How much is the most you would pay?

My expenditure is strictly controlled by my income!
I simply couldn't spend £200 on a dress, etc.

I get so irritated with my friend when she moans at the cost of coffee and cake, or meals out and how she could do it much cheaper at home.

I constantly remind her that she is not paying for the cost of the ingredients, she's paying for those PLUS the rent and rates on the property, the cups, saucers, plates, knives, forks and spoons that are used and have to be washed up, the staff wages, the cleaning of the property we are in, insurance costs, and numerous other costs that we are not aware of, as well as a bit of profit for the owners. (Disclaimer - all that said, I did feel royally ripped off at Kew Gardens yesterday when a tea, a coffee, a small muffin and a tiny individual cake cost £12.90. And although I didn't buy one, I was shocked that a single can of Pepsi was priced at £3.50.)

I will pay whatever it takes for something I really need/want/just like the look of. Obviously my income dictates the upper limits, but I'd never have a cut point and deny myself something special because it was over my limit.

We work hard for our money and once all the bill are paid, and our contributions are made to our savings pot each month, then the rest is for us to enjoy our lives.

As my auntie used to say - shrouds don't have pockets.

I don't spend much on clothes.
I have a winter coat which cost around £200 some time ago, but I only bought it because husband 'forced' me. He is a bigger spender than me.
OTOH he bought a beautiful overcoat for himself from ebay, for £60. 100% cashmere.

Wow! BlueBelle you must live up North because there is NO WAY you could buy cod and chips for that money down South.
There was a recent tv programme about the winners of the best fish and chip shops around the UK and none of their take out fish n chips were under £7.
Some were nearer £11 with no extras.
??

I love charity shops and will happily go from one to the next, looking for quality clothes. My wardrobe only has good lables because of my thrifty shopping. I'm used to paying a few £ for a garment and get a shock when i go into the likes of M&S and the sweaters are £35 or more.

I like to watch pennies and splurge pounds. I recently had to replace my wardrobe due to weight loss bought most from eBay including a new Jaeger jacket for £30 and new cashmere sweater for £25.
I spend between ££1200 to £1800 for our 2 week holiday. I think experiences are better value than stuff as we have too much collected over the years.

I went into a cafe in London the other day, I asked for 2 cups of hot chocolate, when told it was £7. I said no thank you,and walked out.

This is a very interesting topic for me. I've always wondered what it was in me that suddenly says 'enough' even though I could perhaps afford the item in question. I don't know what motivates the demarkation line in me but it certainly exists. Maybe I just don't want the item in question just 'that much'. Curious indeed. I was at a wedding on Friday and spent ages seeking out a warm but presentable outfit with no success whatsoever. Happily, the temperature was indulgent and I ended up in the dress I bought for my 25th anniversary 27 years ago finished off with my aged black fedora adorned with white ribbon. The compliments I received were unbelievable. What a fluke! I discovered from one of the younger guests that monochrome is absolutely top fashion at the moment. I didn't let on that I had no idea. Fashion? Moi? No! Lucky won the day.

I have spent my life unable to bring myself to spend money on eating out ( rarely buy even a cup of tea) or tickets to concerts. My upbringing was by very stingy parents.

Clothes nearly all come from charity shops because I only like very good quality, and have rarely been able to afford it.

Having said all this, the most memorable days in my life have been those when I actually went into expensive shops and spent a fortune on something to wear. Extravagant clothes make me feel really special.

I met work friends for a meal at an ordinary (not top end) Italian restaurant , near to home (Not in a big city) Everyone met in the bar area and were buying their drinks. I decided on a small glass of white wine 'What sort of white?' said the barman, so I just asked for small glass of sauvignon blanc.
It was £9.50 and it nearly spoiled my night because I let my mouth get the better of me and complained bitterly about the cost which made me look a skinflint on the night out. I could barely eat my meal because of it !!!

I remember a few years ago going to a ball. I bought a Monsoon silk evening dress on eBay for £34. New it would have cost £200. It is gorgeous and classic...I would still wear it with different accessories to give it a different look. I love eBay.. I never pay more than I have to for anything. I compare prices online a lot.

Interesting to read the differing takes. What's commonplace to some is a once in a lifetime to others.
I like to balance the books. I hate being in debt. So what I really resent are bank fees for overdrafts and credit cards . Which reminds me I'm still paying for DDs wedding 5 years ago!
I expect to pay a lot for good shoes and a haircut is over £30 now.
Car expenses are probably the biggest regular outlay and council tax....

