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If you are financially comfortable, have you started cutting back on non-essentials?

625 replies

LabraDabraDoo · 10/03/2022 09:24

I realise that we are very fortunate to have the financial headroom to choose to cut back and at the moment we spend quite a bit on non-essentials. We did a budget last night to look at likely price increases (especially fuel) and it looks like, while our jobs are secure ( although our investments are in the doldrums) we will be cutting back on quite a few non-essentials. Anyone else also making this choice yet?

Our list includes:
Back to buying decent quality supermarket meat and reining in trips to the farm shop.
I’m not buying clothes this Spring, I have enough to clothe a hundred middle aged women. We aren’t heating unused rooms in the house. Horse riding lessons are being suspended ( kids didn’t seem too bothered so that’s an easy £200 saved). We’ve cancelled our plan to refloor downstairs (wooden floors, so that’s a big saving). I planned to raise the children to a cottage in Norfolk for a couple of weeks in summer and we’ve arranged a house swap with a friend instead. We are not going out to eat for the foreseeable, and outings will be free swimming at the gym, dog walks etc. All other home improvement plans and big spends ( I considered renewing my car) are on hold. There are some things I hope we don’t have to cut, like cancelling holidays, music lessons and our lovely cleaner. We are still saving money into pensions and investments.

Anyone else making cutbacks? Do you think it’s going to start having an impact on people who provide non-essential services or are they still enjoying a post-Covid boom?

OP posts:
dementedma · 11/03/2022 20:09

We have reduced the amount we pay on life insurance - if we croak the kids will have enough to bury us and clear the small mortgage. Thats enough.
Turn off the heating at every opportunity. Only buy clothes from charity shops or in sales. No takeaways. No cinema.
In years past I have been in the position of not having enough money to buy food so well aware of the luxury of our life now, even with cutbacks

burnoutbabe · 11/03/2022 20:13

Not really.

I mean I still renogiate with virgin and sky each year to keep costs low.
And will try and ensure use less elec as sone expensive now.

But still will keep cleaner and do Deliveroo a few times a week. We're pretty frugal mostly so enjoy these treats.

justasking111 · 11/03/2022 20:15

We had hens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl for many years downsized to suburbia. I toyed with the idea of buying a trio of hens but with the bird flu restrictions locked up until April I just couldn't do it. Done lockdown couldn't inflict it on another creature it's just too cruel

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

PuzzledObserver · 11/03/2022 20:19

I’m manically going around the house and turning the lights off.

While saving any unnecessary energy use is a good thing, turning lights off, if they are LED’s, is small fry. The light fittings in our lounge takes 6 candle bulbs, the LED versions are 3.3W each, so it’s 20W for the whole fitting. Let’s say you turn the light on at 6pm then off at 10, you have used 0.08kWh - at the new price cap rate of 28p, that will cost you 2.24p. Do it every day for a year and it’s 29.2kWh, costing just over £8.

So yeah, don’t leave them on unnecessarily, BUT you will save a lot more by

a) making sure all your lights are LED, not compact fluorescent or (shudder) incandescent 100W bulbs

b) making sure your washing machine and dishwasher go on the eco cycles and are full when they go on (they use about 1kWh each per go - I can have the lounge light on for 48 hours solid for the energy used by one washing machine cycle)

c) using the oven less, or putting two things in at once; using a multi-level steamer to do potatoes and veg on one hob; using slow cooker and microwave rather than oven and hob. (A typical oven for 40 minutes plus hob for 20 minutes meal uses 1-1.5kWh. Put 2 ovens on at different temperatures and use 2 or 3 hot plates, you can double that - light on continuously for 4-5 days)

d) cutting down/out the tumble dryer, or replacing it with a heat pump version, which (apparently) uses about 1 kWh per cycle rather than 4.

In recent months I have learned a lot about energy use, motivated as much by environmental as financial concerns. So while I’m talking to the comfortably off: if you haven’t already done so, look into solar panels and home batteries, and/or changing your petrol/diesel car for electric. If you can spare the capital, these are both ways of reducing your future outgoings AND helping the environment.

