How much is the most you would pay?

I think that is pretty good value if calculating the price per wear.

PennyWhistle I do that if I've splashed out on something I normally wouldn't have. Makes me feel better

I wouldn't pay £200 for a dress because I rarely wear dresses but I am happy to pay more than average for good comfortable shoes. In November I felt lucky that I was able to buy 4 pairs of Hotter ankle boots at 25% off. I said to my husband at the time "Because I have bought boots I bet we have a mild winter in Portugal". And yes we have had a very mild winter with lots of sunshine. It seems daft to be wearing boots when it's sunny.

We paid for a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to see Barbra in Madison Square Garden. Then two more trips to Dublin and Berlin!
I’ve also paid a lot to see Rod Stewart, next one being £125.

I have no set limits for clothes etc, but it wouldn’t be very high, and I’m an ebay/ charity shop fan too.

When our family was young we had to watch every penny, robbing Peter to pay Paul, trying to keep the bailiffs at bay, and a roof over our heads. We shopped in the cheapest places possible through necessity. These days we can relax a little but we're still not big spenders and DH is far more careful about spending than I am.

We don't go to theatres, shows or the cinema. Just not interested.
We don't take holidays, and only eat out when the kids come to visit.
We don't drink in pubs unless we're eating there.
We buy fish and chips once a week, £8 for a large portion which we share, just the right amount for us. And we usually get a coffee and pastry somewhere while we're doing our weekly shopping.
I don't wear makeup or use skincare products apart from shower gel and deodorant.
Our clothes come from high street shops or supermarkets. DH buys very few clothes and I only buy what I can't (or don't want) to make.
When buying things for our home we always compare prices in stores and online.
But I have two extravagances - shoes and hair. I average £80-£100 for a pair of comfortable shoes, and I have my hair cut every 6 weeks at £45 a time plus three perms a year at £95 each. I cut DH's hair so that saving goes towards my hair bills.

But I have occasionally splashed out - £400 for an outfit for sons wedding plus £300 for handmade shoes to go with it. I was determined to be comfortable that day. But I later sold both at a profit so didn't feel too guilty.

We also don't count the pennies we spend on our hobbies and interests. I can't resist buying a nice fabric when I see it, with no idea what I'll do with it. And we both love browsing the garden centres and nurseries and invariably go home with a boot load of plants.

I don't think we're extravagant in our spending, though DH sometimes threatens to cut up my credit card!

Charleygirl5 I looked up matinee tickets for All About Eve. They were £150 each! When did the theatre become so expensive!? Pink in concert at Wembley, all that’s left are £300 tickets. When did concerts become so expensive?!

I went to see Rod Stewart with my friend 50p at Bournemouth Winter Gardens was in 1974 though LOL!!!

5\Spaghetti I think I could be your twin

Knickers, the best ones I have had in years come from Matalan, £3.50 a pair or buy three pairs for the price of two. So comfortable you hardly notice you wearing them . Don't mind paying the earth for shoes, always maintained I have'nt got cheap feet. Over the years people have often complemented me on my "lovely straight feet".I always thank my mother for them,she would never buy us children cheap shoes.

As long as we have a certain amount of money in the bank at the end of the month, I’m happy to spend money on good quality things, whether it’s food, clothes, going out or things for the house. I’d rather not have something at all than have something I don’t really like, just because it’s cheap.
When I replaced the sitting room curtains (which had been there for 25 years) I wanted some expensive fabric and as the room has two large windows, it cost over £1K. So I made them myself instead of having them made.
But I’m also prepared to pay other people to do things I don’t want to do myself, like decorating.
We had many years of having to be careful with money and now I enjoy spending it and don’t feel guilty.

