What won't you skimp on?

[Allthingspretty]

Stylistically and value for money etc what won't you skimp on or economise on even if it means you can only buy one rather than lots of the cheaper equivalent?

Hand cream .love Clarins
Good bags
Jean Paul perfume

Mainly house stuff though... Mugs etc.. Like good quality

Scrub -Jo Malone Vit E Scrub -love it
Perfume
handbags & shoes

Tattoos.
Tis for life not just christmas ya'll.

cleanser
hairdresser (though I think no more expensive, a bit less so - I have this year, returned to one who did my hair 7/8 years ago !! who is brilliant and I won't go to any other now)

Bras

Scent

And I swerve polyester and fake leather.

Absolutely leather shoes - unless the shoe is meant to be non-leather (flip flops, wellies etc) or a silk or satin evening shoe
Decent face cream - love Eve Lom, but use Avene quite often to cleanse
Well fitted bras
Leather bags - was once given a pleather bag and it was a lovely design, but such poor quality and smelt odd
Nice fabrics - much prefer natural cottons, wools or silks to any form of synthetic, although bloody hard to find in cheaper ranges
High thread count cotton bedsheets, feather pillows and duvets - can't abide being swaddled in synthetic at night

DCs school shoes and uniform as a whole
Eggs
Hairdresser (looks like this is where the money is at judging by this thread!)
I'm not in UK, so would also add obstetrician to the list.

Natural fibres/leather
Rouge Noir nail varnish (unless someone here can suggest a cheap alternative that is equally flattering to my pale winter skin)

Perfume (I buy samples/decants of my favourites as I can't afford a whole bottle)

Tweezers

Lipstick/lip balm as my lips are very dry and sensitive and none of the cheaper brands have ever managed to look good, stay on without drying, or not make me itch and swell up. Bourjois used to do a fantastic lip gloss which I loved, though.

In general, I love a style and beauty bargain. T K Maxx us my friend, and I'm finding that with good nutrition I an fine with cheap make-up and skin care.

One thing that makes me sound like a complete diva is that since I was pregnant with DS, I have been unable to stand the taste of tap water, so get through a bottle of Volvic a day. When I try to stop, I don't drink and end up feeling sick and headachy, or else drink squash which dies bad things to my blood sugar and waistline.

I get my hair cut for free by trainees and, I think because they're always so closely supervised, they do a great job. I used to pay £40+ for a haircut but now I wouldn't dream of it!

Only thing that HAS to be expensive for me is perfume. Lots of other things are much nicer when pricey, but fall victim to lack of funds more easily!

Highlights (Aveda) and foundation (YSL)

Clothes can be bought in sales or second hand, if you have a good eye you don't have to spend too much. But you get what you pay for with hair and skin, and you wear both every day so find what works and stick to it.

Skincare
Shampoo & Conditioner
Most make-up (at least foundation and mascara)
Hairdresser
Dentist

Shoes & Bags: leather only
Knitwear: no acrylic
Biker jacket: has to be a nice, well-cut one

Food: only good-quality (free-range/local/organic) meat, fish, eggs, decent chocolate, decent booze

You can't beat Lidl for pastries though. Always buy their croissants. And Primark skinny jeans for £11 a pair are my jeans of choice - I have several pairs of them and love them.

Food
Perfume
Shoes
Winter clothes - coats woolens etc

Always buy cheap summer clothes - they never get work much and i never want to wear them a 2nd year running

Shoes and bags - must be leather or suede
Knitwear - must be at least 80% natural fibres, ideally 100% but will make the odd exception (Boden Skye jumpers, in love with them)
Clothing generally - no polyester, acrylic, nylon
Coffee - nice ground coffee from the boutiquey place in town or Hasbean.co.uk
Skincare - doesn't have to be expensive, just a nice, short, naturalish ingredients list

Glasses, I don't wear contacts and from my first pair age 10 I've always bought ones I feel I look reasonable in. I'm forever grateful, that although they couldn't really afford to, my DParents let me choose non national health glasses.

Not designer, which often I don't like, but not the cheapest plastic. Also extra for thinner lenses, that weigh less and look better.

And leather lined sandals. Why dose anything else exist?

Half a pot of talc and they are still sticky and I don't have very sweaty feet.

Skincare - mostly ysl and have recently gone back to Eve Lom.
Leather shoes and bags.

Skincare
Haircuts
Fabrics - no acrylic, leather, ideally cashmere or merino etc
Decent bra
Shoes and boots
Coats
Pretty much everything really - I am just on an eternal quest to save more ££££££ on the good stuff

spend: all make up except mascara, always good leather footwear, anything dental, inc 3 monthly scale + polish,

save: underwear-asda, inc their basic t-shirt bras, random clothes - charity shops, shampoo-aussie, cleanser,

Bras, leather shoes and bags, perfume and hairdresser

Knitwear - cotton and merino jumpers only
Boots - leather only or proper sheepskin where relevant
Moisturiser - Clarins Hydraquench - just tried a cheaper one and have spots for the first time in months
Sportswear - Adidas - cheap stuff is so unflattering and I don't want to look any worse than I already do at the gym

So leather shoes are worth it you say?!

I have just splashed out on a pair of Lk Bennett Sledge patent leather ones and am still using smelling salts at the price!!