DFW - what "luxury" can't you live without?

quidsy

OK, I admit it. I have expensive taste in certain things but on this DFW journey I have had to make alot of sacrifices. BUT there are certain things I just can't or wont give up.

Here is a list of my absolutly must haves;

1) Estee Lauder doublewear foundation £27 - Lasts approx 4-5 months & I try to get gifts of it at Christmas so only really buy it once or twice a year.
2) Estee Lauder mascara £22 - again lasts for 3 months & I get vouchers or part of Christmas gift so buy 2-3 times a year.
3) Brazillian blowdries & cut £130 - every 5 months to keep the mop in check.:eek:

In everything else I have really cut back, food is now on a tight budget, clothes are always sales or Primarni unless special occasion, shoes, again, make do with existing or cheap (less than £20 a pair) or even better, charity shop. My car is 11 years old but in good condition & I think & rethink every purchase now but I cannot & will not live without these big price items.

So what are you "can't live without must haves" ?

FBaby

What will happen if you give these up?

quidsy

Nothing apart from horrible hair & bad make up but I have drawn a line. These are the last of a long list of luxury items & that I have decided I just wont do without. The cheaper alternatives just don't make the grade.

But the thread isn't about what will happen rather what have you decided you wont give up regardless.

Asiacat

Thailand.

Discovered paradise in 1998 and came six times in two years.

I had only ever had one single week holiday in Spain prior to coming here.

Plane fares and hotels were adding up so I decided to relocate.

Came here for a seventh time in 2000 and am still here 13 years later. I haven't been out of South East Asia since.

No council tax, television licence, expensive utility bills to pay and I rent a two bedroom two bathroom house for 6000 baht (about 130 pounds) a month.

I don't run a car (but do have a Honda scooter) so no big auto expenses either.

My earnings are only 25% of what I got in England but the lifestyle is infinitely better.

zenshi

Decent coffee! I do like nice coffee and have tried going down a brand or two but its just awful :eek:

quidsy

Asiacat wrote: »

Thailand.

Discovered paradise in 1998 and came six times in two years.

I had only ever had one single week holiday in Spain prior to coming here.

Plane fares and hotels were adding up so I decided to relocate.

Came here for a seventh time in 2000 and am still here 13 years later. I haven't been out of South East Asia since.

No council tax, television licence, expensive utility bills to pay and I rent a two bedroom two bathroom house for 6000 baht (about 130 pounds) a month.

I don't run a car (but do have a Honda scooter) so no big auto expenses either.

My earnings are only 25% of what I got in England but the lifestyle is infinitely better.

lol, I hear you, went over in 1997 stayed for 8 years, married a local & moved to UK in 2004 & do at least one trip over a year. We have a hol planned for october half term which will mess with my debt busting budget by a mnth or two but it isn't a luxury, it is an essential. :rotfl:

quidsy

zenshi wrote: »

Decent coffee! I do like nice coffee and have tried going down a brand or two but its just awful :eek:

You sound like my mum, she carries her own coffee brand around in a small tupperwear as she wont drink other peoples crappy coffee.

good_advice

So far I have not herd any suggestions that people cannot live without! Then Luxuries are nice

I think having the heating on in cold weather is becoming a luxury.

Having a glass of wine with dinner. We get ours in France on a booze
run just before December.

Going on any holiday - we now have a caravan holiday, mid week break. Last one was £79 for 2 people.

quidsy

That's the point of a luxury though isn't it?

You don't need it but you'd not give it up, no matter what you save by doing so.

loveka

Good idea for a thread, very interesting.

For me, l have stopped spending money on things like clothes and shoes, coffees and sandwiches at work, going out,organic food. Everything is now own brand, and I really try to only buy what I need rather than want. Apart from...

Red wine- though we now have to make our own, but it is rather nice and comes in at £1.10 a bottle!
Twinnings Assam tea- tried own brand and it's awful.
Good coffee
Free range chicken
Scented leaf geraniums, petunias and fushias for my hanging baskets and containers.

I also bought a solar fountain for my pond and some new solar lights for the garden. They were a luxury, but if ever the sun shines, they will add to my pleasure and quality of life. That's my excuse anyway!

Idiophreak

quidsy wrote: »

3) Brazillian blowdries & cut £130 - every 5 months to keep the mop in check.:eek:

Very confused by this...You get your bikini line blow dried? And it costs £130? That must be quite a mop! :eek::eek:

In terms of my luxuries:

1) Andrex Shea Butter toilet roll. My buttocks deserve the best.
2) Fairy liquid. Life's too short for inferior dish soap.
3) Cravendale / pure milk. Sour milk sucks.

Think that's about it, really. Most stuff I'd manage without.