To be worried we are £75 a week worse off. Tips on being frugal please

[balenciaga]

Something has recently changed in our household which means we are now worse off by £75 a week

I'm gutted as tbh I had got far too used to not worrying about money, buying treats, going for lunches etc. we even occasionally had a cleaner. I realise this sounds spoilt of me as we are not going to be on the breadline as such just a bit tight. 75 a week will seem a lot of money to some and a little to others I realise, but to us it's going to make a big difference in our quality of life

For example I've put off meeting a friend today as she wanted to go for lunch and tbh I couldn't even justify putting petrol in the car to go meet her never mind lunch out as well. But this time last week wouldn't have thought twice

Anyway am posting as hoping for some money saving tips and general advice on just living a bit more frugally ... I'm going back to work which will help a bit but not til September

Aldi's a good place to start. The quality of food is very good and much cheaper. Also, doyou plan your meals and weekly shop?

Hi op, I think first sit down and do a breakdown of where and what your money currently is spent on. You can then identify those areas where you can make changes. Food is a good Area to cut back on, do you do a weekly shop according to planned meals ? I find this works better than popping to the shops every other day and just buying unnecessary items.

Come and join us on the Credit Crunch forum. Look for the Miserly May thread.

Do you have children?

I agree with shopping at aldi....worth it for their fruit and veg on offer each week.....you can get a recipe from their site which uses them too. I also use the bbc good food site (they have a favourite recipe of the day) and just substitute veg using the aldi offer ones. So still eat fresh, seasonal veg but cheaper! Buy fruit in tins to bulk out fresh fruit as well. I think aldi is also good because they just don't have as much choice so you get used to substituting recipes with simpler ingredients.......for example, using cream cheese rather than ricotta in recipes.

Also when our income dropped we made a list of the things we liked to do but could no longer afford to do and substituted with the free version.....so lunch out becomes picnic or special meal at home, play a board game, go out for a drink becomes buy a cheap bottle of cava.....so you still feel like you're getting a treat!

Get rid of anything you don't essentially need.....tv packages, magazine subscriptions, get books from the library etc.

Also cutting back on things like water usage if you're on a meter, gas and electricity can make a massive difference.

I also rarely use the car.....and I don't mind saying to friends can't go some places as staying local. If we go anywhere we take flasks of coffee and snacks/ picnics......think some friends think we are massively boring but to be honest we are much happier.....means we can still afford to buy new shoes if we need them or taking our kids swimming!

Yep def switch to Aldi - I have and I reckon we are saving at least £50 per week (family of 3).

Do you have a reasonably priced butcher near where you live? We have one in Oxford that is brilliant, we can stock up the freezer for a month for about £50 and it's all really good quality stuff (there's 3 adults in our household). Also, if you enjoy a tipple, you can buy wine making kits that make 30 bottles of reasonable cab sav for £22 (plus 4kg sugar) - maybe not important things, but if a bottle of wine is something you like occasionally, it's a really cheap way of doing it.
Also, don't purchase books, use your local library. Make your own pasta/noodles (a little time consuming to begin with, but once you get the hang of it, not too long at all).
When you're cooking meals, make slightly more than you need, the extra can be used for lunches in the week. Buy a slightly bigger piece of meat for Sunday dinner and you'll be able to use the leftovers in meals in the week - often we find the meals made with the leftovers are better than the roast itself!
Of course, if you're not meat eaters, this may be totally irrelevant to you!!! But, it's all stuff that's made us a lot better off....

You could do worse than having a gander over on the "Old Style" part of the MoneySavingExpert forum.

Loads of handy tips on how to run a household on a shoestring plus the Grocery Challenge thread on there.

As you said, you won't be on the breadline so it's probably just a few changes in priorities, deferring some fun for a few months or finding different kinds of it.

Cheap-Family-Recipes site is handy for really inexpensive recipe ideas as is the GirlCalledJack one.

The biggest help to you is likely to be a change in attitude, so try to see this as a fun challenge rather than a misfortune or a handicap.

There's one upside and that's the time of year, so no need to have expensive central heating on all day!

I think if you write out a list of all outgoings you will find a few savings:
Travel - like you say non essential petrol
Household - could you switch energy suppliers, phone/broadband package, insurances? Bulk buy - batch cook, Aldi do nice wine, hang out washing instead of dryer etc.
Personal - reduce clothing spends, use perfume more sparingly, stretch hair cut/colour another few weeks or colour at home (I have never tried this!), have waxing done every 5 weeks instead of 4 etc.

Little changes do add up.

Thank you some brill ideas

We have 3 dc btw to the person who asked

It's been really hard to deal with psychologically as have been skint all my bloody life. I was always looking at other people enviously cos I never had anything. but last couple of years we've done ok for ourselves and I actually had started feeling proud, like we'd achieved something, like finally we had the sort of life we've worked for ...then overnight it all changes

Ah well we aren't the only ones struggling are we, god knows people have worse problems

Kingfishers - it's £75 a week so £300 a month.

