Where do you scrimp and where could you save?

Teeniepops

I thought it'd be interesting to see where people think they could save more with general living costs and where they do save. Also, where they know they spend more but wouldn't want to cut back.

Where I save/cut back

I tend to save money simply by being organised. For instance, travel costs such as when getting train tickets etc (and avoiding risk of paying more last minute) and by paying for things in full, such as car insurance, to get a good deal. I also plan ahead at Christmas and try to find deals. I don't smoke and rarely drink so I don't spend much money on things like that.

Where I know I can (and want to) cut back

Recently I've slipped with food costs a little. I used to take packed lunches more to work, to save money and eat better, but the last couple of months I became a bit weaker here - I really want to improve here as it does save a stack (work canteen is way overpriced).

We also buy coffee out a lot, especially if on long drives, and even twice a week it adds up at 2 cups a time. Aiming to cut back on this too.

Where I know I spend more but don't want to cut back if possible

Skincare! I use expensive skincare but I personally wouldn't change it unless I needed to. It's expensive but then again it's not a regular purchase as they last ages and I use it all. I don't buy lots of different cosmetics on special offers that go unused, which I think is a bigger dent on budget.

What about you? :-)

fannyanna

Good idea......

Where I save/cut back

We live by a budget that we generally stick to (with the one exception below) and I always try to find the best priced item (not necessarily the cheapest as sometimes cheap is naff and you need to spend a little bit more to get better quality).
Where I know I can (and want to) cut back

Food shopping is our weakness. We have a budget for how much to spend on food shopping / eating out but we regularly go over this. We can afford it at the moment so it's not the end of the world but I would like to get this under control.

Where I know I spend more but don't want to cut back if possible

Our house. We bought a house this year that needs modernising throughout. Our previous property was like that and we did it up on the cheap. This time we're doing it a bit at a time and spending a bit more on things.

motherofstudents

We are very careful with things like car insurance, utiliities etc and change to whichever is cheapest. Also good at finding cheap deals on travel etc.

I would like to cut down my shopping bill. Even though I get an Asda delivery and choose the cheaper option, I quite often pop in and buy things that I didn't intend to. This is my next goal to cut down on the shopping. I have a budget of £200 a month for two of us. I think I must be doing very badly with this.

I spend a lot on Molton Brown handwash. I know it is a luxury but it is so nice and it actually lasts for ages so I think it is not as expensive as it seems. Also tend to buy good shoes but get them the cheapest I can.

Devi

i could have written your post - i am exactly the same - except i buy more coffee!

Where I save/cut back
Travel, technology (looking for the best deals and reading reviews etc), entertainment (vouchers, discounts, special offers), general food (stocking up on bogofs)

Where I know I can (and want to) cut back
Buying coffee everyday, buying lunch in the canteen, fast food when i can't be bothered to cook (live alone, not motivated to do it every day!)

Where I know I spend more but don't want to cut back if possible
I would never scrimp on skincare or on food when entertaining but everything else is fair game!

ibizafan_2

Another one who is good at finding deals, whether it be holidays, insurance, utilities etc.

Could cut down on clothes spending although I don't go over the top. However, I am taking voluntary redundancy in April from my main job so will be existing on a pension and part-time earnings. In future I am going to be asking myself a lot more whether I NEED something rather than WANT it!

Could never cut down on my weekly visit to the hairdresser (don't smoke or drink much so it is a treat!) Also, holidays. Not bothered about acquiring much "stuff" or brand new cars, but holidays and travel in general are my thing!

chanie

I cut back on travel so I have a cheap car and take a longer route to work which is slightly longer but cheaper. I try and cut our grocery spend.

I want to continue reducing and keeping control of our grocery bill through down shifting and clever shopping. For example I can't afford premium skin care anymore but that's fine.

I don't scrimp on personal items like clothes, make up etch but I give myself about £60 per month 'pocket money' so I don't have to feel guilty about getting what I want.

System

Where I save/cut back

Gas/Electric. I'm pretty hot on minimising usage and looking or cheaper deals.

Groceries. Cut my average shopping bill from over £100 a week to around £70 by not lowering my standards but selectively buying what is good for us and buying less junk.

