Even when being frugal, what's the one 'luxury' you HAVE to have?

[bbcessex]

disclaimer if the budget can physically stretch to it, of course...

I have to have nice instant coffee.. such as Millicano, Azera etc. Can't start the day without it (well - not without being a right grump, anyway!).

I will now happily shop at Aldi, and love everything I've bought so far, but I tried their Colombian coffee (not the same ground instant type anyway, but gave it a go)... bleeuurr.. cross between Nescafe & gravy!!!

What's the one luxury you factor in to your budget?

Wow southern comforts.. didn't even know they did catering packs.. what a bargain, and thanks to your post, I googled, and got 6 x 85g millicano packs on Amazon for 12 pounds!!!

Wow southern comforts.. didn't even know they did catering packs.. what a bargain, and thanks to your post, I googled, and got 6 x 85g millicano packs on Amazon for 12 pounds!!!

Organic coffee and Green & Blacks chocolate.

I'll give you an example of what my mum called her luxuries (back in 70's, single mum):-

Decent sun cream (Ambre Solaire etc)
Nivea face cream
Johnsons Baby Lotion
Radox Bath Salts

Coffee - the roasted stuff - until she realised/thought it was making her snappy and gave it up!

Presents that we or my stepdad always got her were:-

Naice soaps
Femme by Rochas Perfume
Badedas bath gel

she also had to have McVities Digestives.

Yes, hello, I think there is a misunderstanding in this thread of what it is to be really hard up.

My mum bless her - she kicked out my dad (alcoholic) and then had to struggle to pay mortgage because she had a house.

she only managed this due to friend's DH being guarantor for her - she thinks the DH may have been thinking of investment in case she slipped up but it was kind.

She rented out rooms in the house to builders and then got Social Services coming round accusing her of being a prostitute (yes really and not true!) and she let 2 upstairs rooms out for a few years as a mini flat to a nice young woman. She also had Social Services coming round with tins of food at Christmas etc for her.

Jumble sales were mostly clothes places for us. Her mum (wealthy) just told her to put gas meters in and let rooms out.

It wasn't until I was about 9 that a wealthy uncle died, left her a big inheritance (he'd stayed with us so realised what a scrape she was in) that things got significantly better for her.

The OP has said what luxury items do you include when being frugal not 'what luxury item do you buy when you don't have 2 coppers' which would be a ridiculous thread. We all know you can buy cheaper coffee or just drink tap water but this thread is asking what small treats do you have.

Hello interesting story. I'd like to think things aren't so hard for single parents now but I suspect they are.

Iamnot - well the house was originally bought with another couple (alcoholic dad again) then my parents bought them out.

My mum decided when they got divorced (various reasons) that she wanted the house and no contact from my dad. fair enough.

But social services were more than happy for her to go into a B&B, hotel. nowadays they pay interest on mortgages for those on income support and AFAIK all she had was child benefit and not much else. she did A levels, trained to be a teacher and qualified when I was 6 or 7. Oh she did have a small income from I think publishing books (writing etc) but this was not enough to pay a mortgage IIRC.

Illy coffee for the gaggia - I stock up and buy as much as I can when it's 20% off at the supermarket. Lavazza for when making a pot of filter coffee and Nescafé expresso instant which dh never lowers himself to touch but I'm lazy and cba with the phaff of wrestling with the gaggia every morning myself.

Hellmans mayo
Ariel washing liquid
Lurpak butter

Gym membership - I go 5/6 times a week so make the most of my membership

Nice make up. But I make sure I only buy what I need and I use it up

organic intelligent eggs, we eat omelettes regularly and the other eggs do not taste as nice

Duchess - which coffee do you buy for your stove top please I must know! :)

I can eat anything from a basic range, but when it comes to gravy only Bisto is good enough. I could never scrimp on gravy.

Plus getting my hair done, it is bleached and is a white/silvery colour which i love, i could never get it this colour myself so once every 8 weeks i pay £47 to get it done.

Oh and Golden Virginia, my only vice is smoking and only GV will do

Another vote for good coffee.

Also nice scent (huge hints for birthday/Christmas if I really can't run to it).

Body shop body butters.

Ememem some body shop body butters are reduced to£5 this week! :)

My thirty quid gym membership.

Go to the gym twice a week with my mum and take the kids swimming twice a week.

They have lessons so swimming is free and so is car parking thanks to my membership.

non membership would cost double so worth it for keeping us all active and having fun

A nice fabric softener. I buy most stuff from aldi, almat detergent is great but I needs me Lenor.

Fairy liquid for the dishes, and relatively decent pasta to dirty them up with again. Fresh if I can, or one of the 'bronze die' ones if not, usually whichever is on offer.

capsules for dishwasher and washing machine. I have given up on dishwasher tablets as never seem to work and I hate opening the wrappers.
Clinique skin care.
I only buy all the above when they are on offer.