As the recession bites, 0f all the things you've had to give up, what do you miss the most?

[nkf]

For me, it's nice perfume. I long for Jo Malone and Penhaligon.

What's yours?

[SEWannabe]

I agree with everyone who says they miss not having to think about petrol costs.
I miss not having to think about whether i can afford to put the heating on.

And also books, I miss buying loads of books. But to compensate, I have just sold a load of old textbooks from Uni (graduated last year), and will buy myself 1 book before using the rest to pay bills.

Most of all, i miss being able to sleep properly, without having to worry about how i am going to feed us, pay the bills, find a job and heat the house.

[Blu]

Our cleaner.
We both work f/t, house is grubby, weekends stressful as we attempt to clean or bicker about cleaning / lack of cleaning.

[ShadeofViolet]

Magazines - I used to have a subscription for a couple but I had to stop these.

Nice shampoo/conditioner - used to treat myself to Aveda but I just cant justify the expense.

[siezethenight]

I miss my peace of mind the most - there is little comfort in sleep when you know you are waking up tomorrow to relive financial groundhog day all over again.

[KitWillDoodle]

Definitely having a professional cut and colour, but I mostly miss not feeling guilty every time I pay for something that isn't an 'essential'. On the rare occasion my husband and I do go out for dinner, I can't seem to relax and enjoy myself because I'm now so hung up about spending money. Went to a 40th not long ago and bought a vodka/lime and soda for £7.60, went on about it so much I literally cleared the room. I have become the most boring person in the world....with the worst hair...!

[milkymocha]

Lunch

[Startail]

Swimming, I will go back in the summer, but it's grim doing the shopping with wet hair in winter.

Can't justify the petrol just to swim.

Ought to walk or cycle because they are free, but love swimming.

But mostly I miss just feeling I don't need to think about money.

We're very lucky we're far from badly off, but petrol food and heating oil are very noticeable increases.

[Millie2013]

I miss just jumping in the car and "going for a drive", each journey is now thought out and planned and I combine outings wherever possible to cut down on fuel usage

[WhitesandsofLuskentyre]

But, but, but... there's a flipside to this:

Result no. 1: I went to a party the other night and had to make do with wearing stuff I already owned . I just put it all together in a different way. God I was chuffed with myself! And not having new party gear didn't make me feel any less good about myself, either.

Result no. 2: I have down-branded from Olay to Aldi Q10 and find it is better for my skin, and I prefer the smell.

Result no. 3: Thinking about it, I buy a lot of stuff at Aldi, which the family now prefers to any other brand! (DDs particularly like the make-up.)

Result no. 4: I have bought loads of books from charity shops and car boots, and have found some great authors as a result (I don't want to pay £7.99 in case it's a dud, but I don't mind spending 50p). Never stops me going into Waterstones, and enjoying a browse but I just think "How much?!"

Result no. 5: I've lost weight because we don't have very many tempting treats in the cupboards or fridge. I have ingredients for meals, and I have cheapo biscuits for the DCs (I buy ones I don't like!).

Result no. 6: The joy of buying my summer "wardrobe" for £13 (a tee-shirt in Primark that I liked so much I bought it in three colours, and a pair of summery ballet pumps).

That said, I do miss:
Having my hair cut and coloured
Buying fresh flowers
Having perfume (first time in 25 years I haven't had at least one bottle on the go)

I've been with DP for 6 years and we have had one 4-day holiday in the UK in all that time. I felt a bit sad the other day when DS (4) was watching some holiday ad on the telly and said "I'd like to go on a holiday one day."

[thriftymrs]

I see a few of you have mentioned really missing being able to buy perfume. There are some really good "freebie" sites where you can get free perfume samples and often the big department stores with posh perfume counters have them. House of Fraser near Fenchurch Street Station sometimes has huge bowls of perfume samples where you can help yourself. And if you have the balls, you can always ask at the counter if they have any samples. Large branches of M&S also sometimes have small free samples of perfume and cosmetics. I haven't bought any perfume for at least 5 years and just get by on these freebies. It's fine if you are not too fussy about a particular perfume and you can always give away any you're not keen on. Just an idea for you.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I miss socializing with friends.

