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. 😩

Bars of soap is a good swap as it's so much better for the environment than plastic bottles of shower gel. But 2 bottles per week? Absolutely crazy!

Everyone should start buying the biggest boxes of washing powder - Lidl or any supermarket own brand. So much cheaper than pods and liquid and better for the innards of your washing machine and then just a degradable cardboard box at the end of it rather than a huge plastic bottle.

Have a look at places such as co op when they do the night time reductions. They sometimes have reduced flowers. Ok they won't be fresh but I've found I can still get a good few days out of them

I've cancelled magazine subscriptions
No more new books, I order them from the library instead
Less meat, we only have meat 2 twice a week. We eat a lot more tinned fish (sardines at 50p a tin).
I'm picking flowers from the garden rather than buying them
I'm driving more meaningfully so I use less petrol

How much washing powder do you put in a load? I measure it with a dessert spoon and put two in. Changed from liquid.

I need to make swaps with my milk. I buy the alpro barista oat at £2 a box! I've tried the cheaper ones but they either separate or taste awful. The kids drink Lacto free which is also expensive ☹️

I've stopped buying butter. The kids get to eat olive spread with me now. I don't cook meat at home, and mostly buy fresh fruit and veg, pasta, rice, legumes, etc. Can't really cut down much more.

Using the library rather than buying books.
No more hosting friends, it's just too expensive.
No snacky lunches - sandwiches & fruit only.
Soft fruits only if reduced.
Buying less clothes - been buying secondhand for a while.
Supermarket flowers.

You need to go to Lidl. I can't remember how much coconut water is exactly but it's so much cheaper than anywhere else. I think it's about £1.50.

I used to buy a bunch of flowers every 2 weeks. Nothing very fancy - just a nice supermarket bunch. It more or less stopped during Covid when I did click and collects instead of going in store. I haven't gone back to it though due to the current cost if everything. I've cut some flowers from the garden but that won't go on past the summer.

@AYearOfCushions I swapped to a safety razor last year to reduce single use plastic and it’s great. You get a nice close shave, blades can be recycled, and they’re around 20p each. The fancy eco websites will try to sell you fancy shaving soap but you can lather up normal bar soap just fine.

Coffees when out. We all carry a water bottle for drinks.
All eat vegetarian food 4 times a week.
Frozen veg rather than fresh- less waste too.
Dog is on sardines not mackerel for his twice weekly fish-fix.
No baths, quick showers.
purposely kept old t-shirts this week so I can use them as under layers in winter- faded/ stretched so not something I’d want people to see.
No newspapers, magazines are subscriptions linked to DS’s studies.
Saving Nectar points for Christmas.

Bath bombs, flowers, cakes with coffee when out. Random extra treats, chocolate and wine when doing the food shop. Nice eggs, nice cheese/chorizo/olives etc as extras to nibble on. Sigh

The big things next year will be a holiday and eating out. That's what we'll have to not do to pay the fuel bills - and more, I reckon. I think the entertainment, travel and hospitality sectors are going to be harder hit than during Covid :(

Gave up floor cleaner just use a little washing up liquid instead . Don't buy glass cleaner anymore polish does the job just as good

Stopped buying fancy chocolate Swapped half of the wine we buy for elderflower cordial sob

I shop mostly in Lidl and use the Lidl app. I've cut back to the value ranges on most things. Using more lentils and chickpeas and less meat. Making cous cous salad to take to work for lunch. Using all bits of old vegetables to make soup.

I’ve been using Alberto shampoo for years, it’s great!

I have stopped buying the big packs of can of fizzy drinks. Was drinking way too many of them.

if you dispense your shower gel and stuff in to a pump bottle your kids will used less 😄

We buy Oatly, also doesn't separate in coffee - but also expensive! Apparently keeping it out the fridge results in it not separating. Might pick up a cheap carton and leave it on the kitchen side and refrigerate at night. Worth a try.

I can't not have butter but I am not buying my favourite President anymore and going for a supermarket one instead.

I buy frozen soft fruits now instead of fresh , I mostly use them for breakfasts so as long as I defrost them overnight they are fine

Lidl barista oat is 1.09 and pretty good

Have you googled 'how much toothpaste should you really use'?

The way it's advertised on television shows you should be covering the entire surface of the brush. In fact you don't need that much - a pea sized amount is all that you need.

Baths and full showers. I top and tail every day with a flannel, bar of soap and a sink of water. Hair gets washed twice a week.

Changing a lot of our fresh food over to frozen meat and veg

Refilling hand soap dispensers with 28p shower gel

Reduced days out over summer holidays 3x a week max

Picked up a huge bag of cloths for DD from a Facebook pass it on page group, got a few bits from vintid and now have her fully kitted out in her next size for about £20.

No new bag, lunch box & water bottle for DS going back to school, last years are still fine.

Persisting with potty training DD (nearly 3) despite all the accidents. With DS we waited until he was old enough to trained in a few days (3&half), but another 6 months of nappies is at least £300

For those eating less meat, do you have any good recipes you can share? My kids are quite fussy but I'd love to get them eating more veggie/Lentil type things.

Also I often pick up books from our local charity shop for £1. I've currently got quite a lot so it's my challenge to read them all before I buy anymore. I'm terrible for buying them.

Also upped my selling game on Vinted. Made £80 this month

I’ve cut right down on meat but increased fish so I’m not sure how much I’m saving there 🤷‍♀️ never bought expensive cuts anyway, we have to be quite frugal though we did have more flexibility than we do now.

Anchor spreadable that was my personal little treat, but I can’t justify the expense any longer. On the plus side DS is very excited about the "square butter" (tesco own brand!) so that’s nice.

DH has given up a regular coffee out at the cafe near his work. He used to buy one regularly to support the small business but he’s cut that down now. Another tiny luxury gone.

We’ve started taking packed lunches and flasks of tea on our day off instead of finding somewhere for lunch. Less money, but more work for me.

I’m thinking I’m going to have to give up my gluten free bread and lactose free milk and make my own bread and try to get used to tea without milk. Currently I can’t face giving up the milk though!

DH used to get a cheapo tesco fruit loaf every week, and he’s cut back on that now so it’s only a treat.

Blimey, that sucks. Tiny little things we used to enjoy while living an already frugal life, practically no meals out, holidays locally etc. Ah well, we still have a decent house and family and stuff so we're pretty lucky.

Less meat
Used to get a Tesco meal deal ...main side pudding wine....once a week but no more.
Freezing a loaf ...to use as toast so I don't throw away the last few slices when out of date .
Adding the dregs of bubble bath to one bottle to use it all up
Only buy soft fruits from out of date section and eat that day .

Sigh

All the things mentioned I’ve always done. Eg, I’ve always bought bar soap and have never bought shower gel. I’m baffled what I can cut back on.