What's your deal-breaking, can't do without expense?

[Bossybritches22]

Following on the brilliant "No Spend January" thread in this section I've been feeling very nosy idily thinking.

What is your one/two things that you COULD economise on but would really make life so much more miserable. Things are SO tight for us all at the moment but we have to have one little treat/bit of help that picks us up,even if it seems extravagant.

Mine are; PG tips, I love my cuppa and I know there are other bags that allegedly taste as good but have never found one.

Nice wine; have restricted myself to 3 for £10/£12 once a month, when it's on offer, sticking to that and often it lasts longer but it's my luxury.

What's yours?

Why don't you get a Kindle and free up some wall space?

Have you thought of using a library?!?

Healthy food. Non-negotiable. Also good coffee, Italian red wine, dark chocolate, real bread from a proper bakery, decent dog food...

Not very good at this exercise

Free range eggs and meat. Would sooner be veggie than eat the factory farmed stuff.

I have a Kindle for out of copyright classics and textbooks/research materials and I also use the library. I also use these for the 'eat-in-two-bites crime thrillers and medical thrillers that I love but know I won't read again.

Yes....I re-read many of my books too.

However I like owning books and often lend them out. I just adore books as beautiful objects.

free range chicken and eggs

1 bottle of £5 wine a week but having a think re that one

music lessons

kids books but having a think re that too/cutting down

Really good single malt whisky for DH. I love coming home with a new bottle for him of some esoteric brand. Any recommendations gratefully received...

Also good meat, our home grown allotment fruit and veg which is not always cheaper especially the cost of seeds from Seeds Of Italy. I'm a sucker for their catalogue....

Plants for the garden. I propagate a lot of plants and give away loads too to reduce costs but always spend too much at Beth Chatto's!

Free range eggs
Good quality meat
Not from concentrate orange juice

Just back from having eyebrows and upper lip threading done, best 20 mins and £18 of my month. I would happily buy no clothes for the rest of the year than go without having this done - a tidy face goes a long way!

Hair dye. I've had pink hair more or less constantly since I was 17, and I wouldn't look or feel like me if I went back to my natural colour.

Oh yes pure juice and Lazazza coffee for my Gaggia. Tried every cheap make of coffee and just can't go cheaper.Still I never go to Costa and have stopped buying Illy.

Oooh...I've always wanted pink hair, Anathema! Lifelong fan of Jem and the Holograms

Mine is my riding lesson. We are struggling to afford it and I may have to stop . I haven't been for a few weeks over Christmas though and dh has noticed the difference in my happiness. I need to find something cheaper which gives me the same kick.

nursenic you could have a book & plant sale when the weather is better & make a fortune!

Only those books you could bear to sell/haven't read recently of course.

My hair (although did cut back to every 9-10 weeks rather than 6 and it made hardly any difference)

gym membership (very cheap £25 a month)

contact lenses (£10 per month)

Decent eggs and decent bread- although do use breadmaker now so considerably cheaper.

Couldn't care less about wine, chocolate, meat, buy cheap make-up and clothes, we have cheap holidays, don't drink tea or coffee, don't read magazines (thats what the internets for), never get my nails done.....although its on my 'one day' list when I'm not shelling out huge amounts for childcare and can afford it!

Bossybritches

great idea- I have sold plants before but am a bit soft and tend to give stuff away....I should be more economically astute...

must haves / non negotiable Andrex toilet rolls, Kellogs cornflakes. Warburton bread and dare I admit it... The internet.

nursenic folks LOVE a plant sale!!

Add books & you'll be on a double winner.

Get some local ladies/gents to do a refreshment stall for their favourite charity (the church roof,village hall?) and you'll sell out!

PG tips, diet coke and tropicana oj on terms of food. Internet too. Have downgraded on pretty much else

And virgin tv package thing. Added films over Christmas but that's coming off on a week as I go back to work but have recorded enough to last me a while

BossyBritches I'll PM you if I do

I do grow LOTS of plants. Another obsession. If any of my plants have sown 'babies', or need dividing or have spread, i just cannot bear to get rid of the excess ones and can usually find homes.

Maybe I could really consolidate and sell books ABOUT plants too?

Virgin vie skin care, good quality brand food (hate buying cheap stuff and spending ages cooking for it to taste like crap)
I was going to get a manicure today for long awaited night out tomorrow but I bought a bottle of cheap polish and did it myself in my lunch hour and it looks pretty good!
Decent socks and cosy sleepsuits for my boy from mothercare or next.

Cappuccinos and highlights.

Tumble dryer- is that sad?

Saves my sanity as doing at least 2 loads a day and cuts down on ironing.