I refuse to spend money on…

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

Gambling, as others mentioned. It’s not my thing.

Full price upgrades to business/first class or buying business/first class flight tickets outright: I dislike being in an airplane, and while business is more comfortable it still isn’t the most incredible experience; so I’d rather deal with discomfort and get wherever I need to go much cheaper.

luxury cars etc. I’m ambivalent to cars, so I’d definitely make my choices based on efficiency and comfort; and go for the cheapest one which meets my needs. Currently I don’t have a car because I don’t need one.

 

[Aninin]

My number one is shipping! If I can't get free shipping the chances of me ordering any given item drops dramatically.

I can't think of anything else that hasn't already been said so I'll just echo the precut fruit and credit card interest.

 

[maryjane04]

Hahaha I had to think about this all day.

My first would be getting my nails done. I just hate having anything on my nails to begin with. Next would be hair... my mum is a hairdresser so I get cuts and colours for free

The third thing is a bit of a tough one.. but I think it's grouped in with luxury goods.. think brand names.. especially handbags and cars.. I don't care for bags.. and a car is only for comfort hahaha. I don't need it to be european or luxury. Actually if I had my way I wouldn't drive ever! If I ever get rich, I am getting a driver hahaha but maybe I would refuse to pay someone to drive me as I currently do with uber unless absolutely necessary.

 

[Made in London]

I don’t gamble either. I’d rather see my money in my jewelry box or hanging in the closet!

This is exactly how I feel too

 

[Mreader]

My number one is shipping! If I can't get free shipping the chances of me ordering any given item drops dramatically.

I can't think of anything else that hasn't already been said so I'll just echo the precut fruit and credit card interest.

Oh yes shipping is a good one! It can be 75% off and I still can’t bring myself to tack on $9.95 to ship. Stores with acct members who don’t get free ship (like Ann Taylor) just seem so wrong to me.

 

[Mreader]

@Efleon the $10 a bottle - no no no girl!!! Esp if you are a two glass a day. I think a good Cab or Bordeaux would change your life Now we need a thread of "what I will spend money on or refuse to skimp on" (besides bling obviously).

 

[missy]

Oh yes shipping is a good one! It can be 75% off and I still can’t bring myself to tack on $9.95 to ship. Stores with acct members who don’t get free ship (like Ann Taylor) just seem so wrong to me.

Haha I used to be like this and now I am like eh let's expedite it for an extra $40. Sometimes it is worth the extra $ to get it more quickly. For example I overnighted my meds and think that was well worth the cost.

 

[Jambalaya]

Overpriced settings (mostly rings)
Nails
Hair color

The prices of settings are out of control. I love doing my nails myself - so relaxing - and I have never been so pleased with my hair color as I am now that I've learned I need to do a double process - bleach and tone. Previously, I'd use box dye on my medium-dark hair and wonder why I could never get rid of the orange tones. No hairdresser has ever made me this happy. (But I do have it cut professionally. I've had to accept that i can't do that part myself.)

 

[Jambalaya]

^ Re. shipping, I've found that there are many times when you cannot avoid shipping charges. I get free shipping when I possibly can by searching for a promo code or by signing up for a customer account, but often shipping charges can't be avoided, in my experience. If I had to guess, I'd say that I've had free shipping approximately half the time. The times I do pay shipping, it's well worth it in terms of time and transport costs saved if I had to go and get the item myself, for the sake of $5 shipping. And often the item works out cheaper than the store price, even with the shipping cost.

 

[winetime12]

Shipping fees
Food delivery
House cleaning

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

It's interesting to see that everyone has different views on what they prioritize and refuse to spend money on!

 

[Jambalaya]

Can I have another one? I don't really eat out these days. I find the service insanely intrusive, the restaurants incredibly noisy, and the food so-so and expensive. Plus it's often unhealthy to eat out. Restaurants are saved for special occasions a small handful of times a year.

My two biggest bugbears are intrusive service and noisy fellow diners. I had a celebration dinner once that was destroyed by the woman who was at the next table, screaming her head off. And I had a friend actually get a migraine triggered once because of a woman across the room who was screeching so much. And the service! Oh, man! WHY is it that the servers suddenly poke their heads between you and your companion and bellow IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT? when you are right in the middle of a conversation, usually getting to the good part, and clearly not looking around for them? They do this multiple times per meal, and I swear they have a sixth sense about when you're about to get to the punchline. I am sure that this never used to be the case, but in my city, it seems that you need to stay in if you want an intimate dinner now. It's weird the way I've noticed a large uptick in servers interrupting conversations for no reason. I don't mind once to check that the food's OK, as that's pretty standard. But now it's 2-4 times per meal. (This was pre-pandemic. I've eaten out maybe twice in the last 18 months.)

