Cost cutting that wasn’t worth it

[theaccomplice]

What have been yours?

Thankfully we’re financially alright now but in trickier times I have read and tried all sorts to save money. There are a few which were definitely not worth it.

Mine was cutting hair. I did my own and have tried the children’s but it was bloody awful.

Cheap bubble bath/shower gel and san pro that ultimately all caused more problems than they solved.

Cheap toilet roll and bin bags. Have to use double of both so not actually cheaper!

Oh yes to both of those. Yuk.

I took some busy Lizzie cuttings from the plants I had last year, such a faff to overwinter them and they are so cheap to buy as plugs in the spring, I wish I hadn’t bothered!!

cutting ( well trying to) DH, mine and the children's hair and trying to dye my own hair with a box dye.

cheap shower gel, shampoo, skincare for me, kids bubble bath and body wash. Cheap tampons.

cheap bin bags/ blacks sacks, foil, toilet paper, washing up liquid, foil and fabric conditioner.

cheap butter, baked beans, tomato and brown sauce, garden peas, eggs, cheese and yoghurt.

i have tried all of the above in a bid to save a few £ off on the weekly grocery shop. A false economy, as I had to go and replace all of the above cheaper items and buy twice.

I think the key to cost cutting (unless you’re really done for) is to be vigilant about actually using up everything you already have.

So, tubes and pots need to be completely empty before you even go and buy the replacement. Clothes are mended if possible. Shopping is done with a list and you do not stray from it. Meals are planned based on what’s in the cupboard first, and meal plans are set in stone.

Cheap bin bags are a particular waste of time.

I do cut DHs hair though. We started over Covid and it’s not a complicated hairstyle. I wouldn’t try to do the kids though. Instead I looked around for hairdressers in the less expensive areas of town, and go to them.

Own brand ketchup. Congealed after about a week, total false economy. Cheap dishwasher tablets/washing up liquid/bleach. You have to use twice as much…

I am frugal but I buy Fairy Liquid. I found myself using loads of the supermarket versions.
Contrary to pps, I think cheaper supermarket sanitary towels are better than the branded ones (and aren't scented, bleeeugh)

The fairy liquid where you sort of squeeze it upside down is incredible value. Lasts forever. Cheap shower gel also rubbish though I got a Radox one recently and it’s thin in texture.

Cheap bedding. I bought a fluffy bottom sheet (fitted flannel) from a mill shop and my foot went through it less than a month later. It had only been washed 3 times.

Cutting own hair since Covid and fine but just a 3 all over buzz cut

Fairy liquid, tea bags, coffee, sanitary towels, shampoo and conditioner, sliced bread, butter.

Most other things I do get a cheaper version of!

I shopped in Aldi for a year or so when we were cutting back to move house (and then Covid happened which I gather made online shopping nigh on impossible for a little while) but it was miserable. I hate shopping in store, Aldi itself is pretty depressing, choice is very limited. Eventually went back to online shopping with high quality supermarkets and life improved!

Cheap DW Tablets absolutely ruin glasses and plates

Lidl dishwasher tablets are good. Tesco ones stripped patterns off some dishes

Yes the aisles are so dark and dinghy

Not sure if that’s a typo or a top tier joke about Aldi’s middle aisle 🙂

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I agree, and if you unscrew the dispenser cap when it’s finished you can screw it onto the fairy max size economy bottle which saves even more

So many times I've tried to swap the cat food to a cheaper alternative to see if they liked it and they never eat it! I've tried so many times and have ended up giving away so much cat food! The last time I tried it was definitely the last. I said to DH if i get the bright idea again that he needs to intervene. DH did comment earlier that the cats eat better than we do😅

Brown sauce
it has to be HP

@AnyoneWhoHasAHeart try M&S ketchup. Much cheaper and I think nicer

Old cars
a vauxhall
cheap carpets
supermarket flea treatments (for the cat, not for me)

Cheap shoes. Terry Pratchet was onto something with his Boots Theory

Cheap clothes. It took me years to work this out and now I have a wardrobe bursting with cheap rubbish clothes I need to clear out. I ended up spending more than if I'd just bought a few expensive items.

Except for a few tu by sainsburys staples, I'd rather buy good brands on vinted than cheap new clothes from zara or h+m.

Aldi and Lidl here too. It's so hard to really compare prices with other supermarkets because the packets are always a bit smaller. You think you're getting a good price, but then realise you only bought 2/3rds of what you'd have bought elsewhere. I have never been able to buy everything on my list in either shop so always end up going elsewhere too. Cap it all with it being a grim experience I'd rather save money elsewhere and shop somewhere that doesn't feel like end of days.