What did you used to waste money on??

[FusionChefGeoff]

Due to energy crisis, I've only just started turning upstairs radiators off in the mornings and on in the evenings - only heating rooms I'm in.

This embarrassing waste of money has made me think what else (not just energy costs) am I unthinkingly wasting money on.

Generally speaking, we take coffee / tea / water and don't buy it out and shop at Aldi. Both WFH most of the time and don't buy lunches.

Is there anything you've changed and suddenly thought why didn't I do this sooner!?

Also I've just downloaded YNAB app but it's 12.99 a month after free trial!! Surely one of the first tips is to cancel all the little subscriptions that build up. Any free budgeting apps you'd recommend??

Buying food/snacks/coffee while out and about was a big one for me. Now we take sandwiches and a thermos and I can’t believe I used to waste all that money, not to mention time queuing!
Also, I’ve tried to buy second hand for a long time, because of the waste, but lately I’m starting to appreciate the savings too. There’s some great bargains to be had, if you accept you’re going to meet some time-wasters along the way.

Does turning off some radiators whilst the heating is actually on anyway, actually save any money? Surely, if your boiler is on anyway, it makes no difference if you're heating 4 radiators or 7? I'll happily be told I'm wrong though, this is a conversation I have regularly with DGM

I’m not sure about that, we can’t do it anyway as turning off one radiator seems to knock our whole system out of whack. We do have some turned down very low though.

@Mamamamasaurus

Does turning off some radiators whilst the heating is actually on anyway, actually save any money? Surely, if your boiler is on anyway, it makes no difference if you're heating 4 radiators or 7? I'll happily be told I'm wrong though, this is a conversation I have regularly with DGM

I'd be interested in the answer to this too.

Is @pigletjohn still around?

When I was younger, cigarettes. I gave up a long time ago thankfully.

I was never much of a saver in my young days, money burned a hole in my pocket and I enjoyed spending and going out.

Things change as you get older.

I have quite an open house, no wasted rooms so I leave all radiators on so when the heating is on the house heats up more quickly and then I turn it off.

As for money wasting- defo lunches when in the office, the pandemic broke that habit for me big time!

Magazines when younger!
I’ve always taken food, kids do this as well as teens, DD will buy sandwiches marked down at the end of the day for her lunch the next day.

Just brought a pair of trainers usually £95 worn once - got them for £18 EBay in a minefield of stuff you can get cheap!

Quotes - always ring round on everything, never stick to one supplier. You can save £££ spending one afternoon sorting bills into cheaper suppliers.

Clothes from fast fashion shops. Since changing to buying less, but better, cost per wear is pennies.

Gym, Sky TV, restaurants, pubs that charge £12 for a glass of chateau thames embankment , phone upgrades, magazine subscriptions, National Trust membership,

Magazines: spending money on buying advertisements and insecurity. Pure madness.

Random clothes because they were on sale and "good value."

Food shopping. Trying hard to bulk buy and make two meals out of one cooking time as much as possible.

A couple of times uncancelled direct debits.

Coffee when out and snacks for the kids.

Takeaways are a waste where we live, just not nice enough to justify.

I actually googled the radiator thing the other day. Apparently it doesn't cost any more to have all the radiators on but if they are all on it takes longer for the boiler to heat them all. Whereas if you only have them on in the room you are in that radiator will heat up quicker meaning you can switch the boiler off earlier so saving energy that way.

I changed from audible subscription to free podcasts

I don't think I've explained that very well so having all the radiators on for 2 hours wouldn't cost any more than it would having the boiler on for only 1 radiator for 2 hours. But the whole point is if you only turn on the ones you need then they will heat up more quickly meaning you could turn the boiler off after just 1 hour for example. I know what I'm trying to say but I'm rubbish when it comes to writing out what I want to say!

Oh Audible is such a flipping drain but I have a teenager using the subscription so haven't cancelled it. And said teenager doesn't do other paid for activities anymore so it would feel unnecessarily mean to say no.. It bugs me though!

I don't drink nowadays due to health issues so going out is much cheaper. Sine the pandemic I've cut right down on buying coffee out. Now I'll only buy coffee if I'm going to meet friends (maybe once a week), rather than 3 or 4 times a week. I also spend a lot less on petrol (£50 a month compared to £200+) now I'm WFH permanently.

However I spend more on hair and skincare products than I used to, and all bills have gone up so I don't feel any better off.

I stopped spending much at all on skincare but have started eating a lot more fruit and veg. I think the one has cancelled out the other!

Expensive mobile phone contracts. Always had iPhone on contract and it cost me around £60-£70 per month. Now I buy a handset outright (currently Samsung galaxy a21s) for £175 and have a sim only deal for £15pm. This cuts my mobile costs in half.

Costume jewellery.

Hybrid electric car. In 9 months I've only spent £42 in petrol. That's one tank which has lasted the whole time. I have solar panels on my roof and religiously plug it in every time I park at home. Previously I'd spend £42 per month.