What cut backs have you made recently?

[BoRED S2upid]

Rob_125 said:

We can't really cut back any more as I'm tight af.

We have 4 panels on the roofs, so dishwasher and washing machine only get run at peak light hours.

I cycle 7 miles to work and then home every day. Mrs runs around in her 1.2 fabia shed.

Generally shop in lidl. Joint income is probably pushing 90k. We will be okay, but I can see how some are going to get unstuck very quickly, if their lifestyle was pushing on their expenditure.

We already use a flask for coffees on walks, but might be more inclined to use this more often.

I currently put £400/month into a s&s isa and 15% salary into my pension, so there is a bit of meat on the bones if things get really bad.

£90k and things are just ok!

Only on Pistonheads.

[Raymond Reddington]

I've been trying to buy less unnecessary crap..

And I'm seriously thinking about working closer to home.

There is one company 5 miles away in my industry. The pay is a bit worse but I'll save probably 250 a month on fuel alone, not to mention time.

[Sticks.]

DT1975 said:

We had a slight domestic yesterday. It was 25 degrees, full sun with a nice breeze and the missus had the tumble dryer going...wtf ?

Softening the towels apparently at 900w an hour....which is better than the 3kw version she wore out a few months ago.

I'm afraid I agree with her to a degree. Unless you like sandpaper towels which don't last. Taking them out before they're fully dry does the job though, check the programmes. Dryer also saves ironing t shirts, jeans and bed linen (for those that do).

Maybe look at a variable/split electricity tariff. Mt dryer comes on a little before I get up when the rate is (iirc) @40%.

[AndyAudi]

Good thread.

instead of stopping, Takeaway/meals out night switched to midweek can also save a bit as many have midweek deals to entice folk in on quieter times (& continues to support the local business)

We spend so much less on food, made some choices a year or so back after looking at my food wastage (environmental & cost).

Meal planning & learning about cooking saves an absolute fortune, less waste, energy & less trips to shop/takeaway. Added benefits are improved health & better time management.

For me, consider how to cook things. Often one pan is an option (added benefit less washing up) or I opt to use slow cooker as less energy (& bonus is cheaper cuts of meat). A steamer basket over a pan & cooking vertically also keeps to one ring on the hob.

Use YouTube or similar (hashtags are great for finding instructions or ideas) to learn how to deal with things unfamiliar to you & confidence grows. I now pretty consciously buy meats with bones in etc as I’m not paying for someone else to do it (two whole chickens can be cheaper than a pack of four breasts) https://youtu.be/OEu_ZmLJTm8

Cheap fast meals such as omelettes can bring a bit of fun to the house like a Saturday kitchen challenge & gets everyone involved. (Also a great way of using up small quantities of stuff & leftovers).

One thing I have noticed, as part of my weekly shop I always try & buy some “yellow sticker” items to give me a wee challenge to get creative & prevent something going to waste. Supermarkets have stopped giving as big reductions as they used to eg “Was 2.99 now 2.39” ain’t a big saving.

Edited by AndyAudi on Saturday 18th June 09:50

Edited by AndyAudi on Saturday 18th June 10:48

[captain.scarlet]

BoRED S2upid said:

Rob_125 said:

We can't really cut back any more as I'm tight af.

We have 4 panels on the roofs, so dishwasher and washing machine only get run at peak light hours.

I cycle 7 miles to work and then home every day. Mrs runs around in her 1.2 fabia shed.

Generally shop in lidl. Joint income is probably pushing 90k. We will be okay, but I can see how some are going to get unstuck very quickly, if their lifestyle was pushing on their expenditure.

We already use a flask for coffees on walks, but might be more inclined to use this more often.

I currently put £400/month into a s&s isa and 15% salary into my pension, so there is a bit of meat on the bones if things get really bad.

£90k and things are just ok!

Only on Pistonheads.

This reminds me of the recent Daily Wail article in which very well-off middle class women revealed their ways of saving money.

I think it may have been a re-hash of something off Mumsnet, but it was cringeworthy to read nevertheless and seemed to revolve around coffee shops: everything from sitting in coffee shops endlessly to charge phones use the WiFi, to rinsing the free filter coffee fill/ups, to asking for free hot water in their Thermos flasks.

And the independent businesses were not spared the cheapskatery either it would seem. I mean it's not like they've got overheads or the relative safety cushion of being a large multinational chain.

I wouldn't be surprised if these hard-pressed 'must save every penny for the Last Night of the Proms' folks ensure they take pocketfuls of sugar, sorry calorie-free *sweetener* sachets, tissues and probably a glass of milk to gulp down so as to get their calcium they can't afford for free.

