Cutting back

Apart from the central heating and a few other gadgets like washer-dryers, most of the ways in which people say they are cutting down are really negligible in the amount of money they will save over a year. However they do provide a vehicle for virtue signalling of the highest order.

Maybe we could cut back on MPs - just a thought!

Cutting out most of the (gas) central heating just quick blasts now and again
Use heated clothes dryer not tumble dryer
Air fryer and microwave rather than energy hungry oven
Stopped eating out mostly
Going to Aldi more than Sainsburys/Waitrose
Watching food waste and using left overs where possible
Longer gaps between hair cuts
Switched credit card to no interest (promotional)
Negotiated lower virgin media package deal
Using pound land for cleaning products
Making more use of free entertainment for DGC such as library craft sessions
Packing a picnic for trips out to save the inevitable cafe trip
Doing paid surveys (dont pay much but every bit helps and it can be done any time)
Use a freebies web site for free samples of perfume etc
Not buying new clothes unless really needed (last purchase was a decent winter coat and good boots in October)
Groupon and Living Social and wowcher deals for treat items
As for turning shampoo bottles upside down i have always done that and rolled up the tooth paste tubes 😁

I have looked in my wardrobe and realise I have no need of any new items at all. Therefore I am attempting not to buy anything this year.
I am using my slow cooker much more. Eating less meat, more veg.
Heating on for 2 .5 hours. Shower every two days. Shop fortnightly, less waste( not that I was wasteful I am a 1950s child)
Hardly use the oven except the top oven . Doing my best !

My late father was an electrician and I call always remember him saying “switch it off at the wall’, so have always done that.
I use the dehumidifier for drying clothes when I can’t put them out, works a treat.
Like everyone else, batch cook. However we have been making our own soup for years and always have soup for lunch. The soup maker makes enough for two people for two days.
I can’t cut down on the heating due to various medical problems, we use the front room during the day which is south facing, so less heating needed.
Trying to have a bit of a spring clean, so keeping busy during the day.
I also check my bank account to ensure that I have no superfluous standing order/direct debit that I forgotten to cancel.
So basically just doing what we can.

My husband always said I was economical to the meanness.
I don’t worry about the heating because I need to keep warm.
I haven’t bought any new clothes for six years, don’t eat out or have takeaways. I use the little 500 watt oven that we used in the caravan rather than the large one.

I used to buy big packs of 5% mince and bag it up into perhaps 6 portions to freeze for later but now realise that it is false economy as I would be using 6 x the energy to vook it individually. I use the pressure cooker to cook the full pack then divide it up for the freezer. It's easier to take a little pack out to defrost overnight and microwave when needed for a few minutes.

biglouis

Apart from the central heating and a few other gadgets like washer-dryers, most of the ways in which people say they are cutting down are really negligible in the amount of money they will save over a year. However they do provide a vehicle for virtue signalling of the highest order.

What a sour attitude!

Since when was it 'virtue signalling' to try and save money?

I saw one comment on this thread, about shopping around for cheaper mobile phone prices....I changed to Tesco Mobile almost 3 years ago, two phones, one mine, the other belongs to the OH, both on same contract, just under £32 per month, for both. AND you get Tesco Club Card Points each month too !!
Of course you can get dearer ones, but the deal we got suited us as we only use for calls, texts and a bit of social media.
Worth looking at if trying to save money.

I've cut back on eating out - I do love it but it's become so very expensive.

Batch cooking and avoiding ‘online browsing’! … using what I have in my wardrobe. We haven’t turned down the heating but we’ve always been careful with it.

I have always been a bargain hunter and I hate waste, I have been using an air fryer for years now, only ever use the washing machine and dishwasher for full loads, never have overfilled the kettle, shower instead of bathing but I am not making any different further cuts. I am very interested to know what you are all going to do with the money you are saving, take it with you???

It might save some money on parking but please spare a thought for those of us who live in the streets where you are parking. I frequently can't find a parking space anywhere near my terraced home.

I've been doing most of these economising things for years as I was on a very low income. I'm actually better off since I retired as I have a couple of pensions as well as my state one.
My daughter moved home just over a year ago so I'm saving money on shared bills. She plans to buy her own place when she has saved enough deposit, then my outgoings will be more, but I hope to downsize and relocate to a cheaper area.
Shopping at Iceland on some Tuesdays with the over 60s discount helps, though some of their stuff is more expensive than Sainsburys so I make careful comparisons.
I'm certainly using less heating than before though. I have a wheat filled scarf which I heat in the microwave and wrap it round myself if I get very cold. I also have a big warm jumper to wear over my other clothes - not very glamorous but quite cosy!

