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Cost of living

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What are you no longer doing or buying?

219 replies

Whattosay81 · 28/07/2023 16:52

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

OP posts:
Twite · 31/07/2023 23:58

Any kind of bought lunch for work. Always make my own now, it saves stacks of money.

Echo40 · 01/08/2023 07:31

Really has been gradual cut back last 2 years.

In 2022 we ditched the huge shop at aldi and switched to tesco bulk buying cereal/squash/ carton drinks/ lemonade pet food/ biscuits/ cake bars some frozen.
Some reduced and nectar deals as they the cheapest on those items but then dodgy meat / fresh weekly aldi/lilds which are local to use and next door to each other so do both.
Miss the lilds weekend deal and the weekly don't seem as good.
Which magazine says prices In lilds/ aldi risen the most by least 24% so feel annoyed as know so much has gone up/ availability patchy and queue for tills horrendous.
Have no issue self scan a basket bit aldi making me try and do a trolly on small self serve checkout made me very annoyed.
I question if self serve tills with big shops don't actually lengthen queues.
End of 2023 we switched from big tesco to big sainsburys find nectar points more generous than clubcard as also frequently visit sainsbury local.
Still do aldi or lidls once a week as fresh fruit and veg don't last long.

I second previous posters

Warburton best bagels
Aldi nuttoka closest to Nutella but gone from 99p to £1.50.
Can't compromise philadephia but only buy when on offer.
Buy aldi sanitary towels
Buy aldi shower gel and lilds shampoo.
Bug sainsbury bottom shelf does a 30p shower gel white tesco used o do 30p shower gel which was blue.
Ditched heinz ketchup ages ago but think aldi recipie changes more watery so now kids eat sainsbury.
Kids dislike aldi/ lilds cereal only sainsbury or tesco that I keep in clear boxes with lids.
Sainsburys/ tesco/ coop weetabix all OK.

Skincare try superdrug/ home bargains
Live lilds perfume
Cut back fizzy drinks just have 3 flavours squash on the go.
Eat less meat
More pasta/ rice

Kids have less tuck money and rarely eat school dinners at senior school as first bus lowered returns and singled but upped kids weekly or monthly pass .
Spend easily £150 on bus per month if no half term as 6th former costs more.

Go cinema or bowling maybe once a year.
Hardly ever eat out as family as 6 of us very expensive.
Me and husband try and keep to 1 meal a month out and 1 takeaway.
We used frequently buy chips from local chippy as quick lunch for kids or tea.
But gone up so much and portions gone down.

Definatly less coffee shops even once a week pay day treat been scaled back.

Buy 90% of our clothes 2nd hand
Lucky we have jumble sales/ clothes swaps and loads charity shops locally although struggling find much in charity shops for the 5 year old maybe people are donating less and selling.

Seldom buy Magazine used to love the home ones.

Random decorative bits for house.
Fresh flowers rare unless reduced
Less wine and more spirits as cheaper
Less fruit shocked how much frozen fruit gone up
Yogurts hardly buy anymore used buy aldi copy of muller corners.
Used buy aldi weekly pizzas and dirty fries stopped that as too expensive.

Switch dog from expensive ceaser to Sainsburys as cost kept going up

Less reduced as minimal discounts
Stopped too good too go app as not great value.
Got old phone fixed rather than new phone on contract as sim only

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 01/08/2023 10:18

@Echo40 yes I agree it’s been a gradual thing and it’s not until you look back that you realise just how much less of everything you have/ do now. I really feel for the small business owners who must be struggling so much right now!

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 01/08/2023 19:15

Shop at Aldi (but even that seems to have almost doubled recently)
Stopped colouring my hair and I cut mine, DH’s and the kids myself
Never have any beautify treatments (nails, massage) anymore
Have been on a SIM-only contract for ages
Cancelled Amazon Prime
Stopped having a cleaner (although didn’t have one regularly before, more on and off again)
Buy all my clothes (except underwear) on Vinted
Sell what I can on Vinted/FB marketplace
Don’t buy fancy shampoo/conditioner anymore
Using library more
No longer buy expensive facial cleanser/exfoliator - have switched to
soap and water with an exfoliating cloth

We didn’t go on overseas holidays or have takeaways or meals/evenings out anyway so haven’t had to cut back there.

