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?

Liz earle skin care - its the only stuff that has made any difference to my skin
Books for my kindle (mostly the 99p ones though!)
good quality meat
good quality fruit and veg
free range eggs
fairtrade tea and coffee and chocolate

So, quite a lot really

BUT dh and I dont have take aways, go out much, drink or smoke. Life would be very depressing without any treats wouldnt it?

I couldnt forgo decent food - food is top priority and never value to buy cheaper basic stuff.

We dont drink now so that saves £20-£40pw. Takeaways - cant beleive people who have no money can afford them even fish and chips!!! If hubby mentions curry - I'd rather buy quality chicken and make it myself in an hour against £25 for a load of greasy tat.

Pointless toilettaries and cleaning products. I use a spray and mix my own solution. Own branded toilettaires. However I still use my posh kerastane shampoo.

We buy Lindt chocolate because its so rich I can only eat 2 chunks so thats fine and it lasts.

No magazines, no lose anyway. No crisps, really no crap only the basics. I tend to make my own - well thats the intenstion.

Eating out particualry with children in tow. Fed up with the cost - now pack our own, bottle of squash and flask of coffee - actually its much nicer!

forgot - Got to have decent t-bags (M&S extra strong) and strong coffee.

Hair cut & tint every 7 - 8 weeks.

heating!!!

Hot water, it turns out. 4 weeks into living with only the immersion heater and no Ch after our gas ran out. (long story but the reason we're not topping up the tank is that within a few weeks we will be installing a biomass boiler and don't want to give any more money to bastard calorgas) I hate not having reliable hot water. I feel absurdly grateful when it's sunny enough to warm our solar tank enough to use. It's like camping, only with an expensive roof.

Hair cut every 8 weeks and highlights every 16

And a decent bottle of wine - say a £12 bottle on offer for £7 or £8.

Hair dye-I refuse to be totally grey at 34

Wine

I don't go out, don't buy nice clothes, nor does dh. Don't smoke or have many extravegances. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

Liz Earle skincare simply the best on the market having tried so many top top brands over the years.

It even compares favourably on price in many cases!