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…..

If you get off on telling people that you’re just fine then you might want to reflect on things

There was a question, which was answered. If you think an answer you don’t like is “getting off” then maybe it’s you that needs to reflect. It’s not heresy to have a different experience.

Our energy bills haven’t gone up yet as we are on a fix. I’m going to manually pay the £66 back into bill (DD gets reduced) to build up a buffer for next winter as it will go up a lot suddenly. Usual has increased gradually due to WFH.

In preparation for when we actually can’t afford it I’m training the children this winter! Lights off. More clothes on line even on a dull day to blow out before it goes in tumble drier. Eldest learning to hang it out too.

Lights off. Shut doors. Blinds and curtains drawn as it gets dark to keep heat in. Dressing gown/socks - all the typical stuff we did anyway but explaining why now.

Also started using my library service again. Reserving books I like.

Haven't had a takeaway coffee for ages. Prob had one once a fortnight before.

Started to take lunch to office. Used to treat myself as was only weekly or fortnightly. Not now.

Not running hot tap for rinsing or hand washing unless really needed

We aren't cutting anything, just paying what we have to.

I am on maternity leave so have blown through all our savings but I get a full wage in November again from annual leave payments.

We are going to carpet the bedroom, the previous owner sanded all the floorboards of our eduardian house but because of the crisis we feel carpet will keep the room warmer.

But that's really the only thing....so far

It is in the spirit of what OP was asking. She was trying to gauge the knock-on impact down the economic chain. So if a chunk of people are going to be better off (which is true whether you like it or not, lots of people moving jobs over the past year or so plus the people who will benefit from the new policies) then it’s absolutely relevant to hear from them to answer OP’s question because they might be filling the gaps where other people have cut back.

Seems the Tories are focusing only on ensuring their own wealth is secure before leaving the ruins of the country for Labour to pick up after the next election. There is simply no other explanation for Truss’ latest maneuvers to redistribute even more wealth upwards during a massive cost of living crisis.

We're ok financially, in the sense that we don't struggle month to month with bills. But we are on very average incomes and rent so are desperately trying to save for a deposit, have made a couple of offers on houses but seems impossible at the moment so need to keep focusing on saving as we can't stretch ourselves due to higher interest rates...so a cheaper or no house, although we really need to get moving because of our ages so it's a tricky one!
Other than that:
Definitely getting my hair cut a bit less maybe twice rather than 3 times a year and coloured once.
Meal planning and batch cooking much more consciously
Being really careful with heating, have invested in a heated blanket which is working wonders so far. I'm always cold so delighted that we are going to make it to oct before we put the heating on (I know it's not actually that cold I just really feel it!)
Have spent the summer building up a big buffer in my energy account.
Buying clothes less often and mostly from vinted/charity shops although I've always been that way.
Cutting back on present buying, will still buy the same people things but going to try and spend less and on more useful things.
Less trips to pub/meals out/takeaways in general, although am still trying to prioritise doing things socially as due to a lot of health issues I've been v limited over the past few years. So swapping meeting someone for lunch to a walk and a coffee.
Desperately hoping my v v old banger of a car doesn't die in the next couple of years as I really rely on it as my mobility not great at times so it would mean the money would have to come out of aforementioned savings.

We are doing okay, but we have to preserve money for electric & gas bills (like everyone).

The main thing will be heating at gas is more expensive and we have gas heating. We have better insulated our tank and pipes in hope this helps. Hot water bottles for beds and electric throw for Wfh.

Meals out. I cancelled a meal with family next weekend as we can't justify £120 bill quite frankly. I was due to stay with some uni friends next month and get a hotel, which is already a luxury I never do, but I'm travelling there and back in a day now and not staying over.

Food wise I can't get to grips with it. Weekly
Food shop is £100 main shop plus £40 top up. It doesn't matter where or how we shop it's eye watering. Take aways maybe once a month at best.

Clothes are now coming more and more from eBay too. Particularly for the kids where they seem to grow out of things every 5 minutes. For me I will just cut right back to one item per month

But the main thing is random spend. The bits on Amazon, that coffee when I am out, things I've seen online I feel I must have. Those bits all add up and they have stopped

Heating is going to stay off for as long as possible. There's little else to cut back on, I already cut back when I lost my job in lockdown 1 and never started things up again.

