Cutting back

I don’t often wash up - that’s Himself’s job (I cook) - but as he drives my stepfather home on Sundays I do it and I’ve just remembered that when I buy Brillo pads, I always cut them in half.
No one wants to use a crusty and rusty scrubber.
And there’s too much soap in a full one.
A waste.
(Plus I have a parsimonious side).

I am lucky enough to live a ten minute walk from Aldi. So instead of sending my DH to do the shopping ( I don't drive), i will walk. This serves three purposes. It saves on petrol. It is good exercise. It means I can only buy what I can carry, so no impulse buys ( especially from the addictive middle aisles). When we do need a bigger or bulky shop we use Iceland online. They have a much smaller choice of items and their prices are low.

I don’t buy books anymore . I use the library online service (they also provide lots of online versions of magazines). I buy craft materials and yarn from the charity shop. Shopping from Aldi and the local greengrocer ( who is actually cheaper than many of the local supermarkets). We take our own coffee and buns out on our daily walks more often than not. We use eco settings on the washing machine and dry clothes in the spare room.
Like Urms, I haven’t ironed for ages! Modern fabrics don’t need ironing. Hooray!

You’re welcome sharon! I cant claim it to be an original thought ... but it helps focus and does work. Not just on line but don’t go in a shop unless you NEED something. Just looking = just tempting and so unnecessary.

Switch heating on for less hours. Use up all food and tired veg goes into crock pot for soup. Don’t keep buying clothes but if we do buy something we make sure it’s always reduced or good quality second hand from eBay. Use throws to keep warm on sofa while watching tv. Never have tv channels other than free view. Go to Lidl and Tesco. Always look on reduced section for out of date items.

Urmstongran

I’d like my current account to look healthier this spring so I’m doing that Needs -v- Wants thing. I see something and ask myself “do I need this or do I just want it?”. I’ve not bought much to be honest this past fortnight.

A brilliant idea Urmstongran.
I'm a compulsive buyer. It's so easy to buy online and frankly waste money on things not needed. I waste so much money on stuff I don't need then after a while gets sold on Ebay.
From today, I am going to take your tip and ask myself do I really need it?
Thank you

I've just dyed a jacket I was going to throw away or donate. It is now one of "my" colours and it has given it a new lease of life and saved buying a new one. Dye was £5 plus cost of 2 washing cycles.

I get all my books from our local Hospice bookshop, then take them back again for resale. I have never got into batch cooking, I dislike cooking anyway, and we don't have a big enough freezer anyway. I no longer have my hair coloured/highlights, I let it grow out during lockdown and am now happy with the soft blonde/gray that has appeared. I do still have it cut well though, although every 7-8 weeks rather than every 5 or so when I was having colour done as well. I also have stopped washing 'clean laundry'! Usually, after a visit by adult DC for a weekend, I would strip their bed, launder it, iron pillowcases etc., now I just leave it unless someone else is visiting. My DS was here last weekend, and will be here again at the end of the month, so apart from throwing all the bedding back to air the bed, it will be as he left it.

If you Google free magazines there are lots of websites offering free magazines and brochures.

Use the library instead of buying books. Batch cook food. Only put central heating on at night for a few less hours. Wear a lot more layers. Make sure any savings are in the highest rate accounts. Bulk buy dog food. Cut down on buying new clothes. Have stopped buying expensive cosmetics. Shop in Aldi.

I have cut back on buying paper sewing patterns and fabrics. I have plenty of stash and am using that instead. Storecupboard items too eg I needed 4kg of sugar for marmalade, I had 2 kg and only bought 2 more kg today. Normally I would buy extra, to have some in. I am using storecupboard stuff daily, only buying organic fruit and veg, which are delivered

Heating has been reduced to 18.5 everywhere in my house and 24/7. House maintenance, if I have confidence in what I can do then I will do it myself, I recently fixed 2 joints in soil vent pipe and I lagged it. I am still strong and able to contort myself in a very cramped area.

