What do you not buy anymore to save money?

[heartbroken22]

What's the alternative?

Water bills are apparently likely to rise by 20%. Council tax going up. It’s no surprise life is miserable right now.

Yes that is another one DH and I don't buy each other presents for Christmas anymore to save the money for presents for other people and this year there will be no presents for our anniversary either. Certainly not going out for dinner for it like we would've in the past.

Takeaways. Have reduced the amount I eat out by about 75% too. Also (for health reasons too) chocolate, cakes, snacks etc. Have hardly bought any new clothes this year except underwear.

Wow, I love soup but couldn't imagine only having that. Do you make it? Do you have anything with it?

Wet cut only. No colour, blow dry
No nails, facial etc
No magazines
Only essential new clothes with the very occasional splurge
No new books, use audible which is cheaper as i limit myself to only the free one as part of sub.
Only drink at weekends and no more than a bottle of wine
Very few meals out
Only geat home if its below 12 degrees
Food shopping i need to review again.
Id rather save for fewer better items than have lots of treats

I buy pretty much all my clothes from Vinted or charity shops or occasionally I’ll buy new from Primark.
Cancelled sky and TV Licence.

I haven't had my hair cut or coloured for two years. Doesn't actually look too bad!

Like most people on here, clothes, books, furniture mostly second hand.

We only eat out at Spoons. It's cheap and relatively tasty (and the food quality is higher than you might think - all eggs free range, fish certified etc).

No flowers - I have house plants instead which I propagate to get more (also make good presents).

No Christmas presents for anyone over 18 in the family. Saves a fortune and a lot of stress!

I'm loving all these tips. What does everyone do for kids birthdays? We have decorations that end up in the bin a day later for all 3 kids, cake from a cake shop, presents and grandparents come for a small party. Not sure how to 'tame' it down.

I have cut back on so much over the years.
No make up. I cut our hair myself. No car. No subscriptions (other than netflix for the kids). No eating out. No clothes or shoes (eBay, sales or vinted for the odd exception that is needed). Keeping meals to a budget.

The hardest one to cope with is no heating on unless the kids are home.

I buy essentials in bulk when they are on offer (cat litter, toilet rolls, pasta etc).

I would much rather use it for one-off things like a holiday. And cutting back on lots of stuff is the only way for me to afford that.

Pack of balloons or two for decorations or look on Vinted perhaps?
Cake - bake one yourself or buy one from the supermarket (this was always my choice as I am the world's crappest baker 😁).
Presents from Vinted, eBay or charity shops.

I really rate Spoons. Their pizzas are very good. They are still making profits and yet a 250 ml glass of NZ sauv is about £4 compared to nearly £10 at my local pubs. We go not terribly often but the last time we went there was an exceptional Sunday roast going on and extended families who clearly did not have alot of disposable cash were able to get together and enjoy it which to my mind is a bloody good thing.

Takeaways and eating out. I now cook more 😢

Stopped buying full shopping lists

Very minimalistic
Frozen bagged veg
Some meat
Making dinners with what I have

No fizzy drinks
No more snacks unless bought for me

Stopped buying clothes
Have a small capsule wardrobe and rotate
£400 for winter coat to last me a few years

One pair of new shoes

I rate them too. Their WiFi is always excellent, they're warm in winter and cool in summer and for £1.50 for an endlessly refillable coffee, you could conceivably sit there all day, should the impulse take you.
I'm a writer and work there often, I see more and more people with their laptops using it as an office.

Most clothes/shoes from charity shop, eBay or in the sales.
Can't remember the last time I had my nails done properly.
Stopped getting my hair coloured in late summer and rely on the box now.

Holidays abroad, subscriptions to things, clothes, expensive make-up, shoes, bags… yeah pretty much everything, but this also coincides with having children. Certain food items I would usually buy such as sandwich cheese, yoghurts, meat, fish - if I do buy any of these things I look for offers.

No way can I cut my own hair. If long and just a fringe and end trim, maybe, but mine is short, fine and awkward, so that's one luxury I shall continue to pay for. Plus I will not be cold if I can help it, so an hour or two in the morning and at night, and a heated throw will also continue. As I don’t smoke, rarely visit pubs, seldom drink alcohol, I think that’s justifiable!

That sounds pretty miserable-if true! A temp of less than 16c in the home is said to be harmful to health, especially to those with respiratory problems. Only eating soup would lead to malnourishment. Short showers-fine.

No buying books - library instead as it was so easy just to click and buy on Amazon for my kindle
No buying magazines - you seen the cost. Christmas Radio Times is £5.95
SIM only phone deal with phone bought outright from 4gadget rather than expensive monthly handset and tariff

Luxury brands of moisturiser, toner and mist make up. I've been converted by Aldi and use their face cream and serum. Tbh I've not noticed any difference to Elemis or Estée Lauder.

We don't have take away now or go to the pub.

All my clothes are second hand, Vinted is amazing

I am loving all of these cut backs, they’re really inspiring me to make some changes!

although I draw the line at heating only on if 10 degrees or lower! I agree with PP who said anything below 16 is bad for health, so I’ll only put heating on if 16 or lower I think!

We still spend for parties but I make the cakes and we have reusable decorations (multi colour bunting, a random happy birthday sign, etc). Food is picnic bits from Aldi (sausage rolls and crisps etc) and then the party is an activity like the trampoline park so the kids are occupied. I reuse everything I can - from candles or serving trays.

the problem with parties is that for the younger ones it’s a fairly important social event. For the older ones we are seeing a pattern of wanting to do something with a single friend, which is much cheaper and easier to arrange.

Big expensive items and luxuries are the big wins here
Family holiday budget cut to shreds
No hair and makeup - cut once a year
Clippers for him
Most food has a huge amount of calories so split a main between two and add lots of vegetables on the side

Yes, agreed. Having lived with broken/no heating for a while, it's one of the basics we now don't cut to ridiculous levels. We're all electric so it's not cheap but a warm house cheers us all up.