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What will you never economise on?

(201 Posts)
Sago Fri 26-Aug-22 10:23:55

Thank you Chardy for you money saving thread.As I was responding I got to thinking of the things I really wouldn’t want to change/ economise on as the cost of living rises.

Here’s my list; I couldn’t car share with my husband, so unless things were dire my car stays.
Quality tea bags.
Hairdressing (8 weekly)
Quality loo roll.
My shower oil.
Wine and Gin ( we rarely drink during the week)
Quality Olive/Walnut oil for dressings.
Ecover fabric conditioner.

Chewbacca Sat 27-Aug-22 19:33:56

Fast Wi-Fi connection
Decent coffee, not instant
Yorkshire tea
My car as rubbish as it is
Podiatrist every 8 weeks

Deedaa Sat 27-Aug-22 19:32:07

Mine starts with Yorkshire tea,
then Vialone Nano risotto rice which is almost unobtainable now but makes a lovely risotto,
Good quality bronze die pasta,
Good quality tinned tomatoes,
Decent coffee. I'm liking a Brazilian one at the moment.

Anything else I'm not too picky about.

lixy Sat 27-Aug-22 19:29:11

coffee

Feeding Gchn (and the rest of the family) when they are here.

Broadband

the window cleaners who come every 6 weeks. As Bigbertha1 says no point in putting other people out of work if i can possibly avoid it.

Sandytoes Sat 27-Aug-22 19:25:48

Another vote for butter and good ground coffee.
Other than that our National Trust membership and good quality walking shoes . However by the end of next year it may be marg / instant and flip flops! for us smile

Harris27 Sat 27-Aug-22 19:25:13

Yorkshire tea bags.
My hair shampoo and conditioner. ( John Frieda)
Hair colour ( do it myself)
Clarks shoes
Keeping my radley bags( won’t buy anymore)

M0nica Sat 27-Aug-22 19:15:15

Witzend it is a matter of taste. Lurpak is lactic butter, that is butter made from whole milk that has been mixed with lactic acid to trigger fermentation. Unlike 'ordinary' butter that is made directly from cream.

I heard a radio program about it a year or so ago. There is a north/south divide, lactic butter being more popular in the north of England and ordinary butter in the south. They do taste very different and I do not like lactic butter.

Lurpak is a Danish butter brand, but it is made and distributed by Arla Dairies, the biggest British Dairy company, which in its turn is now owned by a Danish/Swedish company.

However I still prefer the traditional salted British style butter.

kittylester Sat 27-Aug-22 19:11:40

I hate lurpak! Tasteless stuff.

Witzend Sat 27-Aug-22 16:44:51

Galaxy

The other butters dont taste as good.

I take it you’ve tried them all?

I used to buy Lurpak when we lived in the Middle East because it was the only one available. TBH I found it insipid and haven’t been tempted since.

You may well disagree, but I feel that the popularity of Lurpak is at least partly accounted for by a lot of advertising, including on TV, telling us - or at least implying - that it’s the best.

I dare say that’s affordable because the Danish dairy industry is huge, and I don’t suppose I’m the only one who doubts that all the Lurpak cows are happily munching grass in nice green fields. Factory farming is huge in Denmark, though much of my sympathy is admittedly reserved for all the millions of their poor pigs.

Concordia Sat 27-Aug-22 16:36:28

Twinings' Assam Tea
Lavazza Rosso coffee
Waitrose Pistachio & Rose shortbread
My cats
Unsalted butter

BigBertha1 Sat 27-Aug-22 16:34:13

Food generally- we mostly eat lots of fresh fruit and veg, chicken, fish and less meat. We never have takeaways. I do buy from a more expensive supermarket but little waste and all home cooked. I will be trying to cut down on energy useage and have just changed to care to a more energy efficient model.

I am changing my nice toiletries to a cheaper but very good brand I think. I will still be having a monthly hairdo and nails, eyebrows , waxing. - No point in me putting those people out of work and me being miserable. I don't go to the most expensive salons just local ones.

That's about it for now.

BlueBelle Sat 27-Aug-22 15:46:46

I m not precious about anything if I have to economise i ll get use to whatever is the alternative I ve nothing at all that I couldn’t change if I had to

Barmeyoldbat Sat 27-Aug-22 15:44:43

Mine

Lurpak butter
Tetley tbags
Bold for white washing
Quality seeded brown bread
Quality bedding
Fresh fruit and veg
For everything else I will buy the cheapest on offer in Aldi...

My naked bacon and sausages range
The cat
Coffee and cake when out cycling
Channel 5, I haven’t run out yet but will do everything I can to get another bottle
Waitrose meat and fish

NanKate Sat 27-Aug-22 14:47:15

Good quality strong coffee both at home and at our favourite cafe ☕️☕️

Callistemon21 Sat 27-Aug-22 14:32:11

Sago

I buy really quality good extra thick double cream and just add sea salt before it goes in the food processor, the result is better than the best French butter that comes in the cylindrical gold wrapping.

I made some recently and it was very good although I didn't do all the washing of the butter which some recipes specify. Just strained and squeezed through muslin.

Do you follow the whole process, Sago ie twice rinsing, squeezing it out etc?

MawtheMerrier Sat 27-Aug-22 14:29:11

In a word quality and what I will economise on, also in a word, quantity.

kittylester Sat 27-Aug-22 13:52:55

I don't have time to make my own butter sago but will continue to buy Waitrose sea salted French butter.

I do stuff mushrooms though.

Pittcity Sat 27-Aug-22 12:09:00

Washing machine, daily shower and multi focal contact lenses.

I buy Lidl or Aldi spread that is a blend of British butter and rapeseed oil. It's lovely.
I'm not averse to trying cheaper versions...you don't know until you try!!!

Greyduster Sat 27-Aug-22 12:07:31

The car.
A good hair cut.
Good malt whisky. A bottle lasts me a good long time so I don’t see the need to economise on it.

skunkhair63 Sat 27-Aug-22 12:02:31

I can’t bear to think about the cost of living crisis, and grim Winter ahead. Both of us retired after Christmas, which wasn’t such a clever move as it’s turned out! We’re not too fussy about brands of food etc, and have switched to a cheaper supermarket already. The way things are going, I may have to give up my own car, but the one thing I would never part with is my washing machine!

Sago Sat 27-Aug-22 11:49:36

I buy really quality good extra thick double cream and just add sea salt before it goes in the food processor, the result is better than the best French butter that comes in the cylindrical gold wrapping.

kittylester Sat 27-Aug-22 11:46:50

*does.

kittylester Sat 27-Aug-22 11:37:57

Don't like Lurpak. My butter of choice is French with sea salt. I like Cornish with sea salt but it is difficult to track down in the Midlands.

Waitrose used to sell it but no longer do

Galaxy Sat 27-Aug-22 11:30:48

The other butters dont taste as good.

Witzend Sat 27-Aug-22 11:26:52

Once again I see Lurpak mentioned - I do often wonder what’s wrong with the various brands of perfectly good U.K. butter. Not to mention why people like to support Danish farmers, rather than our own.

JenniferEccles Fri 26-Aug-22 16:19:07

I would find it a lot easier to name the few things I would be willing to compromise on as it would be a great deal shorter than a list of those I am definitely not ?