To ask you what specifics you’re cutting back on

[Bunnyfuller]

The only trickle down I can see from Tory economic policy is lots of people’s incomes dropping. As this recession really grips, the small number benefiting from the tax cuts at the top won’t be enough or spend enough to keep many businesses profitable.

what things have you cut back to help you manage your household finances?

caveat: I 100% realise that there are many people who are already cut back to the bone, and have no further cuts they can make. I think there will be a growing number in this situation as prices continue to rise, and people only spend if they have to.

so us -

we used to go to Waitrose/M and S for occasional treats or stickered items. No more, price increases mean even stickered items are too expensive.

Main shop at Lidl. Stopped going to Sainsbury or Tesco as the quality isn’t much better and it’s too expensive.

Go to Asda for branded items because the fucking cat some want only the original

Haircuts - will get them done 4 months/6 months and I’m not having the colours done any more

Window cleaner - stopped

Restaurants - only on 2 for 1 vouchers, once every 2 months if that. We drink tap water

Takeaways - we make 1 Chinese last at least 2 meals, one takeaway a month from a Saturday night every week.

DIY - we had planned to recarpet upstairs and get wood flooring downstairs. Won’t be happening.

Were going to get garden fences painted (large garden so lots of fences) - not happening

Ditto the door on a cupboard upstairs, the bi-fold doors in the living room and the wall move/2 bathroom revamps

No new clothes, Charity shops/Vinted/eBay etc

No new furniture, as above if needed (recently bought a heated surer to avoid using the drier).

We’re a family of 4, I’m not sure what that takes out of the economy annually. I am conscious of the knock-on effect to hairdressers, Tradies etc. This in turn will force them to spend less…..

Just a consideration for those shopping and looking for quality and good price. I did a poll against Aldi, Tesco and M&S and there were a fair few items that were the same /cheaper in M&S on a regular day (i.e. not stickered). E.g.

• Tonic water (same price or M&S was 2p cheaper)
• Cucumbers - 65p in Aldi, 70p in Tesco, 60p in M&S
• British Apples (generic): £1.10 in Aldi, £1 in Tesco's, £1.05 in M&S.

It really surprised me as I've been really struggling with stock issues with Aldi/Tesco's meaning that I've had to either shop twice in a week or go around to 2-3 different stores for a complete shop.

It's worth doing a comparison to check.

Personally, I've cut down on:

• Hairdressers (I've not had my hair cut /coloured in over a year :-( )
• Take aways. That's a 1x month treat (mainly for the kids)
• "away days". We used to try and do something like a zoo/farm/playpark every other weekend, now it's reduced down and I try to use parks/free playgrounds or activities.

I've also been scouring on Instagram for "local" activities like launch days where they do stuff for kids and could keep them occupied.

I'm not really cutting back on expenditure, but may have to push my retirement back a bit.

Not buying new clothes for myself, I shop and sell on eBay. I like to know the money I’m spending on there is going to someone else who is also struggling too instead of some corporate business. Bf won’t buy used clothing for himself, but as long as it’s good quality and the person before me looked after it I really don’t mind. I have been doing bf’s hair since lockdown. I might have to train him to do mine too at this rate 😂

Buying supermarket own brands with everything, we used to shop in Asda however shopped in Tesco last time to compare prices and as long as you stick with supermarket own brands, the prices are literally the same. So we might shop there now as it’s closer to where we live (less petrol used).

We are not eating out anymore or going on any trips out. Quite depressing really.

Also cutting down on electric use and heating. I have ordered a heated throw so I’m going to use that combined with warm pyjamas instead of turning up the heating.

And not turning lights on as much eg. If I’m in the living room, and need to use the bathroom just using the torch light on my phone instead of turning on the hall light. Like I’m practically living in the dark ages at this point.

My partner and I both work long hours and despite working hard are still really struggling with the rising living costs. So the PMs speech on rewarding hard work is complete bullsh*t.
I think we are heading for an economy crash as no one can really afford to put money back into the economy anymore. And I sincerely doubt the trickle down method is actually going to work 🙄…

If you're comparing products from M&S they aren't necessarily like with like though. I looked at the cucumbers today and they were tiny - less than half the size of the cucumbers available in Morrisons or Sainsbury's. I decided not to bother!