Actually, if you normally lease or PCP your car, the fuel savings can be greater than the additional monthly payment, so that one is open to people without much capital.

Aaaabbbcccc · 11/03/2022 20:21

No changes

MoonbeamSprinkles · 11/03/2022 20:22

I love how every single person on this thread believes themselves to be frugal Grin

Where are all the unfrugal people?

Jusmeee · 11/03/2022 20:28

Nah

ReadyToMoveIt · 11/03/2022 20:29

@MoonbeamSprinkles

I love how every single person on this thread believes themselves to be frugal Grin

Where are all the unfrugal people?

I’m not at all frugal Grin. Trying to be a bit more so at the moment though.
Bellie710 · 11/03/2022 20:32

We are not wealthy but are comfortable and fortunately have no mortgage which is a huge saving. We have not really changed anything, I am more aware of wasting energy but our income has just increased considerably so the luxuries I might have cancelled are safe. I would cancel a takeaway or a night out though before I cancelled our cleaner or window cleaner, they don't come very often but they have always been really good and reliable and I am very aware of the impact on everyone cancelling them.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 11/03/2022 20:32

Possibly. I don’t spent a lot though so it might have to just be small things.

I don’t have sky or Netflix so can’t cut that. I’m trying to sort of take stock of what I spend at the supermarket and keep it under control - less treats and less stuff just because.

My car is ancient although fairly economical but I’d like to use it less due to the higher petrol costs.

I already have the heating on quite a low setting maybe 17/18 and never heat the upstairs anyway as the house is well insulated and this would make it stuffy. I’d also already turned radiators off completely in the downstairs loo as I hardly use it.

I will still eat out on occasion as this is one of the few things I do spend money on that I really enjoy.

YeOldeTrout · 11/03/2022 20:37

Yeah that 's fair about the frugal / unfrugal... who are they, indeed.

if i did below things, `i would say I wasn't frugal:

Bought coffee to go
subscribed to netflix amazon etc
had amazon prime
used a tumble dryer
bought lots of take-away food
bought clothes when I didn't need them (before they were falling off/ full of holes/ unuseable)
shopped as recreation
ate meals out "for a change" or because I fancied it
shopped for clothes outside charity shops
went to live entertainment like concerts
drove when I could cycle or walk
got my hair cut/coloured professionally
went to spas, or beauty salons
ever got my nails done
had a gym membership I didn't use
had any hobbies
wore make up (means buying it)
vaped, smoked
borrowed money to buy things not strictly needed
redecorated because I fancied it
bought lunch out rather than have pack up
wasted food
wasted electricity, heating
didn't try to sell stuff (binned or gave away instead)

I don't object to anyone doing those things if they can afford them, btw. Just saying they are sort of habits that don't sound frugal

We had expensive holiday at Christmas -- not frugal. DS got a good spec Garmin for his birthday. I suppose that wasn't frugal, either. We have pets... I'm not perfectly frugal, just fairly frugal.

quicklybeingdrivenmad · 11/03/2022 20:49

After my post about my window cleaner, he has has lost another £50 per month so £200 per month down, we are ok financially now ( worked hard to get any savings and while I can use a bit if I had to just to pay for luxuries would freak me out)

My simple swap and saves on 6 items, saved us the price of them that saved me £26.82 a month, done some more research tonight, on my shopping changed juice from Robinsons to supermarkets own, brand and other stuff I knocked £30 off my weekly shop, Which i can now spend on local shops, asked DH and the 3 girls to pick 2 things they will swap, little ones so they can still do dance etc ( would cancel theres at a last resort) DH and eldest picked 4 and put it towards their dance, would love to hear about really good swaps cos it is trial and error here

LabraDabraDoo · 11/03/2022 20:52

@MoonbeamSprinkles

I love how every single person on this thread believes themselves to be frugal Grin

Where are all the unfrugal people?

