What are you adjusting to save yourself money?

[flyingdream]

I'm hoping we don't eat go out to eat as much as we do or order food in. It's just a really bad habit. But we can never stick with it it. Paying 8.50 for a pizza (12 inch from local takeaway) is a large amount and I'm ashamed it's taken recent price increases to make us think.

Also hoping we don't turn on the radiators as much as we do.

Well I have decided that for Lent I am going to give up paying for stuff.
Just the luxuries though like food, electric, heating, petrol...

Seriously though I am cutting takeaways right out. Shockingly expensive now.

We don’t go out to eat or order takeaways as it is.
There isn’t anything we can adjust. We will just be at risk of racking up debts if things keep increasing.

We are also trying a no takeaway month. I am ashamed of how often we've been getting one. Also trying not to use my tumble drier this month.

@beenaroundtheblox ahh tumble dryer. I could do with using ours less too!

I turned the heating off in disgust when I found out how much our bill is going up by! Apart from in the mornings, we haven’t missed it and I put it on for half an hour on the morning so that DS wasn’t cold when he woke up. Eating out/ takeaways are already a thing of the past and we’ve both taken on second zero hour jobs which is ridiculous as DH is a high and I’m an average earner but our outgoings are insane. I want to get rid of Sky as a priority but DH won’t just because of stupid sports.

I don't know how everyone manages to avoid using the tumble drier at this time of year. None of our bathrooms have windows and I'm concerned if I dried all of the stuff in the house it would just make it really damp (we don't have a lot of heating on, and have turned it down still further).

We don’t buy take away. Can get a frozen pizza for £1 if that’s what we fancy.
Heating only comes in once the house is 16 degrees and only if we are in the house.
Dry things outside, I saw washing too it’s a good drying day.
For lent I am eating one meal a day
Strict meal planning, budget of £50 per week for all household food and sundries.

We don’t have a tumble dryer and hardly ever eat out or get takeaways. Cook everything from scratch, no meat, no alcohol, no cinema / theatre etc. We do have streaming channels but for the amount we use them are extremely good value.

I’m asking everyone to wear clothes extra times before putting in the wash, ditto towels.

And I know this is peak mumsnet but am considering dropping the cleaner to once a fortnight instead of once a week. Really don’t want to do this though, both for her and me.

Also ashamed at the amount of takeaways we've been getting. The price increases are really putting me off.

I've always meal planned but trying to be more militant about sticking to it. Also trying to lose some weight so it goes hand in hand.

Our thermostat used to be set to 19.5 degrees minimum then put up to 20/21 when we wanted a boost. It's now set to 17 degrees and we boost it to 18.5 when we feel the chill. Wearing more layers during the day, thick blankets on the sofa and teddy bear bedding on the beds is all helping.

I've also done some draught proofing.

Just generally being more mindful about turning electric appliances and lights off.

Next on my list is:
Less baths and more showers, I love a bath though so I'm a bit sad about that one.

No more mindless clothes shopping. Constant asos orders are just unnecessary.

I used to be able to fill my car up with £40 but it's cost me £56 today. Absolutely shocking.

Will be following for more ideas!

Oh yes! And my tumble dryer. Used to use it for every single wash, now using a maiden almost exclusively. 😢

No tumble drier, takeaways, alcohol etc etc here. Don't have the heating on anyway if we can help it (actually have adapted to 17 degrees feeling quite warm and am now a bit worried about a hot summer being unpleasant! )

Honestly we can't cut much. £500 extra for our tiny flat this year in gas and electricity, plus all the other rises, it's feeling a bit bleak.

Hoping to go for a promotion at work soon which would help 🤞

I’m quite frugal by nature but do enjoy going on day trips or out with friends. I’ll cut down but hope I can still manage. I’m really concerned about fuel as not being able to visit my family will be depressing.

I'm trying really hard to be more resourceful for things I would have previously just gone on Amazon for.

I'm asking for things we need on local community pages as a first step rather than going straight to buying new. This has meant that I have paid a fraction for things we need like next size up dance shoes/football boots for DC.we are doing WBD costumes from what we already have around the house and in the dressing up.