We are actually a little better of than a few years ago (thank fuck) but still not got disposable cash really. Neither do friends, costs too much to drive and meet up regularly, go out and have drinks in the middle etc.

[Cakebitch]

All these things. Every one of them.

[Poundpup]

I definately miss just being able to jump into the car and head out for the day. Now I have to think about petrol, parking costs and unexpected expenses before I can even open the front door!

[JamNan]

A pedicure, a decent haircut, dentistry, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, new clothes and boots, Friday night takeaway, glasses (I had to buy ten quid ones from the chemist when mine broke). Holidays and going to see my friends who live a long way away. Art exhibitions in London - can;t afford the £40 quid train fare now. Cinema.

I am in constant fear that we will be chucked out of our rental because we are late paying the rent (self employed) and that the car will break down and I can't afford to fix it.

[NicknameTaken]

Am I the only one to be secretly pleased to give up gym membership?

Also, I quite like bringing my own lunch to work.

Never spent money on fresh flowers or makeup or clothes or more than the bare minimum of heating.

BUT

I miss day trips and weekends away too - not even pricy ones, I used to go somewhere not too distant by public transport and stay in a hostel, just to have a change of scene. Not any more.

Perhaps most of all, I miss the peace of mind that you have when you're reasonably certain that income will cover expenditure. I'm sick of all the mental calculations and juggling and worrying about what I can put off till next month and whether there is any possibility of getting more credit and how on earth to manage if an unexpected expense arises.

[BoffinMum]

Weekends away, that's what I miss.

[frantic53]

All the above, but the thing I'm missing most atm is heating. Sitting under three blankets with two hot water bottles and watching my breath.

[williaminajetfighter]

Cuz it's true

[williaminajetfighter]

Brainleuse that made me laugh a lot.

[Branleuse]

fairtrade freerange cocaine


sniffs

[CremeEggThief]

I miss being impulsive and being able to buy whatever or go wherever I want (within reason). I find it very hard to justify a takeaway or meal out now, even on the rare occasions I can actually afford it :(.

[colleysmill]

New mobile phones - dh and I both on 10 quid deals at the moment and haven't upgraded for 3 years
Eating out and random trips to our local, those Friday afternoon walks in the summer when we would POP in for a pint and stop for tea
Passport - mine expired 3 years ago and I didn't renew it because I can't see a time in the foreseeable future when we can afford to go abroad.
Gym membership - went years ago when I was on mat leave but I wouldnt have the time now tbh


But one of my new year resolutions was to be more positive so things I do now that I didn't think to do before:

• Mending clothes particularly socks - dab hand with a needle and thread these days!
  
• Composting - lovely free compost from rubbish
  
• Grow your own veg - so much fun and the gardens looks fab in summer heaving with veg and freezer full this time of year
  
• Meal planning - saves on waste and excessive food shops
  
• Saving for things rather than spend now think later - I like the feeling of knowing there is no huge impending bill
  
• Clothes swaps with friends - this month I have done lovely new cardies for work courtesy of my bf
  
• Running - I love running round our village and across the fields and its free!
  
• Selling stuff we don't use or need anymore - last year we saved enough in paypal to pay for Christmas presents and holidays
  
• Holidays in this country - ok petrol is an issue but we have a campervan and get away quite easily for the odd weekend away locally (it helps though that dh and I have cars through work so the camper is the only car we pay to up keep) - even camping 15 miles away seems much further

[CheeryCherry]

Fresh flowers
Decent hair colour and cut
Holiday
Occasional take away
Trips out...petrol costs
Decorating and home improvements
I guess they're all considered luxury items, but they did make my life more comfortable and enjoyable.

[aftermay]

IKWYM snozzlemaid. I used to take the girls to the shops on Saturday. Only charity shops nearby anyway. But if we spend £5-10 in there and then another £10 in Costa that's too much now. So we go only once a month or less.

[snozzlemaid]

I miss just going into town for just a look around. You know, when you don't need to shop for anything but we would go window shopping. But we don't do that now as don't want to waste money on car parks and there's always something you're tempted to buy. Just too depressing coming home with nothing so don't do it any more.
Days out at the weekend are now predominantly walks somewhere where there are no shops to tempt.