What small, mundane things have you stopped buying because you just can't afford them anymore?

[LydiaDeets]

I was just reading threadbandbthinking about shower gel and bath soaks.

I used to buy a couple of shower gels a week, £2ish ones and now I just buy bars of soap and will occasionally buy aldis own.

I also used to buy the rigid toothpaste tubes that have the push down button so the DC had a one push portion.
I just get the normal squeeze tubes now.

I used to get midrange shampoos and conditioners. Now it's Alberto Balsalm apple shampoo.

I don't buy bubble bath at all

I just little things but I miss having a nice bubbly soak and using a nice shampoo.

I haven't bought any moisturiser in a while either. I still have some soap and glody ones left but after that I will probably go without.

It's just surprising how in such a short space of time I've gone from buying these things as standard, without a thought, to cutting back on them even though they're quite basic things. Not fancy at all. 😩

Less soft fruit too. Cheaper yoghurt. One pack of biscuits rather than a couple for choice. God, this is making me feel miserable thinking about it.

I gave up meat a few years ago, so don't feel the benefit now. Plus still have to buy for my DC.

I don't buy my speed mop floor wipes either, since they've gone up by a pound since last month.

Been using bar soap instead of body wash for about six months too.

Need to invest in some period pants

I’ve been writing a list or home/personal hygiene bits needed before payday and stocking up for the month in B&M or home Bragains (being slightly skint before payday stops the impulse buying). Their version of the purple listerine is about 80p and just as good. They also do 1 litre of Colgate mouthwash for about £4 and lasts DP 6/7 weeks so saving lists there. Ditto buying £1 bottle of shower gel, I always use a sponge and it lathers nicely, a bottle can last me 3/4 weeks depending on size. I’ve stopped impulse buying cleaning items/toiletries, buying less chocolate and crisps. Also stopped buying fast lunch options as they get spendy and cutting back on my coffee pods.

Newspapers - £2.50 to do the crossword makes no sense.

Wine - but it's started keeping me awake so not that much of a sacrifice.

I’ve cancelled my hairdresser, I’ll start box dying at home.

Also cancelled nails and regular car valet and will just do it myself.

I suspect the small service businesses will suffer the most from this while the big companies keep getting richer.

A couple of shower gels a week? How much are you using? I'm still going on the stuff I got for Mother's Day....and yes I shower every day!

There's 6 of us the house, a shower every day, sometimes 2 a day of the kids have been doing something mucky. Come to think of it that's cut down too, showers.

To be fair the kids probably use way too much. They have crap portion control (hence buying the fancier dispensing toothpaste)

But in my weekly shop I would usually get 2 small 150ml bodywashes, yes

Before lockdown
Hair colour monthly
Washed once a week and blow dried at the salon
Nails twice a month
Feet once a month
Waxing weekly
Eyebrows weekly
New clothes weekly
Elmis shower gels daily x 2
Perfume amd make up

All of the above are no more
Or the weekly Tue lunch and friday dinner out.

I am now grey and scruffy and absolutely dont care.

Sadly cutting back on more things now. Tv packages. Take away. Branded foods. Sad times.

Venus razor blades!
I've been using my electric shaver but it's not the same.

Also body shop body butters but I stopped getting those a while ago and have been using the odds and ends of gift sets I have, not sure what I'll use after that.

My children have moderate eczema and their creams, washes and laundry stuff is really expensive and something I can't compromise on.

I've swopped out most of the branded stuff I buy. I'm waiting til things are on offer and stocking up.

Usually lots of people on MN complain about toiletry sets etc at Christmas but I wonder if people may be more grateful to receive them as we all start cutting down on what we buy.I used to choose toiletries based on what I liked, I am very much now buying based on price, my brand loyalty has pretty much disappeared.

We've stopped buying kitchen roll, I keep telling myself and others it's for the environment but deep down I know it's £2 off my shopping bill.

I bought waffles today but went for the none labelled, rejects that gave me 1kg for the same price as 8 birds eye waffles
Me and DH take left overs for lunch and I bulk with vegetables

Eating less snacks - didn't realise how many unhealthy Rocky biscuits or Club biscuits I was eating. Also cut down on chocolate.

I've saved money and lost weight but life's a bit less enjoyable 😒

It's my birthday in a few weeks and the toiletries/skincare/make up that I usually buy for myself I've requested for my birthday. I'll probably do the same at Xmas.
It's all so bloody depressing.

@LydiaDeets

I started in lockdown using Nivea Soft. Can always find it on offer somewhere. Currently £2.50 for 500ml tub in Argos of all places. Use on face, body, hands feet the lot. Skin is looking really good on my face. I used to be a Liz Earle girl.
I to have ditched kitchen roll and floor wipes.
If you really want to save money buy a bag of soda Crystal's for cleaning jobs. £1.00 for a kilo in Morrisons and Savers and 80p Occado. A 1.5 kilo bag is £1.50 in Wilko.
Also use in washing machine. Half your powder and add some instead of fabric conditioner. Cheap as anything and has loads of uses. Plenty of hints online for their uses from unblocking drains to making towels fluffy again.

One of my indulgences was buying flowers, perhaps once a month, but that has long gone. I do miss them thou.

I have also stopped buying kitchen towel - which I don’t miss.

I have sorted out my kitchen storage and was amazed at how much cling film we had, especially as we don’t use it that often. I think I will never have to buy any cling film ever again.

Goodbye:
manicures
fresh flowers
new clothes
takeaways
expensive cuts of meat

Hello:
doing my own nails
flowers out of the garden
second hand clothes if (and only if) necessary
even more fucking cooking
cheaper cuts

Mouthwash. Sensodine toothpaste. Anything branded. 1 packet of meat per week - no fish anymore. Supermarket and Primark clothes only now for ds (no new clothes for us).

Ach loads actually. Its just depressing.

Probably the biggest thing we have got rid of is TV licence, TV package with one of the big companies, and now we only pay for broadband and weekend and evening calls for the landline. I don't miss watching terrestrial TV.

Like a few others, I have started buying basic bars of soap (Pears for a bit of luxury). This will probably be it for the future. Saves on all shower gel packaging too.

More conscious of not buying alcohol unless it's a family birthday. Makes it a treat and better for my health. Same applies with takeaways. Only buy now to celebrate a birthday.

Flowers
Nice room spray/ diffusers and candles (now Aldi dupe candles, which are very good, but no local maker/ TK Maxx indulgences).
Fancy chocolate (Aldi own make now)
Fizzy drinks (bought a Soda Stream at Xmas)
Artisan coffee beans (Tesco own brand now).
Online speciality tea (will be a birthday/ Xmas request).
Local sourdough bread (Lidl if I'm passing).

Just noticed that nearly all of these mean not using local makers/ sellers, which is really, really sad😪. We've always tried to support local but just can't afford the lovely handmade chocs/ candles/ bread/ coffee beans/ teas.

I've also cancelled my Smol washing tabs and I'm using big box Aldi non-bio (I like it). Still getting their cleaners as good value.

Considering cancelling our local milk delivery. It would make me really sad, but it's significantly more expensive.

Handy andies

I'm still doing a hot white wash every week but everything else is now hand washed and put on the line to drip

I made the move to soap and solid bar shampoos and conditioners a few years back. Again, was buying local, but this will be a treat- just usual Pears/ Dove now and will be asking for the shampoo/ conditioners for birthday/ Xmas and giving them in stocking for the DC and OH.

And my perfume ran out recently. I only wear one- it's my signature one- but at £80 it'll wait until Nov birthday. I was recommended a good dupe for £20 and I'm using that.

Eden perfumes if anyone interested. I'm very impressed.