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AIBU?

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Original poster

What’s one small thing you could give up that would save you a LOT of money long term?!

382 replies

early30smum · 10/08/2025 22:12

Coffees in London are around £4 now. I definitely don’t get one myself every day, but between me and my husband we definitely average out at spending this per day just on coffee. We just worked out, spending £4 a day on coffee every day, is almost £1,500 a year. Just on takeaway coffee. Insane. Over 20 years, that’s just under £30,000…

OP posts:
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Namechangedagain999 · 22/08/2025 13:45

Switcher · 11/08/2025 09:28

Yes the max is 50k, and most of the "winnings" other than the jackpot are effectively interest rate payments. Getting £150 a month on a 50k investment is half of what you'd get on a building society savings account...

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It’s good for anyone that has maxed out their isa allowance and would pay 40% tax on savings interest over 500pa. No tax paid on NSandI winnings.

adlitem · 19/08/2025 07:53

Nespresso pods.

Cheaper than take away coffee sure, but I'd never had 3 coffees a day out. We are spending a lot on it.

BadActingParsley · 19/08/2025 07:51

Blackbookofsmiles1 · 17/08/2025 07:40

Gardening…..it’s expensive….however much you think it is, triple it! I love it though so shall continue.

Same. I’m trying to take cuttings from existing plants and sow seeds instead of going ‘oh pretty!’ At the garden centre and buying new….

cramptramp · 18/08/2025 23:23

FurForksSake · 18/08/2025 21:03

Click and collect is very much back..

Omg you’re right. I must try to resist.

PourUsAGlass · 18/08/2025 21:24

Lash extensions and brow and lip wax- £35 every 2 to 2.5 weeks, nails -£25 every 3 weeks.

Iris2020 · 18/08/2025 21:10

I'm struggling to think of a particular thing but I could / should est less.
I also use the Asda express delivery at least one or twice a month so that's 8.50 delivery a pop.
One of my kids' hobbies which is a life saver for me in terms of filling up a morning but costs 8 pounds every time.

Tigger1895 · 18/08/2025 21:06

Cynic17 · 10/08/2025 22:40

Buying books on Kindle. I don't keep a count, but I'm sure it's easily £50 a month.
But I consider it money well spent for so many hours of enjoyment, plus many are read more than once.

Have you tried bookbub?

FurForksSake · 18/08/2025 21:03

Click and collect is very much back..

cramptramp · 18/08/2025 21:01

It used to be the ease of buying lots of clothes from M&S with click and collect. Since they got hacked and this hasn’t been available I have saved loads of money.

Purplebunnie · 18/08/2025 13:00

Give up my hobby, cross stitch is very expensive. I have to remind myself that it will take 5 lifetimes to stitch what I have already purchased

swampwitch0 · 17/08/2025 08:57

Local deli
Books
Perfume

PinkZebraStripes · 17/08/2025 08:10

Parking tickets.

Zempy · 17/08/2025 07:55

Vinted Addiction
Holidays
Mounjaro

Meadowfinch · 17/08/2025 07:43

Dogaredabomb · 10/08/2025 22:27

I gave up smoking a couple of months ago, £20 per day 😬

I remember swearing I would give up when a pack reached a tenner.

£20 a DAY !! 😲 Omg, that's made me feel very old. That's more than my mortgage.

Well done for giving up. Spend it on something really important. x

Lazygardener · 17/08/2025 07:42

Wine
My family

Blackbookofsmiles1 · 17/08/2025 07:40

Gardening…..it’s expensive….however much you think it is, triple it! I love it though so shall continue.

BCBird · 17/08/2025 07:40

Choclabratwatowner88 · 10/08/2025 22:41

Do kids and DP count 😂😂 they are all very expensive 🙃

Ha ha. None of those here. For me, gluten free products and chocolate

xSideshowAuntSallyXx · 17/08/2025 07:37

Coca cola and cakes. I worked out that I spent a quarter of my monthly grocery bill on it this month.

I'd save £600 if I stopped drinking it and stopped buying cakes. It would also help my waistline. If I could half it I would be happy.

It has been eye opening saving the receipts this month and seeing where I waste money.

hattie43 · 17/08/2025 07:27

NoPaintedPony · 11/08/2025 18:33

Financing my mother!

I used to take her shopping every week for her groceries & pay; pay her utilities; choose/pay/wrap every present she got her grandchildren; take her on day trips and longer holidays. Never to even be bought a cup of coffee.

Due to her abusive behaviour, not just involving finances, we now don’t have anything to do with each other. I have more money, and at more peace than I’ve ever been.

This resonates with me . She’s never planned for her later years and has always spent every penny she ever had . We’ve always had a difficult relationship because of her selfishness ( not money related ) and now I’m stuck paying her bills , when we do go out I’m always paying for meals . I get so fed up seeing her scrabble round the yellow sticker food I take quality food parcels in to her . Her boiler went so I’ve just paid for that to be replaced because as friends have said ‘ you can’t leave an old woman without heating and hot water ‘ . Never ends .

mylittlekomododragon · 16/08/2025 15:54

Vinted. I’ve lost weight though and my old clothes are hanging off me.

mondaytosunday · 16/08/2025 14:02

Wine. My pets (not a small thing but my cat needs a £1000 op, and the three of them a - two cats one dog - eat a lot, plus insurance).

MuffinsAreJustCakesAtBreakfast · 16/08/2025 13:50

Expensive dog treats.

(for the dog not me, obviously)

LillyPJ · 16/08/2025 13:43

Daboomboom · 16/08/2025 13:26

Get a soda stream! We used to buy the cheapest fizzy water and still break even cost wise. If you buy more expensive fizzy water, it's an easy save.

Our recycling bin was full of 2ltr plastic bottles so we realised we had to do something.

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I bought a soda stream. I drink a lot of the cheapest fizzy water so I knew I wouldn't actually save any money (and the machine wasn't cheap either), but I did it to save plastic waste. In the end I went back to buying bottles. The soda stream makes less than 1litre at a time so there was never enough for me for even one day. It took up space on the worktop, was a (small) faff and the water didn't seem as fizzy as the bottled stuff. Plus I had to make a special journey to get the replacement gas cannister. I'm back to buying the cheap 2 litre bottles from Aldi.

Daboomboom · 16/08/2025 13:26

malificent7 · 11/08/2025 13:04

Fizzy water
Vinted
Holidays
Festivals
Netflix

But you know what...These things bring joy. You can't take it with you and we are here forsuch a sbort time...id rather have less savings and more fun!
IfI was rich I could have both!

Get a soda stream! We used to buy the cheapest fizzy water and still break even cost wise. If you buy more expensive fizzy water, it's an easy save.

Our recycling bin was full of 2ltr plastic bottles so we realised we had to do something.

AmIEnough · 16/08/2025 08:12

Lash extensions and eating out