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Tips and advice on how to live more frugally?

47 replies

Paynefully · 22/09/2023 10:52

I’m a ‘I want it, I need it’ kinda gal, and always really have been.

But we’ve just got married, have two children and winter is coming up. We’re both starting to think of way to save our pennies.

the thing is, we’re not suppose to struggle. After all bills, food shop, everything has gone out we should be left with anything from £800-£1200 a month for ‘fun money’ dependant on various bills and nursery fees.

but for some reason we’re still left with £0 at the end of every month, even into our overdraft. I don’t know if it’s because of the wedding, which was planned over 3.5 years so maybe things will get better now?

but honestly I just find myself thinking “oh it’s autumn, Halloween is also coming we’re going to need autumnal cushions and throws in the living room, smelly candles and reed diffusers, kids costumes, decorations” I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to money and I think it’s because I see all these nice influencers online with their nice decor and I feel like I’m missing out if I don’t do it 🥲 but we really need to start saving and getting ourselves back on the straight and narrow.

how do I stop bloody spending?!

OP posts:
OneNameTwoNameThreeName · 22/09/2023 10:58

Set yourself a budget of say £50 a month for money to fritter away on things that are clear wants not needs (eg Halloween decs). And stick to it.
Spent a week organising absolutely everything you own, ie every item, loft etc. Then repair what needs repairing, donate what can be donated, sell what can be sold and throw out what is definitely rubbish.
You’ll likely be less keen to buy eg another scented candle when you think of your box of fifteen half used candles. You’ll probably also find plenty of decor that is perfectly lovely and can be reused. And you can use the money from things you’ve sold as extra fun money (I just leave it in my PayPal account and use that to buy unnecessary stuff. When it’s gone it’s gone and it’s probably time for the next clear out 😂).

autumncoloursinmyhead · 22/09/2023 14:44

I am someone who has A LOT of self control when it comes to money. This was learned as a child, being from a family who didn't have lots of money. Pocket money, birthday and Xmas money was limited, so if I was going to spend it, it would be on something I REALLY wanted.

This attitude has followed me to adulthood. You don't need to be completely mean to yourself and deprive yourself of pleasures, but you do need to ask yourself a few questions

  1. Can I afford it? If you have £10 in the bank and 5 days to pay day, then no, you can't. If you have some cash, then ask:
  1. Do I need it? If your coat has a broken zip, or your boots have holes in, the answer is probably yes. If you have several coats and shoes in the cupboard, then you probably don't.
If you don't need it, you need to ask:
  1. Do I REALLY want it? Maybe you just like how it looks now, on the hanger, but give yourself a few days breathing space. You may decide after a couple of days it's not so exciting anymore. You may just want to buy it to get the rush you get from nice new things, which fades in an hour or two.

Candles can be bought cheaply from places like Home Bargains. Halloween costumes can be made yourself with imagination or you could buy a cheap mask from a discount shop and adapt some clothes you have already.

Vinted is also a good place to look for bargains.

You could also keep all spend listed in a spreadsheet to keep track and maybe discipline yourself over spending.

paranoidnamechanger · 22/09/2023 18:49

Two tips:

Move your bill dates to when you or DH get paid, or when you both get paid.

Pay yourselves first i.e. when it’s payday/days transfer x amount to your savings accounts.

CinemaCrazy · 22/09/2023 19:14

Do you have any Halloween/orange stuff from last year? My tip is always to check what you already have and can reuse? You can apply this to so many aspects of your life.

DelphiniumBlue · 23/09/2023 00:45

The fun part of holidays like Halloween is making stuff. You can make decorations , cut up a pumpkin, help dc create an outfit from an old shirt and a bit of cardboard.
You can bake, and put tiny candles in painted jam jars.
You definitely do not need new cushions and throws- what happened to last years ones? ?
Try not to be a victim of commercialism.. think about how you are being manipulated to buy stuff you don't need, wasting your money, using unnecessary resources ....
Can you " shop your house" as in check what you already have, maybe see if you can use it differently or rejuvenate it... wash it/dye it/cut it up and reuse it.
Maybe choose to buy one lovely thing to satisfy your shopping urges and then no more!

evtheria · 23/09/2023 01:19

Unfollow those influencers.
Start following ones who focus on budgeting, fun money challenges and swaps, living frugally/mindfully. Fill your feed with that kind of thing.

Keep a No Spends calendar (where you mark the days you didn't buy unnecessaries). X number of no spend days eg. 15 out of the month means a reward (obv set a budget for this, could be a day out or an item).

If you have digital pots, allocate some money each month as your 'fun/frivolous' spending, but challenge yourself to not go over it. Take it out in cash if you prefer.

If you see something you want to get, transfer the amount into a separate savings pot instead. Do it each time you're about to buy 'just this one small thing' and after a week look at the amount... You'll probably find that quite quickly you'll start being attracted to that amount building up, and the no spending will be a bit easier.

