What have you managed to give up that has saved you money?

Zulu_Dawn

Pobby wrote:

Compulsive gambling!!!!!!!!!!I quit 7 years ago.The difference is astounding!

Me too.

Congrats on 7 years. I'm 6 and a half behind you but the change has already been pretty startling.

cathybird

I give up alcohol periodically. I go off it for a month to three months at a time. It saves about £60-£80 a month but that's not the only benefit – suddenly you find yourself bounding out of bed full of energy and getting so much more stuff done. I like a glass of wine with my dinner too much ever to give it up completely but I'd recommend the detox, it makes you feel so much healthier. I have friends who do this and give up coffee at the same time but that's a bit hardcore for me

james32_uk

I need/want to give up Diet Coke too. Any suggestions of ways to get round the headaches etc? How long did they last for you guys? What do you drink instead?

tesuhoha

I havent really given up anything but this has inspired me. I am going to give up buying chocolate and cakes. I cant do without my paperbacks but I buy them from Asda where they seem to be cheaper than anywhere else even Amazon. I love reading and usually I make a book last me about a month. There isnt a library near me and I was a member for a while but due to pressure of work etc I used to not manage to get the books back and I had regular fines of £10 or more and came to the conclusion that it would be cheaper to buy books and then sell them afterwards. My son gave up Coke but not before the dentist had told him that he had taken the enamel off his teeth and it was irreversible damage. :eek: I'm sad about that. The one thing I would like to give up is Christmas. My OH has two weeks off then (his only holiday of the year which I cant begrudge him) and he doesnt get paid if he doesnt work. At this time when we have less money we have to spend out hundreds of pounds extra on Christmas. I find it a nightmare as we still have to pay all the bills. It usually takes until February to become reasonably straight again. I am sure everyone is the same but it really blights Christmas for me. I am going to save up for it next year.

Sammz

tesuhoha wrote:

I cant do without my paperbacks but I buy them from Asda where they seem to be cheaper than anywhere else even Amazon.

Have you tried https://www.readitswapit.co.uk? You can get books for the cost of postage. As long as you don't send hardbacks and reuse jiffy bags it's only a pound or so at a time.

Nod_Off

I've given up most of my magazines. I now just get 1 cheap weekly magazine and 2 specialist magazines monthly which I subscribe to. I also cut right back on my weekend papers. I was buying 3 on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. It was getting to the point where I was only skimming the pages so now I get 2 on a Saturday and 1 on a Sunday. I've also stopped buying lunch from work and now take my own. I reckon I must have saved at least £15 a week

immoral_angeluk

We've cancelled our sky+ subscription and put the box on ebay, negotiated better deals on our mobile phones, sold our guitars and amps and all sorts of other things on ebay... and have given up buying things on a whim..

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've given up hiring a dvd every weekend, going out to restaurants, takeaways, going to the hairdresser (OH trims my hair now), taking kids to the barber (OH again, he's very useful), buying magazines, milk delivered to our doorstep, expensive kids parties, food brands that aren't shops own, clothes (unless I look like a tramp), kids activities (they didn't mind luckily), tutor for DS1 (will resume when debt free, in meantime helping him ourselves), mobile phone insurance, leaving lights on, leaving things on standby, having a warm house in winter (the heating was on the lowest setting all last winter and we wore jumpers or even blankets!), using the tumble dryer unless it is raining for days.

There's more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. But I don't mind because we have paid off a large amount of debt (£11,500) in 8 months since our lightbulb moment. Every sacrifice is worth it and we are going to keep it up for 18 months until we are debt free.

Bunnylady

Hi

Regarding books, do remember charity shops, car boots and even better cos usually cheaper - jumble sales!!

Bunnylady xx

southernscouser

I gave up giving up!