What Do You Spend Extra On?

I really like the BioKleen dishsoap and laundry products. I am sensitive to strong odors (Mrs. Meyers and Method are both too strong for me) and I like that the BioKleen comes in concentrate, so we're actually getting more, just paying for it all up front. Nature's Gate hand soaps and lotions are worth the extra money, too.

We spend more on organic producefood. I spend more on loose-leaf tea (I rarely go out for coffee, so now we're actually saving money) than bag tea. Kashi cereal---yep! My son loves it and it's lower in sugar than many kids cereals. Organic crackers, organic dairy products free of hormones, and my women's 'personal' items, as well as when my son was in diapers: we pay more for things that aren't chlorine-bleached and won't contain chemical irritants/carcinogens or dioxins. (I used to work for Greenpeace, and am unfortunately way too informed about that stuff.)

We'll spend more on higher-quality clothing items like shoes or jackets, etc. for the grown-ups and always look first for those same items secondhand for our son before plunking down bigger $$. Good underwear/socks/bras are more of a priority, but everything else is mostly Goodwill or Old Navy or pass-alongs from older cousins. We do strive for balance in our spending!

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My splurge would be my skin care products and makeup. I use only L'Bri Pure n Natural products. They are AMAZING and aloe based! www.cbrugge.lbri.com

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PUMAs!!!! I will never buy another brand again!!

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Good horse riding boots, good jeans, and my dishwasher soap.

Also, I will pay more for the 'made in the USA' products for all that I can.

I do pay more for the organic milk, but we are not big dairy folks.

I buy from the farmers' markets for produce, so don't pay more there, and my hubby hunts for most of our meat. When I buy beef, I do pay more for the hormone free meat. Same for the chicken, though we'll probably start raising those on our own soon also.

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Bare Minerals Make up.

And we only buy Tropicana orange juice. I don't know why it tastes so much better than everything else since it's just squeezed oranges, but it does.

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I buy organic too. In reality it is probably saving our family money in doctor bills and other bills related to health problems so I don't consider it to be outrageous. It's much cheaper than one trip to the hospital or ADHD medical treatment for my beautiful daughter who turns into a rabid monkey when she is given too many processed foods ;). Honestly the difference in her behavior when I send her to school with a whole foods lunch versus eating the school lunch is astonishing. But don't get me started on the over diagnosis of ADHD in children or I will have to get a soap box out.

Anyway...

I enjoy the cascadian farm brand cereal and granola bars (moderation is key to the granola bars as they DO have plenty of sugar in them). I like the Kiss my face olive oil bar soap it's great on the skin. Most of the time you just have to buy and try the product, look for sales until you find what is right for you.

The great thing about Method soap is you can get refill containers that make the expense and the waste smaller.

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Starbucks!! I go once a week, can't afford to go all the time, but when I go it is sure worth it!

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Gifts for others. For some reason, I will be thrifty with my family and stingy with myself -- But am almost always over-generous with birthday presents, shower gifts, wedding gifts, christmas presents, hostess gifts, etc. And I really wish I could stop.

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Private school for kids. I buy gymboree, justice, and lands end clothes (shoes) for kids.
I buy only quality clothes for hubby and I, though only after sales.
Organic produce and milk.
Can't afford organic meat yet. I mean I could but would be knocking on poor doors pretty quickly.

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All of our shoes, blush from Origins, organic milk and meat, shampoo, hair cuts & highlights......

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Definitely good shoes - only Mephisto's, or Beautifeel, or Merrell hiking boots, or NB running shoes so my orthotic inserts fit.

I just found a Halal meat shop, so started going there. What an amazing difference. I buy it for health, not religious reasons.

Name brand meds, no generics.

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Clothes for DD from Gymboree and Hanna Andersson.

DHC skin care products.

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I spend more on all my food, I get the more new age/wholesome/organic products like whole wheat, low sugar, agave nectar, grade b maple syrup, organic, flax seed, fresh or frozen, not canned, gluten free, fresh baked, no preservatives or dyes, etc... it works out in the long run because we dont buy meat. i skimp on basically everything else, i never buy clothes, shoes, games, toys full price, and we dont have cable and other luxuries, lol

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I spend more on my shampoo and conditioner, my bras, and my toilet paper. I use Mary Kay for my skin care because it works! Other than that, generics or whatever is on sale is usually fine with me, and the rest of my family. I am the coupon queen! If I have a coupon for something, I'll get whatever. I love it when I save more during a shopping trip than I actually spend!

Mineral makeup, Tide laundry soap (4 out of the 5 of us have super sensitive skin), electronics, satellite service.

Diapers, I only buy Huggies.

