For FUN!! What's the 1 "luxury" you find hard to give up when budgeting

[eliza61]

This is purely for fun, I've notice that threads have gotten, shall we say tense really quick lately so let me say, I don't mean to imply any thing but some good natured silliness.

Anyway our "emergency" cash took a serious hit this year. Roof had to be replaced, every single appliance in our house had to be replaced (except the dishwasher, but don't say it too loud-it might hear you and decide to break). We got a 7K IRS bill and now I need new tires.

So we're back in super saver mode around here. Dh and I always think of ways to trim the budget and we usually are in agreement until he suggested I not get my hair colored once a month.

I seriously think I blacked out for a moment. Call me vain, entitled or whatever but the thought of me letting my grays come in naturally and letting the roots return to a state they haven't seen since 1980 was enough for me to consider hari-kari

So do you have a little some thing that life as we know it would end before you'd give up. Maybe it's the chocolate cookies you sneak into the grocery cart even though you're trying to cut the food bill or the pedicure to keep you tootsies from resembling Mustafa's claws.

Confess

 

[vicki_c]

I agree - hair appointment. Although I have stretched it now to 8 weeks instead of 6 and it's not too bad. I don't have all over color so my roots don't really show.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Coffee..fresh ground. We have changed alot of spending habits but we really really like good coffee.. I hope this doesnt turn ugly because it is a fun little topic

 

[superme80]

Good vegetarian food for me. DH smokes and I eat good food. That is my excuse!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Yes, as sad as this is, we can't give up HBO. We love our "True Blood" too much. (And prior to "True Blood" it was the "Sopranos")

I know, I know.....

 

[burnsoc]

iTunes. I love music and books. I get library books on my nook, but I'm still buying new music. I'm bald so never get haircuts, iTunes is my haircut money. At least that's how I justify it to my wife. We've cut everything else though.

 

[Local_Girl]

Probably high speed internet (well, DSL, if you can call that "high speed", but we can't get cable where we are now, and satellite and dial up are worthless, IMHO).

And bottled water...our well water is beyond nasty.

 

[Happy Mom2]

I'm with you on the hair but I like my hair products too. I have stretched it from 6 weeks to 10 weeks. I like my salon shampoo and conditioner. I have long hair, and have it hi-lighted and colored so I need a quality shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair healthy.

 

[npcougar]

Internet

 

[Colleen27]

World of Warcraft. It sounds so juvenile, but we've got 3 kids, no sitter that lives close by, and live in a small town with practically no nightlife even if we were inclined and able to go out in the evenings. Logging into the game and hanging out with my "invisible friends" (what DH calls our guildies - my invisible friends that live in the computer) is my "me time" at night when the kids are in bed.

 

[pat fan]

Hair, professional cut & color, not products. I'll Suave it when I have to

Facial products. I will not do without my Mary Kay. I look at that as an investment in my future self.

 

[Virgderon]

Ice cream and Diet Dr. Pepper. I must have my Drumstick ice cream cones and my pop. It's non-negotiable.

 

[moongirl]

Eating out. I just need a day off from cooking at least every two weeks.

 

[Michelle and crew]

Books. I cannot resist the urge to buy, beg and borrow them.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Date Nights. I can be a cheap date as long as we go out once a week. I love my kids but I also love my hubby and won't skip my night out with him.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Well in this economy we given up just about as far as it can go. But I would have to say what is not given up is not for me, but my DH I wont let him give up the golf. As we are hoping he will be pro by 55. It his passion and he loves being outdoors. So I will continue to make sure he plays all he wants.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

We've gone without satellite television in a budget crunch but we refuse to give up broadband internet.

As for Hair color:

I switched to home color root touch - ups over 7 years ago and never looked back. My stylist only cuts my long hair about 4 times a year; she was cool about educating me on how to apply the color to just my roots (I do my hairline all around my head first, then my part and lastly section it and apply color)- I never do all over color -too damaging. My hubby has gotten really good helping me color my hair too

 

[PrincessHeather'sMom]

Books. I cannot resist the urge to buy, beg and borrow them.

I agree - this is my one 'problem'. Though I have learned to cut back a little. I'm utilizing the liabrary more by checking out audio books and listening to them in the car back and forth to work rather than buying them.

 

[DawnM]

Internet is a must in our house for a variety of reasons (DH needs it to do work from home when he gets to work from home), so I am not counting that as a luxury.

Coffee is something I will not skimp on. I have an overpriced coffee maker and grinder and buy good quality beans. I make myself a double shot latte every morning.

Dawn

 

[tinkermom23]

Coffee here!
I can cut back a lot, and believe me we have, but DH & I need that cup of GOOD coffee in the morning. We have a pot before the kids get up. It's our "date" almost every morning! So when I see Starbucks coffee on sale or I have a coupon, I really stock up!