What cut backs have you made recently?
Discussion
We are walking more, including to the local supermarket and then taking time to look for offers when we go shopping and trying not to buy too much food that will perish before it gets used (my pet hate and something that used to happen too often in our house). Making the most of the nice weather when it comes and enjoying the garden rather than jumping in the car to go off 'somewhere' with no real plan what to do or where we're going to (used to do this a lot previously and I'd sit in the driver's seat waiting to find out where we were supposed to be going 
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I stopped buying stuff on line just because I fancied it; now I often find a few days later I've lost interest, so the only things I have bought lately are some car parts to get it through an MOT/fix a problem.
Simple stuff like turning the heating down (in the winter; it's been off for months now), closing curtains to keep the heat in and turning down radiators in unused rooms. Also, very un PH like; driving gently to get better MPG: Managed to get 44mpg out of my wife's SLK250 petrol recently on a drive into London, though I don't have to rush as I've recently retired, so that helps.
Just generally having a new mindset not to waste money and get use out of things we already have seems to be working well. It's become a bit like 'The Repair shop' in our house in recent months as I've fixed things rather than replace them, it's useful that I was an engineer of various disciplines during my working life.
While some of the above might sound miserable to some readers it means that we can afford to have other treats like going to events/gigs and I find I enjoy those treats more than when I was working and didn't need to be so careful about spending.
).I stopped buying stuff on line just because I fancied it; now I often find a few days later I've lost interest, so the only things I have bought lately are some car parts to get it through an MOT/fix a problem.
Simple stuff like turning the heating down (in the winter; it's been off for months now), closing curtains to keep the heat in and turning down radiators in unused rooms. Also, very un PH like; driving gently to get better MPG: Managed to get 44mpg out of my wife's SLK250 petrol recently on a drive into London, though I don't have to rush as I've recently retired, so that helps.
Just generally having a new mindset not to waste money and get use out of things we already have seems to be working well. It's become a bit like 'The Repair shop' in our house in recent months as I've fixed things rather than replace them, it's useful that I was an engineer of various disciplines during my working life.
While some of the above might sound miserable to some readers it means that we can afford to have other treats like going to events/gigs and I find I enjoy those treats more than when I was working and didn't need to be so careful about spending.
Biggest cutback for me was getting rid of my car and replacing it with a 125 scooter. It was only a 1.0 fiesta so 0 tax and decent mpg already, but 750 quid insurance (after a vandalism claim) and then the usual servicing costs, MOT and repair costs for the never-ending broken springs and leaking shockers every year plus other stuff like 2 worn rear bushes needing replacing at £90 a side + labour, all for a car which these days I used maybe once a week to go shopping or see friends in a neighbouring city. Just on the monthly insurance cost alone it'd be far cheaper for me to get taxis as needed!
I'd kept it for those rare times when I might need to go somewhere far, or might need to transport something big/heavy. The reality is that over the past 3 years I think that's happened about 3 times, and on all of those times I could have easily hired a car or van for a day or paid for delivery.
My PCX scooter was £3200 new (and prices have already gone up by £350 as more people are catching on), does 130 mpg and costs £7.50 to fill the tank which lasts forever. And it's super fun to ride. And I can store it securely in my hallway so no worries about the kids outside playing football/frisbee damaging it. Tax is £16 and insurance cost is double digits with a limited mileage clause. CBT was £150.
Also started walking to the supermarket about a mile away quite regularly to pick up a few bits as needed, rather than being lazy and using car/scooter. The exercise is great as someone who never did any, and my fitness is slowly improving from it along with my stiff joints easing up.
CH thermostat is something I won't compromise on. I refuse to sit in my own house feeling chilly just to save a couple of quid so the thermostat gets set to whatever is required to be warm. At this time of the year the boiler is off anyway and only goes on for DHW for showers/washing up. Sometimes my feet get chilly whilst at my desk as my circulation is crap, so I have a low wattage electric heated foot plate which I switch on to keep them toasty
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I'm currently doing intermittent fasting to lose weight so I'm hardly spending anything on food. Think I ate about £10 worth of food for the past 7 days.
I'd kept it for those rare times when I might need to go somewhere far, or might need to transport something big/heavy. The reality is that over the past 3 years I think that's happened about 3 times, and on all of those times I could have easily hired a car or van for a day or paid for delivery.
My PCX scooter was £3200 new (and prices have already gone up by £350 as more people are catching on), does 130 mpg and costs £7.50 to fill the tank which lasts forever. And it's super fun to ride. And I can store it securely in my hallway so no worries about the kids outside playing football/frisbee damaging it. Tax is £16 and insurance cost is double digits with a limited mileage clause. CBT was £150.
