What things have you dropped due to COL?

[Woodstocks]

What food items or other household bits have you stopped buying due to COL?

We used to love garlic bread with pasta, onion bhajis with a curry, nachos with a Chili etc. but have now stopped these side bits as too expensive. What about you- what has fallen by the wayside and do you miss it?

I would ring the council otherwise you will be in real trouble.

@Icannoteven please try and see the dentist and get a payment plan, dental health is so important and yours sounds v compromised. Also, the dentist might delete you off their list if you don’t go regularly and then it’s even more of a downward spiral. I’m so sorry you’re in such difficulty and you must be in a lot of pain. 💐

I used to go to M&S food every Friday and spend £20ish on nice weekend food. I've not done it for months now but still miss it!

I've spread out my hairdresser visits and currently looking v overgrown!

One thing I haven't changed is coffee out with friends - I spend £5-10 on a couple of coffees and sometimes cake, at least once a week. That hour or so in a nice cafe with a good friend is so enjoyable and really makes such a difference to managing the stresses of life, so I won't be changing that.

I hardly ever pay a hairdresser and it really shows lol. I cut my own hair.

No more pedicures and I can only trim my toenails really badly! Who notices my toes though in all honesty.

No car, no pets, no beauty treatments, no takeaway coffees. Don't care, don't particularly want them. But by God, I'm going on holiday, if I have to walk there and sleep in a bush. I have downgraded my ambitions - I was dreaming about Japan for my 50th birthday, but instead it's an interrail pass for me and dd (bought in black Friday sale) and I'm enjoying planning the itinerary and prebooking accommodation, and even prepaying some of it to spread the cost.

We always have this (or Aldi equivalent occasionally) it is nice.

Just being careful to buy on offer and the value versions and know which supermarket is cheapest.

Just a mention to those not paying council tax- this is one of the few dates where they can and do get a court order and will have bailiffs round at your house within 8 weeks of not paying- giving you a much bigger debt than you started with

Some of these posts are quite sad to read. @xSideshowAuntSallyx Yours really struck a chord with me. For me, I have given up buying any alcohol, no tale aways, I cut my own hair and have given up my thrice yearly highlights. I only feed my family meat twice a week. I only buy clothes and stuff for the house second hand and have upped my hours to their max for work. Not sure what else I can give up tbh

Deliveroo and eating out.

Trying to save for retirement so less eating & drinking out, cooking from scratch more including cakes/desserts. We buy good quality food but wait for offers on almost everything then bulk buy, cook double portions and freeze the second, got rid of car (& now get paid for our parking space), no beauty treatments and less frequent hair appointments, frugal replacement only buying of toiletries & cosmetics, always with offers, trying to minimise any waste. I know we are lucky, I feel so sorry for others in a much harder position.

No processed or takeaway food, very few takeaway coffees (esp as I only drink it black anyway, bit pointless to pay others to make it), no haircuts or treatments - I just lop off the dead ends - no conditioner (surprisingly... okay? My hair is the same either way and actually sometimes looks better), cheap shampoo, cheap/er makeup, no new clothes, only have two hobbies I pay for (they are both taught and both teachers charge good prices, plus my mental health is amazing now), fewer theatre trips, cheaper cleaning products (just as good). Haven't changed my phone in a few years and it only costs me £10 a month now. I don't buy magazines now and only get books for gifts.

I think my nearest is about 17 miles away.

I didn’t go to the dentist at all last year. Having to pay for the kids to go to the dentist now means I can’t really afford to go myself.

And I’m having to save up for the cat to have hers done. Every time I think I might buy something non essential I give myself a slap and put the money in the Cat’s Teeth Savings Fund instead.

I honestly don’t think I realise all the things I’ve had to give up. We earn more than we ever have, but seem so much poorer than we did ten years ago.

I used to buy eye shadow palettes.pay extra off the mortgage, save, And get a new phone every three years or so.

The Tory Mortgage Tax is the single biggest issue. Having to find hundreds of pounds extra every single month is crippling. The government letting the energy firms charge us so much more is bad too, but food inflation is the one I really feel. I’m constantly getting horrid little shocks at the price of things now

We don’t miss anything really. We have a community pantry. The supermarkets donate left over produce e to avoid food waste, I often go there before I shop. Got a turkey to feed 12, stuffing,parsnips, other veggies and baked goods for a £5 donation. Helping the environment and pocket

Takeaways
Meal deals
We didn't do a softplay birthday party for ds because of cost of living
Annual Membership for local attractions - We're using a free local museum a lot more.

We're also NOT going to charity shops or Home Bargains anymore. I have banned myself because my impulse spending at these places was cancelling out any savings I was making on any essentials I was buying in them.

I haven't booked our annual holiday for next year. We usually have one week away in January (a UK holiday). By this point in the year, I have usually got it booked for next January. However, next years' prices are crazy. I will really miss it, but can't justify the cost. We are severely restricted about where and when we can go due to school terms and mobility needs.

Using the library the same as always, however any kids' activities there these days get fully booked extremely quickly. At least people are using their libraries more, which is a positive thing.

Just remembered a couple more things we've stopped.

Breakfast or lunch outmoded a weekend.

If we fancy a cooked breakfast we have bacon and eggs at home now but normally nobody's bothered so goes to show it wasn't needed.

@MissMarplesGoddaughter unfortunately my 'local' library is not that local anymore - Government cuts etc. But Ravelry etc is a good source of stuff.

Our library has lots of magazines and books you can access online. Maybe this would be option?

@MissMarplesGoddaughter

Oooh, hadn't thought of that! Thanks!

I've given up:

Takeaways
Most holidays
Make-up (use what I've got)
Beauty treatments
Hair salons (I have a friend do my hair at home)
Any non-essential car journeys
In person supermarket shopping (Tesco delivery much cheaper as no temptations)
Buying new clothes

I still work and get no benefits, just don't have much money left after mortgage and bills.