If you were already frugal how are you coping?

[fateisdestined2025]

like already brought own branded products. Used less washing powder. Ate at home. No takeouts. No holidays. Free leisure. What else do you do now?have you increase your income or found more frugal ways…

Tbvh nothing ive changed nothing.

Turning plugs off that are not being used. Laundry and dishwasher after 10pm where possible. Have been selling stuff on Vinted this year.

Getting further into debt mostly

@NOresponsibilityso is your lifestyle pretty much the same on the same income?

@OrangeZebraStripesi need to do this with the switches. Does you electricity provider charge less after 10pm?

also how much do you sell items for on Vinted?

@naematesi see so many people including myself in debt over these past 2-3 years.

I limit the number of times we use the shower and bath. I boil the kettle once a day and fill a huge thermos flask with the hot water and use that through out the day. We bulk cook meals and either make them vegetarian or the ratio of meat is hugely reduces. I bought a catering pot that's 10L, so I might make 6 litres of 3 bean chilli and freeze in tubs. Or make a 6L spag bol, only using 1 tray of mince and bulking out with carrots, celery, mushroom, onion, pepper, tomatoes, anything. We don't use the heating unless absolutely necessary, we all have thick fluffy socks and dressing gowns. I got rid of the clothes dryer. We use a huge airer outside and a clothes horse inside. Air fry when possible rather than putting the oven on. I don't get my nails done, just polish at home. Hairdresser visits reduced.
Honestly there are probably a million ways to cut back on cost.
I also have about 10 bank accounts and I split the money up, so 1 account for shopping, 1 for bills, 1 for clothing fund, 1 for special occasions, 1 for saving etc. Every month I put a small amount in each account, so if a birthday pops up I use the special occasion money. Which also increases slowly over time meaning christmas doesn't eat into all of our nov/Dec pay because I've been saving a little at a time. Same as the clothing fund, if kids need shoes, not a problem, but on a whole it just saves itself up every month and that's the uniforms paid for in the 6 weeks.

Unfortunately the only way is to budget very carefully at beginning of month work out to the pound what money you have for what . You also need annual budget so each month you set aside money for Christmas birthdays including postage any insurance that is annual not monthly if you have a car money for tax MOT maintenance clothes haircuts makeup divide total by 12 and put that in a separate account to main bank account. Be precise food budget £40 per week toiletries and cleaning supplies £20 per month, transport etc if when you add all this up including utilities it is less than income decide to add it to savings and put it away on payday to build emergency fund. If outgoings exceed income you have to cut things out or increase income with second job better job which I know isn't easy.
Unfortunately to be realistic you can't just go deeper into debt there are only 2 choices increase income or decrease expenditure Good luck

We're pretty careful and have a very simple lifestyle. The only thing we could cut back on was not buying meat as it's so expensive now. Can't afford salmon either. I just eat eggs and some cheese for protein. I don't get my hair cut very often either. I used to have short hair, but it's a longer bob now, so far fewer cuts.

I refuse to put the cats onto crappy cat food as the decent stuff maintains their good health and all three need a particular diet type due to cystitis and one with a gut allergy/intolerance. I go without to make sure they're okay.

We've always been quite frugal/not materialistic

We don't spend much on things we don't need. If we want something, we tend to wait a week or two before buying to see if we still want it. Often buy second hand from vinted, charity shops, car boot sales for most things.

Washing machine/dishwasher overnight. Dry clothes on the line or on radiators/clothes horse. Stopped using tumble dryer.

Share TV subscriptions with family members.

Free exercise at home, no gym

Use credit card for everything for the points, but pay it off in full every month. Save for big things rather than taking out a loan. Avoid debt that comes with interest payments.

Meal plan and batch cook. Reduce processed food like ready meals or packaged snacks. Cook from scratch. Fruit, toast, and nuts are snacks. Eat cheaper cuts of meat eg chicken thighs, not chicken breast. Stretch mince out with chopped vegetables.

Few haircuts. I trim DDs and learnt how to cut DHs. I get mine done every 6 months

We don't get suckered into expensive self care.

DH got a promotion, I'm looking for a second job

Sell unwanted stuff on vinted

Started saving in stocks and shares isa, to build emergency fund to avoid future debt

Yep.