I might pay 200 for a dress but only if it was for a special occasion. I did pay around the 100 mark for cruise dresses but most were reduced. I do like a bargain! I hate being ripped off, 9.50 for a normal size glass of wine is a lot, but not for a large. Local theatre is £25, London around the 100 mark I struggle with paying more than that.

I so agree about coffee. I do like Wetherspoons where you can buy and fill up again (How come Americans always do that?)
I love charity shops as well. And I have been known to buy in Primark.

When DH and i were younger we didn't have spare money so had years when we rarely spent on ourselves. Got financially bit better as we got older and I went back to work full time. Able to help DS through university and spend bit on ourselves. But used to feel little guilty as had got out of the habit of buying just because I wanted rather than needed. But we both retired 3 years ago and were fortunate enough to inherit enough money to make us comfortable. Initially we found it very hard to spend any of it, but we have come to conclusion that life's too short and we can't take it with us. We now spend quite bit on concert tickets because I love my music. Going to see Gladys Knight in the summer. And the Motown story. And now if I want something, within reason, I will buy it. We have good holidays. I still draw the line at what I will pay, but it does depend on how much I want it. I know how lucky we are and I count my blessings.

I buy most of my clothes in the sales, after having seen them at full price. I never buy ‘special purchases’ which I think are actually made for the price they are being sold for.

However,I won’t economise on hair do’s (every 6-7 weeks), chiropody (every 8 weeks), or eyebrow waxing and tinting.

A filter coffee with hot milk on the side is 99p at Pret. They also do single sandwich packs which is fine for me. I admit to being like some other posters, grudging very expensive coffees and sandwiches. It's ok on an odd occasion, but some weeks I might meet up with people a few times. If you add it up monthly . . . . .I'm a canny Scot I dare say.

My mum would always buy everything in the sales and often more than one of the same item - because it was sooo cheap. She would tat tat me for paying full price for a good pair of jeans when she got three pairs of trousers in the sales. She never accepted the fact that at the end of the year we had spent the same amount of money on clothes only she had three times more.
I rather own few clothes which I wear all the time than a wardrobe full of clothes that are hardly ever used.
I have a friend who buys reduced food items half of which end up in the bin because it goes off in the fridge. But it gives her great pleasure to show me all her bargains.

Everybody spends their money on things that are important to them. Some people spend huge amounts on holidays and others prefer to spend their money in their home. I would rather forego a holiday and do up a room at home instead

There is no point judging someone on how much they pay for something because it is all down to what we value the most.

Have always worked on the principle that if you can afford it and either need or like whatever it is buyit. Its no good saving everything for a rainy day, that day might never come. Everyone's situation is different therefore what you think is expensive others will think not.

Just having a look a little while ago at Boden on line. Have a sale on. I wait for the sales when they come round can get a bargain.

I do love a BLT sandwich and used to buy them at my nearby Waitrose but now I have discovered that Lidls does them for half the price.
Most of my clothes are bought in sales or charity shops, but when my children got married I splashed out on lovely clothes as I did not want to be Secondhand Rose on their big day. I wore them lots of times and always felt wonderful.

DD once made me buy a pair of Gabor ankle boots. I baulked at the cost then (about 10 years ago). However, I've worn them so often as they are so comfortable and smart that they must have come down to a fraction of a pence per wearing. Money very well spent. But I wouldn't have spent it without being told to!

Fascinating stuff I am prepared to pay for quality clothing and try to factor in potential price per wear when buying new things. For example my gorgeous red winter coat was about £300 but that was about 8 years ago. It is worn daily between autumn and spring. I think that is pretty good value if calculating the price per wear. I would not consider buying an evening gown or special occasion dress at full price though, as this price per wear would be far too high. I don't drink coffee so can't comment on the value of that .

Don't believe the hype about London theatre ticket prices. They're steep, but not THAT steep. I see a lot of shows, and have never had to pay anything like £100. That includes 'Book of Mormon', Hamilton...

The prices at some stadium 'gigs' amaze me though.

Greeting cards are my bugbear. I don't like going over £1 but will do if really necessary.
I have a mutter when I read some of the ridiculous prices around for a bit of card.