What’s an “unpopular” spending or money decision that actually works well for you?

I don’t have any loyalty cards. I’m sure I would have saved ££££ over the years, but I hate the Big Brotherness of it all, so I don’t. It doesn’t make anyone loyal, it just clutters up your purse with a dozen cards.

I also don’t have Amazon Prime except when they offer me a free month. If there’s something I need right now (and there really isn’t), I can go to an actual shop. But I think it’s better to have to wait for things.

May be old-fashioned, but only buy things you can afford to pay for, in full (except of course houses, possibly cars). Too many idiots believing they are 'entitled' to have whatever they want/or see others having, and getting into debt for it.
Also keep a spreadsheet for your finances, most could easily learn to do this and it is a huge help in keeping track.

We spend money on holidays rather than the house. Obviously maintenance is done but most of our furniture is old or family cast-offs.

@Sgtmajormummy. No idea where you live but public transport costs 3-4 times the cost of driving where I live.

some unpopular on here but I think the bbc licence is excellent value for money, broadcast tv plus their associated apps is great if your budget doesn’t stretch to multiple apps

And you get a chance to use the loo! Perfect.

I don’t buy all the supermarket own brand foods that are pushed as being better value. I would rather spend a bit more on ethical/higher welfare/natural products. It works because we spend less on alcohol and holidays than some would.

He gets a commission so yes, sort of. I know how stupid I sound.

🤣🤣🤣

Same

I also have an expensive phone contract because of the camera and that matters to me.

I also have an expensive gym membership but I use the spa and co-working space there too so that is more than enough value for me.

I save enough and spend a ton on my kids so my splurge is the gym membership!

Yeah wages go into my spending account and I have a direct debit set up for the amount my bills are that comes out of that account and goes straight into the bills account this happens the same day and then all my bills are direct debits which come out of the bills account throughout the month. Then what's left I move a certain amount to my savings and the rest is kept for spending for the month

Hello, I think we are twins. There’s no better feeling than being able to sleep at night being completely and utterly debt free.

Same. We’ve lived in the same small house for the last 28 years. We could have upsized but prioritised holidays, cars, nights out etc rather than a larger mortgage.

I actually like going out for coffee and cake despite the cost and now being of suddenly more limited means.

Yes, I could (and regularly do) make it at home for a fraction of the cost, but getting out of the house two or three times a week gives me a real psychological boost.

I don't budget either.

Put everything on a credit card. (But pay it off in full every month.)

Sounds good
Do you have young children to care for?
Good way of fitting in cc without paying for it

Using credit cards for all spending. I know there are some people that are frightened of credit cards but they are so useful.

I started with cashback credit cards so I could earn on normal spending, I earned around £200pa just by using a credit card instead of a debit card. Always paid in full and then started to prefer having 1 payment out of my bank a month instead of several. I then put my credit card money in savings and I was then earning a bit of interest. I then got to use S75 with my credit card company to claim against a smartwatch that stopped working and for a service that I paid for but was cancelled. I love knowing that my spends are insured (in a way).

Then I moved onto stoozing, this is having 0% credit card debt on purchases and balance transfers whilst earning interest on the equivalent in savings. I currently have £27k in credit card debt, have paid no interest, charges or fees. I'll earn around £1k a year on that in interest just by being strict and organised with balance due dates. It's not for the faint hearted.

True, same for us with pet insurance. Also, insurance companies try and wiggle out of paying.

Take picnics on family days out. Drinks and snacks are ott expensive.
More to spend on other things like attractions and holidays

Never buy a pedigree pet. Rescues all the way, always lovelier, always been healthier and it does some good.

No insurances apart from the car and buildings insurance on the house. We keep some savings earmarked for vet bills and when vets know you don't have insurance the bills are nowhere near what they would be charging via the insurance. I

I don't budget. I spend until the money is gone. it works for me.

Cash in a bank account - Cash ISAs, premium bonds that sort of thing (as opposed to S&S ISAs). It’s not stuffed in the mattress. Or as my DGrandad did, wrapped round pipes in the airing cupboard!

DH transfers every penny of his salary to me. No joint accounts. I then pay all the bills and savings from that and transfer weekly spending money back to him.

My OH always says - don’t insure anything you can afford to replace or fix.

As an aside, when I was a kid, no one insured their pets! We had a horse (who we did insure) but insuring a cat was totally unheard of.

I'm with you. If I have to visit DP's BIL one more time to listen to him wittering on about his latest deal on insurance, utilities, mortgage....😡 He spends hours online changing providers, and is visibly triumphant over haggling to save a fiver. I was feeling particularly evil one day so I asked him if he factored in the cost of the time spent on his money saving schemes because he is obsessed. I'm happier spending my time reading or seeing a friend.