I am no longer buying books/audio books but ordering via the library and their online versions plus listening to free audiostories online

We are being much more careful about taking food/snacks out with us and not buying food and drink when out as that really racks up in the holidays. We don't have takeaways or eat out anyway. We're trying to cook more from scratch and especially bake so that treats are available but cheaper.

I've been using public transport and walking more to save on fuel and parking charges.

We've switched off the heating and just occasional turn it on for a short period in the early evening.

We've cut down on childcare and activities and are just juggling between us a lot more. The kids are definitely watching more TV and spending more time around the house but they seem quite happy with it.

I'm spending a bit more time shopping around, looking for deals, taking advantage of offers etc.

@MadgeRussell

I don't know how everyone manages to avoid using the tumble drier at this time of year. None of our bathrooms have windows and I'm concerned if I dried all of the stuff in the house it would just make it really damp (we don't have a lot of heating on, and have turned it down still further).

We’ve never had a tumble dryer. We use a heated airer and keep the door closed/ open the window of the room. Dries a full load in 8 hours and pennies to run.

We are taking the opportunity to review our outgoings. So far we have moved to a cheaper tariff for broadband. We are exploring other options so we can get rid of Sky. Really need to stop using the tumble dryer as much. Turning into my dad by going around and switching all the lights off! We've also switched to Aldi for food shopping and meal plan so we only buy what we need, and avoid mid-week 'top-up shops'. We don't tend to eat out much anyway or get takeaway but these will be limited to special occassions.

I used to love a deep, hot bath every night but I am cutting down to one or two a week and sticking to showers. Rarely eat out or get a takeaway - we don't have any really good restaurants or takeaways near us so I am usually disappointed.

We are so lucky that we don’t need to use the car too much. We cycle / walk most places as standard with just the odd car journey for a specific purpose. I’d be freaking out if we had to drive 20-40 miles per day as standard.

I've also turned into my Dad and endlessly turning lights out, very, very rarely use the tumble dryer but we do have space to dry clothes and only two of us at home now so not much of a problem.

No takeaways or meals out.
Only use the tumble dryer when I change the bedding and can't hang it out, everything else gets hung to dry.
I've turned the automatic heating down a couple of degrees so it's not clicking on as often and have started showering DD instead of a bath every night.
I don't think there's much else we can do as we're quite spending conscious anyway.

I've cut back in coffees out. Pre-pandemic I bought coffee out 3 or 4 times a week. I cut this back to once a week but will probably cut back even further to once or twice a month at most.

I'm also trying to think hard before I buy anything. I've always been a bit of a fritterer and spent money on things like make up, clothes from Primak, hair products, etc. Nothing expensive but it also adds up.I'm making a conscious effort to think about whether I really need something before I buy it.

@LadyCatStark

I turned the heating off in disgust when I found out how much our bill is going up by! Apart from in the mornings, we haven’t missed it and I put it on for half an hour on the morning so that DS wasn’t cold when he woke up. Eating out/ takeaways are already a thing of the past and we’ve both taken on second zero hour jobs which is ridiculous as DH is a high and I’m an average earner but our outgoings are insane. I want to get rid of Sky as a priority but DH won’t just because of stupid sports.

How much are you paying for sky ? We have the Sky Sports package with now tv and its £20.00 per month as part of an offer, they always give offers. I've cancelled the entertainment package but that was only £5.99.

Cut takeaways right out, except for very rarely. And I mean rarely like less than one per month

More batch cooking, making things from scratch

I haven’t bought clothes for myself for ages

I'm also trying to think hard before I buy anything

This too. No just clicking stuff on Amazon.

I'm trying to only spend money where it counts/makes a difference to my life.

So, I won't buy a takeaway (sounds like a treat, but rarely is IMO) but I will still spend on going out with friends.

I will spend less on cheap clothes I don't really want or need, but I've had my eye on some luxury PJs and I probably will still get them.

I'm looking forward to summer and (imagining) glorious days when social things can be cheap outdoor gatherings. We've got good at that over the last couple of years!

Cancelled
Spotify
Swimming lessons
After school clubs
No take aways
Started to shop at Aldi

Batch cook
Switched off unnecessary elec items lights, garage door, chargers
Turned heating down to 18 from 20 degrees and on for 5 hours less
Don't use car as much .