What everyday goods do you now consider a treat?

oldtractor

cream,fresh pineapple and grapes. Melons.

hermum

CH27 wrote: »

I stuck got at the hospital for 2 1/2hrs on tuesday with my in laws.

It cost me £2.10 for a small coffee:eek:

Between petrol, parking & coffee I had no change from £10.

Not even a fun day out.

Does your hospital have a WI or Friends of the hospital tea room? Ours does, but you have to know about it or find it by accident as it's tucked away, the last time I went there, it was much less than half the price of the huge cafe in the main Foyer.

TudorRose

I used to buy 2 or 3 of the glossy monthly magazines but haven't done so for over a year. I can't afford them & they only seem to go over the same old things. I only read them when I go to the hairdressers.

My big extravagance is having my hair cut & coloured. Used to go every 4 weeks but have changed my style & let it grow a little longer so only go every 6 weeks. Still an extravagance but also a saving.

Hardly ever buy grapes anymore - just too expensive.

Used to eat a lot of apples but they seem to have shot up in price recently. Still buy them but for last two weeks been buying bags of conference pears as these have been cheaper.

I also love books but buy most from charity shops & pass them on to DD or friends or back to charity shop but the prices some of them are asking is way to dear so I sometimes treat myself to 3 for £5.00 from The Works. Not much more than the price of a glossy magazine & way more to read.

CH27

hermum wrote: »

Not even a fun day out.

Does your hospital have a WI or Friends of the hospital tea room? Ours does, but you have to know about it or find it by accident as it's tucked away, the last time I went there, it was much less than half the price of the huge cafe in the main Foyer.

No it doesn't. It's huge new built one & Costa has the drinks franchaise.

[Deleted User]

goodgirl80 wrote: »

Are they really 85p :eek::eek:

No way if I ever ate another crisp in my life would I pay near on a pound for a few this slices of fried potatos in a plastic bag .:eek::eek::eek:
sadly no Spar or Coop near to where I live only have Mr T's or Sainsbobs.Asda is 6 miles away and Morrisons 3 miles.So its back to Adams Ale for me and my cola has gone from my fridge God I'm getting so tight I think its because I keep reverting the money back to old money and thinking 11/- for a bottle of 'cheap pop' no way :):)

mrsmortenharket

Our WI tea stop was shut down in our hospital. I think it was replaced by a costa but I've not been to the hospital recently.
I don't buy soft drinks, grapes, sliced meats, (i buy a joint & slice), shop bought pizza.
I'll be really honest, it's because I refuse to pay the prices. My budget could s-t-r-e-t-c-h.
The price of chocolate is astounding as is petrol/diesel.
It's disgusting that some people are missing meals through lack of money.
That should not be happening in our country in this day & age.

[Deleted User]

crayola wrote: »

Love this post!

Since buying my flat I've really changed my attitude to a lot of things I used to consider absolutely the norm when I had more disposable. The main one would be take-away lunches of any sort - I rarely made my own sandwiches until now, but now I hardly ever go into Pret or M&S for an overpriced sarnie.

Ditto dining out really: as renters we used to eat in restaurants 2-3 nights a week. Now it's more like once or twice a fortnight, and then it tends to be pizza express with discount cards!

Another change I've made is no longer treating clothes shopping as a 'hobby'. I now go more or less only when I need something.

The only one I really can't kick (and I know it's one of the worst) is take-away coffee. There's just something about stopping off for a freshly-brewed coffee on the way into work. Nothing I've made myself has ever even come close - I've got it down to twice a week rather than every day but I love cappuccino so much I can easily see me slipping back and spending £10 a week on it again.

I also don't clothes shop 'as a hobby' and I actually feel happier for it now.

Have you thought about making a flask of really nice coffee (Maybe even make a jug-full using ground coffee and pour into a small flask using a strainer), and taking that when you go out?

taplady

Broomstick wrote: »

I didn't realise it until now but I think that going shopping without a list would be a luxury.

I agree- its amazing how much creeps into the trolley if you dont take a list!

RuthnJasper wrote: »

One of the best things I've found in going from having a life of near-luxury and celebrity to having almost nothing, is the amount of pleasure that can be found in simple things.

I agree - we get great satisfaction from our moneysaving

things we think of as luxuries

books - get them for 50p from carboots now(am addicted) and also swop books with friends who like similar books.

Petrol - have to drive to work so its a necessity but we try and do our shopping when we have to go for another reason so we save a bit that way.

fruit - I wanted to make a fruit salad today - went to our cheapest local grocer but just couldn't justify the prices so decided not to bother.

chocolate/crisps - buy these on offer in multipacks if at all.

clothes - think charity shops are a rip off nowadays so only buy in the sales or gratefully accept any hand-me-downs or go to carboot sales.

am really enjoying reading this thread so thanks everyone!:T

CH27

I've stopped buying books & I order them from the library now.

taplady

CH27 wrote: »

I've stopped buying books & I order them from the library now.

I do this too I also re-sell my books at the carboots so I get my money back!