Tips for cutting back please

[Madmog]

Due to a change in circumstances, we need to cut back our monthly spend. Does anyone have any tips without feeling like we're going without or cheaper food ideas..

We are trying to take sandwiches on day trips instead of eating out. We like a bottle of wine at weekends, so OH is having a go at making his own. We've changed our energy supplier to another who is meant to be cheaper.

Blankets and hot water bottles on sofa rather than putting heating on. Doors closed, curtains / blinds shut as it starts going dark.

Need more information. Is it just you and OH, or are there DCs?

Do you have/can you do without SKY etc?
How much do you currently spend on trips to cinema, clothes and make up shopping, hobbies, petrol, food?
Do you cook from scratch, in bulk, or do you buy ready made meals?

We'd need a breakdown of what you currently spend to see where savings could be made.

We set the washing machine on timer to go on at 5am, it finishes at 6, and the cheaper over night rate has been made use of, it's pretty much half the day rate!!!
Also, dig out the slippers/ thick socks/ dressing gowns etc and turn the heating off or at least lower it. I've made the decision that heating isn't even an option this year until October.. If on the 1st October we don't need it on then I don't reconsider for another month.. Saves us ££

Give up or cut down on meat.
Never leave the house without your own metal bottle of tap water.
Buy no clothes except for growing children.
Stop buying fabric conditioners, air fresheners, fancy toiletries.

Thanks for your replies.

It's me, DH, one 13 year old and two cats. Have to say in the past we've never worried as income has exceeded all our outgoings, so we've generally just spent whatever whenever (although we're not extravagant). We've recently moved house (which we planned to do so knew expenses would increase), but we've had massive unforeseen expenses and we need to save to pay for some and also to build up an emergency fund if we can.

Luckily we use Freeview so no massive expense there.

Petrol is around £125/150 a month (trying to cut back on this by cycling if we can, although, my husband does need it for work).

Food bill around £350 (including cat food, all household cleaning) so I suspect this can come down - just need to work out some cheaper meal options. Meals are a mixture of being cooked from scratch or something like fish/chicken in breadcrumbs from the freezer with veggies and the odd ready meal. We do eat our 5 a day, especially our daughter so don't want to discourage that.

I tend to spend approx. £90 a month on going out, buying presents for DH, clothes, treats for myself - I know this as we both take exactly the same amount out each month for our own personal use.

Our old energy supplier calculated our gas/electric would be £80 a month in new house, but have changed to EDF as they calculate £60 a month - we can leave with no penalty and they have an immediate online calculater so can check our use regularly. Our old smaller house was £71 so I'm not 100% hopeful we'll keep to £60 but can always swap.

Re: Hobbies, DH uses work's gym which is £15 a month and has a couple of magazine subscriptions, as well as reading. I like reading and do an exercise class once a week. Our daughter does have violin lessons but she really enjoys this and practices every day so reluctant to take this away from her.

Well I'd cancel gym subscription and magazines for a start. I'm sure DH can devise a good workout that he can do at home for free. Can you beg, borrow or steal old magazines from friends if you really feel you need to read them I think most are rubbish

Thanks for your replies so far! Luckily we already do some of them like taking a bottle of water with us (as we always want a drink) and as a household don't eat too much meat as I don't, daughter only likes chicken and OH chicken and beef. ThatBloodyWoman, you're right, we can make do without any new clothes for now and am only going to by DD clothes she really needs. Will look at other suggestions, am thinking if DH wants a magazine subscription renewed perhaps that can be a present.

I'd stop magazine subscriptions but keep the gym, £15 is a really good price if he uses it often. I'd give dd a clothing allowance as she seems old enough, then just buy school uniform and essentials (coats, undies, shoes). I'm sure you can reduce shopping spend by £100 ish by meal planning, going to markets for veg, aldi, etc. Do you use lots of cleaning products and toiletries? What about mobile phones?

books come from charity shops or (even better) from the library.

don't buy magazines, they are ALL trash.

what mpg is your husband getting? If he sits in traffic jams he probably can't do much about it, but otherwise he can.

