What everyday goods do you now consider a treat?

Tigerlilley1980

Oooh love this thread.

We don't have anywhere near the amount of takeaways we used to. I also now buy value biscuits and Supermarket Gold coffee rather than nescafe it's a whole pound cheaper. I don't buy kitchen roll anymore and we have value loo roll. I don't buy grapes anymore either or fresh orange juice, they are definitely a treat.

Rebelle

Wow, this thread has really made me think and realise how much my spending habits have changed over the past couple of years through being skint while prices have risen so much! Didn't think my lifestyle had changed that much as I'm not really any less happy for it, but it really has!

Social life is much more home-based now, trips to the pub/cinema are rare treats and only ever on Orange Weds now, meals out tend to be just special occasions unless treated by family, big nights out only once or twice a year (sob!) I truly do not understand how as a sixth former with a Saturday job I managed to go out clubbing every week... think maybe something to do with the Bank of Mum & Dad and having no responsibilities, but still seems ridiculous that I work full-time now, well above min. wage and can't afford to go out even once a month!

New clothes and shoes only bought when needed and cheaply from Primark, New Look, George@Asda so no shopping trips for fun and no Starbucks/Neros coffee when I do go, £3 for a frappe is just silly when I might be scraping money together for milk or the electric meter at the end of the month! Never buy perfume and rarely make up - get them as pressies at Xmas/Bday instead. Not been to the hairdresser since 2009, just grew my hair really long and dyed it at home, then finally took the plunge last month and let my OH cut it - thankfully he made a good job, so won't be rushing back to a salon anytime soon.

Foodwise, expensive meat like steak, duck, beef/lamb joints are only bought reduced, all meals cooked from scratch, takeaways are out the window, can't actually remember the last time we had one, so definitely a treat these days compared to when we used to order in twice a week or more! Was astounded the other day when a friend ordered Dominos Pizza for himself, with a starter and dessert and it came to £23!! Couldn't even spend that much on one meal even if I had the money, just seems so wasteful!

Have given up buying crisps/biscuits/cake as part of the regular supermarket shop, used to buy a big bag of Kettle chips every week and always had crisps and snacking choc in the cupboard, but they have gone so expensive I just don't bother anymore, instead there's nearly always something home-baked in to snack on, which is actually much nicer and probably healthier too! Also used to be a b*gger for nipping to the shop for milk and spending a tenner on rubbish - magazines, pop, chocolate - but have given that up now and will just treat myself to the occasional can of 38p cream soda if I'm feeling flush, as others have said it's strange when something so small becomes a such a treat - but it's kinda nice too!

Alcohol is much more of a treat now, used to always have spirits in and bought 1-2 bottles of wine a week, now it's more like 1-2 a month if that and spirits only at Xmas or on incredible offer.

Do sometimes wish I had the choice to spend more money on things if I wanted to, but things could be a lot, lot worse and overall being skint has probably been a positive for me (yes, really) as it has taught me to really value money and the hard work needed to earn it, and as many others have said, to take pleasure in the simple things. Corny as it sounds, that's better than any treat money can buy, even if it's not always easy having to learn your lesson the hard way!

Willow92

I actually get excited about hunting for bargains now, many things are a treat for me now including branded foods.

rozmister

3v3 wrote: »

Try them with Misers Muesli - porridge oats (dry/uncooked) with a sprinkle of currants or raisins or sultanas and just add milk. Perfect for hot weather breakfasts instead of hot porridge. (Courtesy of "The Benefit Book" )

Supermarkets often have the 3 for £10 small chickens. If you learn how to joint a chicken, you would get 6 chicken breasts, 6 drumsticks, 6 thighs and 6 wings. Plus, 3 carcasses to make stock/soup with. When you look at pre-packed chicken pieces and compare that to the price of a chicken the £ per Kg is sooo much dearer!! More cost effective to buy the whole birds and joint them yourself.

Likewise, if you buy sliced meats (ham, beef, pork) the price per kilo is astronimical and it works out cheaper to buy a joint, cook it, let it go cold then carve it very thinly. This can then be frozen and used as required.

Berry fruit can be harvested in the Autumn (free) - think brambles! - and you can freeze them for future use.

Puddings are much cheaper to make yourself; but, do think "satiation point" when you want to make a pudding. A crumble is very filling compared to a portion of ice-cream; using up leftovers can make great desserts, as in bread and butter pudding (either from stale - as in a couple of days old bread - or, bread bought at the reduced counter) or bread pudding. A steamed sponge pudding (with either fruit added = spotty !!!!!!, or treacle added = treacle sponge pudding) has a higher satiation point then chocolate mousse.

Crumble toppings can be made ahead, frozen then used straight from the freezer.

Sponge pudding mix can be made ahead, just add the "wet" ingredients when you are ready to make your dish.

Breadcrumbs/ends can be frozen until needed.

I know this sounds stupid but how do you joint a chicken? Is there a video on youtube I can watch or a book I can get from the library?

I used to make sponge puddings for food technology at school so I think I might have another go at it. Also what goes into a crumble topping? Butter, sugar and flour?

Sorry for all the questions I've just never considered making puddings for just me I only make them when we have guests!

MaggieBaking

How to make a crumble - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDecQFSP8zQ (the topping is about 3.30 minutes in)

chicken - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0OzRLUYB0c

Flat_Eric

I buy my shoes in T k max or charity shops - I can't afford the £50 plus clark$ charge and even when clark$ have a sale, they are still too expensive! I have wide feet so find it difficult to get shoes that are just right - If i buy shoes in the charity shop that i wear once and they hurt my feet - never to be worn again - I haven't blown £50 odd quid...

I buy my clothes in charity shops / sain$burys - used to shop in next! I only buy well known makes though - I won't buy primani or supermarket own brand - not because I don't like their clothes but because the charity shops charge just as much as you would get the item new !

never have takeaways anymore- last had fish and chips - once in the last four years? Last time i had indian (last october), I went to the restaurant to order it and they still messed the order up !! 3 times! the chinese restaurant we have - well they ping and ding so I don't bother. would rather buy dine in for 2 deal or something else and enjoy that instead.

I do still spend too much on food but working on this. there are some branded items I do stick with dove soap, heinz tomato ketchup, nescafe coffee, heinz beans, and colgate total fresh stripe toothpaste, free range eggs oh and yorkshire tea but I do buy market value veg when I can (they don't always have it at the metro stores ) and I only buy things like cheese and mullerlites only when on offer. likewise the expensive ice cream - only when its half price.

did have a m& curry curry for tea last night but spend just over £21 :eek: although that did include two curry meals that went in the freezer and two deserts that were reduced. I won't be repeating that any time soon.

I use my te$co vouchers for mag subscriptions. try to be good with saving up the coupons and remembering to use them!!

tiff

I have recently started shopping for clothes in charity shops too. I've bought the odd thing for myself there over the years but I'm a larger size so dont find much for me. Bought DD some trousers this week for £2, still a bit too big for her so plenty of growing room and in perfect condition. I too used to shop in Next, M&S, Debenhams etc then went to supermarkets, Primark and Matalan and now charity shops. I think we should all go back to passing on bags of clothes we've finished with to people we know that would make use of them.

Rummer

Meat and new clothes.