<p>Funny about the maple syrup. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. I like my pancakes with just real butter no syrup. I like my french toast with butter and salt and pepper. My kids don’t like the “real” stuff and like Aunt Jemina fake syrup.</p>
<p>in our part of suburban NJ, 100x150 (ie 0.33 acres) is HUGE! There are lots in our town that are 45x90! (our beach house has a 56x17 lot!).</p>
<p>Won’t skimp on:</p>
<p>haircut/color</p>
<p>Nice eyeglasses/prescription sunglasses</p>
<p>decent hotel rooms</p>
<p>FallGirl - we can primp and go on vacation together!</p>
<p>Many, many years ago when my daughter was born and I left my fulltime job, I took a look at expenses and thought of ways to economize. One item I would not eliminate was having DH’s cotton shirts professionally laundered.</p>
<p>I can’t give up high end fats - boutique butters and lucious olive oils, goat cheese, etc.</p>
<p>Wonder bread is brilliant if covered in organic butter from Vermont.</p>
<p>And having just bought a house a few months ago, we realized the one element we really must have in our lives - lots and lots and lots of natural light. So I guess I don’t skimp on windows.</p>
<p>“Wonder bread is brilliant if covered in organic butter from Vermont”</p>
<p>Ewww… Why would you want to spoil the taste of organic butter from Vermont by adding cardboard to it? This butter is great on its own if there are no artisan rye breads available 
Just kidding, but I know a couple of Ukrainians who would eat butter and bacon… plain.</p>
<p>^ every so often I actually crave wonder bread, especially with good butter, a little sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.</p>
<p>We are “real” maple syrup people, husband will even bring it to breakfast at restaurants.</p>
<p>Plugra butter (european style butter) is just fantastic, if expensive.</p>
<p>I won’t skimp on vacations, food, or toilet paper(not necessarily in that order) :)</p>
<p>Just the smell of that fake maple syrup makes me want to gag.</p>
<p>Nobody has said it, but I bet many would agree. Tampons.
Whoever invented plastic applicators is a genius. Enough said.</p>
<p>Wine, house cleaners, occasional dinners out, twice yearly Talbots sales, Cirque du Soleil tickets, camps/lessons for children, college, medical insurance, good quality meat, vegies & fruit.</p>
<p>We skimp on haircuts, hair dye, we do our own yard work, snow blowing, we go camping for vacations, I take my lunch to work. we don’t buy the latest “toys”, basic TV cable, borrow library books instead of buying. Ditto magazines.</p>
<p>We like to stay at nice places on vacation but never do the spa thing. Never have felt the urge for facials, massages, wraps, etc.</p>
<p>Regarding maple syrup. A friend who grew up in VT and still keeps the family home there says always buy the grade B vs. the grade A. It made no sense to me but I discovered she’s right - if what you’re looking for is a really strong maple-y flavor. Interestingly, the grade B seems to cost a bit more.</p>
<p>Our favorite use for maple syrup is on steel cut oatmeal.</p>
<p>Fun thread!</p>
<p>Concert tickets in the rare cases I want to go–I want to be up front.
Gasoline grade and brand
Tipping
Cable TV/computer link
Keeping home at temp I like–warmer in winter and cooler in summer
Car/home maintenance
Gifts and donations
TP (Think it’s Kleenex extra soft)
Real maple syrup and real cream for the good coffee
Bread
Cold cuts (Boar’s Head)
Cereal
Peanut butter/jam
REI or Smartwool hiking socks</p>
<p>Will buy generic over the counter drugs but nothing else I can think of.
Love cheap ethnic restaurants over expensive mainstream. Rarely is a dinner worth $200 per couple without wine.</p>
<p>I think most of us might add expensive college counseling to the “willing to skimp on” list. Who needs that with CC wisdom available for free?</p>
<p>Spideygirl, I like that.</p>
<p>I guess now I can add Womens’ Final Four tickets to this list…Go Irish!</p>