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What do you do without which other people think are essential?

96 replies

ExtraPineappleExtraHam · 04/08/2017 17:19

My other thread got me thinking about budgeting and what cut backs I can make. I wondered if there's anything mumsnet-ers do without which lots of other people view as a necessity. Mine for example are:
Professional hair care (cuts, colour)
Manicures/pedicures
Fabric conditioner
New clothes for myself and dp

OP posts:
LadyLapsang · 11/08/2017 16:00

Sky TV
2nd car
Paying for things you can do yourself - cleaning, gardening, painting and decorating etc.
Bikini waxes (actually any waxes)
Manicures / pedicures (except once in a blue moon)
When we were younger - babysitters for DC
Cigarettes
iPhone
Uber and taxis on a regular basis (walk and use public transport)
Hive - I can turn on the heating when I get home

LadyLapsang · 11/08/2017 16:06

Botox and dying my hair too, which seems pretty de rigueur for professional women of a certain age.

NancyJoan · 11/08/2017 16:08

It you don't have a handbag, where do you put your stuff?

Madbengalmum · 11/08/2017 16:10

Takeaways
Sky tv
Fancy hairdresser
Beauty treatments

WaxyBean · 11/08/2017 16:15

A tumble drier
Alcohol
A car (we have one car between us and it does less than 2.5k miles pa and most of that is on holiday)
Coffee
Ready meals/pre-prepared food

specialsubject · 11/08/2017 21:02

Forgot no smartphone ! Pocket sized phone that needs charging weekly or less.

Wallet,keys, phone - no handbag needed as have pockets. On a day out that needs water bottle I carry a small backpack ,useful one not dickish fashion job. But I much prefer to carry nothing.

myusernamewastaken · 17/08/2017 14:50

Sky tv
Costa Coffee
Fags
Theme Parks
Designer Clothes
Iphones

Laska5772 · 17/08/2017 14:59

a tablet /ipad
a posh phone on contract
tumbledryer
dishwasher
take out food/coffees
most evenings out (apart from the odd meal out)
exercise classes/gym
ready meals ( except the occaisional pizza or curry)
make up
any 'beauty' treatments in salons

I do look after myself though and buy nice clothes and shoes and exercise in otherways

robinia · 17/08/2017 15:00

Any kind of skincare.

TonicAndTonic · 17/08/2017 15:04

Like others I share a car with DP, and we are semi rural so public transport is limited. I also don't have anything done in a salon apart from haircuts.
Sky TV
Cleaner
Hair straighteners
iPad/tablet (laptop is more useful)
Tumble dryer

Ragwort · 17/08/2017 15:08

Facebook/twitter/social media rubbish (except Mumsnet of course).

So agree with 'activities' - I am amazed the amount some families will spend on 'experiences' - am so grateful my teenager has never once asked to go a theme park.

Lots already mentioned - esp. hair care/beauty treatments/expensive handbags/designer clothes etc etc.

Merryhobnobs · 17/08/2017 15:13

Prescription Glasses?! Hardly an 'extra' when like me you are very short sighted but have eyes with very different prescriptions for each and slight astigmatism. I wouldn't be able to see a thing with the standard shop glasses. They do my Mum fine whose eye sight has started to get worse as she has got older but for many, many people glasses are a necessity.

MusicToMyEars800 · 17/08/2017 15:14

Pretty much all that's been listed here.
Broadband
Sky tv/Netflix etc
IPhone or any sort of phone contract
Coffee from coffee shops
Any sort of beauty treatments ( I have my hair cut once every 6 months )
Branded foods etc
Designer anything
Dishwasher
Tumble dryer

fleshmarketclose · 17/08/2017 15:19

Takeaways
Ready meals
Pre prepared fruit and veg
Newspapers and magazines
Alcohol (don't drink so very handy)

Couldn't manage without my specs,my prescription is -10 so without them on I can't see much at all.

