What would you NOT do...

I will not give up long, hot showers.

I will not use t-shirt squares instead of TP, then wash and reuse.

I will not get cheap haircuts, unless I hear of an amazing cheap stylist, which has not happened yet!

I will not wear cheap bras. I'm tiny, but big busted and I need good bras.

I will not wear cheap, uncomfortable shoes. Cheap, comfortable shoes are fine

I will not skimp on skincare... Retanoid, Vit C serum, a good sunscreen.

I will not skimp on things I really want and can afford. I'll wait it out and see if the want goes away, but if it doesn't, I'll shop around for the best price and pay cash.

Travel, it's one of the best investments you can make. I will scrimp in other areas if need be, stay in hostels, and eat street food, but I will see the world.

I will spend money to have a pet. My cat is the love of my life and even though he's expensive to keep, I will never not have a pet just to save money.

Blumpett you have me ROTFLOL! Poor kitty, and those dogs, krbshappy! I mean, I'm allergic to them and don't have any as pets, but I'm feeling real sorry for all yours right now! :lol: Well, kind of. I hear dog is kind of tough and not much meat under all the fur. They eat it in parts of Asia. Cat would probably have an interesting taste...

Anyways...I too find it funny how we are all so different. For example, before I hit menopause I used homemade cloth pads all the time. They were the most comfortable things ever! You could never convince me to go back to the store bought ones. No way!

I've also lived without a dishwasher for 16 years, so that doesn't bother me at all. I grew up without one too. No problem there.

However, I do admit I would never, no matter how dire things got (unless we're in a war zone overnight) let go of my TP.

Pretty much everything else is up for grabs. Though I do admit, I wouldn't want to do anything illegal either.

I also would never buy used under garments. That is gross to me.

In normal yet frugal times (like now), I wouldn't let my husband buy poor quality athletic shoes - I have a thing about shoes, that they should be known brands and properly fitted. I wouldn't give up toilet paper or tampons. I wouldn't give up whole grain rice, whole wheat pasta, and other healthy foods that do cost more (although I go through periods where I sometimes use the cheaper non-whole grain versions). I wouldn't give up medicine, even not strictly necessary medicine, that helps our quality of life. I wouldn't stop buying the expensive dental products that my husband prefers.

In a dire situation, pretty much the only thing I wouldn't do is break up our home (i.e., abandon my husband to live someplace else where I had a better chance of making more money, or something like that - we would both move or neither). It's something we agreed on together. Since our country is facing imminent bankruptcy, it's something we have had to discuss. I would, however, commit non-violent crime (like stealing food) to stay alive and to keep my husband alive. I doubt I'm capable of violence but you never know until you're in that situation. I would hunt, sell our possessions, stop eating the healthier more expensive stuff, cut off the electricity, etc. Hopefully it will never come to any of that!!

After living for two years without a washing machine, now that I have one, I know I could give it up. Still don't have a dryer, it's no big deal at all. The dishwasher is the thing that I never expected to fall in love with. Sure, I could live without it - I've only had one for a month - but I don't want to!

this thread makes me think of the time I was in nursing school. I worked 3 jobs and saved as much as I could before starting school. While in school, I didn't work mainly because the school I went to didn't want you to work. They had such crazy clinical hours that it was hard to work. Those that did....all failed.
Anyway, as it was getting closer to graduation, I ran out of money. I broke down and applied for food stamps but was denied because I owned my home and truck. I was told to sell the truck. I didn't because I had to get to school and clinicals. I remember being in the store and trying to decide between a bag of beans and tampons. (This makes me cry when I think about it.) I bought the beans and made up other ways of using feminine products. I remember asking for some while in clinicals, making up the excuse that it just started and I wasn't prepared. (sorry guys but I am keeping it real) So, I remember dire situations. One thing is for sure, I made sure I used the brand of toilet paper I liked and depended on. I remember going to school hungry. I remember being invited to eat with my classmates and couldn't because of no $. Only by God's blessings I made it through those 2 years.
To answer your topic question.........toilet paper!! I won't skimp!
I would rather where 2 shirts than to wear used bras.
I did tape up my shoes than to wear used shoes.
Because of my experience, I make sure if I have a nursing student with me at work and we buy lunch at work, I always buy that student lunch. Never know if that student was like me when I was a student!
sorry so long!

I grew up poor. I remember times of being without toilet paper and having to use cut up pieces of old things or magazines. I remember having to fold up pieces of thick material to use for pads. I remember wearing hand made or clothes and shoes from a thrift store. We didn't know what new was. I hope I would never have to do that again but I would never say never. "There but for the grace of God go I."

As for just being thrifty...

I won't be to hot or cold. I have high bp, had a mild stroke at 36 and I have fibro. When its to hot my bp goes up and I'm just not well. If its to cold I hurt like crazy from the fibro. Weather and temps are changing right now and I've been in severe pain all week. I will adjust temps for my own comfort.

I won't buy cheap toilet paper.

No longer an issue (cancer and complete hysterectomy) but I would not do without pads. I make sure my daughter has what she needs.

I would never cheat to save money.

I would not buy a cheap bra for myself or my daughter. We need the support of a better bra. (growing up all I got was thrift or a dollar store bra and being bigger up top they never supported me. I would run right out of the things...seriously. The straps would come loose)

I would never buy used underwear.

WOW!! So many different personalities! It just goes to show! Seeing some of what ya'll wrote has made me realize there are a few more things I wouldn't do...

*I won't lie, cheat, steal
*Government assistance, would only be if we absolutely had to, was on it when I was a single parent when I was going to school w/a brand new baby & we were completely off of it by the time he was 3. Haven't needed it since, thank God!
*I wouldn't mind hankies rather than kleenex (or toilet paper) but will not absolutely, will not!!! give up my tp!!! It gives me the heebeegeebees!!! LOL
*Will not wear used shoes, as my feet have to have good support or I will not be able to walk as my feet will be crippled with pain.
*will not wear cloth pads. Cannot wear tpn's wish I could but they make me sick when I wear them...
*will not dumpster dive for food. :dis: uke:
*will not wear used underclothing... ick & have to have support!!! & it's not like I can donate what I use b/c I wear it out til it's completely dead lol..

Kim