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…..

House renovations but no Christmas presents for your kids. I just couldn't do this.

@Confusedteacher

Cancelled the cleaner. Yes I know this was a luxury anyway, but we both work full time and have 5 kids between us!

you're not thinking straight!!

get the cleaner back!! Rehome the kids!!

True. I only need the car if going somewhere out of my way really. Or right now to job interviews for 17 yr old ds lol. Once he works his contribution may help though I won't charge him much....

I'll have to ring the mortgage company tomorrow morning 😧and see if I can fix our monthly payments.

We also took out a large loan during the good times to pay for the refurbishment of our flat...and now I just want it gone.

I've always taken lunch to work because I'm too lazy to walk to the local caff or supermarket and we only get a 30 minute break anyway. There is Deliveroo (other food delivery companies are in existence) but by the time you've paid all there charges you are paying a small fortune.

I work for Transport for London and a perk is free travel on its services (except the Uberboat and cable-car) so I barely pay anything in transport costs. I also ride a bicycle.

I'm so glad I have seen this post, we really need to cut down on so much and save wherever we can, as my husband has recently become disabled following a work accident. I need all the tips I can get.

Advantages of saving money!

Getting exercise. Walk, use public transport and bike. Gave up car.

C4 & YouTube are free. Gave up TV and netflix. Watch TV on phone.

Long hair looks nice and offers weather protection. Can trim long hair myself, bought hair scissors.

Gave up alcohol and cigarettes, replaced it with yoga. A process, but worth it!

I can still try new foods in a bakery or deli. Gave up restaurants. Still have some al fresco hot drinks and pastries out. Food is life!

Saved money from, a no-buy for clothes, for a couple of months in summer. Will try again till Christmas. Focusing on short-term achievable goals.

Tinting my eyebrows myself.
Weekly take away is now monthly.
No big birthday parties for kids
Not eating out

Food - Mostly trying to be more organised so that I don't buy something twice, or drop into the corner shop for overpriced bits and pieces. Taking advantage of special offers with online shopping. Moving from less meat to more pulses.

DH harvesting tomatoes, apples, potatoes, peppers atm which helps enormously. Blackberries from hedgerows.

House - needs much repair and maintenance. We're diy-ing with whatever is in the garage/shed and only calling in the experts if absolutely necessary.

Keeping window-cleaner and bin-cleaner unless it becomes impossible. We can't do these ourselves.

Heating - In a very rainy and cold part of UK, with temps already in single figures from time to time. On when it drops to 11c for two hours max daily. Kids wear body warmers in house. Using old styrofoam packing to plug draughts eg through attic hatch.

Transport - DS cannot yet walk or bus to school, and I still drop-off and collect. He should manage better in the spring. Keeping our vehicles until they are beyond repair, then bus passes and very short walks.

At the same time, thinking of changes we can make to get house and garden more low maintenance for our future. We need much more insulation, kitchen ceiling is bending inwards from wonky roof, electrics and plumbing are due a massive overhaul, I need special taps, and it just goes on and on without end.

Sorry for the essay.

Why are we not rioting like the French?

While we make even more cuts , the elite and hydrocarbon industry cream off the profits.

Is it coz Starmer/ Corbyn?

Sorry, i digress.

I'm going bk to Lidl, no holiday next year, no big Christmas.

What about one of those sprayers for painting fence panels. I’m sure I saw them on sale in Aldi.

Maybe check and see if you have a local time bank. You donate your time to do stuff you can do and ask others for help when needed. I feel like painting a fence would be a nice community job as could get it done in an afternoon with enough bodies.

Alternatively my council uses people on community service to do garden maintenance including painting for people who are elderly and disabled also for community groups. They are supervised and tend just to want to keep their heads down and get on. It might be worth asking.

The self-employed cleaners, mobile hairdressers/nails/eyelashes etc. are the ones I feel for, because they have no cushion

I think that's rather presumptive of you.

I'm very sorry to hear about your husband.

inhope he's at least secured a good pay out. Obviously he'd rather not have the disability!, but a payout could really help!

there are loads of genuine money saving threads on the cost of living board.