Most of the ideas for cost savings posted on here seem to be for things where the action will just affect ourselves eg turning down the heating, shopping in cheaper supermarkets, stopping buying new clothes, etc. I wonder if any other Grans have had to think seriously about cancelling (or reducing) regular charitable donations which will clearly affect the charities concerned? For many years I have made monthly donations to 4 different charities, all involved in work that is in some way connected to me or my family but with so many other household costs rising, I've now reached the point where I feel, very reluctantly, that I can no longer do this. I find this a huge dilemma as I know the charities concerned do vital work. I'm not, of course, referring to one off donations for disasters such as the Turkey/Syria earthquake which I shall certainly continue to make.

I'm not sure whether anyone has mentioned hairdryers on here. I wait until my hair has dried ("naturally") almost completely, (about 3/4 dry) before using the hairdryer to style & finish the drying. Thus a short time with the hairdryer on. I'm pleased to say that I think this leaves my hair looking & feeling better than if I hair-dry it soon after washing it. (I've a medium length "bob".)

Bluesmum

I have always been a bargain hunter and I hate waste, I have been using an air fryer for years now, only ever use the washing machine and dishwasher for full loads, never have overfilled the kettle, shower instead of bathing but I am not making any different further cuts. I am very interested to know what you are all going to do with the money you are saving, take it with you???

My savings are going to helping my DD 3 and her three small children we all live together so its a direct benefit for the DGC especially as their father has weaselled out of paying any child support!

We have pay as you go phones from EE. For £5 a month each, we get 250 minutes, 500 texts and a little Internet access. It's more than we need, as we only have them for emergencies. Our land line has free calls in with our broadband package.

I keep the house warm enough for us both to wear one or two jumpers, don’t buy meat but I am using a lot more beans and pulses. We don’t drink, smoke, take holidays and we don’t have a dishwasher, tumble dryer, paid tv subs or gym memberships, and we don’t go to pubs , restaurants etc. I usually shop in charity shops so I am not sure we could cut back much more. We do still visit National Trust places, as we are members, about 5 or 6 times a year. Life would be too miserable if we cut back any more and I don ‘t see why I should since I will be 70 this year.

Bluesmum I am very interested to know what you are all going to do with the money you are saving, take it with you???

The only person I know who has a savings goal is one of our daughters - she is saving for a holiday. She's not having the windows cleaned, buying no unnecessary pressies for her GC, and they set thermostat down.

I refuse to be cold or hungry and know how fortunate I am that its possible to do.
We have tweaked things though. Our fuel usage is less but of course it still costs us more.
Family gifts for birthdays are based around spending our time together rather than buying gifts.
Menu planning has reduced food cost and wastage. Lots of meals from scratch, lots of plant based meals, lots of cooking in batches and freezing meals.
This year we are holidaying with friends. Using one car and sharing food and accomodation costs.
We plan to take snacks out with us and walk or use our bus passes which so far have had little use. We will cook an evening meal and just have a couple of meals out. The other couple may choose to do the same. It will be interesting but affordable.

I think the reason we are all trying to save money is so we can pay the increased gas and electricity bills together with food, all of which have gone up enormously

I’ve always tried to do most of the things mentioned on here but I’m now going to take Urmstongran’s advice and ask myself if I really need the thing I’m going to buy! Can’t guarantee I’ll be successful though!

i make a slow cooker soup that does all week, i stopped cooking when the electricity went up, i live on sandwiches/toasties and salads, micro for heating soup and never have any heating on, i use the washing machine once a week. i am on benefits due to long term sickness, i don't get dla/pip. i go out with my son every few weeks and he will get me some extra shopping. my mobile is on my dil plan and they pay for that, i have my house phone and internet, i can't cut back on anything else.

Just one of me at home now so the heating has gone off on Jan 31st and now won’t go on again till next winter. Heated throw worth the £40 paid last year. Hot water bottles at back when sitting….no tv til 6 pm news. Moved it into my back ( sun room) as that faces south and never seems cold ! I now ignore the north facing front of house and live in the back …even in process of moving my bedroom for same reason. Also swim three times a week so use there facilities for showering …..that means just couple showers at home . Don’t use tumble except a towel load ….always hang out or airer. Stopped buying meat and trying more vege recipes ….airfryer a godsend!