-We have not turned the heating on and TBH we would have had it on by now. Just tonight it was cold downstairs so we came to bed instead of staying up.
-no takeaways since summer.
-not using the tumble dryer unless totally absolutely necessary.
-I usually give the DC shoes and clothes away to other families but I’ve started selling their stuff on vinted.
-bought DC 2nd hand winter boots today online too. Never done that before (happy to buy 2nd hand shoes for myself).
-cancelled my monthly bus pass. I just walk now.
-cancelled the new flooring.
-cancelled the decorating.
-cut the cleaners hours in half - this was the hardest. I felt really awful doing it.
-turning everything off when we aren’t using it.

Carry on shopping at Aldi, trying to avoid top up shops and only shop for what we really need (for some reason our fridge and freezer always looks packed, we need to run it down so we can waste less and really know what we have to eat/use up).
Use library/Borrow Box for books, don't buy any new unless with amazon voucher I've earned from playing phone games.
Always use cashback sites when ordering online.
Trying to cut back on my fizzy drink addiction.
Hardly use tumble dryer, still hang outside on on our airer.
Not buying different cleaning products. Bleach or washing up liquid seems to do the job every time.
I don't dye my hair anymore.
We usually go away 3-4 times a year, next year will be 1-2 and one of those will be camping.
We wanted to renovate our garden, not happening.
No new clothes, using Vinted or Charity shops.
Will hold off with the heating as long as we can, I have an oodie and we all have blankets.
Not eating out unless it is with a Tesco voucher.
No takeaways.
We will have to be stricter with our Xmas/bday budgets.
I've started saying no to meals out with friends, suggesting I cook for them or we go for a coffee instead.
We had bought coldplay tickets on a whim, I'm selling them as I want my daughter to go on a residential trip (her first in 5 years as she missed out with Covid etc).

@sobercuriouskind can I have your Coldplay tickets?! (misses point of own thread).

That made me laugh. But sure, PM me. I bought them for a stupid price and will be selling them for a stupid price.

Sorry, it’s a gas fire vent, not a real chimney. And it’s been disconnected. Not stopping ventilation, just draughts, don’t worry! The house is new enough to be quite dry and there’s enough coming and going to keep plenty of air exchanging. Nobody’s sitting room needs a five inch hole in it! (Especially if they have a stupid fancy radiator that is very shiny, but doesn’t actually radiate! That’s first on the list to change when things improve!)

We have only had one day when the temperature dropped below 18°C so far. It was cold, but it’s increased again nicely. I’ve no idea what the heating cost will be. I’ve never really paid any attention. My electric is about £50 a month, and my dual fuel DD is £99. I’ve used practically no gas all summer, and last year the DD was 20% too high anyway. I’m very much hoping that with the £200 credit I’ve built, the cut backs I’ve made, the new cap and the government help I won’t need to pay any extra. If I can keep the gas below £50 in October and March, I can use the £200 credit and the £50 government can so I can spend £150 on gas (and electric increases) Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb. I’d rather cut back hard now and ease off later if it’s overkill. It sounds like a massive amount, more than double what I paid last year, so let’s hope I’m being over zealous!

@CheesesandWines

Please can you explain your comment. I am on another forum and lots of people really rate them on there.

It’s so depressing people are posting grim tips to fuel the filth in power, and pour money in to their accounts, when the actual point is missed. No one cares enough (yet) to be taking actual action -which would be censored if I typed it. Decline the brutalities being offered by the filth, don’t roll over and accept swathes dying/stinking, starving misery to fund their lifestyle.

Not a blessed thing Thank God, we are both fairly low maintenance anyway, but have fairly recently retired on a decent final salary plus (two tiny crap ones) and a state pension, in addition we have a very decent pot on deposit for the next five years. Sadly I am about to inherit about £150,000 some of which will go on the house and the bulk of it will also go on deposit, so all told we are not cutting back on anything. We spent years and years struggling so I will enjoy this fluidity, but I have to say I would rather have my mother than the inheritance.

We are very mindful of how fortunate we are and have massively increased our DD to the foodbank.

I haven't RTFT yet but mine isn't a basket one, it's like a tiny oven with shelves
My dad prodded it, said hmmm a lot and then bought the same one
It's excellent for tiny stuff like garlic bread, a part baked roll, stuff you don't want to put the whole oven on for. I did chicken kebabs in it tonight and use it for hash browns, chips, beige food a lot
My dad does more in his, he says salmon is v good in it. It's basically a mini oven and his place is all electric, he said the bills are noticeably cheaper
No need to pre heat either

The one thing I'm not giving up is a peloton membership. Which sounds ridiculous, but it's £40 a month for all my exercise stuff so equivalent to the local gym. I use it every single day even for just a quick 10 min yoga or meditation and it's my sanity!