Incidentally, M&S food was absolutely rammed with afternoon - the busiest I've ever seen that particular store so some people don't seem to be cutting back just yet...

Neither DH or I smoke, drink or go out socially or for meals.

We've switched supermarkets recently because it was relatively cheaper than where we shopped previously. We don't have takeaways anymore.

We have two cars but DH works full time, we live rurally with no public transport and I'm at home with DC. We need to be able to get around so cutting that back isn't an option.

Stopped using the oven and just use either the hob, slow cooker or the air fryer.

I've bought clothes recently but that's because I'm pregnant and needed new jeans as I haven't bought clothes really since before covid and I'm in an in-between stage where my jeans are too tight but I'm too small yet for maternity jeans and all my leggings have holes in them.

I haven't had my hair done since July but I don't plan on getting it done until December. I don't do any other beauty treatments...

We're currently running our heating for an hour in the evening as we still have small DC and our house is quite old. We're also in the middle of a plumbing nightmare that's going to cost us nearly 4000 next month (if we don't do it we could have a whole system damaged...) I don't know how much more we can cut back.

Fixed the mortgage on an ok deal (even though it’s not what I wanted in terms of flexibility, at least it’s cheaper short term and I know what it will be each month)

Water butts in the garden, lukewarm short showers twice a week, dw and washing machine on eco cycles only when completely full. Only change the beds and towels once a fortnight instead of weekly, and when it’s sunny, so I can hang them out. Wear everything until it’s actually dirty. Make absolutely sure I wash school uniform on a Friday night so it will be dry for Monday without needing to tumble. Short toilet flushes.

Turn everything off at the socket. Use (previously owned) smart plugs and lightbulbs on Alexa routines to make sure we use minimum electric. Stopped using ‘luxury’ appliances like the breadmaker, mixer, boiler water tap and hairdryer. Put the oven on twice a week and make extra meals and desserts for the other days, where I just reheat things or have soup or beans on toast.

The heating is off, and will stay off until mid-October. I think I’ve kept the DD high enough to not eat into built credit in October and them can eke out the credit I built in summer until April, with the government top up and the lowest cap we not even be too cold. I’ll treat us to 18°C first thing and then put up with 17°C while DD is at school. I go to bed when she does. We have heated throws and smart zoned heating for after school and LOTS of warm layers. I’ve plugged as many draughts as I can and blocked up the stupid chimney vent and the loft hatch with old sofa cushions.

I’ve cut every old direct debit and service I can. Phones are still in contract, but will go to sim only when they run out. Prime is annual, but won’t be renewed. Single Netflix sub and Amazon music for DD. No tv licence. I’ve cut out my audible and news/YouTube subs. Cheapest broadband I could get. Cut my interest group subs. Cut my yoga class and not replaced my running shoes, so do YouTube (with ads) yoga and just walk now. Meet friends for walks and coffee with a flask at county parks or local NT places (NT runs out in March. Can’t bear to think of giving it up, I get so much from it and £6.50 a month. Hardly a saving!) Or have tea and biscuits at home. I do ‘home spas’ with hair cuts, manicures and cheap face masks on Sundays with candles and tinkly music. I’ve cut all toiletries to the cheapest Aldi’s own, except what I’ve still got leftover. Never really been into beauty anyway. Movie night on Saturday with popcorn and no bedtime.

Everything I’m wearing has holes in, has been mended or made by me. Haven’t had new anything for two years. Bit miffed that I haven’t replaced my leaking boots (third year thinking ‘just one more year!’) I buy my petrol at Tesco so I can save vouchers for DD clothes and school uniform. I put out posts on fb for things in her size and buy other things off eBay only when necessary, like her winter coat. I sell the old ones to try and at least partly fund them.

Skipped the car service. (I’ll regret it, I know). I have one tank of petrol to last all month. I mainly go to Aldi and the vets, and one afterschool club. DD gets a free bus and I run my business from home. I try to combine trips as much as possible, and also do a nice, different walk while we are out. I took everything out of the car and do the tyre pressures often to keep the mpg up. I’ve skipped the dentist twice and won’t go for an eye test (although I need bifocals, really). Thankfully, my prescriptions are free.