Oh gosh, I’m astonishingly unfrugal. Cutting back on anything really isn’t in my nature. I still have an appalling Diptyque habit and find any excuse for dinner at J.Sheeky.

But I’m also savvy ( maybe just old?) enough to know that our savings and investments aren’t for dipping into when things feel tight. Hopefully, cutting back on a few non-essentials means that we can continue to feel secure, while still doing nice things. Some things that cost money really matter to my (and my family’s) mental health: holidays, housekeeper, golf lessons, choir camp, books that get read eventually, good food. Again, I know that I’m very privileged to be saying this, but they’ll stay, although I might need to work more or cut back on other stuff to comfortably keep them as the cost of services and goods rise.

The discussion about local service providers losing business is very sobering. We live rurally, with a large number of micro businesses reliant on customers spending on non-essentials and I can imagine this will really impact our local economy.

OP posts:
HardyBuckette · 11/03/2022 20:53

I think a lot of us are saying we're frugal about some things and not others! It's about the balance, and being able to protect the ability to keep being unfrugal on some things.

MoonbeamSprinkles · 11/03/2022 20:55

trout

Of your list I do these things

subscribed to netflix amazon etc
had amazon prime
bought clothes when I didn't need them (before they were falling off/ full of holes/ unuseable)
ate meals out "for a change" or because I fancied it
shopped for clothes outside charity shops
went to live entertainment like concerts
drove when I could cycle or walk
got my hair cut/coloured professionally
went to spas, or beauty salons
ever got my nails done
had a gym membership I didn't use
had any hobbies
wore make up (means buying it)
redecorated because I fancied it
bought lunch out rather than have pack up
didn't try to sell stuff (I give to charity shops/friends)

But we deliberately didn’t have kids because me and DH like to spend our money on ourselves.

I just think it’s interesting how everyone seems to believe themselves to be frugal.

I definitely did, I even said at the beginning of the thread that I didn’t have much to cut back on, but actually i do loads.

But my battle cry is ‘I don’t have kids so I can afford it’ Blush

I’m not going to cut back until I need to though, those little things are what makes my life pleasurable.

Blossomtoes · 11/03/2022 20:55

@YeOldeTrout

Yeah that 's fair about the frugal / unfrugal... who are they, indeed.

if i did below things, `i would say I wasn't frugal:

Bought coffee to go
subscribed to netflix amazon etc
had amazon prime
used a tumble dryer
bought lots of take-away food
bought clothes when I didn't need them (before they were falling off/ full of holes/ unuseable)
shopped as recreation
ate meals out "for a change" or because I fancied it
shopped for clothes outside charity shops
went to live entertainment like concerts
drove when I could cycle or walk
got my hair cut/coloured professionally
went to spas, or beauty salons
ever got my nails done
had a gym membership I didn't use
had any hobbies
wore make up (means buying it)
vaped, smoked
borrowed money to buy things not strictly needed
redecorated because I fancied it
bought lunch out rather than have pack up
wasted food
wasted electricity, heating
didn't try to sell stuff (binned or gave away instead)

I don't object to anyone doing those things if they can afford them, btw. Just saying they are sort of habits that don't sound frugal

We had expensive holiday at Christmas -- not frugal. DS got a good spec Garmin for his birthday. I suppose that wasn't frugal, either. We have pets... I'm not perfectly frugal, just fairly frugal.

We do 17 of those things. I can’t imagine how miserable I’d be without make up or only buying clothes when the old ones wore out. I must be pretty decadent.
Roundeartheratchriatmas · 11/03/2022 20:59

I’m not especially frugal in the sense that I do do some of the things listed but I don’t think I do them very often.

I do buy clothes for example but rarely.

I do get my nails done from time to time but it’s been months.

No idea what that makes me.

If I had to I could cut down further but initially I’d want to cut down but keep some of the things I like the most for now.

So I’ll continue to have the odd meal out and due to the state of the nhs will be keeping my private healthcare.