Definitely shopping around more for food, bought a merino wool gilet half price for around the house. Thought it's handy for when I want to be warm but a dressing gown/hoodie gets in the way
Being more cautious with hot water, so washing hands in cold, shower are short anyway

Our main shop is now at Aldi, although there are are certain items we can't get there that we still get at Waitrose of Sainsbury. A regular wine that we got at Sainsbury was £12 but an Aldi one that we like more is £5.99! Making sure we make the most of cheap rate electricity so car charging/dishwasher/washing machine loads on at night where possible.
Buying lots of a product when they're on offer, like a particular mayonnaise we like and the Method cleaning products which are 1/3 off every so often. Also recommend checking your direct debits for unforgotten subscriptions - I found several things no one uses any mods, such as TV packages. Now we're only allowing two at a time out of Netflix/DisneyPlus/AmazonPrime.

Everyone should really try keeping something that makes them happy, the road ahead is going to be tough, life has been tough going for a few years now.

A little luxury will keep us sane.

Was already doing most of this. Lidl only supermarket close so that's where we shop, not had a haircut since 2018, clothes always second, hand apart from school uniform which I've just had to buy new (reception year) as small school and couldn't find second hand available. Although I now know I can get it from the school. Not had a TV licence for over 10 years, but do have Netflix. Never buy make up/beauty/nail products. Christmas i save for throughout year so should be ok, never been extravagant anyway

What is actually changing:
Oven gone - was rented so double saving
Have one 20 year old car which won't be replaced when it dies
No takeaways - I hardly ever had them anyway but DP did
Will definitely be more mindful with heating. We live in a small overcrowded house (although poor insulation), so hopefully we'll manage with minimal heat. Some will be needed to dry washing.
Weekend bottle of wine for me.

Things that hopefully we'll keep:
Decent coffee for filter machine
Occasional evening out with the girls for me (for mental health)
Hobby for DP (for mental health)
Holiday once a year - only cheap uk but helps to have something to look forward too.

DC gets free school dinner because of his age so am taking advantage of that and doesn't yet do any after school activities. Also have an adult child who works and contributes living at home which helps

I have been dirt poor in the past and although I'm not a high earner now I'm still better off than I have been before so I'm grateful for that

Oh and forgot - a big one for me. No more buying lunch at work. I have ADHD and often can't organise myself enough to make lunch so used to just buy it, added up to a fair bit. Now I keep staples at work and use them if I forget - porridge, soup etc

Charity shop clothes as far as possible - though I've always done this from an eco point. New I've always bought ethical brands but now I can't afford that it's as responsibly sourced cotton/natural fibres I can find in supermarkets.

No meat. I've always leaned mostly vegetarian but a tin of Asda smart-price chickpeas makes a curry way cheaper then chicken 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Driving slower and eeking out the extra MPG from my car. Gently driving gets me 10 MPG more and outside of rush hour sitting in the slow lane at 55 rather than 70 gets me get more. Also fixed a part on the car myself using YouTube as a guide.

Not upgrading my 4 year old iPhone - it still works but normally I keep a phone 3-4 years then update. Ditto not upgrading my PC.

We were already fairly frugal. I have a low income and stuff so limited gains can be made really.

So far we have cut back on tv subscriptions. Dh will have to go to a warm pub to watch sports instead, means I can get peace at home.
A few other subscriptions have gone too. Waste of money.
My db just realise my dm was paying £60 a month for boiler break down cover, so he cancelled that. I’m shocked she paid so much.

Would it not be better financially to get a small, economic to run & tax car? Public transport might be better for the environment, but the cost soon adds up!

I shop online with Tesco, I think it's the best way to keep an eye on the prices & how much it's adding up. (It's not actually why I choose to do it, but they are added benefits)

I went into both lidl & Aldi the other day to get a couple of particular things (one was a hand wash I liked at a friends house) and noticed the prices of things had crept up to the same prices I pay at Tesco (some of that is Tesco price matching Aldi) and I find the fresh stuff lasts longer from Tesco (and some was cheaper, some was more expensive). So I think people need to be aware that neither shop (Aldi or lidl) are as cheap, comparatively as they used to be. (Fun in the middle aisle though!! But not helpful if you're trying to save money!!)