PuppyMonkey · 17/08/2017 15:20

X box/ PlayStation type things.

Sport of any kind (taking part or watching it, football matches etc).
Aeroplanes.

Commuting to work (so my freelance work from home now).

Earrings. Other expensive jewellery.

Tomatoes. Can't stand them. Grin

Anatidae · 17/08/2017 15:22

Things like more than one pair of shoes not optional here - - it can be 40 in winter, you need winter boots. Glasses not option with certain prescription types.

Things I do without that others seem to need :

Manicures, pedicures
Haircuts
Pampering stuff
Takeout coffees
Branded stuff
Holidays
Nights out.

Notso · 17/08/2017 15:23

A car or driving license, a job and a contract phone seem to be the things I don't have that people are shocked by.

minipie · 17/08/2017 15:44

Paid for TV or music subscription
X box type things
Snacks/drinks bought out and about
Tumble drier (we have one but don't use it, except towels)
Hair removal
Manicures/pedicures or other beauty treatments
Hobbies (we don't have any)
2nd car, and barely use our first car (ancient Golf)
Bikes, sports kit
Most toiletries - we use basic shampoo, conditioner, soap and deodorant. DH uses shave gel and moisturiser and I have about 4 make up products I use daily. That's it.
Pets

However we're not especially frugal - we spend a fortune on food, holidays and childcare/education so the above savings barely register...

PutThatPomBearBack · 17/08/2017 15:45

Food
Water
Oxygen

Do I win?

Userwithoutaname · 17/08/2017 15:51

My car is 14 years old.
I cut my own hair.
I don't get salon treatments of any kind (not a necessity)
I had my first holiday abroad in 24 years this year and it was a cheap five day self catering out of season in Spain (£500 all in)
I don't eat out
I don't get takeaways except chips occasionally
I don't go to the pub or for any nights out
No games consoles
No tv license - I only watch DVDs and most are from the charity shop
No newspapers or magazines
No expensive clothes (use eBay and very occasionally supermarkets)
I don't wear jewellery and don't own much apart from a few silver rings

Getabloominmoveon · 17/08/2017 15:55

Car - live in town centre so use rental/carclub
Sky
Manicures
Waxing
Big Nights out
Takeaways - never

Like others, we spend loads of money on travel, concerts and our kids.

MrsJoyOdell · 17/08/2017 16:01

Alcohol
Takeaways
Spa Days
Driving Lessons for 17 year olds
Designer labels
Branded food (unless cheaper as on offer)
Brand new cars - we do run two but DH's tax & insurance are covered by the travel expenses he gets from work every month. Petrol costs the same as a bus ticket so don't see the point in getting rid of it. We both drive cars that are over 10 years old. They're not pretty but they're functional.
New clothes 'just because.' We only buy things we need.
Hair cuts. I haven't had mine done in nearly a year. I haven't died yet.
A second salary because we cut our cloth but this is very controversial

MrsJoyOdell · 17/08/2017 16:03

Oh and foreign holidays. Flying for 4 hours to be stuck somewhere too hot where I can't speak the language (I have an irrational fear of being stuck somewhere nobody understands me) really doesn't appeal to me at all.

NannyRed · 17/08/2017 16:03

Reads all the thread walks away realising I'm high maintenance!

I never buy ready meals, very rarely have takeaway, prefer to dine at a restaurant. Never drink coffee so never have Starbucks.

MarklahMarklah · 17/08/2017 16:15

An ipod
An ipad
An iphone
A new car every 6 months/year (I've had mine 9 years)
Hair tools other than hairdryer
False nails
Manicures
Pedicures
Facials
Eyelash infills
Regular hair appointments
Jewellery other than wedding ring
Overseas holidays
Sky TV/Netflix/Any paid or subscription channels
Handbag
Wardrobe update every season
Large screen TV
Games consoles
Newspapers or magazines
Body waxing
Pets
Spa Days/Weekends/hen dos

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