Also started walking to the supermarket about a mile away quite regularly to pick up a few bits as needed, rather than being lazy and using car/scooter. The exercise is great as someone who never did any, and my fitness is slowly improving from it along with my stiff joints easing up.
CH thermostat is something I won't compromise on. I refuse to sit in my own house feeling chilly just to save a couple of quid so the thermostat gets set to whatever is required to be warm. At this time of the year the boiler is off anyway and only goes on for DHW for showers/washing up. Sometimes my feet get chilly whilst at my desk as my circulation is crap, so I have a low wattage electric heated foot plate which I switch on to keep them toasty
.I'm currently doing intermittent fasting to lose weight so I'm hardly spending anything on food. Think I ate about £10 worth of food for the past 7 days.
Edited by r3g on Saturday 18th June 13:31
r3g said:
CH thermostat is something I won't compromise on. I refuse to sit in my own house feeling chilly just to save a couple of quid so the thermostat gets set to whatever is required to be warm. At this time of the year the boiler is off anyway and only goes on for DHW for showers/washing up. Sometimes my feet get chilly whilst at my desk as my circulation is crap, so I have a low wattage electric heated foot plate which I switch on to keep them toasty .
I'm currently doing intermittent fasting to lose weight so I'm hardly spending anything on food. Think I ate about £10 worth of food for the past 7 days.
.I'm currently doing intermittent fasting to lose weight so I'm hardly spending anything on food. Think I ate about £10 worth of food for the past 7 days.
Goodness, £10 for 7 days of food. Hope you are getting all the right vitamins.
Perhaps you could present your own TV programme, 'How to eat, for £10 a week'.
CH - reminds me about when our children were living at home.
"Do you want to heat the house, or heat yourself?
Put a couple of jumpers on then."
Funny now that they live in their own homes, I might turn the thermostat up when I am there, but later notice it has been turned down again! They probably don't let their hot shower run, while they take a few phone calls now either.
Every winter the government tell us turn down our thermostats by one degree.
I have strictly followed their advice for so many winters now, that the boiler never switches on anymore. Boom, boom.
I do like bed socks during the winter, with a hot water bottle. No house heating when in bed. (Save money).
During winter evenings, I go out in to the wood for some kindling.
Rub two sticks together to create a spark (that saves money on matches),
then boil some rainwater (saves money on water) and fill the hot water bottle.
If it is very cold, I sometimes wear a night cap as well.
My big saving at the moment is failing to find the enthusiasm to change my car.
Now hoping it will do another year and a fairly nice used car might be cheaper next year.
We are fairly low spenders in many ways, but do have 2 cars, motorbike, small yacht and some expensive tastes.
Like a lot of early-retired people, we probably need to look at the next 15 years or something and look at the big picture rather than save a few pence here and there.
I'm preparing to save a few quid by improving some insulation in my house. A bit more in the loft, sort some draughty cavity details etc.
But compared to the average we are pretty comfortable. House paid for, some investments, no debts or finance.
It must be a worrying time for people with kids at home, big mortgage etc.
Now hoping it will do another year and a fairly nice used car might be cheaper next year.
We are fairly low spenders in many ways, but do have 2 cars, motorbike, small yacht and some expensive tastes.
Like a lot of early-retired people, we probably need to look at the next 15 years or something and look at the big picture rather than save a few pence here and there.
I'm preparing to save a few quid by improving some insulation in my house. A bit more in the loft, sort some draughty cavity details etc.
But compared to the average we are pretty comfortable. House paid for, some investments, no debts or finance.
It must be a worrying time for people with kids at home, big mortgage etc.
soad said:
None, and my bank balance is suffering. But to hell with it. 
Same at the moment - apart from I’ve turned the heating off for the first time ever as it’s usually just left on the thermostats. We’re just absorbing the costs which, frankly, is just silly as we’re actually pretty wasteful. Some good tips on this thread though, so will try to implement so of them. Some of them seem like easy wins.
- Heating set down by 1 degree
- Move the children into one bedroom and turn the heat off in the other
- Showers to Eco and turned down a couple of degrees
- Heated floors turned off until winter
- Lots of appliances left on standby so will turn those off
- Cut down portion sizes
- Try to batch cook more
Jon39 said:
Goodness, £10 for 7 days of food. Hope you are getting all the right vitamins.
Perhaps you could present your own TV programme, 'How to eat, for £10 a week'.
Perhaps you could present your own TV programme, 'How to eat, for £10 a week'.