[a_dreamer]

captain.scarlet said:

BoRED S2upid said:

Rob_125 said:

We can't really cut back any more as I'm tight af.

We have 4 panels on the roofs, so dishwasher and washing machine only get run at peak light hours.

I cycle 7 miles to work and then home every day. Mrs runs around in her 1.2 fabia shed.

Generally shop in lidl. Joint income is probably pushing 90k. We will be okay, but I can see how some are going to get unstuck very quickly, if their lifestyle was pushing on their expenditure.

We already use a flask for coffees on walks, but might be more inclined to use this more often.

I currently put £400/month into a s&s isa and 15% salary into my pension, so there is a bit of meat on the bones if things get really bad.

£90k and things are just ok!

Only on Pistonheads.

This reminds me of the recent Daily Wail article in which very well-off middle class women revealed their ways of saving money.

I think it may have been a re-hash of something off Mumsnet, but it was cringeworthy to read nevertheless and seemed to revolve around coffee shops: everything from sitting in coffee shops endlessly to charge phones use the WiFi, to rinsing the free filter coffee fill/ups, to asking for free hot water in their Thermos flasks.

And the independent businesses were not spared the cheapskatery either it would seem. I mean it's not like they've got overheads or the relative safety cushion of being a large multinational chain.

I wouldn't be surprised if these hard-pressed 'must save every penny for the Last Night of the Proms' folks ensure they take pocketfuls of sugar, sorry calorie-free *sweetener* sachets, tissues and probably a glass of milk to gulp down so as to get their calcium they can't afford for free.

Similar to the articles where it says "I have my own business and have paid off my mortgage by 28 and I can tell you how" and it discusses the sacrafices they made, like less nights out and takeaways and then at the bottom mentions their parents gave them £300k to start the business

[bitchstewie]

You always get that kind of thing and I think sometimes people do it inadvertently.

I started a thread on NP&E on the cost of living crisis because some people are having to make some really hard choices and it pretty quickly had gems such as ensuring you're using your full £40K pension allowance.

[Fusion777]

bhstewie said:

You always get that kind of thing and I think sometimes people do it inadvertently.

I started a thread on NP&E on the cost of living crisis because some people are having to make some really hard choices and it pretty quickly had gems such as ensuring you're using your full £40K pension allowance.

Aye. As you say, if you're on £200k, then it probably just seems like sensible advice to you, hence you give it out without thinking. People earning that kind of money are in a tiny minority, even in London.

Kind of goes against the spirit of the thread and times really.

[captain.scarlet]

a_dreamer said:

Similar to the articles where it says "I have my own business and have paid off my mortgage by 28 and I can tell you how" and it discusses the sacrafices they made, like less nights out and takeaways and then at the bottom mentions their parents gave them £300k to start the business

Exactly. Or the trustafarian youtube / instagram celebrities who collaborate and meet with similar internet sensation types and post clickbait videos of the apparent high life, their travels to exotic locations and their 'risky' business ventures (i.e. typically property flipping) and above all Q&A videos about the cash they're turning over and how they 'smashed it'...all by the tender age of something like 24, with the precursor of 'by the time I was 22 I already had xyz and made profits of abc'.

Yes, great you renovated a house, had a few under your name and flipped and generated healthy profits when you were only 22, but I doubt you raised the start-up cash by extra shifts at the student union bar or bamboozling a bank manager with a business idea without any credit history.

The irksome thing is that on drab shows like The Apprentice, these sorts are described by that narrator with the annoying voice as, in a very patronising yet naive way "Britain's best business talent." Really? Says who?

[nickfrog]

Fusion777 said:

bhstewie said:

You always get that kind of thing and I think sometimes people do it inadvertently.

I started a thread on NP&E on the cost of living crisis because some people are having to make some really hard choices and it pretty quickly had gems such as ensuring you're using your full £40K pension allowance.

Aye. As you say, if you're on £200k, then it probably just seems like sensible advice to you, hence you give it out without thinking. People earning that kind of money are in a tiny minority, even in London.

Kind of goes against the spirit of the thread and times really.

True although if you're on £200k your pension tax relief allowance is £0 anyway.

[a_dreamer]

captain.scarlet said:

Exactly. Or the trustafarian youtube / instagram celebrities who collaborate and meet with similar internet sensation types and post clickbait videos of the apparent high life, their travels to exotic locations and their 'risky' business ventures (i.e. typically property flipping) and above all Q&A videos about the cash they're turning over and how they 'smashed it'...all by the tender age of something like 24, with the precursor of 'by the time I was 22 I already had xyz and made profits of abc'.