I have an Asda delivery pass which is £5 a month and do my food shopping online. I find it easier to keep control of what I'm buying and keep within budget. We also have the Asda rewards app which has given us £26 back in the first month so we will use that towards Xmas. I've found Aldi has gone quite pricey.
We have stopped wasting money & are looking on Vinted first for clothes. This month we've done pretty well actually and have managed not to go overdrawn which is a relief!

I cancelled:

• Gym and swim membership. The gym is full of unpleasant and entitled men, the classes are always at times I can't do and I have felt uncomfortable there for a while so no big loss. I will ''pay as you go'' at my local pool instead, walk in the park and do weights at home.
• Ocado smart pass: I live close to several supermarkets including Waitrose anyway
• TV licence: simply because I realised I had not even switched on the TV for more than a year. I only watch things online (not BBC iPlayer either) and I also object to the BBC now in principle as they are no longer independent and just regurgitate government propaganda and failed to report objectively on Brexit and Covid.

Cut right down:

• Clothes, shoes, furnitures. I only replace something (like old trainers finally falling apart :)) if needed rather than actively seeking new clothes/shows
• eating out: I am more likely to only have a tea when out with a friend when before we would have met for a full lunch
• Hairdresser: my hair is horribly fine so I still need help if I want to look vaguely decent for work but I moved salon to somewhere where I spend half what I was being charged before at my usual place.

I have a basic phone with a cheap plan so there is not much more I can cut at this stage.

Frankly I have also realised that I am done spending so much money on consuming and that I really don't need much beyond having enough food, a roof over my head and the odd treat to keep me enjoying life (which does not need to cost a fortune).

I think the recession is going to affect many, many businesses because the government has lost control and has no credible plan beyond making their rich mates richer and most people are going to respond by limiting their spending to essentials.

I forgot to add I cut down on tradespeople as well.

I recently repainted my flat myself before putting on sale after being quoted a ridiculous amount of money by a handyman.

No takeaways or meals out unless with Clubcard points. Paring down the food shop - using bargain shops like Heron and Farm Foods and buying less overall. Having all my showers at the council gym. Making extra bits of money on survey or paid gaming sites. Not buying coffees out.

Good point @Blackalice I also use club card point for meals out with the kids. A delivery pass also saves loads on groceries, Tesco is a few pounds a month and no longer tempted to buy 'extras' in the supermarket.

Bulk out pretty much every meal with tonnes of lentils/oats/celery/beans etc
Breakfast is always porridge to keep us all warm and full.
Thermos (large) for hot drinks.
Collect driftwood etc now, for the stove, but will not even put it on unless really have to. No central heating at all.
Reduced washing, sold drier.
No takeaways, no cuppas in cafes.
Only one present from each of us to each of us at Christmas. No birthday presents for adults.
I’ve put 4.5tog quilts under the children’s bottom sheets to keep them cosy, a tip from a friend who says it makes a huge difference. (I used £1 sheet straps to keep in place)

Hate living like this.

We will be reassessing but overall we won’t be decreasing our lifestyle.

I am conscious of how much we waste as a family, food, heating etc so we will be trimming things down so that we are more eco friendly which will have a positive knock on effect financially.

I already save clothes in good condition to use at the clothes swaps. They take clothes in all sizes so I save the kids clothes and swap them for things for myself. I managed to get a nice minimalist summer wardrobe doing that.

I still buy my kids new from next because they like to pick their own clothes and it’s not too expensive. They like packs of different coloured t-shits and the odd character t-shirt rather than designer gear so it feels manageable and I feel grateful I can give them what they want.

We won’t be cutting out people who provide services. The window cleaner and hair dresser will remain. We have considered adding a gardener and cleaner too because the time it take us to do these things could be spent picking up more work which will pay for it.

There’s a lot of variation in houses. Mine was 17 degrees today. A vest was required unless you were powering through the hoovering or something.

We are in exactly the same position. It's so difficult isn't it? Not only are we trying to cope as a family with the fact that my dh has sustained major life changing injuries and is unlikely to be able to work again but the financial impact is just so huge. We were doing ok before his accident and were probably the happiest we had ever been, but now we are just ruined in every way possible and I have lost the person my dh used to be. Stressed doesn't begin to cover it!
Big hugs to anyone else going through similar at what seems the worst time possible. I honestly don't know how to get through the upcoming years.