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If you have spare money, what do you plan to give up/ keep going as life gets more expensive?

98 replies

SnoopLabbyLab · 14/11/2022 15:26

Firstly, I am very aware that many people have no choice in where their money goes at the moment. But if you do have a bit extra, where are you choosing to spend it, and what do you think you might give up?

For us, eating out has gone. We are focusing on enjoying good food at home, often with friends. Next meal our will be New Years Day. Board game/ film evenings have been good, cheap fun and will feature heavily over Christmas. I’m not buying any clothes for the foreseeable, as I already have enough to dress an army (provided they are willing to fight in jersey dresses and Converse). I’m trying to buy fewer books, as I’ve plenty to read at home, and am using the local book exchange. We’ve chosen to keep the kids hobbies and lessons going, but it’s a ‘no’ to starting anything new if it’s expensive. We will probably cut back on holidays, or go closer to home next year. We are still buying meat from our farm shop, even if the supermarket is cheaper. And plan on keeping our cleaner and dog walker as they are lovely people and keep us sane. Big purchases for the house, like a new wooden floor and sofas are very much on hold. Christmas trips are mostly local pantos and light trails, which I suspect the kids will enjoy as much as anything.

Anyone else thinking about this?

OP posts:
StuntPineapples · 14/11/2022 19:02

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Zippedydoo123 · 14/11/2022 19:10

Speaking of back rubs I was going twice a month but doing yoga at home again so only go once a month. I don't smoke or drink either! 😀

StuntPineapples · 14/11/2022 19:12

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ThreeRingCircus · 14/11/2022 19:16

I am keeping our cleaner. She is wonderful and has apparently lost other clients so I want to keep using her services and paying her. She is worth her weight in gold to be honest.

I'm keeping my hairdresser appointments as again, she's a lovely lady and runs her own business doing mobile hairdressing. But I don't have my hair coloured and only have it cut twice a year so it's not a massive expense anyway.

I'm keeping my children's swimming lessons, it's a healthy hobby and a life skill....but no more hobby clubs. DD1 was interested in dance lessons but those will have to wait until next year at least.

I'm cutting down on eating out but not stopping it entirely, more making swaps. So we often went into town at the weekend and would go to Pizza Express or Wagamama. Now it's coffee and a cake at a café instead. We went to our local stately home at the weekend and we would previously have spent at least £30 in the cafe getting lunch for the four of us. This time we took a picnic and just bought a takeaway coffee/hot chocolate as our treat. I'm torn on this as I really want to support businesses but it's cheaper (and healthier) not eating out all the time.

I'm cutting down on eating meat and having lots of very cheap meals at home so we can treat ourselves at other times. I.e. last night we had jacket potatoes with beans for dinner. Tonight I made a big pan of soup and served it with some cheese on toast. It's cut our shopping bill right down.

ThreeRingCircus · 14/11/2022 19:20

Should also have said:

Clothes. If the DC need something or I need something new I'm almost exclusively buying on Vinted so secondhand.

Holidays. Still having them but in the UK rather than abroad. We'd been planning on going to Greece next Summer but we're going to have a UK caravan holiday instead.

AuntieMarys · 14/11/2022 19:22

OneDayIWillBeOrganised · 14/11/2022 17:02

Hope there's a typo in here @AuntieMarys and you're not really down to one meal a week!Grin

Yes! Eat OUT!

SweetSakura · 14/11/2022 19:23

I've been lucky enough to have a number of payrises, and so has DH. So we aren't cutting back but equally at this point in our careers I would have expected us to be able to spend more on holidays/renovations etc and instead it feels like each promotion just enables us to keep pace with the cost of living.

Doesn't mean I don't feel privileged. It's definitely less painful than having to make cuts.

If I did have to make cuts then treats for us adults would go first- nails, meals out, theatre trips. Then pricey treats for the children (day trips etc) . And as a last resort their hobbies etc.

SweetSakura · 14/11/2022 19:25

My cleaner would be one of the last things to go, I have a disability (although don't get any benefits for it as it's a fluctuating condition ) so couldn't manage without her- the hidden cost of disabilities.

Spicypies · 14/11/2022 19:27

We’re eating out less. I buy more seasonal fruit and veg at the grocery these days instead of mindlessly shelling out for non-seasonal things. For 2023, we booked our long-haul trip to be over Easter instead of in July/August, which saves money on flights. We’ll stay for free in family members’ properties for at least two of next year’s holidays. Other holidays will be Euro self drive/self-cater things, nothing fancy.

We aren’t cutting the cleaner or extracurriculars. I think our cleaner really appreciates the business, and the extracurriculars are pre-paid as a lump sum for a year.

We were planning a house project, but have postponed that until 2024.

Allmouthnoaction · 14/11/2022 19:29

Slanty · 14/11/2022 15:33

I’m not changing anything.

