity

hair cuts - luxury

oh and the list goes on and on....

Computer essential - am abroad and e-mail everyone
Car - essential
Dishwasher - essential
Washing machine - essential
Tumble drier - essential in winter
Microwave - essential, was a wedding present and has now completed 22 years service and is still going strong.
Heating - essential
Radio - essential
Television - essential for Dr Who fix but don't have/want Sky
Newspapers - once a week as we live abroad and like the Saturday DT
New shoes - essential for ds - I probably have enough footwear for the next millenium. I have a new pair of deck shoes each year though.
Clothes - essential for ds - not for me or dh. Boden sale is great, as is Tescos when I get back to the UK.
Cinema, - luxury
Eating out - luxury
Babysitters - luxury
Haircuts - essential for ds and for me. dh uses the local barbers
Books - essential, but I must break my Amazon habit as I have loads of books
Holidays - I go back to the UK once a year to see my house/my Mum - essential.
Take away - luxury - though 3 kebabs once a fortnight with chips when I don't want to produce another meal is ?14
Bubble bath - luxury (but I do have a stockpile that I work through)

I gave up work to move abroad to be with dh, and actually, having thought long and hard about this, we really don't need to buy anything except food and petrol for a long time, as we have everything that we need, and I could open a library with my book collection. I do try to have long periods when I don't buy much, and then I get a little stir crazy and spend. I should just try to restrict my spending until Christmas and then get my splurge over in one fell swoop.

The three kebabs referred to are for the three of us, not just me!

Internet and laptop - Its a Luxury isnt it. We don't really need it. Its not essential to our day to day living but its an essential for me keeping my sanity.

Car - For us its an essential. We have no family nearby so if we didn't have a car we would never see them.

Dishwasher - Luxury but I love my dishwasher so much.
Washing up sucks.

Sky - Luxury.

Washing machine -

Tumble dryer - Luxury

Central heating/adequate heating - essential

decent shoes for the children - Having worked for 2 major shoe companies and I can honestly say that you can shoes just as good if not better elsewhere and at the fraction of the price.

New clothing - Luxury.

Holidays - Luxury

Activities for the children - Now it depends on how you define it. To me, so long as they get out of the house and can run about, they are happy.

Computer games - Luxury

TV - This is a tough one. I guess it is a luxury but to me its an essential.

Meals out - luxury but I would love to eat out more often.

Take away - luxury but I do love it when dh says "lets get a takeaway". Yey! no cooking!

Nice bubble bath - couldn't care less. i love my shower.

hair cuts - essential otherwise I look like one of those mountain rescue dogs.

computer +broadband = essential for my job

car = luxury - I could happily use the train

Sky = luxury

washing mashine = essential

micro wawe = luxury

dish washer = luxury

Tumble dryer = luxury

central heating = essential but rarely use it

Decent shoes = essential

new clothuing = luxury

holiday = luxury

activity for children = luxury

computer games = luxury

tv = luxury - I never had one growing up, but would hate to be without it now.

meals out/take away/hair cut... = luxury

Internet =luxury (available for free at library)
car =luxury (but v. glad to have it~).
Sky =luxury don't have this
washing mashine = essential
micro wawe = luxury
dish washer = luxury
freezer - essential (more so if no car)
Tumble dryer = luxury - don't have one
central eating = essential
Decent shoes = essential -kids shoes paid for by Grandparents bless'em - no more than 1 pair at a time
new clothing = luxury
holiday = luxury
activity for children = luxury
computer games = luxury
tv = luxury but have one
meals out/take away/hair cut... = luxury

Oi nutters!

Why has no-one so far put

Wine = essential

??

Lordy.

Essential - Computer, washing machine, shoes, car, freezer.

Luxury - More than one car, holidays, tumble dryer, computer games, microwave, Sky, central heating, dishwasher, new clothes.

(Just to clarify, some heating is of course essential, but central heating isn't, IMO.)

computer +broadband = essential,
car = I feel essential, but I live in london so there is loads of transport nearby
Sky = luxury
washing mashine = essential
micro wawe = essential (but could easily cope without)
dish washer = luxury
Tumble dryer = luxury but use it all the time and would hate to be with out it
central eating = essential
Decent shoes = essential
new clothing = luxury
holiday = luxury
activity for children - essential
computer games = luxury
tv = essential
meals out/take away/hair cut = luxury

Computer/internet -essential - use skype to talk to our family for free, DH uses for work, I IM him instead of calling/txting, we do all our shopping online. Would hate to be without it !

