Trying to find ways to cut back

[whowasi]

I'm really struggling at the moment and trying to cut back. If I list what my outgoings are can someone advise where to cut back?

Rent
Gas/electricity
Water
Council tax
Car tax
Car insurance (lowered cost at last renewal, can't change for a while)
Petrol (trying to cut down car use)
Broadband (tied in but also use for catchup TV as no tv licence)
Mobile (tied in for 24 months still)
Spotify (discounted student rate)
Cat food and litter for two cats
Food (been living off cheapest stuff)
Pet health plan (can't cancel until anniversary in July)

I've cancelled pet insurance, tv licence, because I never watch live TV. I can't move anywhere cheaper, well I could move into a one bedroom flat and save at the most £100 a month but can't afford the moving costs and bond. I can't get rid of my car because I need it to take my elderly mum to hospital and doctors appointments. I live alone and my cats are my company but they cost me a lot in did and cat litter got really expensive! I could feed cheaper cat food, but they always go off it and I end up buying different sorts and throwing it away when they won't eat it plus it seems to affect their tummies.

I buy as little food as possible and always own brand as cheap as possible, but could maybe switch to Heron Foods or Aldi instead of getting a delivery every few weeks. I tend to batch cook chilli or stew and freeze it or eat the really cheap ready meals, I have own brand porridge with frozen berries for breakfast and soup for lunch.

I vape, which isn't anywhere near as expensive as smoking, probably £30 a month, but I should probably cut that out. I'm just worried because I've been don't really well losing weight and worry that stopping vaping will make me eat more 😳

I don't drink at home, and if I go out I'll have two drinks max, so maybe £10. I don't go out much though.

I don't buy many beauty products, just Simple day and night cream and only wear mascara and eye liner. Any clothes I need I buy on Vinted, but do need to stop looking on there when not necessary, it's too tempting!

I listen to music all day every day, so loathe to cancel Spotify, plus I don't have a cd player.

I can't do anything about my mobile, it was a mistake, my old phone broke and I couldn't afford one so signed up to a contract over 36 months at £28 per month.

Think that's everything. Sorry this is so long and thanks for reading if you got this far.

Areas I've identified through writing this are try cats on cheaper cat food, cut down vaoing and try to stop, delete Vinted app!

Anything else?

Oh and I should add, I've been selling clothes on Vinted and Facebook and really can't find anything else to sell. Except I have a laptop I bought last year for a course I was doing which I don't really need anymore, but I'm paying it off interest free at £21 per month over 24 months. I can't find a way out of that unless I pay it off, which I can't.

Rent out the spare bedroom?

I'm not sure my landlord would allow that and as a single female I'd feel vulnerable, plus my adult kids sleep there if they visit, which admittedly isn't often.

spotify is free unless you pay for the premium version
Increase your income with a side hustle
Pop over to the moneysaving expert website

Oh and of course cheaper cat food, mine do just fine on Go cat with the odd bit of ham or chicken as a treat and I find the basic cheap wood pellet cat litter to be miles better than than the expensive brands.

I get that with Spotify, but it's £5.99 a month, I'll cut it last as I really do listen to music all day and love my playlists, Spotify free drives me mad.

I can't do a side job, very poor health and struggling.

I'll try the cheap cat food, but will have to watch out for upset stomachs, which is a problem I've had in the past ... I'm sure cats used to be hardier when I was younger! The cat litter ... I use cats best, but I only empty the tray every few months because I just scoop out what they've done and top it up a bit every few days. I tried Tesco's cheap wood pellet litter and I was having to empty and refill the tray almost every day, it just seemed false economy 🤷‍♀️

We use the cheapest clumping cat litter, it's £1.95 for a bag from Lidl, Asda or Morrisons. A bag lasts us about 2 weeks for one cat with two big trays and absorbs the smells really well unlike the lightweight stuff ime. Tinned cat food is always a lot cheaper than pouches plus better environmentally as the tins hold more and can be more easily recycled.

I don't know if you know the money saving expert site but there are some brilliant forums there including debt free wannabe and old style thrift ideas. Some posters can sometimes be a bit tough love in their approach but there are tonnes of people over there who are very experienced in making hardly anything go a very long way.

