How would you save money if you needed to?

[HungryHippo11]

With news of food price increases, higher taxes and bills etc. I was wondering how other people are planning to cut back, if they need to?

I was already planning to cut back on car use for environmental reasons but also would save fuel costs.

We could cancel Netflix and Prime subscriptions and could probably save a bit on groceries by cutting out luxuries such as soft fruit and alcohol.

Any other suggestions? What is your backup plan?

I'll be cutting out my morning latte habit as my first little cut back my waistline will also be pleased. I'll be using my car less much more planning into journeys / on the way home from work. Once the covid situation is a little more under control and its easier to go shopping around I'll be shopping around in different supermarkets for more deals. Emphasis on the little things that don't really improve my life, I financially won't need to bit its always good to tighten belts because never know what's around the courner.

Shop at a cheaper supermarket
Buy value brands
Shop round for insurances & utilities
Go yellow label grocery shopping once a month
Not buy any more clothes/shoes/bags
Sell any bits we have & don't need
Cycle to work rather than take bus

All stuff we have done plenty in the past so are used to doing

I want to get my electric/gas/water use down.
I’m also going to go into shops when I’m passing, like Lidl, as I don’t shop there.
I might look at bulk buying, like those large bags of pasta, instead of buying 1kg bags.
To be honest, it’s the other people in the house that cause the big bills, I’d like to live cheaper.

I'm getting a second job

We are in our last 6 months of saving for a house so are seriously cutting back where we can. Taking notes of other ideas but mine so far are -

No more acrylic nails for me
Cancelled my Tesco subscription and plan to make the effort to drive to Aldi instead
Meticulously meal plan so all dinners and lunches are ready to go and there’s no temptation to buy food while we’re out or order takeaways
DP has a terrible dry cleaning habit which he is going to curb
I’m usually a very generous Christmas gift giver so need to work out a way to cut down there this year

@FizzyPink good point about Christmas. We will be cutting down the number of people we buy for this year and buying cheaper gifts where we can.

I don't have a back up plan but a lot of our spending is unnecessary so we could cut it if needed:

Change supermarkets
Stop using the fancy butcher
Stop the milkman
Gym membership
Stop take seats and eating out
Cut down on the kids activities
Less / none or cheaper wine
Stop top up shopping for 'treats'

We could definitely cut down to one car, as we live in a small town and realistically I could walk to school with the kids. We would need one car though since DH works in the next town then possibly share it at the weekend although not sure about insurance in that case.

We are already very budgeted on food shopping but could probably cut down on things like drinks (so a big bottle of apple juice for the kids instead of small bottles) and buy cheaper fruits so cut back on berries and things which can be so expensive for the amount you get. Could also cancel our weekly takeaway.

I could cancel things I do like eyebrow wax and tint, eyelash lift and tint, and I could go somewhere cheaper for a plain haircut.

Could cut down on the kids activities as well. I remember mums at karate/dance/football used to moan about how expensive it is and I thought they must not be budgeting correctly but as they get older it just gets worse and worse. Equipment and uniforms become more expensive, competitions and things start that they didn’t do when younger that cost money and mean travelling. Also when you’re away all day for a competition you do sometimes fall into the trap of spending money that you don’t technically need to - breakfast at maccies because you left so early/lunch at the venue because you didn’t make a packed lunch, and things like that. Often the team will be invited to a little party/dinner out afterwards too, so just things like that.

I would be reluctant to cancel these though as I think they are good for the children and they bring them so much confidence and enjoyment.

@Northernsoullover
Me too! Work full time already but getting an evening job as well.

Shop in Lidl (which I do already and go to a brand supermarket once a month)

Cut down electricity use and tumble less (I currently tumble towels and bedding).

To be honest I’m pretty good. I wfh so don’t get coffee out and I don’t go out much so don’t spend a lot on entertainment.

Presents I only buy my kids so I’m already cut down there.

Yes we could cut out my daughters swimming lessons, but it would be a last resort as I think it's an important life skill and wouldn't be any cheaper to teach her myself by the time I paid for entry to the pool.

Cutting down the food bill by being strict with myself over preparing/batch cooking, rather than thinking "oh I really don't fancy that" and picking something up on the way to pick up the kids. There's no excuse, I even work from home so can put the slow cooker on/get stuff out to defrost.

I'm selling the kids old clothes online.

Trying to do Christmas on a minimum. Had a voucher from work at the end of the last financial year so that's a good contribution.

I'm also buying Christmas presents for my children early to avoid price hikes and get things on special offers. Luckily mine are only little so don't have high expectations or long lists!

We've just got a hybrid, so fuel costs are well down a bit already

Less alcohol, less meat, more planning of the supermarket shop
Buying non-perishables when on offer

No new clothes unless essential replacements

Fewer/no takeaways and meals out

Thermostat down, jumpers on

Spread the cost of Christmas - essentially start planning and shopping now. Don't buy the cheese mountain, the body weight of chocolates, or mince pies/Christmas pudding as most of us don't like them

I keep pushing DP to cancel sky, it’s so damn expensive.

Eat less meat, cancel Spotify premium, Netflix, drive less, go out less.

God knows ..I'm already incredibly careful with money!

not a massive saving, but an easy one. we only ever have one of netflix/prime/NowTv etc at a time. By the time we cycle back round, there's more loads new stuff to watch, plus we very often get a discount, or another free trial - got Prime free at the moment.

I get very frustrated as we pay £90+ per month for Sky, and I personally wouldn’t have it.
He turns the thermostat up constantly, whereas I’d put on a hoodie and keep it down.
He spends a fortune on his siblings every Xmas, even though they only click a button and send a hamper.
Our utility bills are ridiculous.

Fuck knows, I already shop in lidl, work full time in a senior position but in a low paid industry, 15 miles from home so need a car to get there, only pay £12 a month for phone contract. I recently cancelled virgin TV, now only have netflix which only costs £7 a month so not exactly a huge saving to be made there.

I seldom buy alcohol, don't have pay tv but we could eat less red meat.
I can turn the heating down and rely on the log burner more. I've been stacking prunings all year so there's a shed full of dry wood.

My income this year has dropped by 78k
Now shopping at Aldi.
Sky was £95 now 45 just by arguing with them.

oh, and we're not replacing the second car when it dies. Bike for H, walking for me.

Taking advantage of all loyalty cards where possible (I ignored probably but now realise the difference it can make)

I’ve started selling some clothes and books the children don’t need and have reposed that even get a couple of pounds for items makes a big difference

Christmas-I’ve made a list of who I am buying for and items I will need. Then if I see any on offer I buy (even things like cranberry sauce) etc. Actually surprised the big difference this makes.

Thinks like children’s activities are expensive bug this will be a last resort as it’s really good outlook for them

Self employed here and had no work at all for the first lockdown so here's how we saved money.

Meal planned every meal
Bought reduced items at supermarket
Walked or cycled everywhere
Very little alcohol (1 bottle wine/week)
Stopped our cleaner/ironing lady
Cancelled contact lens contract and wore my glasses for a year
Changed energy provider to reduce costs
Cancelled gym membership

We don't eat much meat as it is so I couldn't make any savings with that.

I guess I could cancel my cleaner, but as a single mum, working full time, with a dc with SEN, I really need that little bit of help in the house.

I could meal plan better, that would help.