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Original poster

What are you adjusting to save yourself money?

379 replies

flyingdream · 02/03/2022 14:57

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.

OP posts:
CowboyJo · 05/03/2022 17:16

This winter, we cut right back on what we spent in preparation for the big bills!

I buy all clothes now from charity shops. All good as new, only a couple of pounds each item Smile. Some of the kids Xmas presents were from there.

We also don't put the heating on all the time and instead wear jumpers when we get cold. DD11 initially moaned about her room being cold but she eventually got the memo.

DS turned 8 two days after Xmas , he had no extra presents and no cake specially prepared for the day (too many xmas presents from relatives, too much food to eat up), but we stuck a number 8 sparkler in a piece of leftover gateau to sing happy birthday and then had a movie night with popcorn and fizzy drinks, watching Luca on disney+. He LOVED it Grin
Might do something similar with the other children (except we'll make them a cake because they're not Xmas babies)

TiddleTaddleTat · 05/03/2022 17:28

Yep was already doing all this.
Our kids don’t get many presents from family so we can’t make savings there. A lot of their gifts are already second hand (eg Barbies from eBay etc).
I really don’t know what else we can cut tbh.

Furries · 05/03/2022 19:28

No frivolous fashion buying. I had to buy a pair of boots late last year. And, after 7 years, my lovely Ugg slippers finally need replacing (I don’t care about labels, but these were really comfy and were a present).

For those who aren’t particularly tall and/or have small feet, check out kids clothes/footwear. I find it harder with shoes, due to style/heel, but always find it easy to find something I like for boots/slippers/flip flops etc. Clothes can be harder, but things like jumpers/T-shirts etc are normally fairly easy.

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General money
AlwaysLatte · 05/03/2022 19:48

We've not changed anything but we've always been switching energy providers/buying in bulk when offers/creative use of leftovers etc anyway.

myfaceismyown · 07/03/2022 01:43

This might sound a weird one, but has anyone heard of a hay box? When I was small I read a story, maybe Swallows and Amazons, but lost in the midst of time... the idea is your cook a sew to simmer then pop it in an insulated box where it continues cooking. I have been doing this using a polystyrene box that some fresh fish came in. I put this box inside a cardboard box. I make french style cassoulet and just pop the casserole dish in the box, seal it tightly, and a few of hours later it has continued cooking to perfection. Might sound archaic, but costs nothing, and really works. The original version uses a box packed with hay, but pretty much anything insulating will work - old egg cartons, nepaper etc. Just a thought.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 07/03/2022 06:53

i think i read a book with that in it, as a child also,
bit like a slow cooker

2DogsOnMySofa · 07/03/2022 07:17

I've just bought myself a clothes horse and now dry the clothes in front of the fire on an evening when everyone has gone to bed - I've already seen a difference in the smart meter

NewYearNewMinty · 07/03/2022 19:57

Decided to try and manage without having the heating on from today.

Have been sporting a fluffy dressing gown all day...DD currently under a blanket wearing my shawl and accompanied by a hot wheat bag.

It's cosy rather then grim for now...if I have to cave I will but I think we can manage.

Mum2two29 · 07/03/2022 22:05

Hello I don’t know if you know but now tv also provide sky sports and it’s £33 a month. We have just cancelled our and gone with now tv. Saying us £33 a month. Xx

DoveOfPiss · 08/03/2022 17:21

I'd love to get rid of our virgin media package but worry about the broadband speed (or lack of it) from other suppliers. The hyperoptic that a PP mentioned isn't in our area and plusnet don't have fibre BB here either.

We currently get the 350mbps as have 5 in the house all using devices plus me wfh a lot of the time and need video for clients etc.
To cut our basic TV package to just broadband would only save £5 a month.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

reesewithoutaspoon · 08/03/2022 18:39

I just recently left Virgin for BT fibre. I had asked for years about getting rid of the package (broadband, cable, and landline, because I didn't really use TV and landline but they said you had to have it). For years they quoted a minuscule reduction in overall cost. My monthly bills on the basic package were reaching £80+ quid. Because they lock you into a deal then put the prices up again and again while you are on contract.
BT quoted me 34 quid less for a better internet (fibre optic line).
Suddenly Virgin offered me a broadband-only package for £5 less than BT after years of asking for it. I told them to no. They had years to offer this and never did. I was hounded by their contract department offering me deals, but I no longer trust them because after 3 months they hike the price up again.
Try threatening to leave.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 08/03/2022 19:24

I’m going to try and use the car less.

