UNfrugal things we do and why

**Patty A** · 03-25-2009, 11:41 AM

What UNfrugal thing do you do that you refuse to give up or change?

I was listening to a lady talk the other day at the store. She kept saying that in this economy that having a pet is a luxury...... I have to admit I have never thought about it this way. I got to thinking about how we all have our "special" things that even if we are being frugal we refuse to change or give up to save money. After thinking long and hard about what this lady had said I guess my luxury would be my pets. I refuse to give up pets, they are a important part of our family and way of life.
How about you, what things have you hung on to that are luxury items that you refuse to give up to save money on?

**Spirit Deer** · 03-25-2009, 11:49 AM

I guess one of ours is pet-related, although I cannot quite agree our pets are luxuries. They're living, breathing beings we made a commitment to care for. Their futures, if they had any at all, would be bleak if we surrendered them to a shelter, given how overloaded the shelters are now and how the shelters are struggling to place their animals. It's not like they're an expensive sports car or some other inanimate material possession. But one thing we will not give up is our dog's eye care, which costs us several thousand dollars per year. The options of her not getting that care are to kill her, allow her to live every day in terrible pain, or have her eyes removed. None of those things is an option for us.

Other things we won't give up are living on the lake, either of our RVs, and our gas-hog truck and van. The vehicles each have a purpose that can't be served with smaller vehicles so since we need them anyway, there's not much point in buying yet another vehicle for my husband's seven-mile work commute.

**2ndGenGranola** · 03-25-2009, 12:00 PM

Believe me I have tried but I just cannot keep my thermostat where some of you do. Thankfully our winters are short and mild here. I turned my unit off and DH and the kids acted like they were dying. I didn't feel to good myself. Now come summer we will be sitting in an 85-90 room and loving it.

My home gym -- to me it works out better to have a few things in a room to workout. I still do home chores and stuff but I'm not going to walk around our neighborhood -esp dragging the kids with me. The kids can play games and I can be on my treadmill or bike or whatever.

**rainbowgc** · 03-25-2009, 12:05 PM

My DVR and Netflix and theinternet- being housebound with health issues,
these 3 keep me sane.

**rasilla** · 03-25-2009, 12:11 PM

can I have more than one?

We have a dog, but he's not really expensive, and whatever costs we have I think are worth the benefit of the kids learning to care for something/a pet.

We also keep our thermostat pretty high in the winter (69) but we live in Texas and for us, that is FREEZING! But we have our summer thermo at 85-90, so I think it evens out in the end.

Our luxury: Canned soups & frozen chicken nuggets. My mom and friends tell me that homemade is cheaper and better for you, but when I am busy, tired, sick, or just want a lazy afternoon, the extra money I'd spend per serving is worth every penny in my mind!

**Starlight9803** · 03-25-2009, 12:16 PM

my pets are definately something I refuse to give up. They do cost us a bit of money, but all my animals are rescues, and all the dogs are the "unadoptable" ones with behavior/medical issues, so if I didn't keep them, they would most likely be euthenized. (sp?) Also, washing in warm water. I've tried to do it in cold, but the combination of our hard water, extremely frigid well water (comes into the house at an average of 48 degrees), and the oil/grease DH gets into, and my clothes just don't come clean enough for us.

**Thevail** · 03-25-2009, 12:24 PM

Our dog. My endless hobbies.

**Trishagirl** · 03-25-2009, 12:46 PM

I would agree that our pets are a luxury if you didn't have a job that they would have to go. We'd get rid of our satelite and internet also but before the pets go.

**mzpepper** · 03-25-2009, 12:54 PM

The thing that I continue to use even though it is unfrugal and a luxury for me is Dove Jojoba Butter Body Wash. In my current situation I justify continuing to buy it because I love it.

**thesightofoneself** · 03-25-2009, 01:12 PM

my pug is my baby so i say children as well are a luxury

vegan products, because i'm a lifestyle vegan
heat and using the dryer, because i have eczema
umm... my computer!

i'm trapped in an era/error that depends/relies on the web

**mauimagic** · 03-25-2009, 01:22 PM

internet and cable service

I could give up my cell phone.

Pets are a part of the family - wish I had a dog.

**PrairieRose** · 03-25-2009, 01:34 PM

Satellite tv, my hobbies, our dog, to name a few

**DJ1972** · 03-25-2009, 02:18 PM

cable, internet, cell phones, and pets...........all things I could give up if I had to. I am frugal with other things so I can have these things, lol.

**trinaren** · 03-25-2009, 02:28 PM

I would have to say cable/internet and eating in restaurants. I know it's cheaper and healthier to make food at home, but there's something special about going out occasionally. I've managed to cut it down to once a week at an affordable place, but I really enjoy the 'dates' my husband and I have.