I’m just not doing house maintenance. The insulation over the bathroom needs topping up, I have fish murals and Dalmatian spots on my bedroom walls! (used to be DDs. She had paint for her room for her birthday) the back fence is practically falling down and if I don’t get the trees topped (or do it myself) they’re going to buckle the paving. The leaking gutter worries me most, though. I can’t afford damp. I’m desperately hoping the boiler will be ok without a service until the spring, too.

I’ve moved shopping to Aldi, except for a very, very few branded things from b and m. I buy no meat or fish, and save what’s in the freezer for Saturday nights. No booze (I have plenty of gin, but I’m not spending on tonic to drink it with). Fortunately, DD loves beans on toast, baked and mashed spuds and pasta, so is super-cheap to feed. I have all-milk coffee and a couple of homemade oat bars for breakfast and usually soup or roasted veggies and bread for dinner. I’ve never been one for lunch anyway. I keep it under £20 a week, including all the household and toiletries. I try to keep it at £19 during term time, so when DD comes with me at half term and on holidays I can give her a treat budget to blow, even if it’s only £3. For Easter and birthdays I found stuff to sell to buy Easter eggs etc. I’m trying not to think about Christmas.

I’m trying to balance my desire to hoard produce with running the extra freezer. I have loads of fruit and veg from the allotment, but there’s no sense in stewing two freezer drawers of free apples if the power to run the freezer is more costly that buying the apples!!! But it feels reassuring to have them there, and apple crumble is DDs favourite.

We have quite a nice community centre that does some funded stuff she can go to. Wish we still had a local library.

I think I’ve cut back on everything possible for me without making myself intolerably miserable. I’m working my arse off trying to pull the business out of it’s hole. I’ve got a temporary job to get us through the winter, and then I’ll have to look at selling off the business and retraining in the spring. I’m not prepared to cut back any more or for any longer. I’m very, very lucky to have options (which is why I try to limit the impact on DD. She didn’t choose to try and ride out the bad business years. I did).

It’s simpler to list things I haven’t cut back. I still buy costs coffee pods for my Tassimo (off eBay, but definitely a luxury) and have a latte every morning. I’ve cut down to one on weekdays and two at weekends, so that’s £25 every six weeks. We each have a bath every Sunday, which costs 50p and is so lovely I could cry. I just finished the last of my balsamic vinegar and Italian olive that I brought back from our last holiday three years ago and I may cave and replace them. It’s not a lot of money for the value it adds to my food.

DD still does singing and piano, has a school lunch on Fridays and buys some snacks at school. She also gets cookies or brownies on Fridays when I have the oven on. I still bake bread rolls and make homemade pizza on Fridays, a (meatless) roast on Sundays with a homemade desert. She has real Pringles as a Friday treat (although I buy a big tube and portion them out). It’s more expensive than buying them, but they are replacing meals which would in turn be more expensive, or are so much nicer it’s worth it. I also make homemade soup, and I try to use homegrown herbs and veggies where possible. I’m really trying to limit the impact on her, although obviously it’s quite a lifestyle change, which is why I’ve kept so much for her.

The biggest non-essential expenditure I’ve kept is the dogs. DD adores them, and I cannot bring myself to surrender them, although I should. Their insurance, food and routine health expenses come to around £300 a month, as one has been very unwell. We have had funding for her treatment, but not for incidentals like bandages, supplements and eye wateringly expensive special diets and running to and from non-local vets practices and so on. We do still go to breed meets for £3 a time and I make then a treat by getting MacDonalds chips from the drive through if I can possibly scare up a couple of quid.
I’m telling myself that they keep up our mental health, are at least something to do, a vanishingly rare shared interest with a tween and are built in hot water bottles, but of course, they are an unnecessary luxury.
They are also family, and I’ll keep them until I have absolutely no choice.

All this has meant we are getting by on about £15k a year, which is quite a drop from £36k pre-covid. I don’t mind about not going out and holidays at all. But the loss of hot baths, a good G&T, home cooked nice meals and a warm house is hitting me very hard! I’m so lucky that I do have the option of selling off the business assets (even though it’s a terrible option, and will mean the business can’t ever earn £36k a year again, it’s a LOT better than no options at all. Hopefully I can work out some sort of hybrid solution where I sell off part of if it, and then work part time while I build it back up, but I may be clutching at straws. God I hope not. I thought I was set for life, and it’s not as though £36k was the lap of privileged luxury. Seems like it now though!!!)

