Where do you refuse to cut costs?

[isthisused]

I will not turn down my thermostat. I want my family to be comfortable in my home. The other day my wife and I were picking out some new bed sheets, we could have bought a set for $12 but the 500 thread count sheets felt so nice that we spent $40 and Im glad we did, they are so comfortable. This got me wondering what others who are normally frugal just refuse to cut costs on.

[Goldy1]

um not too many places, but I would say buying good quality food to nourish myself. I don't get crazy but I don't ever want to be on the dave ramsey rice and beaners diet ya all! lol

[Goldy1]

oh I must have pure maple syrup, it is literally one of my only splurges. I also love netflix.

[sandyandry]

On healthy food and medicines

[tulsa_sr5]

I don't go crazy with a huge collention or anything, but I have no problem spending extra on good shoes. I've had a couple cheap pairs over the years that didn't fit well and it's not worth it. As a plus, they tend to really last so I have no problem justifying it to myself.

Tools are similar. I tend to save a lot by fixing/building things myself so I'll spend the extra on good tools.

[Goldy1]

Of course, it would depend on my finanical reserves. I would cut out netflix etc. if I was unemployed for years and by some freak thing(or maybe not in the current economy) could not gain employment.
I cut down on dining out for the most part lately and instead get some lower end carry out here and there (ie Pei Wei). It saves on tip etc.

[Ima saver]

I would never cut back on care for my dog. She must have the food she likes and be groomed every few months.

[snafu]

I haven't cut back on aquasize class. When I've dropped it in the past due to schedule, I have too-o many excuses to reduce exercise. I've also continued to take Continuing Ed classes because I feel I need to challenge my mind and continue learning. I wish they'd stop jacking up the costs!

[arthurb999]

toilet paper

[My English Castle]

I'm not sure I wouldn't at least consider every single thing I buy. I've gotten in the habit of scrutinizing almost everything. I don't automatically go to the cheapest thing, there are, as people have mentioned, often trade offs. But healthy food needn't be expensive. I think people should eat healthily, live in a warm/cool enough place, and take their medicines. Almost everything else to me, is negotiable (maybe).

[swaymonae]

Cars, that's it.
I will eat out of a box for a car I love.

[Caoineag]

Wherever cheap means short lived. I try to balance quality with cost. It needs to be cheaper per use, not just cheap.

[SavingNut]

My daughter's formula, she eats Enfamil A+, I could switch her to a cheaper kind but I feel safer giving her the kind my hospital recommands.

Bread I tried a cheap equality brand bread and it tasted like crap. Now I buy witchever brandname is on special.

[PrincessPerky]

A Hot shower, blistering heat, and not to short of a time in there...

Of course I would drop them for food and the like, but it would be a long hard decision.

[GREENBACK]

Quality shoes are a must for me and I don't cut back here. The long term ill effects of bad shoes for those on their feet a lot can't be overemphasized.

[HamSandwich]

haha im with arthur on toilet paper. my dad is the stingiest person i know and he buys 2 ply toilet paper and then separates it to save it. -.- i dont get that. i mean, is toilet paper REALLY the thing thats eating up your savings? as for me, i splurge on import beer =D

[MiikeB]

I would never cut back on quality food.

By quality I mean nutrition wise though. My lifting/exercise regime requires me to consume about 2500 calories a day. That gets expensive when you are trying to reach it with baked chicken/fish/whole grains instead of pastas/sugary cereals/fatty beef etc. I spend about $60/wk on food for myself.

[nanamom]

Honestly I can't think of anywhere I am not willing to cut expenses. My DH loves movies so we have netflix but I'd cut it in a minute (and also save the electric bill by not running the DVD player more than once a week or less). I would consider cutting the internet down too. I would keep my cell phone as it is the only way my kids can get in touch with me if the internet is gone. I guess the only place I would not skimp is medicine. DH needs about 300 worth a month.

[jsk]

on the quality of dresses. Earlier i would pickup from on sale ones even if they ar enot great. Now I pass the urge and buy only when necessary and if the fit is equally good for the price.
Recently i cut down the cable tv and don't miss watching tv !!

[sandrark]

I've been poor, and I've been middle class. I much prefer middle class.

When poor, there were three things I didn't scrimp on:

* Good coffee (cheap to buy good coffee and grind it in the Bay Area).
* Two ply toilet paper
* My cat - I once paid $600 in vet bills while still in college. I worked extra hours to recoup the $$. My mom said I should have let him die. He was a great companion cat for another 13 years after that incident.

Sandi