What can you do without?

Pippin12

Things I can do without:

takeaways - exorbitantly priced usually
ready meals - too expensive and no taste
alcohol - just don't need it to enjoy myself
meat and fish - totally veggie which saves a fortune
newspapers and magazines - use the net instead
books - use the library
handwash - buy bar soap when it's on offer
CDs - listen to the radio instead
DVDs - no interest in them
meals out - I can make cheaper and nicer myself
Car - use the bus instead
Hot water - I have a dishwasher and washing machine

I do use hair conditioner (my hair is very dry) but have it in a liquid soap dispenser to ration it. And I also wear makeup every day (believe me - I need it!)

Pooky

I must be one of the few that needs to use fabric conditioner and hair conditioner. I have such fine, fly away hair that if I don't use hair conditioner I get static and my hair is either up on end like I've had a shock or plastered to my head and crackles with energy.

If I don't use fabric conditioner I have the same issues with clothes clinging and giving people/pets/shopping trolleys etc static shocks.

I've tried vinegar instead of fabric conditioner, it doesn't work for me.

I don't buy

Make up
Newspapers/mags
Ready meals
Branded foods
New clothes (CS all the way)
Shower gel - I'm a soap girl
Skin care products aside from a pot of Nivea for my face, a basic baby lotion for skin and Vaseline for lips
Perfume
Body spray
Expensive fruits and veg - theres always plenty of in season stuff.
Plants for the garden - grow from seed or take cuttings.

valentina

Charlies-aunt -
Totally agree - I'll give up a lot of things but not Yorkshire Tea - btw it's on offer in Wilkinsons at the moment

FairyPrincessk

Don't worry Pooky! I use conditioner as well. I have very long thick hair and its fairly dry so I use a very rich conditioner on it. Could I do without it if it came to it? Probably. But I don't want to and I'd rather give up other things instead.

Its a similar situation with my ipod. I forgo many other forms of entertainment, but I spend a lot of time on the bus and can't read as it makes me sick. The ipod was a gift, and i really appreciate it, but I know its a luxury that I could do without.

There are other things, however, that I actively WANT to do without! Such as pre-made sausage rolls, premade cakes or biscuits, smartphones, fashion magazines and a television. I think the thing for me is that I want my luxuries to feel like they contribute to my quality of life. I don't think I'd ever enjoy a bought cake as much as I enjoy baking, smelling the baking and the taste of my own. I don't want to deal with the discontent I feel when I read fashion mags, and i don't want my phone to become a substitute for the life around me. I'm sure other people would gladly switch my luxuries for some of these though!

dronid

Do without? Obviously I could do without most things really, but if I wanted to cut back and still be tolerably comfortable.
Alcohol - That shocks a lot of people
Sugar
Meat/Fish (I'm not vegetarian but I know it wouldn't be a problem)
New clothes (I'm sure I could make do with charity shop offers)
Branded products (I think cornflakes are the only ones I'd keep but I don't eat them regularly so not even them)
DVD/CD (I can use Radio/TV for most things or the Internet for further entertainment, visit friends, free screenings etc)
New Books (second hand/swapped/library ones are fine)
Travelcard (I could walk about more)
Newspapers/Magazines (internet and use free ones)
Take Away (make it much better and cheaper myself) likewise
Restaurants (some of us do a much cheaper Come Dine with Me without the competitiveness and !!!!!ing)
Mobile Phone (I'd keep the phone but have a hugely cheap one and no additonal frills on it)

Luxuries that I would keep
Internet and Phone - it's already a low tarriff and I can get a huge amount out of it.
TV/Radio - It's free past the licence fee and I am happy to pay for that to keep it watchable.
Cheese, Milk and Eggs. I like!
Freezer - I have a large one and it means I can save money by buying cheap reduced food. Just on half price bread I have saved £65 per year. I think it pays for itself.
Dishwasher. It washes cleaner than I do and I value that time more.
Herbs and spices and pepper- I like food that tastes of stuff.
Visiting friends and family - I do want a life if I can.

Popperwell

In some ways it is awful having to look at things when shopping wondering if you can affordthem or should spend on certain items, So many have to. I did a shop yesterday it seemed essential as I wanted mainly salad, vegetables and fruit, it cost so much but if I can get a few meals/sandwiches out of what I bought perhaps its not too bad.

The only strange/good thing is that on the salad and vegetables though it came to £5 they gave eight tomaoes instead of six, I had a voucher that reduced the celery by 35p, the spring onions were 90p but for another 10p you could have two bunches and because a full head of lettuce would probably be wasted I found a twin pack of shredded Iceberg for £1.25 with enough lettuce for at least 4 uses and being a twin pack the second does not get spoilt through being open until needed. And the vegetables were similar Curly Kale a big packet for £1 with a good long date on it and a twin pack containg fresh broccali and cauliflower that was £1 too.

