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?

[FairhairedandFrustrated]

We both work full time & never seem to have extra cash.

I use Nivea face cream (£2.49) and ask for vouchers for birthday & christmas (quite close) so I have £90 in boots vouchers for when my Clinique needs updated!!

I keep meaning to do a boot sale & see what I can get rid of.

Has anyone else tried something like that?

[soaccidentprone]

going to festivals

just too god damn expensive, especially as we'd now have to pay for ds's

our holiday this year - a week in Norfolk in a chalet - £275

and what's the point in having a car if you can't afford the fuel to go anywhere

last time I went to visit best in Bristol was 18 months ago. it now costs £80 in fuel. about the same amount on the train.

dh has 2 p/t jobs, and has been told there in no more funding for one of them after august

so dropping £800 a month (net)

does anyone want to buy a child?

[aftermay]

Yes, festivals. Also gigs where you're prepared to pay £40 for a band that's so and so.

[higgle]

Newspapers and magazines, only have a newspaper at weekends now; spontaneous purchases; flowers and anthing more tha a short journey in the car is we go out. We both work full time in reasonably paid jobs but if we are to have a family holiday and keep the house up together the small luxuries have to go.

[ggirl]

I miss being able to plan a holiday ..really want to go and see my family in Canada and take dh , dd and ds .

[TinyDiamond]

gym membership, sky, haircuts and nice skin products and make up

[williaminajetfighter]

Eve lom cleanser, pretamanger sandwiches, taxis, dinner out... Echo all the earlier posts. It's frustrating because I too work full time and have for 20 yrs but haven't felt this skint in years.

[Babycarmen]

Ah yes fresh flowers. I love having them in the house. Magazines too, they used to be my weekly treat but I can't remember the last time I bought one!

[Fianccetto]

All of the above (holidays, organic food, driving anywhere, new clothes, spontaneous shopping, haircuts.)
Driving to the swimming pool I liked for a swim 3 times a week.
Being a sahm.
Not being able to let the DCs do as much as they want and having to think about the cost of every little thing.

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

No magazines or newspapers, we used to have lunch out regularly- cant remember the last time. Same for romantic weekends and dinners- it's been 2 years and that was for my dh's 40th.

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

We also used to have a cleaner and a grass cutter but they've been gone over a year now. Sacking them was unpleasant as they both needed the cash. Felt like crap.

[aftermay]

I think the eating out applies to lots of people. We moved houses 18 months ago and I used to go to a class on Monday evening or Wesnesday evening. There are about 8 restaurants nearby and they used to be full, even on such working days. Nowhere to park. I started the classes again recently and there's a huge difference.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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 :(.

[Branleuse]

fairtrade freerange cocaine


sniffs

[williaminajetfighter]

Brainleuse that made me laugh a lot.

[williaminajetfighter]

Cuz it's true

[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.

[BoffinMum]

Weekends away, that's what I miss.

[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.

[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.

[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!