Things that are worth the money

[Mog]

The prompt for this is the ceramic hair straighteners thread, but I wondered what things people had paid that little bit extra for and thought it was really worth it.

Since having children I've spent a bit more on a really good haircut and think it's worth it because you wear hair everyday.

Anyone else invested in something and thought it worthwhile?

eek, bk, just read your list of things that are worth the money and apart from the last two (books and holidays) I've hardly ever had any of the others - organic meat a few times a year, the odd bottle of expensive foundation in my life - that's it! What have I been missing out on?

I agree with everything on your other list BTW.

My list

Worth the money - good shoes (but I'm talking spending between £40 - £80 here, not hundreds)

Powder Blusher and lipstick - I've never been able to find good cheap ones

The odd night out at a good restaurant, theatre, etc or taking the children for a day in the West End - justifies us living in London

Pokemon cards, strangely enough - generate hours of interest

Not worth the money:

Most separates that cost over £30.00 (tops) and over £45 (bottoms) dresses, suits and and coats excluded.

Face powder

Expensive bath products and soap

Haircuts in good London salons (the few times I've had one I have not been over the moon with the results)

Pedicures and manicures not done by yourself at home

Electronic toys for toddlers

Gourmet jams

Harrods souveners - well any souvener really

I can think of far more things that are not worth the money....

Worth the money:- Meile appliances, good haircut, fitness classes, chiropractor (sorted out my twisted pelvis that had been causing me loads of trouble since having DS2), a holiday in the sun, travel cot, decent clothes - Next/M&S etc for me, Next/Adams etc for DS1 & 2 and my new kitchen (thank-you DH, it's not finished yet but I can see it all coming together).

Oh also agree about decent, well fitted bras, just got some new ones and they make a big difference, so much so I am going to handwash these ones!

tigermoth - I'm like you, hardly had any of these things either

I'm really struggling to think of anything that is worth the money though.
Holidays (but then these are usually using budget flights) and, er, good cheese!
Had expensive haircuts in the past and haven't noticed any difference from the ones I have at my local salon.
Perfume, I guess.

message withdrawn

I'm starting to feel cheated by not having a leather suite!

Agree with most of what's gone before:
Clinique foundation/mascara definitely worth the money but not lippy etc.
A decent bed and mattress!

I assume no one's going to agree with this but...
original art

No, I'd agree with that, although the pieces of original art I've got weren't paid for

2 watercolours (one was of the church we were married in, given to us on our wedding day) by a friend of the family - he's not particularly famous but is an ex-architect and sells/exhibits artwork of the trip on cruises.

2 photographs (dh's uncle is an extremely good photographer) which are black and white and simply stunning.

Which reminds me, we really ought to unpack them from their boxes and hang them up in the new house somewhere!!!

I must repeat, a leather suite. You MUST get one especially with a baby in the house. I have a chocolate brown one (maybe not to everyones taste, but we like it) and its great. If it had been fabric it would be really dirty by now with the amount of milk etc that has been spilt on it. You can just wipe them clean. They're really comfy as well. We originally ordered a cream fabric one from DFS but it was too big to fit in our house and I am relieved it was. We had to send it back and order our leather instead.

Oh yes, I agree with a decent mattress and would also add a decent microwave.

Things that are worth the money:

Good food... good wine
Our tent
Gifts that light up the recipients face
Days out with DD and her friends - the park, farm, swimming, the beach, softplay - they don't care do they?
Good shoes, coats, hats waterproofs and gloves.
Precious weekends away with DP
A 99p cone after a long day playing on the beach.
I spent £250 setting up a new business ... anyone who read my posts on the last day at work will agree it was money well spent!

Not worth the money:
''Stuff'' that doesn't have a purpose, look good, or fit in the house - I'm sure I'm not the only one whose got some of it though.
McDonalds, KFC,
Pensions/mortgages that collapse.... bitter, not me at least not now
Ballgowns - got about eight of the damn things (strict mess dress code) when am I going to wear them now? But I felt a million dollars in some of them, if you'd asked me at the time they would have been on the other list.

Genuinely dishwasher-proof baking trays are definitely worth the money. Most that claim to be dishwasher proof aren't - pah!

thanks for the hardressing recommendation, beetroot, but I'm sure there is no hairdresser in existance who can permanently make my fine hair look anything other than what it is. It's not awful, just a bit fine. I'm not interesed in how a hairdresser makes me look under salon conditions. After a few days at home my hair looks the same no matter where I go. At the moment I have found a good cutter in beautiful Woolwich. But he's no miracle worker. I just don't believe in the power of hairdressers, I guess, so won't pay West End prices.

Message withdrawn

message withdrawn

Those instant carpet cleaning wipes. I thought they were horribly expensive and then ds did a power vomit and I wanted to be able to clean the carpet and cuddle him at the same time. I would now buy them if the price doubled.

YOu have Eight Ballgowns Waterbaby, I'd love to have a dressing up party at your house!

Disagree about electronic toys not being "worth" the money; I find them invaluable on long journeys. I wish I had the money to buy original art work. My mother had loads but I inherited nothing; which is kind of sad. My "arty" cousins got most of it, instead. Luckily SIL let me have a litho she didn't care for, and there's the original art-work that my mother made herself, too.

another vote for leather suite
steam cleaner
computer- wouldnt of found mumsnet
camcorder-capture those special moments

Oh yes, excellent point on art. We collect Paul Horton giclees and though fairly expensive they are gorgeous, fit in with our decor perfectly and will only ever go up in value We also have 3 original watercolours painted by my BIL, who is a fairly well known local artist, collected all over the world. All in all I think our collection amounts to around £2,000 cost price, but it is about more than just money, they give us pleasure every single day.

My ViSpring bed with independent mattresses, cost £3500 but worth every penny as I am a terrible sleeper.

My 17" Apple iMac, I spend a lot of time on it surfing!

Good red wine, you drink less of it! Likewise aged beef, delicious

Rigby and Peller underwear, gives one a fantastic shape, even if you are lumpy to start with, and it feels so luxurious

My own skis, and boots with heaters in them, sorted out my painful feet in Canada

My Mercedes, because if I'm not surfing I'm in it and love driving it.

Car valet every week, keeps the above looking stunning!

Not good value - have to agree with Pensions etc

Cleaning ladies that you can't bring yourself to tell them that they are useless, but still better to have her than no one!

Gym membership at £175 a month for a family and they don't provide anything for teenagers, but we still pay it.