Most of the same on here, shopping at Lidl,my car is going soon,it's a 16 years old astra Estate,so don't think I will get much. Will be sad to see her go. Stopped having my hair coloured during lockdown. DH isn't pension age, but damaged his rotator cuff,and had to stop working. I'm 7 years older,so we've lived on my pension. Have always been carefull, 4 nights away in the past 13 years. We moved, downsized,2 bed bungalow, different area, cheaper. Batch cook,slo cooker. Grow a lot of our own fruit and veg.

We've gone from a take away every friday to once every 2-3 weeks. I was going to get a dog walker for the winter months but have decided to try to juggle some home working so I can walk them myself in the day. Also heating on less and quicker showers and no baths.

I miss baths too. I might have one tomorrow just for a treat.

The main 'luxury' extra I've kept on is my gym membership, which isn't cheap but I have virtually all my showers there and use their towels, toiletries and hairdryers which has to be good for a few pence at least.

I don't smoke, drink or buy takeaways (including coffee or lunch stuff) and only go out a couple of times a month to the cinemaso I balance it out in my head, but I would be so miserable if I couldn't go I don't even want to think about it so I don't consider the cost.

@mamabear715 : no, they are very intuitive, it’s basically a mini oven

The temperature if you are baking things is maybe 10 degrees less than a fan oven, & shorten the time a bit (maybe a quarter): loads of recipes online

I do agree that many ‘money saving’ things are a waste, but for a small household or one where people don’t always eat together I think they save money /fuel

I use mine to do ‘fake a ways’ and also bake small amounts (eg 2-3 scones/cookies, a mini crumble etc) : I find it saves me money vs the oven and takeaways (which I would not buy often) and pre-prepared food (which I would) as it’s such a time saver

Otherwise: saving on clothes/beauty or hair appointments by skipping them, and use a blanket/layers vs having the heating on

I earn decently but my job situation is precarious : have skipped a holiday this year mainly for that reason

I have cut back on my grocery shopping but still use Tesco as they seem to be the cheapest as I have to get it delivered. I am definitely buying less though and not stocking the cupboards as much, although with winter coming I always like to have full cupboards in case of bad weather. The nearest supermarkets are a 40 mile round trip and I would rather work and earn money instead of going shopping (work from home self employed).

I buy my Tassimo Costa Latte pods still, but get them direct from Tassimo when they have 30% discounts on, so can get them for much cheaper. That is one of my luxuries.

I have never spent much on takeaways , eating out, or haircuts anyway, so it is difficult to cut down there. I don't buy makeup , only buy clothes when mine fall apart so can't cut back there either.

We don't have as many days out, or cinema trips etc.

Last winter we used blankets and table lamps so that will continue this year, although I do put the heating on as it doesn't cost me much to run per year (oil).

@BlooberryBiskits Thank you for air fryer details! :-)

@mamabear715 this is the one I have, InstaVortex : my best friend has bought the same, & my mid 70s mum finds it intuitive to use so am buying the sane for her (she bought one from Lidl but couldn’t work out how to use it). This is 5.7l so good for meals for 1-3 people I would say

It’s 30 x 30 cm drawer roughly so it fits : a cake pan (like 1 layer of Victoria sponge) which I use to make 4 scones/cookies, apparently it’s big enough to cook a chicken but I’ve not tried that.

www.argos.co.uk/product/8963857?gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9m3hn_Hrpfmy5vXJBDf6sEbQ&istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=pppmlltqa&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:598-923-9094%7Ccid:16560363003%7Cagid:132885990165%7Ctid:pla-755002203021%7Ccrid:587663764529%7Cnw:u%7Crnd:10954223297142547632%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9046084&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=16560363003&utm_term=8963857&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=132885990165&utm_custom2=598-923-9094&GPDP=true&gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9m3hn_Hrpfmy5vXJBDf6sEbQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1bqZBhDXARIsANTjCPIN13ETK6joTu5SnbyaxNa7EiEzKBn8l5ayVMieHd7wAGvNfFXG5qEaAk4jEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Working hard at not leaving things plugged in unnecessarily. Kitchen/diner has 24 spotlights split into 2 - only have one half on at a given time. Using a standard lamp for lighting rather than usual overhead light. Going 3-4 months between haircuts rather than 8 weeks. No takeaways. Use an air fryer rather than oven. Making sure dishwasher and washing machine are only put on if full. No showers on days just slobbing around the house. Got rid of tumble dryer - using a lakeland dryer but again, only goes on when full (at least two full loads). Bought curtains with thermal lining for kitchen/diner. We also have oodies, thick blankets for watching TV.

