What have you given up as a DFW?

mjdh1957

Well, I'm debt-free now but I gave up a lot while I was paying things off.

I bought myself hair clippers to save going to the barbers (easier now that my hair is receding anyway).
Stopped buying books and used the library a lot more.
Sold my car towards the end of my debt period and used that to make an extra payment (now just share car with partner - we had no need for two really)
Always looked out for 3 for 2 and BoGOFs in supermarkets, also items that were reduced because of the sell by date (even got partner involved in that and it was a new idea for him)
Stopped drinking alcohol (though that was mainly for health reasons as it doesn't agree with me)
Only bought clothes in supermarkets like Asda rather than Next

The best thing is that my debt-free wannabe ways are still serving me really well now I'm debt free.

The next challenge is mortgage - we're currently aiming to be mortgage-free in 8 years or less, having just remortgaged this month.

helen_caslass

i will be giving up book/dvd/cd buying off the internet and shops except for bday and xmas gifts... magazines i will try to limit to one a week but none over a pound or one £4 mag a month, will cut back on clothes buying bad idea buying new clothes in current size when trying to lose weight... am trying to get debt free :rolleyes: save for a wedding a new oven and a new settee by eck thats a lot of money i need to save....

JoJo_Sparkly

I've given up my weekly shopping jaunts with girlfriends - which has helped to save money. Also cut out meals out and no holiday this year at least.
But the thing I miss the most is having fresh flowers in the house. I always bought a vase of Lillies each week and just adored the beautiful scent in the evenings. This is still something I find hard and I did weaken over Christmas and bought some as a special treat!

loopyloulou_3

ive given up spur of the moment shopping sprees to expensive shops. If I get the urge and have budgeted for it - its Primarni all the way!

haircuts in hairdressers - i have a hairdresser who comes to my house now (saving me about £60 every 6 weeks!)

drinking this month (and longer if I can!)

buying brand new books - go to the library or green metropolis now instead

takeaways - have them about once a month now!

given up leaving heating on and are much more aware of turning things off when i have finished with them!

Kevicho

My sanity?

Beer (since september), TV, materialism (cept for my pc )

Yorkielass

I'm desperately trying to avoid slipping into debt, OH and I recently moved house and we've:

Cancelled Sky from old house and haven't had it put in our new one - saved £21 per month.
I've cancelled my gym membership, don't use it enough and will use it even less now we've moved further away: saved £44 per month.
Cancelled a magazine sub I had too - saved about £2 a month

Haven't cancelled completely but reduced my contact lenses package as I always seem to have left over lenses each month so gone down from £22 per month to £15 and am wearing glasses at least 1 day a week to keep the number of pairs I use down too.

benbenandme

Not an intentional saving but I have cut down hugely on magazines ... I used to buy 2/3 a week and probably spent £20 a month, now I buy maybe one a month at £2/£3. All becaue I don't have time to read them anymore cos I'd rather be on here!!

HazelEyes_3

Not much I have given up completely - mainly I have cut back, bought cheaper or less frequently.

However I did cancel all my magazine subscriptions - some were paid a year in advance so am still getting some of them. This helps with the withdrawal symptoms. Since then I haven't bought a single magazine in the shops - have done a couple of trials (3 for £1 then cancel).

I've also stopped buying books - new or secondhand - and use the library more. I already used the library a bit but now that you can reserve books online (as well as renewing) it is a great way to save money.

And now that I think about it we haven't had a single takeaway since my LBM - they don't feature on my meal planner for the week.

rog2

I gave up my Tesco/Morrisson's breakfast - used to get one 3-4 times a week and convinced myself that I would be saving on lunch :rolleyes:
The fact is - I really enjoyed them, but they were costing me £3 - £4 a day, and I still bought a sandwich for lunch.

lynzpower

I gave up diet coke :A saving somewhere in the region of 1,300 a year :eek:

Ive given up carp takeaways- we make the best pizzas otside of Napoli in Chez Lynz

Ive given up random spending for no good reason and shopping for fun

I gave up supermarket sweeps in Fopp, and now listen to online radio and downloads for free