I'd find that pretty tough as well, OP, so really feel for you. Like others have suggested, make a budget and get rid of non essential things. I recently switched to doing what I can shopping-wise at Lidl and getting the other bits at Tesco. Probably save about £20 a week compared to what I was spending.

Thanks for the messages and for being so kind

Was expecting an arse kicking for being spoilt tbh

We already shop at aldi although used to "top up" at Sainsburys which I think will have to stop now and just try and get everything at aldi

Definitely Won't be having a cleaner again sadly :( although on the plus side as I'll be doing all the cleaning at least it will keep me fit as can't afford the classes I used to do now (pole fitness and Pilates)

I'm going to walk the dc to school every day as well to save petrol which will also help re the above

And we have now taken the sky subscription down to bare minimum, have also cancelled a couple of other things we can do without

Planning helps. Have a list of everything you would buy presents for (birthdays, anniversaries, end of term teacher gifts etc) and buy them in advance.

Plan your meals in advance and bulk buy things like pasta.

If you get paid monthly, pay each month's expenditure - credit cards, storecards, insurance etc - on that day rather than waiting until it's due (or at least ensure know you've earmarked that money and won't touch it). Then you know how much you have to spend freely in the month on non-essentials and can do so without worry.

If you can, pay some bills annually rather than monthly. You don't save much but I think it helps with planning and "feeling" that your monthly bills are less. it's only recently I have been able to do this though so completely understand not everyone is able to do this. Also negotiate everything before renewing.

There are basic butter cake or sponge cake recipes that work out at less than a couple of quid - master those and meet friends for coffee at your house or theirs.

Make friends with your freezer - so much stuff can be frozen rather than wasted. Rummage through the reduced fridge in Tesco/Asda - most stuff can be frozen. Pick up odd bits of fish there and save them up to make a fish pie.

Shop ahead of season for clothes - I've already bought winter coats for the kids as they were being sold off dirt cheap a month ago.

Personally I think clothing from the likes of Asda/Primark is a false economy - one wash and it's out of shape. You can buy three packs of t-shirts from next that keep their shape even after tumble drying. Gap outlet is also a haven for bargain hunting - you can buy online if there isn't one near you. Last year I bought coats, hoodies, jeans, shorts, tshirts for my two kids and it come to less than 70 - I literally struggled to carry the bags I had so much stuff!

Groupon can be good for meals out and entry to visitor attractions.

If you pay childcare, ask your employer about childcare vouchers.

Sell stuff - music magpie, envirofone etc are good for this.

I've been there OP, I've struggled and even though I earn a comfortable amount now, I'm terrified of being back in that place of gut-wrenching terror when an unexpected expense crops up so I'm still as frugal as ever! Good luck.

Try eating cold instead of cooking every time - cheese, smoked salmon, salads, nuts - save elec/gas.

Cool showers - lovely in hot weather.

Try vegetarian cooking with herbs & spices - make lots - tastes even better 2nd day.

I always make sure we include a "cheap meal" once a week. I happened to recently plan in several one week (just incidentally - not for any reason) - it made an enormous difference to the shipping bill (we've already moved toLidl).

Our cheap meals include fritatta, spaghetti puttanesca, quorn chilli and sausage casserole. Compared to meals with more meat.

Soya mince instead of beef, just soak in hot beef stock to expand and add a tea spoon of marmite. 1/4 to 1/5th the price. And very low fat, high protein and fibre.

You are not spoilt at all. Is hard to be used to having a few pound and then it's gone

Little things I do- visit coffee shops but just have a black coffee. I feel I am getting the experience without paying for sandwich etc

Use the library

Don't be afraid of charity shops. I got a brand new children's canopy for three quid, new tummy time pillow from mamas and papas. Lovely baby toys. Grobag, perfect !!!

In terms of lower cost clothes I'd avoid Primark .. Tesco are the best for low price yet quality for children's and mine (though I do buy more expensive stuff like Hobbs in sale and lasts years eg black dress)

Have a night of pasta and pesto with slice garlic break one night a week

Cook big batches of mince and bulk with aldi six veg

Boots nappies are fanastic and 3 for 2!

Bake

I colour my own hair and stretch visits

Oh yes ... Cut down on cleaning products - bleach, washing up liquid and cloth can do most jobs.

You can use less detergent each wash also

We don't have the best income but have quite a nice bit of spending money nowadays but we are really frugal to be this way, it's a bit boring sometimes and annoying but we are used to it now.