Heating I can cut down on as I’ve lived with little heating before. It’s not nice and I won’t be cold if I can help it but I know I can cut down a little.

DoveOfPiss · 08/03/2022 22:02

@reesewithoutaspoon thanks I'll check out BT fibre then have a chat with virgin Smile

MondeoFan · 08/03/2022 22:11

Heating, take away s, using the car less, hope to cancel sky, cutting down on food shop

Partyatnumber10 · 08/03/2022 22:12

Turning the heating and lights off wherever possible.
Meal planning and shopping more carefully.
Setting and sticking to a proper monthly budget.
Being careful about how much I take the car out and cutting down on visits to my family who live an hour's drive away.
We rarely have take always or meals out anyway.
I don't think there will be a holiday this year either.

Pinkfootedgeese · 08/03/2022 22:30

Turned heating off.
Will not eat one day at weekend, will just stay in bed all day. Drink tea.
Rest of week cut food back to jacket potatoes and beans type meals.
Don’t have holidays or clothes , leisure activities so can’t cut back on your that.
As well as working , I do volunteering work but may have to stop that if petrol goes up too much.

Letmetakeaselfie · 08/03/2022 22:34

Don't not eat for a whole day, it's really not worth it you'll be ill. Even if you eat very cheap foods it's really not worth having to resort to starving to save money

Pinkfootedgeese · 08/03/2022 22:57

I could easily actually sleep for a whole day - not eating won’t be that hard if not doing anything physical plus I will be warm in bed. I will still drink tea, water. Do some exercise if I get up for the loo to prevent dvts. I’m old and don’t have family nearby so no big deal.

ChocolateChocolateMint · 11/03/2022 11:48

I’ve just come back from having my hair done at the local college by a student.

£11 for a wash cut and blow.

Previously paid £45 for just a cut at the salon…

ChocolateChocolateMint · 11/03/2022 11:49

…..sorry, £45 for a wash cut and blow at the salon I used to go to.

I know where I’m going in future…..

whynotwhy · 11/03/2022 19:52

Stopping presents for all adults apart from immediate family - partner and adult children.
My group of friends have all agreed - it wasn't my idea but I was happy enough to go along with the suggestion. I then suggested it to my extended family & in-laws and they agreed. Men didn't give a toss. Most of the women breathed a sigh of relief although one or two were clearly disappointed but prepared to go with the majority.

MrsSkylerWhite · 11/03/2022 20:22

We love it that our youngest comes to us at weekends, from halls. Until very recently, I would drive and pick him up without thinking about it. Just can’t do that now, with petrol prices, so he has bought a young persons railcard and the train does work out a bit cheaper.

coodawoodashooda · 13/03/2022 11:18

@Pinkfootedgeese

Turned heating off. Will not eat one day at weekend, will just stay in bed all day. Drink tea. Rest of week cut food back to jacket potatoes and beans type meals. Don’t have holidays or clothes , leisure activities so can’t cut back on your that. As well as working , I do volunteering work but may have to stop that if petrol goes up too much.
Surely you could have beans on toast or an egg? Or maybe porridge? Im not trying to be cheeky. Just wondering.
MrsSkylerWhite · 13/03/2022 12:19

coodawoodashooda

Pinkfootedgeese

“As well as working , I do volunteering work but may have to stop that if petrol goes up too much.“

Don’t most organisations recompense volunteers for legitimate expenses?

beenaroundtheblox · 13/03/2022 12:23

@Shiningpath

I get that people don’t want to cook/think about cooking some nights but how hard is it to keep a couple of budget supermarket pizzas in the freezer, frozen battered fish, etc. You’d have those out the freezer and cooked in less time than it takes to phone out and have something delivered or to go out and collect.
It's not hard at all but hardly the same thing unfortunately