Considering how food is going up I thought apples etc...to be expensive but the strawberries and Blackberries for £1 per container seemed good value in comparison.

And after some looking at different potato varieties and offers/weights per price I got some Disieree potatoes 2.5kg for £2 so if I can spread that over the week That's approx £1.20 a day but I can probably stretch that into a next week if careful so it is actually less.

I don't have much hair but I have bought the cheap hair shampoo and lotions mentioned earlier at Tersco's, they still seem to have the largest range of budget items but I think they would have more in a larger branch but I saw so many people yesterday buying nothing but this range so people are either looking for bargains or have no choice. And yes someone purchased six tins of potatoes at 19p each.

Best part of what a supermaket sells I can manage without and many items are treats or luxuries which everyone needs. Many more items could probably be sold even cheaper but the supermarkets has to make a pofit as do those who produce the goods(look at the recent dispute over milk)and that is perhaps how some manage to stay in work or business.

Popperwell

I tend to stick to the same foods(often on cost)but try to adapt what I buy so I get a variety of meals and a varied diet.
So to me my most important buy in my life I put food, heat and keeping a roof over my head first. Clothes I can make last years and do some make and mend(using charity shops)and if I can avoid gadgets breaking down/needing being replaced I don't have a reason to go into those kind of shops very often.

So I guess 50% to 75% of what is on sale in high street I don't need. So if I have to thrifty I can be.

So my needs are very basic. For entertainment my luxury is staying connected to the internet and having access to a phone. If I lost that I would be upset.

Unfortunately money and some of the above has to play it's part in our lives and income is reducing either because people are not getting wage or benefit rises but other costs continue to rise too.

My priorites are having loved ones in my life above everything else but that doesn't pay the bills. But now having only myself to consider that doesn't come into it.

I know that it's difficult for many in work, out of work, retired, ill, looking after someone as a carer, single or as part of a family ...on benefit, not on benefit so it's not self pity on my part and nor do I want to be thought I am worse than anyone else.

To some extent at this minute I can just about manage where others cannot now...but we know it's going to get tougher. Hey that's why such threads as exist. So I accept everyone's stories as they are written and hearing about their difficulties and how they cope and hopefully support them.

LameWolf

Judi wrote: »

As much as i love my dogs they wont be replaced either when they die. The expense when they are ill, when they need prevention treatment for fleas and worms and of course yearly vaccinations all add up to quite a considerable amount.

It's a very individual thing; for me, I feel the house is empty without a dog in it, but I'm not well enough to commit to having one myself, so I've signed up as a host with a dog-sitting service; I get other peoples' dogs staying with me instead of going to kennels. The dogs love it, I get the canine company I love, and I don't have any expense. And if I'm too poorly to cope, I just have to tell the local agent and she'll mark me down as unavailable til I'm better.:o

I have to hold my hand up to being a user of hair conditioner; I've tried doing without, and I simply can't get a brush through my hair.:( I haven't visited a hairdresser in I don't know how many years, though - Mr LW trims the stuff for me.;)
ETA Just worked it out - the last time would have been about 30 years ago, and I had a major panic attack.:eek: Haven't been back since!;)

Popperwell

In seconds life can change and many do find the strength to try and turn adversity around.

So to me my most important buy in my life I put food, heat and keeping a roof over my head first. Clothes I can make last years and do some make and mend(using charity shops)and if I can avoid gadgets breaking down/needing being replaced I don't have a reason to go into those kind of shops very often.

So I guess 50% to 75% of what is on sale in high street I don't need. And in reality I suspect that is the same for most people. But if you can everyone needs a treat or something to lift the spirit. So if I have to thrifty I will be but some things are out of my hands.

So my needs are very basic. For entertainment my luxury is staying connected to the internet and having access to a phone. If I lost that I would be upset.

Unfortunately money and some of the above has to play it's part in our lives and income is reducing either because people are not getting wage or benefit rises but other costs continue to rise too.

My priorites can't be measured materialistically. I agree with what Lone Wolf says...in her case her emotional comfort and well being is her dogs and dronid makes good points too.

Willow92

For me it would be:

Alcohol
Magazines (maybe a rare one once or twice a year if it looks interesting)
Fabric conditioner (I use vinegar)
Hair conditioner
Most branded stuff
Sky TV (I could live with freeview)
Pasta Sauce
Pre-prepared veg! I don't mean frozen veg, just the pre-sliced chilled veg etc.
New books (I pick mine up for 50-99p each at a charity shop)
Designer anything.