Jogging Stroller: Couldn't buy the Baby Trend at around a hundred; had to have a Baby Jogger or BOB or Bumbleride, Finally settled on the Baby Jogger Summit, coming in the mail, hopefully it will be worth the money.

coffee: liking the K cups and Starbucks

baby girl clothing; Liking the boutique brands; instead of going to Target, K Mart or Walmart

I could go on but my whole life is spending extra because of either convenience, appearance of item, or belief that it is better.

Sigh. Oh to live in the midwest again. Beef here costs $10 per lb that ISN'T organic, dark meat chicken id $5 p/lb, breasts are 7-9. Ditto non organic milk is 3-4 per half gallon, etc.

I splurge on travel.

But mostly, I buy high quality, no matter what. I just live without until I can afford it.

Orange juice. My husband grew up allergic to milk, so he drank orange juice as his milk. We only buy Tropicana because he says it is the best. He will deign to drink other brands, but he always wants Tropicana.

I don't spend extra on anything really. I either go to Sams Club or buy generic. My dad buys the Sams membership every year, so I don't have to pay for it.

I have no reason to buy expensive stuff right now, for the fact my daughter isn't even 2 yet and I don't need fancy things, also the generic stuff works just fine. The 'organic' milk here made at the local dairy farm is only $2.99 a gallon, so it's only like 20 cents more a gallon.

My running clothes! Nothing worse then pulling up stretched out running pants half way through a 13 mile run. I love Lu Lu lemon

Orange-vanilla Cleanwell hand soap!
Worth every penny, smells amazing and completely non-toxic.
www.happyhealthymom.com has great lists of brands under new baby necessities.

Wow, reading all those replies really got me thinking!
I'm going to agree with spending more on a great bra, the Orange-vanilla Cleanwell handsoap (Whole Foods carries it, too) and good shoes.

I want to add that in the bath department, I wanted dye free, fragrance free, sodium laurel sulfite free shampoos and shower gels. I have had a great experience with the Whole Foods 365 brand. It comes in "the big bottles" and is very reasonably priced compared to other brands. I love the mint fragrance of that. I also splurge on cereals (no particular brand) from whole foods, and fruits & veggies when I can!

My "good for you" lotion is Lemongrass Spa's lotion line (online or thru a consultant only). It's more expensive, but I can use it on my body and my face. For me and the kids. Worth it!

Hi,
I use Melaleuca products, love them. For organic produce I can get them from the Share food program and we've also joined a community Supported Agriculture program.
My husband like's Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap.
Happy Shopping,
S.

I, also, have to recommend the Merrell shoe brand. My feet are only happy in these or my sketcher hiking shoes. Both are like walking on air.

The best bra I’ve ever found was fashion bug 90% cotton without underwire, $19. Sometimes they have 2 for 1 deals. They come in many colors & I’ve worn them exclusively for 3 years now. They have lace trim & I’ve even bought extras & put them away for when my current ones wear out. I never want to go back to any other bra again!

I will pay more for products that DO NOT CONTAIN HIGH FRUCTOSE because this stuff is making all of our children fat. It won’t allow appetites to shut off & I firmly believe it should be outlawed. I’ve lost 2-3 pounds a week for 3 months, when I found the last of this horrid stuff lurking in my food. It’s everywhere! It’s everywhere!

I, also, will pay more for the 'made in the USA' products. I don’t want to have to learn Chinese at my age!

Natural makeup, origins facial cleanser and other products by them, organic fruit and veggies--- i would rather pay more than get the cheap stuff that doesn't taste as well. Love to get blueberries, raspberries etc. but they cost so much! I still do once in awhile though. Deodorant--- tried generic but doesn't work as well. Oh and undergarments, I have to buy good bras. Sometimes they are about $100 bucks but its worth it because they last longer and you get the best quality and fit.

M

A good sports bra (donna karen @ nordstrom goes on sale 2 a year)... organic milk.. kids private swim lessons... they enjoy it so much.. also the kids school.. oh and I love cliff bars :)

I used some Yardley of London English Lavender hand soap at a Doctors office a while back and was not happy until I found where to get some. I was quite excited to find that I could get it at the Dollar Tree. I usually only buy store brand products, but there are a few items on my grocery list that I will make a special trip to obtain. I will only use Arm and Hammer powder laundry detergent and Krogers carries my favorite scent of it. I am allergic to peanut butter and will make a special trip to Krogers to get the I.M. Healthy Chunky SoyNut Butter from the healthfood section. I Love the Kelloggs Chocolate Bite Size Mini-wheats even though I feel they are too expensive and will buy them anyway.

Hmmm, I am going to splurge on a nice blouse this weekend because I have job interview Monday.

When finances are normal I like to splurge on movies with my son or a dinner out, or a video game. Food wise it is cheese - the fancy ones in the center section at the market. Oh and Sushi !!

diapers i will only buy huggies. also clothes for me i get torrid jeans so 50/pair