Where to cut costs when you've done all the obvious things

[Handyru]

Wondering if anyone has any cost cutting tips that I haven't thought of.
What I have done:
Compared energy providers, mobile phone providers, mortgage providers.

Reduced the bills by turning down the boiler temperature, turned down the thermostat, shorter showers, only use the oven three times per month.

Meal planning and batch cooking to cut down on food bills.

Buy as much as possible second hand.

Is there anything that is going to significantly going to reduce costs that I have missed?

No car, no netflix or similar, no gym membership. Pay for breakfast club 3 days per week but that is my only childcare expense.

Sounds like you need to increase income.

I know that sounds blasé and it’s not that simple.

Look at Dave Ramsey. He had lots of stuff about side hustles.

Eg: I’m a single parent teacher. Epitome of time poor. But exam marking is my side hustle.

We need more info on what you do spend to advise.

Sometimes increasing income is easier than cutting costs, but of course not always.

Prob already doing it but writing down every penny you spend to see what's slipping through. I categorised mine as essential urgent/essential non-urgent /non-essential etc and realised I was still impulse buying quite a lot that we could've waited for or could have probably done without.

If you don't have a car do you use public transport? Have you checked for travel cards you might qualify for that will make it cheaper?

Well, how much is your food shop? What are you buying?

How much are your unplanned spends?

I’d agree with the Pp about increasing income. What do you do/ what hours do you work? Do you have any extra child free time? An extra few hundred a month can make a huge difference to your budget when you are skint. I do mystery shopper tasks for ipsos. I got £60 recently for walking in to a dealership and test driving a Renault. I love the pub ones where you out try the food service.

Phone mobile phone provider and tell them you’re planning to switch to another company, in my experience they then offer you a better price to stay.

I second the Dave Ramsey approach. How many hours do you work? Are you in debt? How much do you need to find?

Unfortunately, I agree with pp about increasing income. It sounds like all your expenditure is necessary.
You could go to a foodbank for a couple of weeks and that will save you a bit of money but look at getting more money in.

Sell stuff, rent out a room, get a another job, find a part time job

Look at "side hustle" or companies who are looking for AI training if you're good at English. Data Annotation is one that comes to mind so Google companies like them.

Do you use tax free childcare for breakfast club?

Can you sell outgrown clothes on Vinted?

Do you have a water meter?

Are you the only adult, if so do you claim single person council tax discount

Packed lunches if you don't already.
Scour freecycle when you need new stuff.
Make sure you use the most energy efficient cycle on your washing machine....it takes nearly 3 hrs on mine which is annoying.

Replace light bulbs for led ones if not done already. Get draft excluders and curtains and shut them as soon as its dusk to keep heat in.

I am afraid I agree about increasing income.

I do an evening shift and a weekend afternoon shift every second weekend at our local pub. Despite being a full time professional in a regulated profession.

Its a bit of a joke tbh that the COL means people like me need to top up our income just to stand still.

My best friend who is retired does exam invigilating.

This might not suit you/ your family but I’m aiming to spend more days out of the house completely - working in libraries/ cafés. (Loitering 😬) Going swimming most mornings and showering there.

Also figuring out what time the supermarket discounts food and then meal planning around whatever bargains I pick up.

There’s the Too Good to Go app too, but, for me it usually means driving to collect the food which makes it less of a bargain.

I use way less soap powder than recommended and my washing gets clean (pre treat any stains)

Have tried increasing income but not had much success finding a better paid job that fits around the school run. I try and sell anything we don't need but it's generally low value stuff so doesn't bring a lot in.

Food shop probably could be cut down more but I am reluctant to do that. I cook meat once per week and fish (frozen) once per week. Largest expense on the food bill is fresh fruit and veg.

Mortgage 400£ per month at 1.79% fixed for another 4 years.
Phone and internet 25£ per month.
Monthly transport ticket for 2 zones 26£.
Swimming and football club 20£ per month.
Biggest unexpected expenses usually clothes or shoes for DS. Yesterday was 30£ on a coat. Will need new wellies for the winter too.

I guess it's a bit of a side hustle but selling toys, clothes you don't need means you have less stuff to manage and makes a bit of money.

Loot at keeping warm tips for not using heating as much e.g keeping the person warm not the whole house.

Offers, vouchers and food swops to cheaper alternatives/own brand. Community pantries near you (these are not food bank and open to all)

Do you and any DC have a bike you can use instead of public transport?

House insurance - compare when comes up for renewal

do you need out of season fruit? if you eat it
can you buy frozen berries
frozen chicken
frozen beef
frozen green beans

Try to buy fruit and veg in season. Don't buy any berries but do buy frozen beans and peas. Occasional strawberries of I see them for a good price.
Meat is whatever is on offer or reduced.

@Handyru you would have saved probably £25 getting a coat on vinted I've just don't the same.look for wellies on there too

Are you a single parent?

If not, you could sign up with an agency like Sitters UK and babysit other people's children while yours are with your partner.

You are better to think going forwards about the difference between what a job pays and what the necessary childcare to do it costs you, and try to increase that, rather than trying to make the job fit round school.

Cost cutting is only going to work short term due to inflation.

I have paid teens £10 ph for babysitting and would have been delighted to have a mature babysitter. Also not tiring if it just means sitting in front of a different tv some evenings.

As a PP said, write down everything that you buy in a booklet you carry around - it’ll show you where money drops away, and will usually stop you buying.

Get onto free cycle apps - one of our most active locally is ‘trash nothing’ where you can put out requests as well.

Look for a second income (not changing your job but adding another part time).

Locate local community pantries and visit them regularly (they aren’t food banks, they are open to all).

Spend days at free warm places - the local library on a Saturday.

If you have any outdoor space, grow high yield foods that keep producing (eg runner beans). No low yield foods though - won’t be worth it.

Sell excess clothes on Vinted.

That’s what I was going to say. I buy all my children’s coats on eBay or Vinted. Football boots too. There really is no shame in it, much more environmentally friendly.

How much are you short of OP each month.

What are your food costs and who are you feeding?

Coats and boots shouldn't be unplanned expenses really most kids need a new one each year! Unplanned means emergency so a dentist trip or a burst tyre.

What about renting a room out in your home .... e en if temporarily

Also my swim membership is £30 a month and reckon I save that in shower costs (5x per week)!

I never understand the people who go home without a proper shower at the pool!

Could you use breakfast or after school club so you can up your hours? They’re usually cheaper than hourly pay so you’d get more money, and you can use tax free childcare to reduce the costs.