Currently only buying fruit and veg so we can use up tins and packets from full cupboards.

@BlooberryBiskits Thank you so much, that's really kind of you!
I was worried about being like your mum & just having a worktop ornament.. ;-)

OP instead of takeaways, I recommend good supermarket ready meals. Even Waitrose will do a massive Indian or Chinese takeaway deal for two people for about £10-12 pounds. Waitrose does generous Indian starters that feed four people for £2.50. Way cheaper and the quality is excellent. I know it means a bit of planning but it is so much cheaper than a takeaway.

One positive to living rural is there are no takeaways, no deliveries as in Deliveroo, Just Eat. Downside is supermarkets are always a drive away.
Few years ago I had someone in to decorate, way too expensive now, I’ve started doing my own but it’s knackering. ( and slow)
Won’t be changing the car, ever.
Buy all my clothes, shoes, boots and household stuff on EBay, Vinted etc anyway as there’s far too much waste in the world.
Food shopping is repetitive and boring.

@Eeksteek
You blocked the chimney vent? That's not a good idea - without the vent, air will condense inside your chimney stack and cause damp and rot leading to expensive repairs. Damp walls will also reduce heat in your home and it will take more energy to heat it.

@Eeksteek Sorry, don't want to sound patronising, sounds as if you and your dd are going through a tough time. But it worries me that all this reduced/non heating, together with people trying to stop ventilation to not freeze, will cause long term maintenance issues and lead to houses that are not healthy/safe to live in.

For anyone who has turned the heating off, please consider heating your homes for 30 mins every other morning as this will save you from repairing damp and mould in the long run. And redecorating.

By all means, turn off some unnecessary radiators and open all the internal doors to let the warm air through the house but if you can, please do. 🙏

I take meter readings each week and since doing the heating 30 mins every other day, usage has only increased by one unit. (4 radiators)

I can't stress the importance of keeping walls dry. Not just for your building but also for your health Xx

I am no longer buying any treats for myself (this was mainly clothes, makeup and alcohol). I am also shopping in supermarkets that don’t have all the tempting extras in like clothes and homeware. I tend to buy something extra if I go to the big Tesco or Sainsbury so I now just avoid them. I don’t feel like I can restrict the heating/electricity too much as I am a single mother and I feel like my kids don’t have much as it is without making their existence miserable by conditions being freezing cold and dark. Obviously things might change when the bills come rolling in.

@Zippedydoo123 you could always SORN your car for a couple of months then if you manage without it you know it can go.

Stopped the cleaner earlier in the year
Not renewed my English Heritage membership
Cancelled Now TV
Not getting the plumber and electrician out that are needed to repair the bathroom (which is failing to pieces) even though that will mean no working bathroom light this winter.
Not repairing puncture in car tyre until it's essential (temporarily stopped using the car until I have no choice)
Walking rather than paying for public transport
Don't go to pubs anyway and rarely eat out, now stopping even having coffee when out
Changed to a cheaper (and further away) gym
Stopped buying milk
Do washing less often
Leaving haircuts as long as possible!

OP to answer your question, yes my DH is starting to see the trickle down effects on his own business now.

He has what has been a successful carpentry business for a decade, but since September he's had so many people cancel on him after he's spent considerable time doing designs and various iterations for them.

The price of wood soared in the pandemic due to its production ceasing for ages, then again with the war in Ukraine, as so much comes from that region. Until just recently most clients were initially surprised at the cost but justified it and went ahead anyway, as they were excited about the results.

We think they're all getting their increased energy bills now and suddenly the idea of a new kitchen or storage unit is having to go on the back burner. It's very worrying.