Clothing. Only buy what needs replacing and only keep what we wear. No impulse buys as they tend to end up at the back of the wardrobes never to see the light of day again.

Where I know I can (and want to) cut back

My aim is to drop the grocery bill down to around £60 a week. That is going to take some serious thinking about though as i'd rather scrimp on cleaning products rather than food.

I'm a sucker for makeup and its too easy for me to impulse buy so i need to keep away from makeup counters.

Where I know I spend more but don't want to cut back if possible

A warm house. I refuse to live in a cold house. Nothing makes me feel hard done by more than being cold in my own home.

Baths. The men in my house prefer showers but my one luxury is a warm soapy bath.

Good quality dog food. What goes in, has to come out and good quality dog food doesnt come out quite as nauseating as the cheap stuff and i'd like to think its better for my girls too.

daleigha

Fab thread :j

Where I save/cut back
Travel - try not to drive unless it's somewhere I need to drive to, and try to combine trips to save me going back anytime soon. It's a bit sad, never having wee drives just for fun, but petrol is so expensive now we can't justify it.
Technology - only buy stuff when I really need it, and after thinking carefull about the purchase and checking what's best value. where's the best price.
Utilities - lights off when not in the room, nothing left on standby when not being used.

Where I know I can (and want to) cut back
Hmmm.... nowhere really. I'm not easily swayed by anything, so if I want to cut back on something, once I've made the decision I will, and be able to stick to it.

Where I know I spend more but don't want to cut back if possible
Food - We never go over budget, but have a very generous budget. My attitiute towards food is that it's something we need every day, and I want to be able to look forward to and enjoy my food. We aren't dining out on caviar every night, and I bulk buy and freeze / store things we use a lot of when they are on offer, but I like to have nice, tasty food.

Heating - like a previous poster I hate to be cold in my own home. I don't walk around in a vest top in the middle of the winter, but I hate watching TV with a million blankets wrapped round me, and hate not wanting to go to the loo / shower if the bathroom is cold.

'Pocket Money' - OH & I have our own personal spends each month. I feel I need to go out, see friends, treat myself or what's working all month about? I know we are lucky to have this option, but having cut back on this before to try and save for things we ended up really fed up.

abailey54

Great thread for the new year! :j

Where I save/cut back
Food shopping mostly, by keeping an eye on prices, using coupons, bulk buying on excellent bargains, bulk cooking, checking the yellow stickers for good deals (I wish my husband would stop buying 30 dohnuts just because they're 5p, he clearly isn't going to eat them all!).

Planning journeys to save petrol (I'm going to x, there's a shop next door, I'll pick up stuff while I'm there)

Where I know I can cut back
Utilities - I never got one of those fixed price deals (idiot) on energy, and have only got more electricity-aware in the last 6 months (i.e. turning stuff off when not using it). I haven't done price comparisons in the last 4 years. And fags - I need to stop really.

Where I know I spend but don't want to cut back if possible
I'm with you on the skin care - it's the only posh thing I buy myself. To get round this there's 2 people who give me Debenhams vouchers (thank you!) for Christmas and I wait until they have the free gifts on and get my stuff for the year (I have so many make-up bags that come with the free gift it's rediculous). I ran out of my face wash and moisturiser begining of Dec and have been using the freebies I got with them as a substitute - all good quality stuff

I can't bare to be cold either, I make the use of jumpers and duvets, but at the end of the day if I can't feel my fingers the heating gets 'wacked up'

loveasale

Where I cut and save-
I always check deals such as gas/ elec and phone.
Also I'm doing the Jan GC £150 for the month! It's gonna be hard as I normally spend more than double that! But I find the best way is to not go into big SM's.


Where I'd like to save-
My weakness is a good bottle of wine! So I suppose I should give up the drink!


Where I splash out-
I use my tumble dryer all year round - cuts down on ironing! Also like the heating on when I choose- not gonna be cold and suffer all the time I can stretch to pay for it!

loveasale

Forgot to say- I also do a Xmas club, save £10 a week so next Xmas will be sorted!
Have done this for years!