What things can't you compromise on?

flutterbyuk25

sunflower76 wrote: »

Eggs need to be free range and coffee needs to be Gold Blend if it's instant but other than that I am happy to try anything. I've yet to find a decent own brand toothpaste but if I can then I shan't be loyal to the big brands.

Eggs and Gold Blend are my two too! Otherwise I'm happy with whichever shop I'm in's own brand

x

winniepooh

with me its coffee......I love a filter coffee in the morning. I cant function properly if not.

lurkylurky

faithcecilia wrote: »

Eggs - must be free range.
Loo roll - I seem to always use too much (dont ask how!) so not the cheapest.
Ketchup - usually own brand but not 'value' as I'm allergic to celery.

Like you we can't compromise on loo roll. But after feeling that all branded loo rolls are reducing in quality, and following a tip on MSE, we now only use Nicky from Farm Foods. £2 for 9 rolls. We also use Jenster's trick of squashing the loo roll.

shazrobo

has to be fairy washing up liquid, every other brand irritates my skin and makes my dermatitis and excema bad

eselt

For me its:
Tea- Can't stand value t-bags, you have to use about three per cup to get a decent strength and they taste vile
Fairy liquid
Butter not spread for toast, but will use spread for lunchbox sandwiches
Loo roll- not value, but any good quality soft roll will do
Free range eggs
Frys turkish delight
Good quality meat pies-value pies just seem to have a dollop of meat slurry in the middle, yuk
Meat generally-I'd rather go without, or eat much less, and have decent quality.
Hair products-any good quality will do, usually see whats on offer at our local factory shop-they always have good products for at least half price.

I'm sure theres loads more.

esio_trot

I'm quite happy to compromise on a lot of food items, I find the way you cook things can completely mask the fact that they're value/basics whatever.

I don't scrimp on beauty products of all things - shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, make up and perfume. Mainly because if I use anything else, it really irritates my skin using anything else (I use mineral make up) and secondly because I use those products as a treat for myself - the cheap stuff just isn't the same!

I also don't scrimp on drinks when I'm out. I'd rather pay a little more for something which I really enjoy, rather than something which is so so.

competitionscafe

anguk wrote: »

PureNuffStuff shampoo bar, conditioner & soap - most beauty products make me itch & natural stuff can be really expensive or not lather enough but purenuffstuff is reasonably priced (for natural) and is lovely.

I buy PureNuffStuff too (very senstive skin and wary of all the dodgy stuff used in the big brands) - and I agree, it's great. Do you buy yours online too? I can't find any local stockists...

Going4TheDream

Most food products I am happy to compromise on except eggs and meat , They have to be free range and meat from the butcher not the supermarket. I like a good cup of tea and always keep a box of Twinings breakfast tea for that first cuppa of the day to get me going, the rest of the day i am happy to drink whatever decent tea is on offer. I like John Frieda Frizz eaze range of hair products as it it the only range that keeps my unruly hair in check, and I also like a good quality face moisturiser and sanctuary bath products.

bluebag

Coo, I've had such a wild time reading this thread, we all all so very different and yet have a common purpose. I had a very good income and was used to the better things in life when my circumstances changed and my life spiralled into a massive big black debt hole. It took me ten years to dig myself out, that was fourteen years ago. I have eaten, worn, used and drank anything that came the cheapest of the cheap, some are still with me. I can only drink value coffee now even though I could afford better I'm used to my old 'value' stuff.
I try to cut costs anywhere we don't notice, my lot will eat any beans or use any loo roll but it has to be heinz soup. I use good soap powder because I find it works better.
I am money saving for a big holiday as I always pay cash these days, so I'm loving all the tips and hints here, although I know most of them it's easy to slip back into wasteful ways. The support here is amazing, I wish it had been here for me years ago, in the very dark only one tea bag and two eggs in the cupoard days. My kids thought everyone went to bed by torchlight (leccy gone)
LOL, Harsh but truly humbling.
Cheers to you all. bb

Belisarius

Hi there,

I'm quite new, so hope you don't mind me starting this discussion. It's something I've been thinking about / trying to deal with for a long time.

I am generally a very thrifty person when it comes to most things ... I don't own much & it doesn't bother me that I don't. I'm happy with second-hand or cheap, supermarket clothes ... I'm happy not to have the heating on much at all ... I only buy books, DVDs etc. second-hand ... I'm happy not to go on holiday ... all that kind of thing.

But I find it almost impossible to be "thrifty" about food. I read all these threads about people buying economy brands or eking out quantities, and planning every single meal in advance, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have tried & tried, but it makes me incredibly unhappy. Don't get me wrong - I adore cooking, and make everything from scratch. I just can't compromise on buying nice ingredients or scrimping on quantities, and I like the freedom of cooking what I feel like cooking on that particular evening. I wouldn't say I'm extravagant, but I'm definitely not as thrifty as I could possibly be - it just makes me tense, anxious & miserable. I think it's because I associate "nice" food with safety & security as my parents are very foody.

I guess I'm wondering if other people have this, either with food or something else? What do you find it hard to be thrifty about? Why do you think that is? Do you think you should work to overcome it, or just let it go as one of those things?