About 75% of the population have enough "food" (fuel) stored around their guts to not need to eat a single thing for at least 6 months or more! But yes, what I do eat is packed with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. Not wishing to divert away from the theme of the thread, but you don't need to be constantly stuffing your face 3 times a day + snacks in between if you eat the right stuff. People could save themselves absolute fortunes in food costs if they really wanted to - and not at the cost of constantly feeling hungry either.r3g said:
About 75% of the population have enough "food" (fuel) stored around their guts to not need to eat a single thing for at least 6 months or more! But yes, what I do eat is packed with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. Not wishing to divert away from the theme of the thread, but you don't need to be constantly stuffing your face 3 times a day + snacks in between if you eat the right stuff. People could save themselves absolute fortunes in food costs if they really wanted to - and not at the cost of constantly feeling hungry either.r3g said:
I'm currently doing intermittent fasting to lose weight so I'm hardly spending anything on food. Think I ate about £10 worth of food for the past 7 days.
Between you and me we're either starving ourselves or freezing to death. Our house isn't freezing, but it seems crackers to have it set high enough that I can sit around in a tee shirt when I've got plenty of jumpers, so I'll set the main thermostat to 20 deg C instead of 21/22 that it used to be on. My wife will put a jumper on and usually has one of those 'throws' that lays over the sofa (along with a million cushions of course
).Barely using my ICE cars (>50p/mile compared to 1.5p/mile in my EV) to the point where I'm really contemplating why on earth I'm paying thousands in VED and servicing each year for them to just sit there. But when I do get to drive them and get to 8/9k rpm that thought just goes away 
Other than that, not really changed my habits as I've always switched lights and heating off etc. Will probably have a staycation this summer after getting some really good covid holiday deals the last couple of years.
Other than that, not really changed my habits as I've always switched lights and heating off etc. Will probably have a staycation this summer after getting some really good covid holiday deals the last couple of years.
Couple of bits. Less driving. Try and do things whilst I’m out already. Try and be more eco when I’m driving/riding.
Less haircuts and going somewhere else. Place was 20 miles away and £25. They’ve now put their prices up to £32 for a hair cut and beard trim. Sod that. Local place does a hair cut for £10.50 and I’ll sort my beard out myself. Go once a month now. Used to be weekly/ten days.
That’s it at the moment. I’m also doing more overtime when I can.
Less haircuts and going somewhere else. Place was 20 miles away and £25. They’ve now put their prices up to £32 for a hair cut and beard trim. Sod that. Local place does a hair cut for £10.50 and I’ll sort my beard out myself. Go once a month now. Used to be weekly/ten days.
That’s it at the moment. I’m also doing more overtime when I can.
alscar said:
Haircuts every 2 weeks at £13 also annoys me but I can't do it myself so that'll have to stay
Every 2 weeks ? I was paying £35 in the City every 6 weeks and since retiring go locally to a lovely girl which with tip is £16.
Obviously no styling tips available on this thread though.
Slightly OT but before I retired I used to go to a barber’s opposite St. Paul’s, same street as The Rising Sun pub. Fairly pricey but the Romanian lady always gave the most exquisite head massage whilst washing my hair - well worth the price of the haircut alone!Every 2 weeks ? I was paying £35 in the City every 6 weeks and since retiring go locally to a lovely girl which with tip is £16.
Obviously no styling tips available on this thread though.
EDIT - it was Carter Lane Barbers - no longer there according to streetview!
Edited by MrHappy on Saturday 18th June 20:18
Got a payrise and moved into a new build house
From December last year to may 31st we used £230 of gas (heating on all day at 21-22) and Wfh 2 of us and showering daily.
Decided to drop from a £350 a month lease car to one for £250, not as nice and don’t drive it as much but it sips fuel and is super comfy.
Swapped my company car for a van so BIK liability down from £150 a month or so to £0.
Stopped buying San pellengreno water as much and now every week waitrose give me a £3.50 “your offer” voucher. Makes it 50p a bottle instead of £1.20
Eating all the food in the freezer to use is up instead of just bunging more and more in there
From December last year to may 31st we used £230 of gas (heating on all day at 21-22) and Wfh 2 of us and showering daily.
Decided to drop from a £350 a month lease car to one for £250, not as nice and don’t drive it as much but it sips fuel and is super comfy.
Swapped my company car for a van so BIK liability down from £150 a month or so to £0.
Stopped buying San pellengreno water as much and now every week waitrose give me a £3.50 “your offer” voucher. Makes it 50p a bottle instead of £1.20
Eating all the food in the freezer to use is up instead of just bunging more and more in there
r3g said:
About 75% of the population have enough "food" (fuel) stored around their guts to not need to eat a single thing for at least 6 months or more! But yes, what I do eat is packed with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. Not wishing to divert away from the theme of the thread, but you don't need to be constantly stuffing your face 3 times a day + snacks in between if you eat the right stuff. People could save themselves absolute fortunes in food costs if they really wanted to - and not at the cost of constantly feeling hungry either.Gassing Station | Finance | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff