What would you find hard to give up in these times of austerity?

mummyyof5

What a lovely post JackieO XX

Beccatje

I quit smoking 3 weeks ago, purely because I can't afford it anymore.

I would be miserable without internet. I would rather give uo smoking than give up internet.

camNolliesMUMMY

Takeaways used to be a big one for us every weekend we would have a kebab,curry, Chinese or pizza.
The truth is we can't afford it now!
But I invested in the takeaway secret recipe books and haven't looked back, so we save the pennies and know what's in our food and don't miss out on nt having a treat!

emalou88

Tea, a nice soak in the bath, the occasional hot chocolate whilst out and decent ground coffee (3 bags for £5, last me for ages)

Mine all revolve around water and hot drinks

Austin_Allegro

I suppose the problem is how do you distinguish between luxury and necessity?

In food terms it would be I suppose anything that is not necessary for survival, so refined sugar, tea and coffee would fall into those categories.

I would miss sugar because it's necessary to make home brew with; so without sugar you get no sweets and no booze!

I'd also miss pipe tobacco. I've tried all kinds of substitutes, but nothing compares to a really nice, fresh aromatic pipe tobacco to puff on when the world is collapsing around you!

LameWolf

Austin_Allegro wrote: »

I suppose the problem is how do you distinguish between luxury and necessity?

That's true; being semi-housebound, the internet is a necessity for me, in all honesty.:o

I suspect my good quality coffee beans, that I grind myself as needed (oh ok, I get DH to grind them):D probably are a thing I could do without, but it'd break my heart. I loathe instant coffee!_pale_ We get our beans from a chap who has a stall on the market; he always has an amazing selection of different beans, and we enjoy trying different ones.

I drink my coffee black and unsweetened, and go through a whole filter pot every day.:drool:

If, for some reason, I can't have my coffee, I have to resort to caffeine tablets - but there's no enjoyment in taking those.:(

peachyprice

I would miss home baking. While my homemade cakes are delicious, they are expensive, espeically those with lots of eggs and butter.

flubberyzing

I couldn't give up my car. Without it my job would be virtually impossible. A trip that might be 15 minutes in the car would be 2 or 3 hours if I had to rely on public transport!

I couldn't give up on my internet either. I need it for work as well, so without it, working would become significantly more difficult and would require access to cyber cafes and the like, which cost both in terms of time and money.

Since my LBM in late August though, I have given up takeaways completely. I haven't had one since the night of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Even a cheapish chippy tea costs £3.50, and now, with my OS ways, I have get a few meals out of that! I don't even miss them really.

DianneB

Car
Internet
Pepsi Max

CompBunny

Dog - couldn't give him up, whilst technically a 'luxury' he is a family member to us.
Our car - we live a long way from the nearest big town to be near OH's work so need the car to reach family and shops
Internet - keeps me (in)sane
TV - bought a 99p old CRT one from ebay when ours packed up, although the biggest expense is the TV license. The TV keeps the dog calm and OH happy!