The value of things

[Deleted User]

Primrose, your debts would not have to be paid by your children. The debt belongs to the estate, and if the estate is insolvent, it is written off.

I know each to his own and all that, but I find some of the comments here a little pretentious and self righteous. 

Life is for living too! I don’t think many people lay dying thinking, ‘I am so pleased I went for the cheapest scoops of ice cream!’

olgadapolga

[Deleted User] said:

Life is for living too! I don’t think many people lay dying thinking, ‘I am so pleased I went for the cheapest scoops of ice cream!’

But it's down to the individual how they live their life, though, isn't it? If they want the cheap scoops of ice cream, then that is their personal decision and no-one has the right to judge them for it.

[Deleted User]

I am not judging just giving my opinion. 

[Deleted User]

I just think it’s rather sad that some people think of everything in monetary terms. Again just my opinion!

[Deleted User]

olgadapolga said:

[Deleted User] said:

Life is for living too! I don’t think many people lay dying thinking, ‘I am so pleased I went for the cheapest scoops of ice cream!’

But it's down to the individual how they live their life, though, isn't it? If they want the cheap scoops of ice cream, then that is their personal decision and no-one has the right to judge them for it.

Rather worrying that these days giving an opinion is seen as ‘judging’. It’s almost as if not nobody can cope with having their views questioned or someone else having an alternative approach. 

MovingForwards

I'm a couple of decades away from retiring but over the last 5 years focused on the mentally of saving every penny.

Initially it was for a mortgage deposit and associated costs, while paying longstanding debt off following my marriage breakdown.  Then because I'd spent nearly everything buying my home and wanted various pots of money for different things I expect to pay over the years, while saving for retirement too.

Both times, I would calculate how many hours I work to pay for something, how much an own / cheaper brand would save me, how much more I could buy of the cheaper item eg 1x £10 expensive item would buy me 5 cheaper ones.

Over these 5 years I've ignored joke comments about putting people from a certain area up here (Scotland) to shame as I could teach them a thing or two and save them even more money that they don't spend. I took it as a compliment.

It all hit home when my OH's mom came to visit and a couple of subsequent conversations with my OH; he and family thought we were absolutely skint and couldn't afford to do, or buy, things.

I knew there would be more than enough money when retiring, but had never put two and two together. I had developed an unhealthy relationship with money and recognised when I did retire, I would have difficulty spending what I had saved over 20 years, my OH would have a great time when I'm gone! 

I've loosened the purse strings a little and increased a couple of budgets, reducing monthly savings a little to cover it. Now I do buy that £10 item and appreciate it's value, as it's something nice to look forward to after busting a gut at work all week.

I'm building up to a restaurant visit, looking up various ones, but so far have not found what I'm after. As an alternative I've started to try different farm shops. It would be too easy for me to ask my local butcher, however with a couple of days notice he gets me the various cuts I ask for.

fudgecat

Interesting, and clearly we all have our quirks. I am also a tightwad when it comes to spending, bur generous to grandchildren and friends. I rarely eat out because the cost, calculated in terms of how much weekly shopping money it is, often turns the food to ashes in my mouth. I too will have a reasonable walk rather than pat for parking.
I think you can train yourself to enjoy what is free, second hand or re-used and rather than feel deprived, take pride in your acuity.
The bottom line is doing what you feel comfortable with. From the sounds of it, family and friends treat your habit's with affectionate amusement. I'll take that!

elsien

I’m starting to spend more on non-essentials - meals out, massage/facial (albeit still via groupon) because the last year has been difficult and I have decided I deserve to treat myself.

So if I go out for a meal, I’m still checking prices and what I think is worth it and what isn’t - especially with the wine. 

But I’d happily occasionally spend £7 on a pud if a) I want it and b) I’ve got room for it.

 I don’t compare to what I can make at home or pay in a supermarket because quite simply I’m not at home or in a supermarket and it’s a false comparison, (Apart from a decent wine - those prices do annoy me.) 
In your case I might have declined the pud but not referenced the money, so I’d have likely said I was too full or had a coffee instead. Your money, your choice, but that can make other people uncomfortable so why bother going there? 

Langtang

21 years ago, whilst on holiday in the Cotswolds with my future wife & future in-laws, we were in Burford looking for somewhere to have lunch. We'd all decided on the place to eat, but as I was walking in I noticed a board outside saying "Baked Potatoes £6.50"

I point-blank refused to buy one, on the principle that they were grossly overpriced (remember, this was 21 years ago!) So much so that I was in a bit of a strop throughout lunch. I ended up ordering something that I thought was "fairly" priced, despite actually wanting a potato.

The irony in this story is, not a couple of hours after lunch, I spent £110 on a beautiful suede jacket. It was reduced from £195, and I thought it really good value at almost half price. I still own that jacket today!

To this day, my wife still makes fun of me about the baked potato incident. If we're out and I mention the price of a meal, she'll say "How much! £xx.xx for a (whatever it is). Outrageous!"

It's all about "is it value for money", and I know that means different things to different people.

I'm a big pudding fan (I wish we could have it first, and the starter later) but do look at the price of a pudding, and that sometimes determines what I have in the end. I also used to drop my wife in town, then go to find a free parking space in one of the side streets. I would then leave my wife in town, collect the car & then go back to pick her up.

QrizB

Langtang said:

I'm a big pudding fan (I wish we could have it first, and the starter later) but do look at the price of a pudding, and that sometimes determines what I have in the end. I also used to drop my wife in town, then go to find a free parking space in one of the side streets. I would then leave my wife in town, collect the car & then go back to pick her up.

Heh, me too. In the OP's example I might even have had a pudding for main course and then a second for, er, pudding