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Refuse.....
Cable TV
"luxury" vehicles
"expensive" outfits for children that they will wear once. Nope. Not going to happen.

 

[lilmosun]

For years, I never understood why people paid to have their nails done. Then I went with the girls once and realized how much nicer they looked than when I did them myself. So I started going every other month just to have then shaped. Then I realized that it took less time at the salon than doing them myself, I didn't have to worry about my nails smudging and how much I spent on polish that I would only use once or twice. So I was able to justify the time and spend.

Same with gambling - I never got it until my parents got elderly. The casinos were their only get away for independence and entertainment due to their disabilities. They could afford it and the pleasure it gives them when not much else did/does is priceless. While I don't gamble a lot, I do join them. Might as well take advantage of the free hotels and meals.

The moral of the story is that I can't honestly answer this question definitively...never say never.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Lucky i hate the feel of nail polish so some thing i don't need to spend money on

i refuse to spend money on indoor plants that are dead easy to propagate
Today i saw a small hanging spider plant for $22.95
Get off the grass !
I mean i want one becsuse they are so retro and our house is mid century

It didnt even have any flower bracks - the only thing that made it hanging was the pots they were in
and tiny little mottly looking baby ones were $6.95
now i just got to find someone with a plant ....

 

[dk168]

Satellite or cable TV
Expensive designer clothes and accessories like handbags and shoes
The latest must-have electronic gadgets like mobile/cell phones
Pedigree pets as moggies are just as lovable
Paintings except for inexpensive watercolours that I like
Crockery - not into anything fancy/designer/patterned/colour according to seasons or trends - just any white porcelain will do nicely
Beauty treatments except a monthly haircut

And many more.

DK

 

[GoldenTouch]

Gambling - ugh…. I won’t throw my money away! I don’t see how anyone could sit at a poker machine…. just being in the area I get motion sick.

Brand name prescriptions…. I always choose the genetic brand. Same & half the price.

Clothes… I have lived in “hand me downs” & the op shop for YEARS! There is a fabulous op shop here which I can I only visit in school holidays because they are only open 1000 -1500 & I’m at work then. However it is worth my time waiting 10 weeks to go. I went last week & for $52.00 I got 4 jumpers, a new pair of Levi’s & designer trench coat & beautiful black dress pants. I only buy “brand names” & I google as I shop because I’m not a shopper & want to be assured I’m getting a bargain. I am VERY fussy! All items at this shop are washed & brand new looking. The black pants still had a $130 tag in them never worn. It did cost me $15.00 each to have the pants hemmed (& yes I could of done them…. But I didn’t have cotton for the jeans & that was $10.00…).
I buy exercise gear, underwear & shoes when needed & all my child’s clothes new.
Mind you I did get her an $80 cardigan (tag still on) for $8.00. She was thrilled.
I also got 2 new leather handbags from a friend the other day. Both with tags on & LOVELY!! One is huge & perfect for when I start uni next week as my laptop fits.
I have to admit I always get compliments on my outfits. My whole outfit today cost $20!!

As a single mum on a low income (I don’t get paid in school holidays) & TRYING to save money to get back into the housing market (stupid here….), I need to find anyway I can to save money (but also remain having a quality life!!)

 

[peacechick]

Things I am reluctant to spend on:

Like others here, I don’t spend much on nails or hair colouring. I do get hair treatments done for thinning hair and it’s that one indulgence in this category as I only get my hair cut once a year. I paint my own nails and I buy better quality nail lacquer so they last longer.

Cars and taxis. We like living in cities and taking public transportation. Both my husband and I find driving stressful so it was easy to choose the carless life. I try to take buses and trains where I can, and only ubers if I am running late or dog tired.

Any kind of gambling. It nearly destroyed my family and I still have PTSD.

Travel. We have friends who live for travel and their IG is filled with gorgeous photos of beach resorts, mountains and sunsets. But that’s not us. I backpacked a lot during college days and I’m actually satisfied with those past adventures. My husband is a dyed-in-the-wool geek and likes staying at home with all his digital toys. That said, we have family scattered across the world so we end up traveling to see them every few years.