You need to do a statement of Affairs and post it on the MSE forum; where they will look at each line and help you make real savings where you can.

For example, you say you spend £90 per month, and you are buying presents for your husband out of that...does he need presents each month?

You can get most magazines from larger libraries too.

I have really cut back on lotions and potions, mainly because of all the chemicals in them. I make face packs/ hair treatments from olive oil honey etc. you can find loads of ideas on superscrimpers.
I also hardly ever buy fizzy pop/fruit juice/dilute. Much healthier and cheaper.
I wouldn't give up the hobbies or be too frugal with the food-life's for living. I do meal plan though, saves money and waste.
Could the internet provide what the magazines do?

I've stopped buying fabric softener, fizzy drinks, magazines/papers...I've organised all toiletries and household cleaning cupboards-I might never need to but anything for either cupboard again now that I've put it all in one place and can see at an instant what I have...

I never iron lol ...if out n about I'll take own drinks/snacks.

I meal plan too which is a huge help...bulk cook/freeze.

Start shopping in aldi - seriously, we save at least £30 a week compared to a tesco shop. £65 average two adults one 9yo dd. All cleaning products. Wine and treats!

Stop the gym and magazines -he can still exercise. Just go gor a run or bike ride. Get some cheap weights for home.

What about phobe internet provider? We switched to plusnet -get phone and broadband for £17 a month.

Clothes from charity shops. They are really good these days. I go there first.

look at where you spend money on days out. Do you go out alot? If so maybe english heritage or national trust membership? Eh is about £90 for family membership.

Walk in the woods. Cycling. Picnics
all good.

Could you have a declutter and sell some stuff on ebay? I so need to do this! Could then use this money for xmas.

I agree with the poster who said don't cut out everything. Life can feel pretty monotonous with no treats.

What about hair cuts? How much on these? Im always stunned by how much folk spend on this -i cut dd's hair. Have done the mumsnet cut on my hair a few tines but its too short for that. I refuse to pay more than £20 on a hair cut.

We're trying to cut back.

Up until now we've just spent whatever we want on food, but am trying to stick to a budget of £70 pw. When I'm shopping I count it up roughly as I go along and mentally think are there cheaper options. If I start getting nearer the £70 mark, I might change a cake for some value biscuits, change wine for bottle of cider, ie the cheaper acceptable item. Tescos often have our cereals, cleaning products on offer so I only buy them on offer, and I always go for their own brand or value products if I can as I don't notice the difference. If you like wine, my husband recently bought a pack to make some homemade wine. I was a bit dubious but it's not too bad and doesn't leave you with a hangover - we got 5.5 bottles for approx. £12.50.

We moved house in the summer, so when we have a good idea of gas and electric here, we'll look into the question of another supplier.

We've tided in with BT until April, but have worked out we can take out the same package with TalkTalk which will be cheaper in the long run, ie once we've got past any new customer offer.

We've all got bikes, so a few times recently have been on a bike ride and taken a picnic or stopped off at pub for a drink which works out much cheaper than going into a tourist attraction and petrol.

Don't just buy clothes because you fancy treating yourself, do you actually need them? If you buy clothes or goods online, is there a promotional code available?

When buying presents, most of us tend to feel we need to buy a little extra or make up the present to a certain value, but the main thing is to give someone something you really think they will like/need.

As said, you can get books from the library for free of buy cheaply in a charity shop.

I agree, don't cut back unless you can live happily without it (unless you really do need to cut back a massive amount).

Starfish do you need a distill in kit or any equipment to make the wine? I have a wine and brewing shop not too far from me and am considering trying wine making.

My husband has a couple of dummy johns (not sure if right spelling), a tube and filter from years ago, so we have the benefit of that. Have to admit we drink fairly cheap wine anyway (£3.99 or whats on offer) and I wouldn't have known the difference from the first kit. You do have to save some empty bottles up first, but you can ask friends if they can help.