ReadyToMoveIt · 11/03/2022 20:59

@YeOldeTrout

Yeah that 's fair about the frugal / unfrugal... who are they, indeed.

if i did below things, `i would say I wasn't frugal:

Bought coffee to go
subscribed to netflix amazon etc
had amazon prime
used a tumble dryer
bought lots of take-away food
bought clothes when I didn't need them (before they were falling off/ full of holes/ unuseable)
shopped as recreation
ate meals out "for a change" or because I fancied it
shopped for clothes outside charity shops
went to live entertainment like concerts
drove when I could cycle or walk
got my hair cut/coloured professionally
went to spas, or beauty salons
ever got my nails done
had a gym membership I didn't use
had any hobbies
wore make up (means buying it)
vaped, smoked
borrowed money to buy things not strictly needed
redecorated because I fancied it
bought lunch out rather than have pack up
wasted food
wasted electricity, heating
didn't try to sell stuff (binned or gave away instead)

I don't object to anyone doing those things if they can afford them, btw. Just saying they are sort of habits that don't sound frugal

We had expensive holiday at Christmas -- not frugal. DS got a good spec Garmin for his birthday. I suppose that wasn't frugal, either. We have pets... I'm not perfectly frugal, just fairly frugal.

I do (did) 18 of those things…
LabraDabraDoo · 11/03/2022 20:59

@YeOldeTrout

Yeah that 's fair about the frugal / unfrugal... who are they, indeed.

if i did below things, `i would say I wasn't frugal:

Bought coffee to go
subscribed to netflix amazon etc
had amazon prime
used a tumble dryer
bought lots of take-away food
bought clothes when I didn't need them (before they were falling off/ full of holes/ unuseable)
shopped as recreation
ate meals out "for a change" or because I fancied it
shopped for clothes outside charity shops
went to live entertainment like concerts
drove when I could cycle or walk
got my hair cut/coloured professionally
went to spas, or beauty salons
ever got my nails done
had a gym membership I didn't use
had any hobbies
wore make up (means buying it)
vaped, smoked
borrowed money to buy things not strictly needed
redecorated because I fancied it
bought lunch out rather than have pack up
wasted food
wasted electricity, heating
didn't try to sell stuff (binned or gave away instead)

I don't object to anyone doing those things if they can afford them, btw. Just saying they are sort of habits that don't sound frugal

We had expensive holiday at Christmas -- not frugal. DS got a good spec Garmin for his birthday. I suppose that wasn't frugal, either. We have pets... I'm not perfectly frugal, just fairly frugal.

I counted 19 things on your list I do ( some lazy, some fun, some morally reprehensible)

My suspicion that I’m shockingly unfrugal has been confirmed!

OP posts:
justasking111 · 11/03/2022 21:05

Ten things we have lunch out occasionally, dinner rarely so I Reckon eight

HardyBuckette · 11/03/2022 21:05

Hmm, I get my hair trimmed professionally about once a year. It costs about £20 including tip. That is the extent of my involvement with hair and beauty professionals. No nails, waxing, hair colour etc, just never been my thing. I would've said that was one of my more frugal traits, particularly in comparison to some other things I do that aren't on the list!

birdglasspen · 11/03/2022 21:14

Christ if you have to cut back that much it doesn’t bode well for the people who struggle financially😳

godmum56 · 11/03/2022 21:14

I reckon Amazon Prime saves me a fortune as well as its convenient. My nearest DIY type stores are a 20 minute drive away and then they might not have what I need so I'd have to go elsewhere...same with garden needs and so on. I'd spend way more on fuel and parking in a year than I do for a prime subscription plus you can send stuff to other people so my family save similarly as well....and then I get Prime video for nothing!

Porkchops83 · 11/03/2022 21:15

This thread has literally made me throw up in my mouth a little bit!!!

godmum56 · 11/03/2022 21:17

I don't see giving stuff away as unfrugal. every time I have freecycled stuff I have met lovely people and its always given me a lift to share what i no longer need.

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