Yes, great you renovated a house, had a few under your name and flipped and generated healthy profits when you were only 22, but I doubt you raised the start-up cash by extra shifts at the student union bar or bamboozling a bank manager with a business idea without any credit history.

The irksome thing is that on drab shows like The Apprentice, these sorts are described by that narrator with the annoying voice as, in a very patronising yet naive way "Britain's best business talent." Really? Says who?

Yep most influences have a lifestyle that allows them to do stuff like that and who have connections that enable them to be successful. Same as many of these TV success people. Parents all used to fk in the same keys in the bowl parties.

Either way it gives a false expectation of reality and like most social media impacts people's perceptions of reality and their mental health.

I mean, I'm doing pretty well for myself, but five minutes in some of the threads on here and I consider myself in relative poverty to some (no doubt some are genuine and have silly money while others talk to talk)

[nickfrog]

BoRED S2upid said:

£90k and things are just ok!

Only on Pistonheads.

Why? It's a joint income. £45k each is not that far over the average salary and probably under it in quite a chunck of SE England.

Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 18th June 10:28

[BoRED S2upid]

nickfrog said:

BoRED S2upid said:

£90k and things are just ok!

Only on Pistonheads.

Why? It's a joint income. £45k each is not that far over the average salary and probably under it in quite a chunck of SE England.


What? Average salary is more like £25k which is ramped up by the South. Take the average salary of the north and its lower. Those are the people who will be in crisis not your average Pistonheads reader.

Jointly you are very well off let’s not kid ourselves. Your post sounded like you are just getting by.

Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 18th June 10:28

[Welshbeef]

nickfrog said:

Fusion777 said:

bhstewie said:

You always get that kind of thing and I think sometimes people do it inadvertently.

I started a thread on NP&E on the cost of living crisis because some people are having to make some really hard choices and it pretty quickly had gems such as ensuring you're using your full £40K pension allowance.

Aye. As you say, if you're on £200k, then it probably just seems like sensible advice to you, hence you give it out without thinking. People earning that kind of money are in a tiny minority, even in London.

Kind of goes against the spirit of the thread and times really.

True although if you're on £200k your pension tax relief allowance is £0 anyway.

For the HMRC removing “benefits” like pension tax relief, income tax free allowance, prescription, child benefit, marriage tax allowance, buy to let mortgage relief at 20% only, capital gains on residential 28%, 45% income tax, employee national insurance as an additional 3.25% over the full payment.

really the levers to take from these is quite hard - as all of those & many more have already been removed. Frankly it’s only income tax increase and national insurance increase and council tax increase left to go at - or if you’ve got over £wealth you lose the capital gains 0% on principle primary residence.

[nickfrog]

BoRED S2upid said:

What? Average salary is more like £25k which is ramped up by the South. Take the average salary of the north and its lower. Those are the people who will be in crisis not your average Pistonheads reader.

Jointly you are very well off let’s not kid ourselves. Your post sounded like you are just getting by.

Mean is £38k in the UK 2021, median £31k.

It wasn't my post anyway. I wouldn't call £45k very well off, nor poor, but it is massively subjective.

The poster said "We will be okay" so I don't think it sounded like they are just getting by.

[RDMcG]

Totally different strategy.

I always assumed that economic cycles can downturn at any time and that I would never have any debt. To do that I kept working and still do at 73 as there are many things I enjoy in life,all discretionary.Not a tight git at all.
I like work and am keenly aware it will not last forever. At some point in next few years I will buy no more cars and sell the ones I have as I will be too old to use them.
Have always followed the plan of spending less than I earned ,so the answer was to make more ,not spend less, and worked from age of 11.

Of course this will be a bad and long recession.
I have provided for OH properly. If there is a thirties style depression I will cut back and it is not hard to do. I spent a lifetime being ready for this kind of thing as a natural pessimist and can think of much worse outcomes -disabling illness,family tragedy etc.

This is just stuff to be managed.

[alscar]

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.

[Welshbeef]

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.

Well you could do it every 4 weeks or every 6 weeks.

[bloomen]

My life is pretty lean already so there aren't many changes to make.

Less spontaneous driving in general.

I'll also switch to home delivery for certain supermarkets and possibly the rest of the shopping too. A 'Ooh, I fancy a Waitrose pud' moment is now £10 in fuel.

[soad]

None, and my bank balance is suffering. But to hell with it.