BLT24 · 06/08/2023 18:00

Cancelled cleaner £130pm

New clothes - now buying new off vinted

Books - now buying second hand off vinted/eBay or borrow from library

Coffees - bought a coffee machine and cup

Dinners out - now going for brunch or one course lunch

Weekends away, spa days, festivals - now going on free/cheap days out - parks, beach, museums, cinema Vue instead of Odeon, cheap seats at theatre, cheap tickets at comedy nights

Sarfar45 · 06/08/2023 19:19

Can't really afford to eat out now unless it's a special occasion and even then I really have to plan it.

piefacedClique · 06/08/2023 19:21

Do you know…. it’s shit but I actually feel reassured knowing it’s not just us! Maybe I can stop giving my husband (as much)shit! 🤔🤔🤔🤔

Thebirdhouse · 06/08/2023 23:49

Dinners out - now going for brunch or one course lunch

As we have kids and don't have babysitters (or enough money to add 50 quid on top of an evening out) to pay for one, this is something we started doing a few years ago. We bring the children (children's menu is relatively cheap), and we eat lunch out.

The cost of the food is the same but we don't eat dessert after lunch anyway so it doesn't feel strange that we aren't eating it in a restaurant, and one of us might have a glass of wine instead of a starter. It works out much less. The restaurant we like most (as a family of four), don't have particularly nice coffee so instead of finishing with coffee in the restaurant, after lunch we go to a nearby takeaway coffee shop and drink them on the way home.

Luxwana · 07/08/2023 02:57

Use the tumble dryer
Branded foods
Dog has supermarket food not branded

pineapple7peach · 07/08/2023 04:38

I rarely buy alcoholic drinks when I go out now. I’ve been saving for a house for the past 2 years and when you throw in the COL crisis, it means I usually decide to stay sober when I’m at family events or seeing friends. I can’t help but think of all the money I can save if I skip the alcohol and drive home instead. Also I get to feel smug when I have no hangover in the morning!

Combusting · 07/08/2023 05:58

We’ve been lucky enough to not be impacted by the CoL crises in the sense of being able to divert money into mortgage overpayments. Consequently major changes have happened in lifestyle so far -

  1. Dont have a cleaner anymore
  2. No haircuts at salons (I do kids in the bath, and my fringe and split ends, spouse does his with clippers)
  3. No dog grooms (Dog goes to Dog college for cheap haircuts while students learn).
  4. Barely any work lunches (leftovers now)
  5. No bought coffees (instead Travel mug, coffee machines)
  6. No new clothes for anyone (Vinted all the way)
  7. No branded or prepared foods (own brands and cook from scratch)
  8. No new toys (Freecycle, eBay or marketplace)
  9. No beauty treatments (DIY treatments at home with pumice stones, hot cloths, masks)
  10. No expensive beauty products (coconut oil for hair, avocado for face, sugar and oil for body exfoliation).

Whilst piles saved this way we then prioritise (and are very lucky to be able to) - mortgage overpayments, one date night a month, kids activities and clubs, and some savings. We realise we are very lucky to be able to keep doing those things, and know fully well that the enormous lifestyle changes may well have been necessary to survive rather than optional choices.

connie26 · 07/08/2023 06:29

I've started decanting Aldi tomato ketchup into a Heinz bottle and I put cheaper brand cornflakes into a Kelloggs box. The kids have no clue of the difference hence no whining!

BLT24 · 07/08/2023 07:08

Thebirdhouse · 06/08/2023 23:49

Dinners out - now going for brunch or one course lunch

As we have kids and don't have babysitters (or enough money to add 50 quid on top of an evening out) to pay for one, this is something we started doing a few years ago. We bring the children (children's menu is relatively cheap), and we eat lunch out.

The cost of the food is the same but we don't eat dessert after lunch anyway so it doesn't feel strange that we aren't eating it in a restaurant, and one of us might have a glass of wine instead of a starter. It works out much less. The restaurant we like most (as a family of four), don't have particularly nice coffee so instead of finishing with coffee in the restaurant, after lunch we go to a nearby takeaway coffee shop and drink them on the way home.

We went to a vegan cafe for brunch on Saturday. We had a BLT, Pancakes and 2 coffees and it was £25. If we go out for Dinner it’s now £20 for a main course in most places plus a soft drink for me and a pint for hubby so would cost at least £50.

We’ll often go for lunch and have an ice cream when we get home instead of ordering dessert.