Ruthietuthie · 23/09/2023 02:09

I saw something recently that REALLY changed my attitude to spending. Now, before buying anything, I ask myself, "Am I trying to solve a problem that this item will not actually solve?"
On reflection, I would buy clothes, because I didn't like how I looked as I had gained weight, but the problem wasn't solvable by the clothes. I needed to lose weight instead.
I would buy things for the house, because I wanted the rooms to look entirely different, but a few new throws aren't going to help. Better to save and repaint.
What are you wanting, really, when you want to buy these things? Is it more meaningful time with the children? Celebrating the changing seasons with the family? Bringing Autumn into your home? Is there a way you can accomplish these things without spending?

BarbaraofSeville · 23/09/2023 05:25

oh it’s autumn, Halloween is also coming we’re going to need autumnal cushions and throws in the living room, smelly candles and reed diffusers, kids costumes, decorations

Did you buy these things last year? What happened to them? OK, the candles and diffusers probably got used up, but what about everything else? Seeing as it sounds like this is how you've always been, don't you have these things from last year, that were only used for a few days so still in perfect condition? Surely you're not buying new every year? That would be terribly wasteful, both money and resources. Don't be that person.

Set a limited budget after all other costs have been accounted for and, if you don't have room to store things that you will use year on year, look in charity shops or ask around for outgrown costumes.

Likewise Christmas. We're still using the same set of decorations I bought for our first Christmas in 1995. We have added a few things along the years, but not many and they're just kept in a box in the loft and brought out each year, I can't imagine buying a load of new things every year when we still have perfectly good ones already. And it isn't like they were expensive, they were in the sale at BHS (remember them?).

But on the money that should be left over, is some of it going on annual and irregular expenses like insurance, car costs, white goods replacement? But anyway, you need to save for these things before spending on trinkets so make sure you do that, put the money into a savings account on pay day, so you don't have it sitting in your current account where you think you can spend it. Also holidays, Christmas etc. It's likely that all these costs will average out at a few hundred pounds a month if you go on holiday and run a car so don't underestimate them and plan them into your budget if you haven't already.

The other potential big use of money is food and drink out of the house. A coffee on the way to work and lunch from somewhere like Pret could cost £10 a day or more, which is £200 pm or nearly £2.5k pa, which would pay for a holiday. A few quid here and there really adds up for anything you do regularly.

Assuming you pay for most things by card, look through your statements for the last few months - most banks allow you to categorise your transactions so you'll be able to see what you've been spending on.

Maybe separate your money into different accounts, or pots within the same account. Have standing orders and direct debits that cover bills, food and travel, savings for the annual and irregular expenses mentioned above (plus an emergency fund and for any large planned purchases like home improvements or car replacement, all this is more important than new cushions for autumn or coffee on the way to work) and then what's remaining is spending money for non essentials. Perhaps separate this out so you cover DC costs, personal money for each of you and possibly 'house money' although you may decide that cushions, throws, candles and diffusers are your expense, seeing as it would be a rare man who would actively choose to buy these things out of his own money.

But definitely see what you can sell and put your energies into doing that instead of buying. Remember that influencers are promoting their 'brand' and are being paid/get things for free to show them to you so you buy them too. Don't fall for it.

Bin85 · 23/09/2023 08:36

Once Halloween ( or Easter, Valentines , Christmas etc) is over stalk the supermarkets much will be massively reduced and can be kept to use next year.
Also just decorate a few areas maybe front door and a mantelpiece not the whole house.

Lemondrizzlespongebob · 23/09/2023 08:41

Following because I also have this sort of mindset but not that sort of money 😂

I'm desperate to start saving.

We've just setup our own pocket money accounts at Starling. It's working v well and once the money has gone, it's gone.

DynamicK · 23/09/2023 08:45

Sometimes what you think is fun money all for you to spend isn't always the case.
Do you set aside separate money for uniforms, gifts, repairs, replacements, going out and so on.
Go through your statement and see where you frittered away your money last month. It might surprise you and make you more aware of where your money is really going.

Then budget. You know you want some Halloween stuff so put a realistic budget on it. If you're including costumes and cushions etc them set a budget of £80 or whatever and then just stop.

Do you have savings?if you had genuine fun money of £1200, I'd put a huge chunk of that into savings.

Copyn · 23/09/2023 08:46

It’s always hard to change a habit. But you need to get into the mindset of if I don’t need it I don’t buy it. Spending can be like comfort eating. What works for me when trying to reduce a bad habit it telling myself if I’m good all week I can have something special at the weekend.

Or, alternatively, save up for something that will make a life changing difference.

Goodornot · 23/09/2023 08:47

oh it’s autumn, Halloween is also coming we’re going to need autumnal cushions and throws in the living room, smelly candles and reed diffusers, kids costumes, decorations”

Stop buying tat. That stuff is awful. Get the kids a pumpkin and some sweets what else do they need?

Lemondrizzlespongebob · 23/09/2023 08:59

Also, nothing is better than baking apple crumble, making ginger parkin and baking gingerbread with the kids. This is best autumnal fragrance.

Mmmmm!! Sprinkle cinnamon on your apple crumble.