Branded goods. I am a recovering handbag addict and only have a couple of treasured Dior bags left. The rest are just good quality artisanal leather handbags. Brand name clothes I never buy since my dress size fluctuates a lot. Jewelry brands like Tiffany’s or VCA don’t mean much to me either although of course I admire iconic designs and famous pieces.

 

[xsouzie]

1. Cellphones. I still have my trusty Blackberry.
2. Cable
3. Shipping

 

[doberman]

Fancy clothes for everyday wear. My clothes get stuff spilled on them regularly and get covered in cat hair.

 

[Arcadian]

Hair and nails. I do both myself and both thrive. I've done delivery services especially during the pandemic. They've come in very handy. I always tip them extra and in cash (a few times I've come to the door in nearly a hazmat suit...lol) As I work from home I need the internet. I hate that business internet would be the same as what I'm paying now, and he watches tv in the evening. I rarely watch tv though I have some favorite channels

 

[Efleon]

@Efleon the $10 a bottle - no no no girl!!! Esp if you are a two glass a day. I think a good Cab or Bordeaux would change your life Now we need a thread of "what I will spend money on or refuse to skimp on" (besides bling obviously).

You may be right but let’s just leave me with my trusty “plonk”
My brother on the West Coast opens $60 a bottle wines on a Tuesday night at home and I’m aghast!
But then again, I find a $4500 unheated sapphire ring in an estate case and I’m immediately thinking…well, if I wear it everyday then it’s really a bargain etc etc….

 

[TooPatient]

@Efleon the $10 a bottle - no no no girl!!! Esp if you are a two glass a day. I think a good Cab or Bordeaux would change your life Now we need a thread of "what I will spend money on or refuse to skimp on" (besides bling obviously).

I think there might have been a thread on that in the last few years. Either that or cheeses.... Can't remember, but I do remember amazing aged cheese recommendations from Karl!
Was a lot of fun. Worth bringing back to the top or starting one!

 

[Arcadian]

oh and let me add for at least the next year, maybe even the next couple; commercially manufactured clothes. While making my clothes means that I'm sometimes paying MORE, I don't care, at least I know where it was made, how it was made, what the material content is. I hate fast fashion, I hate polyester(yuck) and seriously I hate the thought of spending 150+ for preripped jeans (why are people so in a hurry that they can't rip up their own jeans?)

I did buy whats his name a couple of lottery tickets for his birthday because ....I couldn't get a boat rental (he was fine with that) The place where we usually rent boats from has been flat out busy booked well in advanced. the next time I can get a boat from them is December (which is crazy!) I went ahead and prebooked for his next birthday which is May 2022.

 

[stracci2000]

whats his name

 

[Arcadian]

So you guys know if I say that, he's irritated me to no end. He's been that way all week.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I am comparing my spending habits to those of my friends and family. What they splurge on and what I don't. I won't buy bottled drinking water, our tap water is fine. I do not buy fast food or pizza. I refuse, absolutely refuse to buy a luxury car. A Subaru is just fine for my needs. Dogs have their seat belts in the back and I don't get upset when someone dings it while I'm not looking.

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Hair, nails, polyester clothing!

My hair is straight and needs a trim 1x year, I'm allergic to many hair dyes so not taking any changes on that.

Like the look of natural nails much better and don't get a pampering factor from having them done, since I hardly have any cuticle and those ladies always touch my cuticles thus damaging my nails (white spots growing out afterwards).

I don't care about brand names, but cannot stand cheap materials. Even if it's Gucci or Chanel, if it's polyester I'm not buying it.

 

[TooPatient]

1. Grocery store raspberries
2. Cable or streaming
3. House cleaning

#2 had an exception made recently for two seasons of a series that won't be coming out on DVD anytime soon. Waited more than two years and no hint of a release. Didn't care for the quality. Wasn't as good as what we can see on even DVD. Just meh.

#3 had an exception when we were selling our house. The woman was there for four hours. During that time, she cleaned two bathrooms and the oven. Nothing was so dirty as to take that long. She also missed a lot of the stuff I would expected as basic. $60/hour and I still had to go clean what she had done. Having worked as a custodian for a bit and done housecleaning with my mom, what she did should have taken no more than an hour. Every time I get tempted to try again, I remember her.

 

[Lookinagain]

$60/hour and I still had to go clean what she had done.

Wow, at $60/hour I'd clean my own house too! Or yours