What should we include in MSE's new Cost of Living survival guide?

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Some people might need a change of mindset to cope with the rise in the cost of living and they should maybe think of it as downloading some new software that is going to cause some challenges but there is IT support on the MSE forums. One way to start is to look at everthing you have bought and paid for with fresh eyes. Everything you have bought has cost you money and before you throw it out check if you can reuse it. I have plastic, buttery spread, containers that I use for the freezer that are older than my 24yr old son! The competition entry dates tell me this. They might not be pretty but they do the job.

 My Mother's Mantra was "refuse nothing but blows". If she was offered something for nothing she never refused it in case people didn't offer her things again. Each Freebie would be assessed and she used similar rules to Martin's Do you need it, will you use it and can I afford it, with her's being "can I store it". Taking "stuff" just because it is free can cause stress with clutter. So, if she could use it she kept it and if she didn't need it immediately she made sure she had somewhere to store it.If she couldn't use it she would pass it on to someone else. Because people knew she was good at knitting and sewing she was often given craft supplies. She also kept a "where did I put" notebook,so that If she wanted to use something she had been given she knew where to find it!  Make as many gifts as you can. Even if you think you don't have many practical skills you can learn from books, youtube and friends and family.

Freebies can be passed onto friends or put on Freecycle where if you are seen to be offering things people are more likey to give to you if there is something you want. In jam making season people are often looking for clean jars.

Get yourself organised! With everything that is going on in the world just now it is easy to become a bit overwhelmed. Years ago there was a calendar on MSE with dates like Christmas/Bank  holidays/ dates clubcard vouchers came out. Not sure if it is still lurking there or not but easy enough to go through a diary or calendar and mark all important dates for family and friend's and then set reminders on your phone to send gifts or  cards in plenty of time to avoid higher postage costs and this will help with your budget.

If you like particular brands at the supermarket mark in your diary when they were on an offer and check the cycle of offers. Quite often it is a six week cycle but you can check this by keeping a note.

I would agree with using your local Library as previous posters have said. Libraries are great for books (reading and learning new practical skills) free magazines, free internet, free children's activities,and usually warm! 

Have an emergency meal recipe for when you are short of time and everyone is starving. It might be as simple as Coucous made with some stock and spices  and some frozen veg zapped in the microwave.

mumof3.12kindebt

Check out your local community and Facebook for things going on in your area. 
We often do things on the weekend that don't cost anything and my kids attend weekly clubs and groups that dont cost anything. - it pays to do your research with everything ! 

anita56

Use a slow cooker. It takes the chill off the kitchen as well as cooking a meal. Also a pressure cooker is great 

London_1

I cook a rice pudding overnight in my slow cooker in the winter and in the morning my kitchen not only smells nice its got a bit of free heat as well 

Auti

Info on cheap food for people who cannot eat mainstream food for specific medical reasons eg gluten free - it is so expensive and some is hard to substitute.