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. 😩

Bath bombs (used to be my Sunday night treat - no more). Meat, especially red meat - actually not upset about this. Skincare products - I've switched over to Aldi stuff to see how it goes. We're not up financial shit creek yet, but I'm bracing myself.

We've been a Pocket Pillows household for a while now - the cats love them!

Do some of you not find though that in some cases there is something almost slightly satisfying about the changes. This does NOT apply to everything clearly, but I now look back on things and think I was actually being quite wasteful, or that actually this has forced me to do things (like the move from shower gel to soap, or the toothpaste dispenser things which have LOADS of plastic) that is much better for the environment, and actually that is more important than the small inconvenience to me?

Trying hard to lose weight so I can fit into the 90% of my existing clothes, rather than replacing with a size bigger.
Soap lasts 10 times longer than shower gel.
Hair cut every 5 to 6 months.
Luckily we were given a bread maker someone no longer wanted. I can make 3 loaves from a bag of Aldi flour and Aldi yeast. Works out at 30p a loaf.
Dug out my old epilator for legs and pits. No more waxing at a salon.

Isn’t it sad (but also very understandable) that what a lot of people are cutting is the ones which affect small business - hair, nails, beauty, local produce, candles etc going for food and drinks out

very sad can already see a lot more businesses going under and a lot of empty shops

I dislike bar soap so won't be swapping to that. Hate that squeaky stripped feeling my skin is left with when I use it.

@Comvit thanks, I have used coconut oil in the past and found it quite greasy and sat on the skin rather than sink in. I might give it another go though. I've got very sensitive skin and soap makes my skin feel tight all over. Even shower gel is drying on me, there's literally one or two shower cremes I can use. I hate the plastic waste though!

Lurpak spreadable (which my sons insisted was the only one they liked, I use block butter) switched to asda or aldi's copy Lurpak, they shrugged and said 'it's ok'..... I've wasted £100s over the years buying them that!! 😤
Soap powder instead of liquid seems to last much longer and actually think it cleans better.
Supermarket brand teabags instead of Yorkshire tea, they don't seem to have noticed, I'm a coffee drinker😂

This coconut dal is a family favourite @mac1974

https://www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/quick-coconut-dal-with-tomato-sambol/192906

my kids can be fussy, but they like spicy food. They totally surprised me with their love for chick pea curry though - its now a family fav:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/kadala-curry

Yes - I can't stop thinking about how increased spending on energy (mostly foreign owned companies) will mean so much less is being spent elsewhere in the UK economy.

Its not just about increased energy costs - there must be a huge economic downturn simply from people having less spendabe income. Disposable income, even for families who can stretch to the increased energy costs, is going to be dramatically reduced across the board.

This is going to take a long time to play out & recover from - several years if we are lucky.

Coffees out. I used to get a coffee on my walk to work in the mornings. Not anymore.

Flowers - I have planted a few more cheap planters up outside instead.
Coffee and snacks out - I take a flask and a sandwich out with me.
Lamb and beef is a rare treat - we eat a lot more chicken and mince instead.
New clothes - I have dug through my wardrobe and found old clothes that I had put away after I lost weight (and not put back on!)
Driving out somewhere nice for the day - we save petrol for essential trips now.
Weekly takeaway is now a once a month treat.
Shop in Lidl unless Tesco send me money of coupons.
Very reluctantly - stopped my monthly direct debits to the two charities I support.

I agree.

it’s going to be even worse when they have to put their prices up because the cost of utilities has shot up even more.

Re shower gel, I order a large 5l bottle online and just decant into an old bottle as needed. It lasts ages and is much cheaper - think the current bottle cost about £16 so much cheaper than buying new bottles every week or 2.

I think this is a really important point. It is the small local businesses that will suffer. Not just hair and beauty etc but local butchers, veg shops etc, milk deliveries etc.

I think the other worry is that people will by necessity have to cut back on donations to local charities and for e.g. food banks. The knock-on effects on the local economy and society at large will be huge.

At the moment we are fine to continue with our local shops but I'm aware a lot of people don't have that option right now.

We’ve changed from organic meat to Finest range. Same with eggs. I’m also changing cuts, so chicken thighs instead of breast and lamb shoulder instead of lamb neck.

I’ve also swapped to Tesco dishwasher tablets (from Finish) and also Tesco washing up liquid (from Fairy). I use Tesco oxy stain remover powder nowadays instead of Vanish.

I currently used Elemis cleanser. Tempted by Aldi hot cloth one. We don’t live near an Aldi though, so I’m sure petrol would wipe out saving. Anyone know if there’s another cheap dupe?

We always use Persil liquid tabs for laundry. Inspired by this post to try Lidl power someone mentioned, as there’s a store quite near.

I’ve got lots of lovely bars of soap in my bathroom cupboard. Will try those once my lovely M&S shower gel is finished.

I hope times improve quickly. This post whilst helpful is also sad.

Another big saving for me is changing from the Salon Director to the trainee for my highlights!! She did a great job and it saved £200 in just 1 visit

Showering at the leisure centre most days instead of at home (that membership is non-negotiable and works out at under £1 per session)
OH has started taking in packed lunches instead of spenidng £5/day in the works canteen
Working through my 'to read' pile before getting any more, even from the charity shop
Cutting back on snacks as I really don't need the calories
Second hand clothes only

We are working on 'warm banks' at work for over the winter. I will do my best to make sure they feel welcoming (rather than just camping out in a council building), but the fact that they are needed at all depresses the hell out of me

I was thinking of Avon though - when the OP said she could no longer afford moisturiser. Not sure if she meant for her face or body - but Avon do huge tubs of general purpose moisturiser for a couple of £. Might be worth looking at OP.

@AYearOfCushions can you ask the GP if it's possible to get your DC's creams and washes on a prescription?

@shinynewapple22

No unfortunately. I've always been told that emollients were not available on prescription, they only prescribe steroid creams which we rarely use now anyway.

I've found what works for them (keeps it at bay and doesn't irritate them) over time from trial and error and they're not necessarily products you'd get at the chemist anyway.

Hi @CookieCoo I use the Aldi hot cloth cleanser it's really good. You can buy it online and it is usually in stock but I tend to bulk buy just in case.

Diet Coke

Tbh I shouldn't be drinking it anyway it's bad for me, but I do miss it! It was my one vice since giving up smoking

Avocados, they are so hit and miss