What are you no longer doing or buying?

[Whattosay81]

Because of COL?
I’m opting for more park trips rather than days out over the summer hols.

Ditched the likes of Asda. My shop has doubled in just under a year. I just can’t afford to shop there. Also any own brand nappies I can find. I’m hooked on vinted too, I shop on there as opposed to shopping in store at the moment

Our local Lidl has just been closed for a complete refurbishment. So yesterday we went to the local Sainsburys rather than make a 10 mile round trip to the next nearest Lidl. Two things struck me - the choice of product was awesome ( I have got used to the reality that it can be a struggle to get everything on your list in Lidl ). The bill at the till was horrendous, about 35% over what we would have paid at Lidl.
Next week I will happily drive the 10 miles..

Alcohol. No more wine with dinner it helped me lose a ton of weight too

impulse buying clothes.
lidl rather than sainsbury
i check my bank statements and credit cards daily, and keep a close track
i write down everything I spend money on (and eat!)
now I’ve stopped work I don’t pop out to buy crisps or chocolate any more
Always cook from scratch, no ready meals, not that I ever bought them much

Charlize43 a company called world of books is good for second hand books. And they dont charge postage.

I like the taste of the Aldi ones but find the texture weird. Tesco ones are fine texture wise for me though.

Buying mostly second hand clothes, especially for DC who need a whole next size up wardrobe every year.

Changed summer outings, much more focused on meeting friends (in free places or at home) then going to expensive venues.

We already use a lot of own brand, but have cut out some treats. Also trying to batch cook more.

We swapped one of the cars for an electric one which cut a £300 petrol bill down to about £45 a month to charge. I know electric cars are usually more expensive but it’s financed and less per month than the old car.

We eat out a lot less. Stopped trying new kids attractions and stick with the one we’ve got annual passes for.

Kids clothes now from cheaper places .

If I want to buy something I write it down and wait till next pay day. If I still want/need it then I will buy. It’s stopped me being quite so impulsive and buying things wr don’t really need.

Like so many here - no branded items.

Stopped colouring hair.

Coffee with friends is now more likely to be a boring walk instead.

I'm not blue about it. Have health and security so we're ok.

I went through the freezer this morning and reckon if I get more inventive and less lazy with meal planning ( too many easy cook or ready meals because I hate cooking) I don’t need to buy meat or fish for at least a month! So that’s the plan 🙄

If it helps I use raw organic coconut oil as my makeup remover /mousturiser in one. Biona do 800g tubs for about £15, which lasts me years. I decant into smaller receptacles to use. Its organic, cruelty free, with no additives and I'd use over the rubbish cosmetics and creams, full of chemicals, regardless of COL.

There's nothing boring about walking with friends! For years I've conducted my social catchups either on a mountain bike or walking. I regularly meet a friend for a 7 mile walk and talk. We can afford to meet for coffee, but prefer to walk as its so much better, on so many levels!

Cancelled personal trainer, £130 a month
cancelled Netflix
cancelled LinkedIn subscription, £35 a month
cut down to one amazon prime subscription
cancelled cleaner, £350 a month
went down to one car saving £359 a month

We have just paid off our mortgage this week… feel incredibly privileged.
we are both drinking less wine.
cost food is atrocious from supermarket.
I still buy clothes… sadly I love clothes and luckily can afford to buy quality so expect them to last for years!
Its sad with COL crisis that the businesses who suffer most are the little independent ones who add interest and something different from the chains… and who mostly pay tax in the UK rather than through some tax-dodging state.

Takeaway coffees of any kind. Yes I'm well aware that's a luxury not everyone even had but since I discovered tiktok and learned how to make an amazing iced coffee with just granules and brown sugar and milk I am totally done. We bought a few more ice cube trays though.

Branded pop was another one. Aldi do an one brand Lilt that's I think £1.60 for 6 cans. Everyone at work brings it in too it's a total bargain and very very nice!

Meal deals at lunch time. Yes again a wasteful luxury but I was exhausted by my job and just dropped the ball with it.

Packed lunches done the night before and I've got a decent sectional lunch box. I'm trying really hard to just take stuff that needs eating so some lunches are great and sone a bit ropey!

We try really hard not to buy things individually wrapped. I am obsessed with decent Tupperware type containers which are leakproof and we have loads in different sizes which we decant nuts and seeds and choc buttons and fruit and crisps in to.

I stopped buying magazines a few years back when I realised that they were the same price as a book. I've now swapped books for kindle unlimited (I read a lot). Occasionally get Take a Break for the competitions .

@MaidOfSteel yes that's true - subscriptions can be very cheap - especially if you cancel after an initial trial period .

@miniegg3 I was in a big city recently and everywhere we went added an automatic 12.5% service charge to the bill.

I'm never sure if the staff ever sees this or it goes to the establishment. I'd much rather still have the choice to leave cash.

The dc now have packed lunches.

@Sundaefraise for inexpensive skincare I tend to use Simple, Nivea soft or Avon can be good value with the big tubs of multi use cream. I have a 400 ml tub of multi purpose cream for dry and sensitive skin which can be used on face and body and it was about £3.50.

@SilentHedges and@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea thank you for taking the time to reply. I will look into all of these suggestions. Its not easy having to think twice about every little thing

Botox 😕

Lots if new clothes!!! I'm living my youth of dreams searching the brands I couldn't afford on Vinted and selling lots too. I've been buying 2nd hand Ted baker which is quite classic and well made. I bought a silk jumpsuit for £11 my god it's incredible and I think over £100 new which I couldn't afford anyway.
Dds love Vinted too and we will be buying well in advance of weddings and blah as it's not next day delivery you have to wing it!

Honestly though my wardrobe has upgraded a lot!

I swapped La Roche Posay skincare, mainly moisturisers, for Nivea sensitive moisturiser which I pick up at Poundland. Its really good and I haven't had an attack of itchy rashy skin since using it - I actually stock up when I see it now. It's free of parabens too - something you usually pay more for.

I buy clothes off vinted/ebay too - I see no point spending full price on new clothes when people (including myself) go through fashions so quickly that clothes are not really worn well before being listed on these sites.

Cancelled National Trust membership.
Husband cycling 3-4 days per week to reduce petrol usage.
No meals out.
The only trips out are for free things - museums, the woods, playgrounds etc, and we either eat before or after we go, or take food with us if the weather is half decent.
The only treats for my children are those I’ve bought in the supermarket/made myself - we no longer pop to the bakery or café or McDonald’s etc.
Supermarket branded items rather than branded ones for everything except tea and coffee.
I only buy reduced bread and then freeze it in batches.
Cheaper food for our dogs.
No new clothes, well except for 1 from a charity shop bought recently for work for £2.
Eating lamb only once every couple of months.
More vegetarian and frozen food meals.
No hair cuts for any of us for what feels like bloody forever!
Hardly any alcohol, and when I do buy it, it’s wine for no more than £6 a bottle or a bottle of beer on offer. I didn’t drink any alcohol for one whole month and I was so miserable as it’s pretty much the only ‘treat’ I have nowadays so decided it was an essential purchase.
We’re not spending any money at all on our house, even though we really need to - we just don’t have it.
Not going out anywhere with friends, not inviting them to our house due to the expense of hosting.

We’re both working extra days/hours, and I’ve been selling whatever I can on EBay and are struggling. Everything just feels really miserable and we can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.