LadyWithLapdog · 07/08/2023 07:20

@DeedlessIndeed Hello Fresh recipe book is 99p on kindle today.

LadyWithLapdog · 07/08/2023 07:30

We’ve cut down on fresh flowers, not least for the pointless airmiles and environmental impact. I’m no longer buying coke or Pepsi for home, so that’s a good £15-20 a week.

LadyWithLapdog · 07/08/2023 10:39

Thanks for that National Trust scones recipe posted above. V quick and with regular ingredients.

What are you no longer doing or buying?
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 09/08/2023 14:07

To add to the posts about lunch out rather than dinner - a lot of places do a special two or three course lunch menu which they serve until around 5 pm. We tend to have a late breakfast (I WFH, DH is retired) and then go out for a late lunch late afternoon so only need a small snack in the evening .

QueenBitch666 · 09/08/2023 23:48

Whattosay81 · 28/07/2023 17:47

What’s the best own brand weetabix?

I'll second Aldi. Far nicer

beguilingeyes · 10/08/2023 11:15

Carbonicalloy · 28/07/2023 20:05

Also keen for good overnight oats recipes @Howmanyweekz , I make a banana and peanut butter one which kids like (on good food) but would like to branch out as even own brand cereals add up with three hungry kids

We mostly ate own brand stuff anyway tbh but recently have cut down on meat, coffee when out and try to cycle to work twice a week instead of using public transport ( only work 3 days)

Nadia's recipe for mango lassi bircher muesli is one of the nicest things I've ever eaten.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/nadiya-hussains-mango-lassi-bircher/

Nadiya Hussain's Mango Lassi Bircher

Start your day with Nadiya Hussain's vegan-friendly Mango Lassi Bircher recipe, as seen on her BBC series, Nadiya's Family Favourites. Prep ahead the night before and wake up to a bowl of sunshine.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/nadiya-hussains-mango-lassi-bircher

xogossipgirlxo · 10/08/2023 12:49

No laundry pods and branded fabric conditioner. Still buying branded powder, but it works out much cheaper than pods
No new clothes as long as I can- I browse vinted first
No spontaneous car rides- we don't do it with baby anyway, but used to loooove it, not with current petrol prices
Mostly no branded goods- lidl's own digestives etc. instead, own brand OJ or frozen pizza
No takeaways- odd pizza or takeaway few times a year, or maybe we will go out to restaurant twice a year 🙄
No spontaneous shopping in boots- I used to love 3for2 etc. Now I use up completely what I currently own, which isn't bad thing after all- less waste going to landfill

Nellieinthebarn · 10/08/2023 19:46

beguilingeyes · 10/08/2023 11:15

Nadia's recipe for mango lassi bircher muesli is one of the nicest things I've ever eaten.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/nadiya-hussains-mango-lassi-bircher/

I make a budget version of this by using a cheap tin of peaches, blending half the tin with all the juice to soak the oats and then topping with the rest of the chopped peaches. Its not as delicious as fresh mango, but its very nice and much more affordable.

TwoProngedFork · 10/08/2023 20:05

LadyWithLapdog · 07/08/2023 07:20

@DeedlessIndeed Hello Fresh recipe book is 99p on kindle today.

Oooh thank you sharing this 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

beguilingeyes · 11/08/2023 07:04

Nellieinthebarn · 10/08/2023 19:46

I make a budget version of this by using a cheap tin of peaches, blending half the tin with all the juice to soak the oats and then topping with the rest of the chopped peaches. Its not as delicious as fresh mango, but its very nice and much more affordable.

I tend not to use fresh mango either. Too much faff. It's nice enough with just the tinned pulp.

Yoyo2021 · 13/08/2023 09:02

This summer holiday we haven't done lots of the trips we normally would of zoos, theme parks etc and stuck to things like park, swimming, free museums apart from a national trust day out which we had a fabulous time!

When I'm paid on the last day of the month we will go to a big local attraction with rides etc but even then I'm going to be using vouchers!

I'm getting in full swing of using apps and vouchers where possible for example used the meerkat 2 for 1 offer when we went to the movies and when we did eat out at McDonald's ( which was a treat as one put a stop to all this eating out type stuff) I used the app and got two mcflurrys for free 🙌

We also holidays in the uk this year and had so much fun!!!!!! Sure I would still go abroad in a heartbeat but it saved me
So much money!

septicsmeg · 13/08/2023 21:48

Anything fun and not essential