I think it's all down to priorities. I'm a skinflint about some things but use the money I save to treat my self with other things. There are a few things I won't skimp on - comfy shoes being one of them. I rarely wear dresses as I have awful legs. I bought one for my DS's wedding a couple of years ago and was dreading spending a fortune on something I might never wear again. In the end I found something that was perfect for under £50 and then found 2 more occasions to wear it - another wedding and a reunion dinner at my old university so I reckon it's paid for itself. If it never gets another outing I won't think it was extravagant at all. As for the shoes I bought to go with it they were crippling my feet by the end of the service. I changed into comfy flats to drive to the reception intending to change back again when I got there but when I arrived thought 'what the heck' and stayed in my comfy ones. I just can't cope with heels these days! I need to try to sell them as they were only on my feet for 2 or 3 hours in total. I shouldn't have listened to my daughter who said I must have new matching shoes. My existing smart ones would have been fine!

I always had my feet measured when I was a child and 'good sensible shoes' but it made no difference, the problems are genetic.
I have never been able to wear cheap shoes.

Took a job as a pa to a disabled couple once and was expected to go on a cruise with them. So I went on eBay and around the charity shops for clothes evening dresses shoes bags etc Spent around £200 for a large suitcase full. On return I sold most of it back on eBay keeping a few tops I liked and made about £130 so a very good way to do it.

My spending limits are very low on some things-no more than one pound for a 6 pack of crisps or chocolate bars- I just don't buy them if they cost more that week and will flit around brands. I always wait till the sales to look for clothes but I will spend on holidays. The most I've spent is 2000 pounds (sorry, using American computer so only have dollars symbol) on a singles tour of Japan some years ago and I bid one hundred pounds on ebay for a 15 quid ticket to see David Tennant in Hamlet in Stratford - it was worth it. I only buy sandwiches in supermarkets when reduced to pennies at the end of the day and take them to work the next day for lunch. I rarely eat out unless it's someone else treating me ( Mothering Sunday etc.) and never buy hot drinks when out - don't drink coffee anyway. I go to many quizzes and often win free cinema tickets so only go to the see films then. I don't have SKY tv but watch films at my daughter's when babysitting and I don't smoke or drink so generally live frugally. I've just spent 50,000 pounds on an extension though to try and make my house 'old age' proof so everyone has different priorities!!

I always have to have a tea or coffee when I'm out.

If somewhere was expensive for a coffee and cake, I wouldn't walk out, but I wouldn't go back there.

Assuming I have the money in the bank, my purchasing test is - what would make me happier, the new item or the cash on my bank statement? At this stage in my life I have to say that bank statements don’t excite me!

I tend to buy my clothes in sales and have had some great bargains. Most recent a maroon tailored coat which had been £170. Reduced to half price £85 but with a ticket on saying a further 20% off so £17 off. So £68. Then I realized I had £23 of vouchers to use from points gained from previous purchases ...so price paid was £45!!! I will wear it for years as I mainly wear more practical coats. Really love the coat but would never have paid full price and was dithering a bit at half price.

On the other hand I will pay whatever tickets cost for Stalls or Grand Circle seats at the theatre.

...or for lunch out with wine with friends.

Paid £55 for a ticket to see UB40 and that felt like a fortune. Clothes, my outdoor ones for walking, cycling etc I will pay whatever, £40 for a beautiful pair of french designed and made cycling knickers but a most of m clothes I get from the charity shop or make, even mae a lovely jacket.

my purchasing test is - what would make me happier, the new item or the cash on my bank statement?

I like that Vicky

How about handbags?
It's only very recently that I have thought it would be nice to own a decent one.
About £40?
Nothing fancy, no name, but a soft leather one.

My OH bought me a very expensive leather handbag about 5 years ago. It was so expensive that I don't feel comfortable using it in case I spoil it! So it sits in the wardrobe, unused, whilst I use the £24.99 one from M&S every day.

I resent paying expensive for anything, if its free that's even better. I was always bought up with the if you look after the pennies the pounds look after themselves. My DC and Husband will sometime comment on how tight I am.

Chewbacca
Use your bag use it

chewbacca. Definitely use your bag. They look so much better with some usage, it gives them character. Use it tomorrow.

Had a little smile about the expensive bag Chewbacca. I have done this kind of thing ...keeping things for 'best'...was brought up that way. Nowadays I try not to. My new coat is getting an airing in town tomorrow and I have started to use my 'best' dinner set everyday. I enjoy it more eating off it than storing it in the cupboard.