What do you not buy anymore to save money?

[heartbroken22]

What's the alternative?

Salon haircuts (I've found a lovely mobile hairdresser for half the price)
Takeaways
Lunch when I'm in the office
I'll be losing my cleaner this month too

So many local businesses who lose out when times get tough, it's horrible.

Gardener - he was a pain in the bottom anyway and didn't do the time paid for. I like gardening, but don't usually have the time - invested in lighter, battery charged equipment which has already paid for itself / makes it faster.
Magazines, stupid price now and often repeats the same content.
Wine only on holidays. TBF better for health.
Money donations to charity - now clothing donations and volunteering.
Clothes - using what I have that are rotated properly.
Less casual clothes for the children unless summer holidays - not being worn as in school or in sports.
Pet insurance - we've put a ringfenced emergency amount in a pot / account and usual insurance monthly payment also goes into it. We have a large breed, insurance renewal was £1300. If we need it, it's there if not it's an additional saving pot.
Food shopping sticking to a reduced budget so far - 3 weeks in, Previously I would just add if I fancied it. It was just creeping up all the time. So mostly offers and meal plan.
Takeaways - only if a really crappy week, and then we support the one with lovely customer service / fresh ingredients.
Shirt ironing service - both work full time. Son is soon going to casual for A levels and bought easy iron shirts for DH. Price also went up last month.

Cancelled some amazon subscriptions that were not competitive even with the discount, as had crept up.
Car pool for school runs - we have friends that live local to us, so just halved our car fuel bills.

I continue to support trades and businesses who have provided good customer services, decent rate for the job and those who have helped in difficult circumstances in the past. So for example - gardening supplies I buy from an independent garden centre, probably costs a bit more than homebase, etc because I had to stop 7 years ago with a distraught baby and they checked on me as I had stopped in the car park, gave us a quiet room and brought a cup of tea which helped calm both of us. Probably only 5 minutes from home but felt a world away (medical issue). Our plumber also faced bankruptcy as his partner had been ripping him off - so recommended to friends and business contacts to help him rebuild, also brought forward some work we had planned. Lovely family who had helped us at short notice.

This is where you get creative and use the remaining bananas for pancakes or banana bread!

@WillowTit @Runingoncaffeine yes, I always use uneaten bananas for banana bread. They can be frozen too, peeled, for later use if I’m not baking.

Fabric conditioner.... white vinegar instead, cheap and effective. Soft towels and non smelly machine.
Also use it with b of s to deal with lime scale

Have already stopped buying:

All branded food, including all soft drinks.

New clothes for me.

Alcohol - at home or pub. Have decided I'll visit the pub once every few months as a treat.

Cancelled tv subscriptions.

To cut out completely from today:

Any take away or eating out - including McD saver menu or the odd portion of chips from local chip shop.

Haircut for me - will cut my own if desperate.

All heating, except if relatives visit or it's freezing cold in the house even with measures taken to insulate.

Stopping at local express or corner shop during the week.

No new clothes or shoes for kids unless essential.

How much white Vinegar do you use please ?

I stopped buying a coffee every morning (and at all) about two years ago and also hardly ever buy lunch when in the office (3 days a week). I could afford to do both really but I cannot get my head around £3 for a coffee - I expect it's more now but that was when I bowed out!

I haven't bought kitchen roll for about 8 years. We don't have chips that much but if we do we buy oven chips. I don't possess a deep fat fryer.

I bought a Ninja Speedi air fryer last year and haven't used the oven since. The difference it's made to the electricity bill has more than paid for it.

Just freeze them 👍

I use a slosh - about a good tablespoon, or a conditioner cap full

You will smell a tint of vinegar when you take the clothes out but it goes once dried

@suki1964

Thank you I will give it a go

Although a nice idea, that just passes on the cost to the recipient, ie framing. Not a great present if it has to cost you IMO.

I'm foreigner living in UK I'm fortunate because while visiting my EU country I'm able to do lots of things cheaply. I lived in small town so is inexpensive. I do dentists £20-£40 for feeling I do have dentist on NHS UK but prices are horrendous I go for 6 months checkups I also use dental hygienist in UK anything major abroad. I do glasses abroad I have free eye test from employer, £150 glasses and frames in my country if I can't do that I use glassesdirect. Contact lenses last me a box for a year I use glasses as much as possible. I shop in LIDL I buy all cleaning washing products in LIDL. I use vinegar instead of softener I buy 20 L on eBay I also use for sinks and for descaling. I add bicarbonate of soda to whites. I buy only organic milk and eggs from farmer that is more expensive. . We stoped eating out And take aways. I cook at home lots of stews, soups etc roast dinner is on Sunday. Any meat or fish with yellow label I will buy and keep in the freezer for nice meal. I buy frozen veg and fruits. I don't have tumble dryer I have invested in good quality dehumidifier with clothes drying option. I use launderette once a month during winter time to dry bedding max £9 - 3,4 washes. I'm a swimmer so I try always to have a shower after in the gym to not use water at home.We not well off but able to do holidays 3 times a year with teenagers. I save money on dog grooming I do myself. I work from home so I don't but any clothes all I have is used from previous years casual classic nothing trendy but is timeless. I only buy leggings and t-shirts to have something to wear around the house. I don't use fancy cosmetics I like the ordinary and recently find good face cream from Sainsbury's for £4.50. My only one Treat is eyebrows tint once a month £15. We drive cheap car is 10 years old but never had problem with it. We have only netflix because of kids. Mobile phones on top up £5 per month.

Brilliant! Thanks.
Which mobile 5 is that? Sim only or pay as you go?

By the way, are you Polish? Don’t answer if intrusive, I’m just admiring your ingenuity, I thought I was pretty good, but you put me to shame!

Is actually £6 I haven't checked for a few years is Giffgaff data only 2GB but we at home so connected to home internet we don't need any more. If you have any more questions I'm happy to answer 😁
Growing up in communism where nothing was in the shop helps also I don't have an issue with class segregation and status. Mind you husband is English and love m&S for food but he is not going far with it. Splashing huge amounts in M&S for Xmas shopping was insane for me.

I don't buy floor cleaner anymore. I find a small squirt of washing up liquid in the mop bucket does the trick .

Coffee in coffee shops. I have had a good machine at home for years & take a small thermos everywhere.

I've gone from getting takeaway every week to once every 2 months.

I've stopped having my feet done once a month to not at all.

Less coffee out just take a cup from home in an insulated cup.

We used to go bowling as a family once every 3-4 weeks. Now only once every other month.

Cut back on bits from shopping.

jars of roast tomatoes

I won't stop buying them and don't very often but I balked at £3.30 last night for a small jar.

I bought a mushroom pate in M&S yesterday for £6.25. That gave me pause! I don't think I'll buy it again. I can afford it I suppose in that it won't leave me short but I felt ripped off.

What do you put it in?

What do you use it for?