What do you not buy anymore to save money?

[heartbroken22]

What's the alternative?

Same; no holidays this year or haircut/nails etc for me. Also now not visiting new towns on weekends and staying at home far more to save petrol.

All libraries have it and you can also get the newspapers free.

I started using my community shop more.

I got rid of my car and got a mobility scooter. My car was on motability.

I naturally don't feel the cold the way others do so my heating has only been on a couple of times. I'm also lucky that when my house does get warm it holds the heat. I use heated throws.

On the downside in Summer my electric bill goes up due to AC and fans.

I've just cancelled pet insurance and private healthcare too. Not used either and can use savings if I need to. The money coming out monthly seems to be increasing every year somehow!

At one point we had 4 dogs and 3 cats and pet insurance would have been insanely expensive. So (in a fit of sense which is not that typical of us tbh) we did put the money we would have spent into a separate ISA each month, as a standing order. In the end, we had to fork out for chemo x 2 for 2 cats and a few MRIs for dogs and thyroid medication x 2 plus the various other things but over the course of about 15 years we certainly came out on top. We may well have been lucky though because the pets were essentially healthy, but it was something we have tried to continue (only 2 cats now).

I grew up in an area where culturally it was the norm to be frugal so I'm lucky that a lot of these habits are just normal to me.

I make coffee and lunch at home, we don't really buy ready meals or packaged snacks like chocolate, cakes, sweets, crisps, juices, etc. Things like jarred sauces, condiments and dips can add up as well. I don't drink at home so never buy alcohol and we don't eat many meat heavy dishes. We stopped ordering takeaway when we realised how much we were wasting on fees. We've made an agreement that we have to go out so at least we get a nice experience if we're spending money. If it's simply an issue of being lazy and we can't be bothered to go out we will cook. Learning to cook things from scratch was probably the biggest money saver for me.

We live in a city so don't have a car or any associated costs. My style is pretty classic so I don't buy many clothes or follow trends. I try to shop intentionally by thinking about what I'm missing from my wardrobe (good winter coat, long sleeve tops) and buying quality items, preferably on sale. I don't really browse and buy things impulsively. Things that are well made like boots will be repaired rather than replaced.

I do get my hair done now that I'm going grey, but I've never been in the habit of getting manicures or regular beauty treatments. However I do cut open all of my products to get every last drop!

We try to dress warmly and address any draughts before turning on the heat and keep it at around 18 degrees. I lived in a dorm when I was at uni and remember facilities saying they didn't turn the heat on until the external temp went under 40F (so about 5C) and I try to keep that in my mind.

I no longer buy pure olive oil. I only ever used it sparingly, but I refuse to pay what it costs now.
I buy Olivio, a blend of vegetable oil and 15% olive oil............(nobody at home has noticed any difference.......🤫)

Yes, I've realised I'm being clobbered by overdraft fees that cost more than each of these so they are a complete false economy for us.

Lidl and muller are made in the same factory and taste identical just half the price

also never buy olive oil, not even from lidl
i use olivio

Alternatively, use less chicken/meat and pad out with veg and add your sides. That’s what we do rather than losing the sides.

Money saver here....
Monthly online supermarket shop of mostly own brand products.
Top up supermarket shop on weekends for things like bread, milk, breakfast.
Local farm shop for fruit and veg.
Amazon bulk buy toiletries, washing powder etc.
Do not even attempt to go in a corner shop even if just for milk, just not feasible with rising prices now, would rather go to Iceland or Tesco to get milk!

Oh and a takeaway is very rare too

send dh
he is far less likely to be persuaded by extras, or perhaps he is concerned about my reaction

We would fairly regularly have nights of not being arsed to cook which would result in a Chinese takeaway or similar back then it was just under £20 for the two of us and wasn't too bad now I hand over best part of £30 and it sucks so we've started having quick teas like beans on toast them nights.

Last Indian takeaway we had was diabolical and two hours late one failed delivery of everything we didn't order and was just stressful and sad.

Gave up takeaway coffee almost completely with exception of if we're out shopping or something my coffee outgoing would have been approximately £150 this month already we've spent £15 I think.

I've stopped buying my daughter as many clothes she just doesn't need or want them, already at toddlerdom she is seemingly preferring experiences.

In general avoiding the supermarket, that place drains my bank account 😆

I decided to cut down on the cost of party decorations when the kids were small.

In a fit of creativity I made scrap fabric bunting, one with “Happy” and then “Birthday”, “Halloween”, “New Year”. Another year we made character hats that lasted a few parties. Balloons, paper chains, table confetti punches. DD had a fold-out concertina Minnie Mouse thing for the table that she’s kept!

Two sets of plastic candle holders with numbers 0-9. Max two mini candles used.
Reusable wipe clean tablecloths and picnic plates/cutlery. We kept cartoon Nutella glasses for general use so no problem if one broke(!).
Wrapping paper is one roll of “Happy Birthday” and one of tartan for adults and Christmas. Re-use party bags and bows.

But returning to the OP…
We’ve gone from 2 cars to 1 plus public transport. Huge reduction.
Newspapers and magazines.
Eating out.
Clothes.
Books.
Alcohol.
Unnecessary gifting.

Not anything specific, just a lot of cutting back.

I used to order whatever I wanted and needed in the weekly grocery shop. I have a strict budget now, so after putting everything needed in the basket I have to go back through it and strip out what I can to get it within budget.

I'm doing a no spend on any new stuff for the house, clothes, all fashion and non essential toiletries with my friend and actually finding it liberating.

Cut back in general. No snacks out, bring own food, less coffees out, no takeaways etc etc. Go out less but make them better experiences. Friends over for a cup of tea rather than meeting for £££ coffee.

I find all of this is easier in the Summer as well.

Take a packed lunch most of the time for work
Take coffee in a little tub and make my coffees in the staff room
Use magazine apps instead of buying magazines
Tend to buy most of my books from WOB
Clothes usually from Primark, Supermarket, Shein, or Vinted
Less takeaways now
Use the car less
Dye my hair from home

Ditched Gym membership and work out from home

I won't be buying items on sale that I don't use say for example fruit and veg. A lot of it goes to waste.

Kitchen towel it's been about 4 years now - microfibre cloths and wash often. Just bought new ones recently because mine weren't getting clean anymore.

@Happierwithouthim for mops and spills right? What about if you fry stuff? What do you use to soak the oil for say chips etc?

Used to eat out once a week. Now it’s more like once a month or less.

Still going on holiday but use local transport instead of taxis to cut costs. Also to get to and from airport.

even on holiday not eating out as much. It’s so expensive now there’s four of us.

I wear thermals in the winter so I can have the heating a degree lower.

I also try and take cuttings of plants as plants also got so expensive.

a Lidl is coming to us soon 🙏

I actually find vinted works out more expensive for me (great for kids) because I have a particular body then I cant return the item. So places like next I buy a order load of sizes and options then send back all but the one thing If I'm lucky that fitted. Then you have some leeway to pay it off. Obviously just not buying clothes helps but if you really have to then it can be helpful.