Car - luxury. Neither of us can drive so useless anyway. We get along fine (I do depend on a good friend for lifts now I have DS).

Dishwasher - Luxury. Hate them - smelly and make dishes squeak.

Microwave - Luxury. Hate them - they scare me. Always cook from scratch anyway.

Sky or broadband - not necessary but used a lot !

Washing machine - essential

Tumble dryer - needed when DS was tiny but not for a year now.

Central heating/adequate heating - essential but we don't like being hot so minimal use

decent shoes for the children - essential

New clothing - Luxury. I like army surplus which is always good value

Holidays - Luxury. don't like them - we're real stay at homes. Went on honeymoon but won't go again.

Activities for the children - essential to us as planning home ed and want DS to socialise. 3 activities a week currently costs us around £37 a month. Will no doubt increase as DS gets older but will be offset by not having to buy school clothes etc.

Computer games - luxury but much loved

TV - I enjoy it but didn't get one until 2002. I would give it up if I had a digital radio.

Meals out - Luxury. Don't like them - we're very fussy eaters for completely different reasons so finding a restaurant that suits us both is a nightmare. Both teetotal too so don't like being around drinking. It's a non-starter

Take away - Luxury. Don't like them much either.

Nice bubble bath - Luxury. I do buy "nice" soap though and good shampoo. On the plus side I don't use any make up or hair care "products" etc. so feel I am quite cheap there

hair cuts - luxury. My hair is down to my thighs - DH trims twice a year. He has a monthly hair cut now as he needs to look smart. Will do DS's myself when he needs it.

We're really poor despite DH having a good job in London, but very happy together. I don't feel like I miss out on much.

Internet/computer - essential
car - essential or work commute , for anything else it's a luxury !
Sky - luxury,
Washing machine - essential,with 5 kids i think
Microwave - luxury
Dish Washer - luxury
Tumble dryer - luxury, but would.nt be with out one
Central Heating - essential -
Decent shoes - essential
New clothing - Essential ajust need
Holiday - luxury
Activities for children - luxury,
Computer games - luxury
TV - Essential
Eating out/Takeaways - luxury
Pampering - Luxury / whats pampering !!lol
wine == luxury

computors and internet - essential
Car - essential
Dishwasher - luxury, but we have one
Sky or broadband - Luxury, only have it cos dh like sports
Washing machine - essential
Tumble dryer - luxury, rarely use it
Central heating/adequate heating - essential
decent shoes for the children - i'll buy from clarks, and would do for eg school shoes, but i also buy from m&s, next etc.
New clothing - luxury
Holidays - essential to go away somewhere, we're lucky we have family who live here and abroad in lovely places so can holiday for cheap.
Activities for the children - luxury
Computor games - luxury
TV - essential
Meals out - luxury
Take away - luxury
Nice bubble bath - luxury
hair cuts - luxury, i only have mine done maybe once ayear and i cut dd's myself.

Internet = essential
car = we have 1, its essential
Sky = luxury but dh works for virgin so we get it free, we wouldnt have it if we had to pay for it
washing mashine = essential
microwave = Luxury
dish washer = essential definatly
freezer - essential
Tumble dryer = essential but expensive
central eating = essential
Decent shoes = for DD yes, for me NO
new clothing = for DD yes, i dont really buy much
holiday = luxury
activity for children = luxury at the moment will no doubt becomg essential in a year or so.
computer games = Luxury
tv = luxury but we have one
meals out/take away/hair cut.. luxury, we have the odd meal out but my hair is seriosuly neglected

Sky Plus = essential

computer +broadband = essential (saves money shopping etc)
car = essential (everything now designed around people having cars, you can miss out otherwise)
Sky =luxury
washing mashine = essential
micro wawe = luxury
dish washer = luxury, we don't have one anymore, ours broke and we didn't replace it as don't mind washing up
Tumble dryer = essential with lots of DC
central heating = essential
Decent shoes = essential but can buy cheaply
new clothing = luxury but we buy most new but cheap (tesco, matalan etc)
holiday = essential but can be cheap and UK
activity for children= swimming essential, others luxury
computer games = luxury
tv = essential these days
meals out/take away/ = luxury
haircut= essential

Internet/computer - essential
car - essential or work commute , for anything else it's a luxury !
Sky - luxury,
Washing machine - essential,with 5 kids i think
Microwave - luxury
Dish Washer - luxury
Tumble dryer - luxury, but would.nt be with out one
Central Heating - essential -
Decent shoes - essential
New clothing - Essential ajust need
Holiday - luxury
Activities for children - luxury,
Computer games - luxury
TV - Essential
Eating out/Takeaways - luxury
Pampering - Luxury / whats pampering !!lol
wine == luxury

men !nonessential
chocolate essential & luxury

Now, I am not sure that wine=luxury. Without a good glass of red, frankly I don't see the point in continuing.

