What have you stopped doing due to COL

[mysparkleismissing]

I earn a decent salary but am definitely cutting back on things I used to do, I'm curious if other MN have a similar mental list

• far less takeaways (saving £20-£30 a time)
• get my nails done a couple of times a year instead of every 3 weeks (at £20 each time)
• shopping at Aldi not tesco -
• don't get my hair coloured done anymore it's growing out (only bothered twice a year due to the cost anyway but saving £70 each time)
• less frivolous spending on clothes, only replaced what I've really needed
• book ban NO NEW BOOKS just read what I have (a lot) or ones one my kindle or library ap
• Heating is on far far less
• more mindful cooking and impulse buying
• mindful.of driving and what things I can achieve on the same trip

Need to tweak my pet insurance that's my next job!

How do you wash your hands with no hot tap?

With water and soap.

Everything fun, healthy or comforting has been given up. We now work to survive.

no more gym membership, horseriding, takeaways, nails and brows being done, keep fit classes, no meals out. The food we buy now is all processed crap(e.g It’s cheaper to buy lasagne than make it). We’ve barely used the heating all winter.

Cut out all beauty treatments, nights out, reduced haircuts and use colleges not salon.
Reduced food shopping by meal planning getting it delivered so I can easily find the cheapest version of each item. Batch cooking and using the slow cooker.
Use less gas electric and water.
Moved kids to a cheaper version of the hobbies they love.
Less days out, no meals out, less takeaways.
No hope of a holiday abroad (we wanted to save for this when childcare bill reduced this year)
Shorter (less than a week )UK holiday self catering in a caravan park using the free stuff as much as possible.
Spend less on birthdays and Christmas
Only buy clothes if desperate and preferably second hand
Depressing really, now we work to pay for essential stuff and not much else

Reading for tips. it's been an expensive half term thanks to needing 4 new tyres and new brakes - probably won't be able to afford any petrol for it now, especially as my husband's phone also died completely this week.
Found an £8 Tesco clubcard voucher and wondering how far it will go!

I ALWAYS look for a voucher!

We used to ho out once a fortnight, pub, then curry, but that's gone now.

I still stop off at the pub for a fresh pint but I'm more likely in a 'Spoons than a Youngs or Greene King pub these days IYSWIM. And even then only once a month or so.

DD buys her clothes from DePop & Vinted so that saves money. I've only bought a pair of trainers (pay in three) and two jumpers since last summer.

Takeaways at most, once a month, and even then only on special offer. (THANK YOU DOMINOS FOR INTRODUCING A MINIMUM SPEND YOU C).

Mindful of electricity used. I'm late to the party but saving up for a ninja cooker now.

Splitting the cost of a holiday with my parents.

Buying mostly own brand at the supermarket.

Making use of the employee benefits scheme at work.

Using a hospital savings fund that I pay into for my specs & teeth. (Tax free contributions via my pay packet).

I have low travel costs anyway so I don't worry about that.

Shopping around for the best insurance on pretty much everything.

I pay a monthly sub to Vets for Pets to spread the cost of DCat's annual jabs & check ups.

Disney+ is GONE 😭. Sky TV will follow soon.

Entering competitions for free stuff 🤪😂.

I am glad it is not just us. I was just on the holidays thread and I am so depressed at the thought of another summer on a "staycation"
It's so shit,

If anyone lives alone and not on a water meter, check if your water board does a single occupancy discount. I've just found out mine does, it's 50%, and they backdated it for me, so I've ended up with a £10 bill for the whole year!

Another thing re water is that if you are on a meter and someone in your house has disability that mean they use alot of water, look into if your water company can cap the bill, ours offers this

No more bowling

Annual passes to local attractions

Fewer takeaways and restaurant visits

No more Amazon Music.