Economising/ spending less. Am I missing something?

[eggplant16]

I am aged 66 on a limited budget. Trying very hard not to do random " small shops", don't smoke, drink wine at home, don't have expensive hobbies.
Am I missing something? I've tried food schemes but ended up with things I don't like or the wrong quantity. Thanks for any ideas.

Do you meal plan? I find that way I don't do as many of those random top up shops

Go through all your outgoings for any missed direct debits or standing orders for subscriptions you don't need

Meal planning is the most efficient way to save money so you don't buy random crap. Batch cook and freeze.

Check all your insurances and utilities, can you find it cheaper by shopping around?

Thanks, have canceled 2 subscriptions. I think fuel is reasonable,£130 for an old, cold,house.
I think the food is a culprit and coffees out and so on.

Do you mean coffees out like a Costa coffee often when out/on the go or do you mean coffees out as a way of socialising and seeing friends? If the former that's something you could cut, if the latter it is something to be mindful of or budget better for. Socialising is important for fun and for wellbeing. Coffee just because you're out is less important and can be swapped for a coffee at home.

Not the on the go coffees, Thanks

Coffee machines at home can save you a lot of money and produce good coffee.

A lot of people these days make coffee at home and put it in a flask for when they are out.

Hear me out ……. If you live close to a Waitrose get one of their loyalty cards (and your own cup) and buy something there, scan your card and you’ve got a free coffee. There’s no minimum spend so it could be something like 1 banana or even 1 mushroom.

I do have a card! They have newspapers too! I like their produce, absolutely nothing wasted.

Sign up to cashback sites eg Top Cashback for online purchases and Airtime rewards for debit card spends in store/online

Switch to sim only on your mobile when the contract is up

Review all bills and shop around once out of contract, do this regularly before the end of every contract. Check your on the cheapest tariffs for utilities.

Cancel any subscriptions that aren’t essential

Find cheap/free days out

Reduce food bill by bulking out meals with beans/pulses and use less meat and fish

Check if you’re entitled to any benefits - entitled to/citizens advice/gov . uk

Could you consider downsizing?

Thank You, I do bulk out meals and tbh we aren't big eaters. I have more or less abandoned eating out as its expensive and never anything special. I find it harder in winter when I go a bit stir crazy.
I have canceled subsriptions.
I have made many errors in the past which lead me here. Wobbly MH hasn't helped.
We could down size, can't get my head aroung it at the moment. Thanks

Cancelling any non-essential subscriptions was key for me. So many things are subscription-based now, it's insane. I'm a hobbyist photographer and found out I was spending loads on Adobe subscriptions, while not really using them that frequent. Switched to Photoworks for photo editing and Clipify for videos, which are a lifetime license and free item respectively.
Also free days out are a great advice, you can explore the city or nearby places and pay for the bus ticket only, and that would still be a great way to plan a small getaway.

Just binned off another silly subscription.

I think there's no point scrimping on a few pounds if you are heating and maintaining a space that's too big for you. It's literally money down the drain.

I think meal planning and batch cooking can be big money savers. Some other savings are less significant, but they add up:

• Shopping at Aldi/Lidl will probably mean you save because there is less to buy as well as prices tending to be lower. Avoid middle aisle though!
• Stale bread easily makes breadcrumbs and croutons. Home made soups are money savers. Focaccia or flat breads are easy to make at home, and if you make batches, you can freeze them in portions.
• Grow herbs in garden or in pots. Even supermarket plants can be divided and repotted to keep them going for months.
• Only wash full loads and dry on line or airer rather than tumble drier. Or at least to reduce drying time. A dehumidifier may help to reduce drying times and heating costs in an old house.
• Air fryers are cheaper to run than electric ovens if you have one especially for small quantities or for reheating.

Yes, will consider downsizing but not at the moment. Not well enough.

Thanks, I agree. Its the silly top up shops, they have to stop.
The dopamine hit from buying stuff.

I am Queen of the outdoor washing line, even in winter.

Meal planning, yellow stickers and space in the freezer are the 3 keys. You can get lots of inspiration from other fora too, try the money saving expert forum.
I really enjoy meal planning, it’s made me enjoy cooking a lot more too, and taken away that ‘can’t be bothered’ feeling that used to result in expensive takeaways. I only eat out now when I’m away from home.
I started with a desire to reduce food waste, and have more of my money to spend on the fun stuff. It doesn’t matter how you start though. My food bill is a fraction of other people’s and I don’t waste anything.

I think there is something to be said for not scrimping too much on your (one only!) weekly shop. Buy enough that you don’t need a top up shop. Buy the treats so that you don’t feel deprived and go off the rails. Buy the emergency freezer pizza or spring rolls so you avoid the lure of a take away. Freeze some milk and bread (or get a bread machine).

Make a meal plan and keep close tabs on your inventory (cupboards, fridge, freezer). Grow some food, forage (blackberries etc), look out for bargains you can store yourself (meat after Christmas, marked down fruit and veg in season, tree fruit offered for free).

Good advice about the freezer pizza and spring rolls @MrsBobtonTrent I like a bag of prawn crackers and some spicy noodles.

Try olio for free stuff from supermarkets and individuals (if you have time). I will go to different supermarkets in the evening but I don’t have time to go picking up stuff from olio. It’s good if you can.