Switch suppliers, we switch every year to be honest as once that year is over with electric it's always better off us leaving. Do you have economy 7? I now put everything on timer. I only wash clothes, tumble dry and turn the immersion on during the off peak hours, it's saved us loads! I actually took the meter reading once we started using it and compared what we were using when we weren't being careful and it honestly makes so much difference.
Meal plan. We never stick to brands with food, just literally log on tesco and straight off to the "special offers" section. Have had to try and test value brands, some are good (tesco value juices, the biscuits, some of the fruit) some not so good (avoid the crumpets, urgh!)
We don't buy household or beauty bits from the supermarkets. Once a month we go somewhere like home bargains and buy the huge packs of daz/lenor/deodrants/toothpaste for the month as it's cheaper that way.
I'm ditching the mobile contract, tbh, I am happy with my s3, and i'm not bothered about the latest mobiles anymore so i've cut my contract bill from £40 to £10 and dp will do the same when his contract is up so that's a saving of £60 a month.
If we have a take away the rule is never without coupons! Dominos is so dear but one of our favourites so we only ever buy when we have the coupons so we generally get £40 worth of it for £15 and it extends into a lunch for the next day!
We don't go out tons to be honest but again if we do, we use coupons or stick to cheap pubs like the hungry horse (especially the kids eat for a £1 day) or go to Frankie and Benny's as I get a good discount in there due to the union i'm with at work.
We have an old car (early 90's red) cheap to run, small engine size so smaller tax bill, classic car insurance so cheap as chips to insure to.
If we ever do a day at the zoo or something never buy from the stupid cafes there. If we have been a bit disorganized the most we do is stop off at a supermarket and get a meal deal each (£3 each) but we have a cool bag now and cool boxes and pack lunch and a blanket to sit and eat.
If we fancy alcohol again we don't go to pubs, don't stick to brands, we just get whatever is on offer and invite friends over rather than go out and pay ridiculous prices for drinks. A double vodka is ike nearly 4 quid well if we have friends round and split the cost of a litre bottle of vodka it works out about a fiver each but lasts us all night!
Clothes wise we use buy sell groups or go to Primark, H&M, budget places. The only thing we don't budge on is shoes as we are out and about a lot so it's not worth us investing in cheapy shoes.
We start buying for christmas from september.
Haircuts. DP and ds cut their own hair with clippers, I trim my own and colour my own to.

I think that's it!

Stop going to hairdressers, nail bars etc.
I bought rails to dry my washing on, washing on hangers and on rails near radiators in winter, outside in summer. It means no tumble dryer and little ironing.
Plan menus.
Look for free days out. Play board games as a family, use the sales to buy clothes for dcs.
Do not buy any clothes/shoes for yourself and dh unless essential.
Save loyalty points for days out.
Have a holiday at home and play tourist in your area. Its amazing what you find on your doorstep.

Grow your own herbs on the window sill - if you have a garden grow vegetables as well.

Make your own pizzas - delicious.

Do you make curries? Buy bulk type quantities of rice & make lentil curry, chickpea curry, veg curry - quick & easy & delicious.

Change to a less expensive hairdresser - I did, and i prefer the way the new one styles my hair!

Or have a trainee cut your hair for free - slight risk of course!

You can still go out for lunches, coffees, even days out, just plan them! Wetherspoons does a good range of cheap food & drink, you could probably have a 2-course meal & a glass of wine for less than a tenner. Or use Tesco/Nectar points for places like Cafe Rouge, Pizza Express. For coffees, make sure you collect the free stamps/loyalty points each time, you will soon find you have a free coffee. McDonald's actually do a surprisingly nice black coffee & every 9th (I think?) is free.

For grocery shopping, find out when your local supermarket reduces food at its best before date & try to shop then. You can get great bargains on fresh food. For example, tonight DH & I are eating rump steak with herb butter (60p for 2 steaks), with King Edward potato wedges (38p for the bag of potatoes) & broccoli (20p) & I am currently enjoying a beautiful vanilla cupcake from the bakery (15p for 2). I get all sorts of meat, fish, fruit, veg & bakery items, these are just examples.

If you have DC, train them to enjoy the very cheap or free things - parks, painting, baking, a bus ride, films you have recorded from the TV etc

As somebody else said, embrace charity shops, car boot sales, gumtree etc - anything secondhand really! My 3 DSes only have new clothes & toys as gifts, the rest are secondhand & they couldn't be happier. Our latest bargain was a Thomas the Tank Engine shaped carry case, complete with about 20 trains & carriages for £10. With 3 small boys, I anticipate it being used non-stop

Forogoto to say - check Groupon for any days out, meals etc. I am going to buy a deal with a friend for afternoon tea & cocktails for 2 for £30 in Central London & we have taken DC to a farm park near us for £9 for the whole family!

Google 'frugal blogs' there are loads of people in your position (and worse) and lots of great tips and advice.