And I would be very expensive to replace. There's my salary and nannying duties. There's my chauffering remit. There's my cleaning and housekeeping services. Tutoring. Concierge service. Counsellor. Bookeeper and accountant. And of course, entertainer. This would all cost a lot of money to replace.

I am sure you will agree that £4 glass of red that I shall embark on in precisely 2 hour and 50 mins provides excellent value for money. And you will have to prise it out of my icy grip

Computers-Luxury but dc regularly asked to use them for homework/research with a day turnaround- not as if you can always nip to the library.

Car? Luxury but life would be very difficult without it.

Dishwasher?? Luxury.

Sky or broadband? Luxury

Washing machine - Necessity

Tumble dryer - In thie weather
, with a family of five, necessity (unless heating was on all the time to dry stuff but that's another question.

Central heating/adequate heating - essential

decent shoes for the children - essential,

New clothing - essential

Holidays, Luxury

Activities for the children - Luxury but who wouldn't scrimp in other areas to let their kids do them is they wanted?

Computor games - luxury

TV?? Luxury but who doesn't have one. If your kids friends catch on to this, all hell will break loose.

Meals out - luxury (but a night out every now and agin is essential for your sanity)

Take away - luxury,

Nice bubble bath - luxury

hair cuts - essential for kids, especially wee boys. they also make you feel miles better about yourself so there is an argument there.........

oh and the list goes on and on....

Interesting, when filling out IVA forms to send to creditors, Sky, tobacco and alcohol are on the list of essentials as are up to £100 of children's hobbies and life assurance.

Oh and up to £50 of hairdressing, which surprised me !

your list in my household:
computer +broadband =luxury
car = esaential - live in a rural area
Sky =luxury
washing mashine = essential
micro wawe = luxury
dish washer = luxury
Tumble dryer = luxury
central eating = essential
Decent shoes = essential but do not need to be startrite/clarke...
new clothuing = essential - needs must basis
holiday = luxury but could say is essential for family bonding time
activity for childdren = luxury
computer games = luxury
meals out/take away - luxury
hair cut... = essential

Internet - 50/50
Car - essential
Washing machine - essentail
Dish washer - luxury (we dont have one)
Freezer - essential
Tumble dryer - essential in winter, luxury in summer
Central heating - essential
Decent shoes - essential for children, adults whatever they can get
Haircut - essential for DS and DD - I cut DH and per another thread have forgone my regular trim for many moons now
New clothes - 50/50 - we love hand-me-downs for DC's, but I need new as hand me downs and charity shop finds are rare in my size. So I get from catalogue and spread cost
Holidays - luxury....but
Time off work at the same time - essential
Activity for children - essential, but does not have to cost loads
computer games - luxury
tv - essentail
meals out / take away - luxury

Computer and Broadband internet = essential - DH and I both need it for working at home evenings and weekends
Car = Luxury - we live in London and could survive without it. When we lived in New York we didn't have one.
Sky = luxury
Washing mashine = essential
Microwave = luxury
Dishwasher = luxury (but very very useful)
Tumble dryer = luxury, but would be hardpushed to get DS's nappy stuffings try in time without one.
Central heating = essential
Decent shoes = essential
New clothing = luxury but not something I'd give up easily
Holiday = essential for recharging the batteries - cheap UK holiday is fine with us though!
activity for childdren = luxury at the moment, DS is only 1
computer games = luxury
TV = essential
Meals out/take away/hair cut... = Treat every now and then

lots of people put tumbledrier=luxury
I wonder if you all have outside space? we dont so it is absolutely essential. We live on the ground floor so our windows only open a few inches and because of the shape of our place we never get a good breeze through - if we had wet laundry all over the place we would have dreadful damp problems and be triping over musty damp clothes everywhere

we dont have a microwave, havent had one in years - a total luxury IMO

Internet at home is a luxury - we both have free access via work or local library.

Car = luxury (we live in a town, in fact they are almost more of a hindrance here than a luxury)

Virgin media = luxury that we always find money for, love getting a move from on-demand when we've both had a long day

hairdresser = luxury for me, but barbers is essential for DH

bodylotion etc = essential, have painful dry skin without it. I am not the type who cant go outside without make-up, but it does make me more confident and gives me a boost and poundshop stuff hurts me. Decent Conditioner is a must for long hair.