It's shit isn't it? I've been going through my expenses with a fine tooth comb and can't find a realistic way to cut back any more. My freezer is full of yellow label food. When I catch up with friends I eat before I go and have a coffee while they eat out. I'm tucked up in blankets on the sofa instead of putting the heating on. I'm in a one bed so no spare room to rent out.
My mortgage is about to go up £160 per month and I don't know how I am going to manage the repayments. I'm scared.

Give up vaping

Check with LL if you can let out spare room to lodger. Most LL would let you. Advertise for female adult only. Charge enough to cover room, gas/electricity/water and breakfast and evening meal. It would give you breathing space.

Vaping-quit
Drinks-quit
Make up-do you need to wear it? Try some days without.
Bar shampoo/soap - Tesco do some lovely ones(will last for months) if you don't fancy their 30p shower gel
Dry shampoo for in between hair washes
2 minute showers (or stand in the bath with a bucket of water to wash every other day)
Clothes airer near a radiator/cheap fan if you can't find a cheap dehunidifier
Cat food-your cats will just have to adapt to cheaper food and litter
Spotify-web player is free, just mute the adverts. You can pick up a dirt cheap CD player and CDs from charity shops (20p per CD)
Council Tax-rebate for living alone?
Gas and Electricity-electric blanket, thermos to keep boiled water in when you're home. Heat one room Use warm hubs near you, get a power bank to charge at work/on the train etc.
Mobile-Tell them you have to cancel as you can't afford, they often become v. helpful if they think you're about to leave. Once you have ended the contract (now/in the future) just have a basic top up phone. Tesco match your monthly top up with free credit (i.e. you top up £10, they give you another £10 free credit plus loads of free texts)
Clothes -stop buying! Or allow yourself to buy, but only from a charity shop
I think this would save you £100+ per month

Can you sell the car? Use taxis/volunteer drivers to take your mum to the GP/appointments-is she paying towards any other form of transport ? If you didn't drive, she would have to find a way to get to her appointments.

You probably can't cut down on food as everything is going up 😞

Do you pay your council tax over 10 months or 12? Do you claim the single persons discount?

If you use catsan which has got really pricey I have tried an alternative from sainsburys / can't remember its name but it's in very similar packaging but pink. Begins with fel-.

It's slightly more powdery than carsan but worth it for drop in price.

Try mixing a cheaper catfood in with what they eat now and gradually wean them onto it.

Definitely stop vaping. It's bad for you as well as being expensive.

How much are you spending on food? Ready meals are expensive. I eat a good diet of meat, fish, and veggie food with lots of fruit & veg for about £30 a week.

There doesn't seem to be much in your budget you haven't considered so rather than squeeze what isn't there could you look to increase your finances . When I had my mortgage go up in the 80's I worked full time but got a 4hr shift each week at a local garage . Those extra 16 hrs a month helped feed us . Or could you do a little sideline , cleaning , cat / dog / baby sit . Anything really .

You could see if there is any demand for Monday-Friday lets in your area. Spareroom site is a good starting place.

you wouldn’t have to have just anyone living with you, and could initially meet them outside the house, perhaps in a cafe nearby, so you can get an idea of them before taking them home.

I thought even though you don't watch live tv you still had to have a license for catch up?

I'd double check this as you don't want a fine

Vaping is the obvious one to stop.

As the car isn't being used for yourself, and you are struggling, I would get rid of it unless your mother can contribute to the cost. Your mother will need to pay for cabs etc.

Make up is another easy one to cut.

I wouldn't have cancelled the pet insurance, as that may come back and bite you later on. I would try to reduce food and litter costs.

Then you need to look at maximising your income. I agree with posters above about looking into the possibility of a lodger.

I’d definitely consider letting the second bedroom. Often you can be picky if you price accordingly. Mon-Fri, professional, mature female, your dc can visit on weekends.

Alternatively get rid of the car and join a car club and book a car for your Mums appointment days. Ask her to reimburse you unless she’s struggling too.

Sorry op, but I can’t see how you can cut back any further without living a thoroughly miserable like. It’s dire isn’t it.

CD players can be picked up cheap from charity shops, that way you free your cost of Spotify every month

Listen to the radio or other free sources of music

Give up vaping

Sell the laptop to pay off the debt or at least some of it

I know your health is poor but if you can do occasional cat sitting for others that might help occasionally and you don't have to take on everyone so won't have to do it when you are feeling particularly ill

Can you claim any non means tested benefits for your health

Could you move in with your mum for a few weeks to get your deposit back on your current place/save the deposit for somewhere cheaper