How Much Have You Cut Back On Monthly Bills?

Penny-Pincher!! · 30 July 2005 at 6:56PM

Hello Everyone

Back from hospital, liver & pancreas problems and an acute DVT that I didnt know about :eek: Lupus & FMS bad at the mo too (total bed rest for next few weeks), but not going to talk further on my health as Ive had enough of it :mad:

pink_fairy_7 · 30 July 2005 at 7:14PM

Well done Penny-Pincher on all that money saving. It's amazing what you can cut back on. :T

I wish you good luck with everything.

Pink Fairy

Rebob · 30 July 2005 at 7:38PM

In the last 4 weeks I have cut grocery spend from about £50 a week to £25! Just thinking about how to stretch a meal into two meals and how to pad out smaller portions.

Cut the spending on "things" to under £5 per week instead of £15.

I am also in the midst of switching electric to save another £4.40 per month.

Bargainloverbec · 31 July 2005 at 9:09AM

Congratulations Penny Pincher that's fantastic savings. Sorry to hear your health is letting you down at the moment but at least you don't have to worry about your finances.

I'm still working on getting my outgoings down; I ought to sit down and add it all up really. I think I've saved loads on takeaways now I'm doing 'proper' cooking and feel better for it too.

nearlyrich · 31 July 2005 at 10:56AM

We used to shop exclusively at the supermarket and come home with at least £75 worth every week, now I take a small trolley and a list and I buy for meals not just because it looks good and we might get around to eating it. I spend about £25 sometimes less in the supermarket plus fresh meat and veg which varies but typically is another £15 to £20 per week. Some weeks we don't buy any fresh meat and we eat what's in the freezer. (we are 4 adults).

We have saved money on telephone bills, both mobiles and landline, broadband, utilities, car insurance for DH and both the kids. I have started stoozing, currently I owe Egg and Barclays about £8k which is sitting in a savings account earning around 5%. I have also changed my shopping habits and grabbed a few bargains from offers posted on here over the last couple of years.

P_P you are an inspiration, I hope that you are feeling better, I have FMS and it's bad enought on it's own so take it easy and let your family look after you.

squiggles · 31 July 2005 at 11:37AM

wow penny-pincher good on you thats great to read.

Im just off to list my outgoings in my little book and im hoping i do as well as you in 18 months time.

Liz19 · 31 July 2005 at 4:04PM

Rebob wrote:

In the last 4 weeks I have cut grocery spend from about £50 a week to £25! Just thinking about how to stretch a meal into two meals and how to pad out smaller portions.

Cut the spending on "things" to under £5 per week instead of £15.

I am also in the midst of switching electric to save another £4.40 per month.

Please please tell me how you are managing to get your grocery spend down to £25. What sort of meals are you doing? I desperately need to cut down our outgoings. I convinced my husband to book a holiday for next year by saying that I would budget for it monthly but I am having to use my first two months holidays savings to pay our visa bill so I am not getting off to a very good start and I am feeling so down about it.

culpepper · 31 July 2005 at 7:57PM

LIZ19....My weekly shop is typically around the £25 mark for 2 adults and 2 teens.
What I do is
don't buy anything ready made if I can make it myself (I couldn't at first so I had to learn how).
Make use of everything I buy,so no throw aways. Edible but not beautiful veg (eg broccoli stalks) get frozen for curry.
Use vinegar and bicarb for all the cleaning jobs (though I do buy washing up liquid and we wash up once a day).
We don't drink or smoke but if we did drink I would be a home brewer.
When we have a meat based meal such as bolognaise I weigh out 8 oz of meat and that does for 4 with a good helping of Veg and a carbohydrate(pasta,rice,potato).That is enough for a good sized beef pasty each or 4 burgers.
HTH

PP wow your savings are impressive already!

bonnie_2 · 31 July 2005 at 9:18PM

i am also trying to get my shopping down to £30 from £50 a month almost managed it.i changed my tv from ntl to sky which was cheaper, transferred electric to gas company saving £5 amonth,cancelled my home phone saving £117.00 a quarter.have now got an allotment so hopefully will be self sufficient in veggies next year.trying to use freebies and homemade toiletries for presents and making my own cards.dont buy alll the kids new clothes any more they have hand me downs, i get my clothes in the sale with my bday and xmas money.have asked for a breadmaker for xmas si i can make my own bread,cakes and jam.

Zziggi · 1 August 2005 at 1:44PM

Penny_Pincher that's really brilliant at how you've been able to save! It sounds like we're in a similar position to you, we only started to save when we went onto benefits and yet we actually live healthier and probably have more disposable incomes now (due to less waste and frivolous spending).

Well done!

chrislee765 · 1 August 2005 at 2:29PM

Its quite an inspiration to hear tales like this.
Congratulations!

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How Much Have You Cut Back On Monthly Bills?

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