I’m hoping that those in an equally fortunate position will do the same so that cafes, restaurants, shops etc can survive.

As long as I can afford it (hopefully) exactly this.
Thinking of all the businesses who rely on people spending,horrific how they will cope.

JamSandle · 14/11/2022 19:30

I think takeaways, new clothes (i'll spend more for one quality item) and hairdressers.

bonzaitree · 14/11/2022 19:32

I'm not going out for food any more really. Going to friends houses instead. Having fewer take aways. Reducing amount of alcohol I have. Not buying any new clothes unless really needed. Shopping mostly at lidl.

I actually found I don't really care- I can see friends and family so it's all good. I spent £2.50 last weekend - slushy for my nephew! That was it.

Maybe deprivation is easier after covid?

Hoppinggreen · 14/11/2022 19:34

Bit cnfised
If I have spare money why am I giving things up?

Derrymum123 · 14/11/2022 19:35

Aldi or Lidl shop rather than M and S or Tesco.
Second hand clothes from eBay.
Fewer days out.
Take out once a week.
Fewer unnecessary trips out in the car.
Fewer brand name foods.
Home cooking rather than ready meals.

CoffeandTiaMaria · 14/11/2022 19:36

We’re really fortunate in that we’re retired and no mortgage along with having a recent inheritance that paid for the planned renovations and new combi boiler before everything kicked off. That should mean no house maintenance for some years 🤞🏻
I’m certainly not complacent though; we rarely ate out or had takeaways, the thermostat is set at 18° and occasionally kicks in, I cook from scratch and try to buy as much as possible locally.

JamSandle · 14/11/2022 19:38

Hoppinggreen · 14/11/2022 19:34

Bit cnfised
If I have spare money why am I giving things up?

Just to save a bit more in case of a rainy day I think.

Even when I have money I tend to be quite frugal (except in a couple of areas) just because you never know what may happen.

fleurdelee · 14/11/2022 19:38

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/11/2022 15:58

I already was seeing my friends less, it will drop further I imagine. Basically anything to do with me: hair cuts, clothes, socialising will be scaled back so my children live their usual lives.

Yes this

NotSonicTheHedgehog · 14/11/2022 19:48

Not lots at the moment if I’m honest.
Probably eat out less but that’s been the case since Covid. I colour my hair myself so still getting a cut
every 5/6 weeks. I won’t be giving up my gym membership I’ve always been contentious about how much I spend on clothes and only buying when I need them I’ve cut down on video games and don’t buy a new one until I’ve finished the one I’m playing. 😂 We’re already veggies and I’ve been drinking Huel for lunch for years. Essentially I’ve always been quite frugal I suppose.

Decafflatteplease · 14/11/2022 19:56

Takeaways have gone from every week to every 6 weeks, bit awkward as we are friends with the owner but doing what we can.

Very rarely have coffee out despite my username, only if I'm meeting a friend or WFH in a cafe, don't get coffees to go anymore. Also trying to use local cafes to meet friends rather than chains.

Most of DC Christmas presents and any new clothes needed are from vinted or on offer. I need to start selling on vinted aswell.

BigFishontheTelly · 14/11/2022 19:59

Tv package is cancelled
Takeaways won't be so often - More Fakeaways
Eating in restaurants won't be so often

Making use of the local library now too.

StuntPineapples · 14/11/2022 20:04

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GuffyTheDustBuster · 14/11/2022 20:25

We are supporting local businesses as much as possible (clothes buying/ indie cafes / venues).

Still not turned the heating on yet.(although obvs weather has been v mild)
Library books on Libby app (so not buying them on Kindle)

Marleymoo42 · 14/11/2022 20:31

We've stopped heating the house as we all seem to be coping okay with cold temperatures! I plan our meals, shop at Aldi and everyone has to take a packed lunch. I buy a lot of the kids clothes on vinted and have switched to a mobile hairdresser. The kids have kept their hobbies. We don't turn invitations down but we dont instigate any costly meals out or days out with friends which we would have done in the past. Days out with the kids are free ones with a packed lunch. We are going ahead with our home renovation but the furnishings will have to wait. We'll be visiting friends instead of going on holiday.
I appreciate how lucky we are.

misssunshine4040 · 14/11/2022 20:37

I'm not changing too much, I'm just going to accept I will have less money for the forseeabable.
I am work my arse off long hard shifts and life is short.
I rarely do much for myself as a lone parent and the treats me and my kids have will stay or we have no enjoyment in life left.
I cut back on heating and minor things but I'm booking the tickets to a gig I want to go to, buying the coffee when I want it and treating my kids to life experiences too.

beonmywaythen · 14/11/2022 20:44

We're cutting down takeaways. Keeping the cleaner!