I come from a very frugal upbringing but hold my hands up that in my adulthood and recent years I have gotten lazy and decadent. Convenience at the cost of a few extra quid seemed like no big deal until recently. The recent hikes in heating oil, electric, fuel, rates, food ...just everything, has seriously bitten into my monthly budget so I have been actively falling back on my childhood frugalness and some new well known ideas.
I also have cut one of our streaming services and downgraded the other to basic. During these warmer months I will only use the heating if needed but have already reprogrammed the timer to come on later in the eveining and to turn off sooner in the morning for when winter comes again. A large blanket has been placed on the back of the sofa and will be getting more use rather than sticking the heat on again for an hour here and there.
I have started turning off devices at the wall at night. Before, I would have left them on standby but they can use 10% as much energy as when on so that is already having a real impact on electric bill. Waiting a bit longer for wifi to turn on in the morning, turning it off before I leave the house and then on again when I get home from work is a bit tedious. It's like turning the TV on at the wall in the evening is a small inconvenience. I have gotten rid of my Alexa Show. It was sitting eating electric on standby and was rarely used.
I have cut down on meat consumption, been eating cheaper cuts like mince, more chicken, thighs instaed of breasts, and steak night is now a Bavette cut into three. When I make lasagne or cottage pie now I use half as much mince and bulk it out with grated mushrooms and more veg. Gone to a local meat processing plant that has their own little shop. Can buy a massive bag of frozen chicken. I was buying the same chicken fresh in supermarkets and freezing it to use at my convenience. The price difference was quite surprising. Frozen meats when used for pies or slow cooked has little difference in flavour but massive difference in price since frozen meat has far less waste in processing chain.
I planted my own veg and used my big planter pots that I usually spend a fortune filling with flowers to plant potatoes.
Home Bargains for bacon, milk and other essentials rather than going for convenience of buying it all in Tesco.
I cancelled my mobile phone handset contract and bought a cheap android handset. It does everything I need but isn't costing me a fortune. I rang up my internet provider and renegotiated my plan. Switched mobile phone to internet provider and essentially got more minutes and data on it now included in wifi cost.
Eating more pasta and rice. Rice I make properly in a pot rather than the convenient microwavable stuff. The price difference is just ridiculous when I really sat down and thought about it.
I have stopped buying cheese slices or pre grated. I buy a block now but also am eating less of it. My other half pointed out that I was adding cheese to things like an American. To sandwiches, potatoes, top of cottage pie, into home made meatballs etc etc. I was doing it without even thinking. Like, I calculated it, I was spending £12 a month on cheese. I was horrified. Secondary effect is that I have also lost 2lb in a month just by cutting down on cheese 😨
Stopped buying home cleaning products other than value bleach. I now make up my own containers of cleaners using baking soda, lemon juice, salt and white vinegar.
We were considering changing the carpet in our front hall but my brother and aunt rented a carpet/furniture cleaner for a weekend. We did our three houses and my parents from top to bottom. We shared the cost and my carpet came up a treat so no need to change it.
I finally but the bullet and started a conversation with my fellow office staff at work and have organised a car share program. I like my quiet and my space but having to drive to and from work just two days less a week is making a huge difference at the petrol pumps. My anxiety and social awkwardness at raising the idea was horrible but I am glad I did.