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What do you spend more on now you're older?

(119 Posts)
threesugars Wed 13-Jul-16 16:36:02

1) Shoes
In the past I'd happily buy any plastic rubbish that (I thought) looked good. Now, I have to be comfy and that usually means spending more.

2) Cleaning/kitchen gadgets
Anything to make my life easier!

3) Insurance
Boring but necessary

4) Cosmetics
Another necessary one grin! A decent face cream etc when before I settled for whatever was on offer.

5) Good seats
At the theatre, occasionally for extra leg room on plane journeys etc. Life is too short -you should try be as comfortable as possible.

What are yours?

KatyK Thu 14-Jul-16 10:15:11

We spend more on holidays, eating out etc than we used to. We help our daughter and her family when we can and we do most of the 'treating'. I am always more than happy whenever they treat us!

henetha Thu 14-Jul-16 10:03:01

Plants,definitely. I am not good at gardening, but can't resist new plants.

DaphneBroon Thu 14-Jul-16 08:32:11

Lovely happy pic rubylady -as they used to say on the MasterCard ad - priceless smile

Galen Thu 14-Jul-16 08:16:52

wine

NanKate Thu 14-Jul-16 07:24:23

Well said Ruby

rubylady Thu 14-Jul-16 01:42:01

I may not have everything I want but I have everything I need, and for that I am grateful. smile

POGS Thu 14-Jul-16 00:03:47

Everything and anything we had b----r all at one time and will never forget how lucky we are with our lot now. grin

crun Wed 13-Jul-16 23:12:23

Health. Three years ago it didn't even warrant a separate category in the accounts, now it's about 10% of the budget.

Marmight Wed 13-Jul-16 22:52:20

.. in mitigation, the picture was in a charity auction so I didn't feel so bad about it...

Marmight Wed 13-Jul-16 22:50:13

Travel in comfort to Oz to see the family once a year. No longer drive to see the others so fly/car hire to SE which all adds up, but what the hell! Occasional gardening/house help for things I can no longer manage. Occasional meal out with friends and, of course wine..... Not particularly bothered about expensive clothes or makeup - Asda does me just fine. I just feel the need, in the absence of a DH, to treat myself more often than I probably should - nobody else does so I am enjoying Ski'ing. Oh, and I recently bought myself a rather nice picture which I fancied - don't really need it, but...

millymouge Wed 13-Jul-16 22:47:15

I think that as you get older if you want it and can afford it you should have it. Have had to be so careful for years as the children were growing up,and we had a mortgage. Family all settled now so things are a lot easier so DH and I can get things for our hobbies, I can get some nice clothes, lunches out, holidays and help for our charities.

Granny23 Wed 13-Jul-16 22:33:35

Nothing exciting I'm afraid. Loads more on heating because DH constantly feels cold, has the central heating on all day and sometimes overnight. We have also, since DH retired, lost our regular supply of wood offcuts for burning and after a couple of spectacular slides downhill, I have decided to give up regular foraging for wood. DH can no longer saw it up anyway and it takes me longer to saw a log than it takes to burn it. grin So if we want to use the open fire we need to buy logs.

Also now have to pay for most household maintenance/repairs that we used to do ourselves, even to have the windows cleaned and hedge cut, though still managing to grow our own fruit and veg, which saves a bit on the food shopping. As to bargains and my favourite Thrift Shops I used to spend my lunch hours browsing but now it is a rare treat as it means a special trip into town.

Liaise Wed 13-Jul-16 22:13:56

Plants, holidays, good shoes, more clothes than we need. Also an expensive bed, actually two singles joined together. We all seem to have similar requirements to make life comfortable in retirement. We are fortunate living in a warm house. Quite important when you are at home most of the time.

merlotgran Wed 13-Jul-16 21:40:18

Plants

grumppa Wed 13-Jul-16 21:35:11

Malt whisky.

NanKate Wed 13-Jul-16 21:21:16

Coffees out in nice cafés.
Good quality clothes in Charity Shops
Vintage necklaces from Charity Shops
Occasional brand new hardback books
Makeup, it rarely lives up to its promises hmm
Masses of different nail varnishes

obieone Wed 13-Jul-16 20:51:29

ninathenana, I hope they can treat you soon too smile
Maggiemaybe, you may have changed my thinking!

GandTea Wed 13-Jul-16 20:33:26

Holidays, just booked two for the spring next year.

Maggiemaybe Wed 13-Jul-16 20:01:25

Hi obieone. Your question's not cheeky at all smile We still do the lion's share of the treating, tbh, because that tends to be the way of things, doesn't it? But no, we feel fine about them insisting on picking up the tab now and then, because it's usually by way of a thank you for looking after the grandchildren, or similar help with our time. We're just glad to be able to do that for them, now work doesn't get in the way, and also very pleased that they can afford to treat us occasionally.

Swanny Wed 13-Jul-16 19:44:58

Top quality meat, veg and dairy products. My appetite is smaller these days so I can afford to enjoy the better taste of locally grown products whenever possible. Have to watch the demon cholesterol though!

wot Wed 13-Jul-16 19:32:28

Slippers, fleeced and blankets. Books, sweeties and puddings!
!

Nelliemoser Wed 13-Jul-16 19:30:42

More garden plants! There's no hope for me. flowers flowers flowers flowers flowers

grannyactivist Wed 13-Jul-16 19:30:07

Visits to local coffee shops; teeth and glasses; holidays in hotels rather than camping; dining out; treating the children/grandchildren. (Only one of my children is in a position to treat me and she does so fairly often.) I think that my biggest extravagance now is probably buying flowers - where once I would have bought one bunch at a time I now buy three or four. At the moment I have two vases of flowers in the sitting room, one in the hall, one in the dining room and a small vase in the bedroom.

Indinana Wed 13-Jul-16 19:26:34

Comfortable shoes, definitely as I have bunions so my feet are deformed. Fabric for clothes for my GD - works out much more expensive than buying shop bought, but I love making them and make DD loves dressing her DD in them!
Also just spending on my family when they need it.

suzied Wed 13-Jul-16 19:08:51

I bought a v expensive mattress, on the basis that I would be spending more time in bed. ( true - it was worth it)