My autumnal todo, wants and needs list

  • walk in the woods, have a competition to see who can collect the biggest and who can collect the brightest!
  • pumpkin spice latte - I'm not sure if I like them and I genuinely want to try one
  • Bake crumble, parkin and gingerbread
  • Make a hearty veggie soup
  • Buy a new cord dress or skirt
  • everyone needs new slippers
  • buy some local (but good) cider and buy some pressed apple juice. 😋
  • Autumnal bike / scooter ride
  • Kids need vests as their school jumpers are really thin this year (new supplier)
  • swap bedding to Winter tog duvets
  • I would like to treat myself to a new blanket that I've seen for £17.99
  • also some new placemats
Lemondrizzlespongebob · 23/09/2023 09:00

Also, hot chocolate and marshmallows (and sprinkle cinnamon)

HenryCavillsWife · 23/09/2023 09:01

I'm like you! Except with less disposable income. But it's also my autumn goal to stop buying "stuff".

I've been following a woman who runs a course called Overcoming Overspending. (The course is £79 and, ironically, I refuse to buy that because it's too expensive.)

She says we spend money sometimes for other people's benefit. For example, who would the autumnal homewares be for? Your DH and DC won't care about them. You'll survive if you don't buy them. Is it for your Instagram or for your friends' opinion? Think carefully, because you'll initially feel it's all for you but then you start realising it's not... Try to find the emotion behind the purchase. Could you satisfy that emotion in a way that doesn't involve spending?

I'm going to try to turn frugality into a game - what's the most possible money I can NOT spend in a month? I've already stopped all my subscriptions, and I add stuff to online carts now and leave the site without buying. That is so satisfying. It gives you the hit of shopping without the cost.

The Money Saving Expert website is great for this, there are hundreds of resources on there, including message boards. I'm also going to have a no-spend-day every week, ideally more than one.

We can do this!

Use free stuff whenever you can.

DynamicK · 23/09/2023 09:06

@Goodornot good point.

It seems like op enjoys making occasions lovely and marking them well but have a look to see what free and cheap stuff there is around too. There are activities in libraries and museums, walks in the spooky woods and spooky books in the library. Baking ghost cookies and soups.
Use Instagram for that kind of stuff rather than just materialistic.

Thighdentitycrisis · 23/09/2023 09:07

Stop looking at instagram and just get on with something else

BarbaraofSeville · 23/09/2023 09:10

I'm going to try to turn frugality into a game - what's the most possible money I can NOT spend in a month

This can be a really good 'reset' and start of an emergency fund/savings account.

If you have a decent disposable income that you normally just fritter on non essential crap and you challenge yourself to not do it for a month and do free/cheap things instead, after a month, you might have found some other activities you enjoy, will have saved a decent chunk of money, have less stuff cluttering your house up, will have given less headspace to thing like dealing with online deliveries/parcel collections/returns etc and have been less of an environmental disaster, so win win.

fearfuloffluff · 23/09/2023 09:15

It's a consumerist treadmill, avoid ads (incl social media, aspirational mags and programmes etc) and focus on things that actually add value to your life.

Eg a blanket is good if it keeps you warm and saves putting the heating on. You do NOT need autumnal decor. Conkers, leaves etc if you must.

It's like eating - if you have a sweet you want another. And another. At some point you have to deal with the 'i want more' feeling. You might as well do it at the start rather than four sweets in.

Have a physical or mental list of things you actually need, only buy things on that. Preferably secondhand and made to last.

fearfuloffluff · 23/09/2023 09:17

If it helps, when I'm tempted to buy tat I imagine it in landfill for a few hundred years. Tends to put me off!

Doyouthinktheyknow · 23/09/2023 09:18

I use YNAB and that has turned our finances around.
It makes us accountable for every penny and has really stopped us wasting money on incidentals.
We save just over 20% of our income and another 20% funds the dses at university. That’s from a place a couple of years ago where we were living in our overdraft.
Our priority right now is travel so we save and spend heavily on that, we try and cut back in all other areas.

Lemondrizzlespongebob · 23/09/2023 09:22

fearfuloffluff · 23/09/2023 09:17

If it helps, when I'm tempted to buy tat I imagine it in landfill for a few hundred years. Tends to put me off!

I've been doing this too! It actually works.

SadnapTwapples · 23/09/2023 09:31

Find better 'influencers'.

You might enjoy:
The Frugalwoods - the early entries in their blog
The Humble Penny - YouTube

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 23/09/2023 09:37

Goodornot · 23/09/2023 08:47

oh it’s autumn, Halloween is also coming we’re going to need autumnal cushions and throws in the living room, smelly candles and reed diffusers, kids costumes, decorations”

Stop buying tat. That stuff is awful. Get the kids a pumpkin and some sweets what else do they need?

What jumped out there was the OP's use of the word 'need' when what she really means is 'want.' Perhaps, OP, before you succumb to what the influencers think you should have you can ask yourself do I need it or do I want it? my grandmother was insanely frugal because there wasn't much she actually wanted as opposed to needed.

Unfollow those influencers.
Start following ones who focus on budgeting, fun money challenges and swaps, living frugally/mindfully. Fill your feed with that kind of thing.

This.