I don`t go out in my car on a whim any more, just for the ride

We have invested in fleecy onsies, no need for the heating then. I always use the slow cooker and air fryer, only put the oven on if I am baking and can fill it up. We rarely put the central heating on and have cut down on the number of showers we have. As children it was normal to only have one bath a week! so we haven't cut down that much but I shower at the swimming pool 3 times a week and other half showers every other day... nobody seems offended lol ... We have always been careful food shoppers, prefering Lidl and Aldi to Tesco these days. Fortunately we grow most of our own veg and are still using last years potatoes, onions, beetroot and leeks! Our gas and electric bill is £460 in credit...

Joy241

I don't unplug things as I didn't think they actually used electricity unless switched on?

We don't unplug either. We turn off lights as we leave a room, no unplugging.

dogsmother

Hardly iron anything anymore. It’s working a treat, a very over rated waste of time.
We also allowed a water meter to be installed and consequently pay a lot less for our water as only two of us in the house now.
I buy as much as I can on yellow stickers and utilise the freezer.

Hardly iron anything anymore. It’s working a treat, a very over rated waste of time.

I couldn't agree more. Hang things to dry carefully, and fold neatly and most stuff doesn't need ironing. Life's too short!

Hardly iron anything anymore. It’s working a treat, a very over rated waste of time.
We also allowed a water meter to be installed and consequently pay a lot less for our water as only two of us in the house now.
I buy as much as I can on yellow stickers and utilise the freezer.

Not exactly cutting back but I have recently had a clear out of clothes I know I will never wear again. Some very pretty dresses and nice tops etc.
I have used eBay in the past but they tend to take a percentage of your sale money so I have started using Vinted who pay you the whole value of your sale and are very ‘user friendly’. Last week alone I made in excess of £20.00. I know I won’t make a fortune but every little helps and it’s actually quite fun seeing people bidding for your cast offs!

Like others, I use the shower at the gym. Great for my electric bill/water usage, but since I don’t live next door to the gym, I’m using fuel to get there. I usually go on the way to or from work, but some classes are too early or too late for that.
Nothing left on standby and the best news-I’ve been able to dry washing outside several times in the last few weeks.

I don't go around unplugging things either Joy241, if they are not switched on they surely don't use power? If they do, it is pennies per year.

I don't unplug things as I didn't think they actually used electricity unless switched on?

Not much needs ironing now, nobody is wearing work shirts or similar, most of ours gets a short burst in the tumble dryer then aired overnight in the utility room. This short burst keeps clothes soft and stops that awful stiff as a board (and needing ironing) if clothes are left to dry by themselves.

I will not be cold so still use the central heating albeit for slightly less time and have dropped the temperature a bit. Thermostats on radiators in spare bedrooms only turned on when we have guests, doors opened every morning though to air the rooms and to get the benefit of the sun (they are south facing). Hardly ever use the oven when it is just the two of us, use air fryer instead, always have a full load in dishwasher and washing machine, and unless it is towels and such, the washing machine goes on for a shorter lower temperature cycle, we are not coming in from a shift down t'pit, clothes are not dirty. All bulbs are low energy. My electric usage is still frightening though, heaven only knows what it would have been like without these measures.

Do the ironing as speedily as possible - the iron is a high wattage item

Or, like me, don’t use it at all! 🤣
#lazygran

I’m with the do I need or want group. I’ve always batch cooked and now I’m adjusting (slowly) to living alone, I’m back to cooking well for myself. It’s a bit sad to be frank.
I dry laundry overnight in the log burner room. Use central heating at lower temp, no rads in bedrooms and use the logs to heat the tv/sitting room to a toasty temp in the evening.
I’ve no problem with a bit of frugality but too much focus on penny pinching can be miserable. Yes I know I’m lucky to have a work pension, lucky to have paid in for forty years - or was that sensible determination to plan, not just luck

Cut down on CH, heated throw very useful and cheap to run halogen heaters for localised heat.
Never pay for parking in town, walk from free three hour stay, park just outside the pay zone or use the bus.
Make my own greetings cards, reuse wrapping paper, don’t redecorate, it will do me as it is, use a tea bag twice, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down”😁. Don’t drink or smoke, long spaces between hairdresser visits (good old root spray) If I didn’t have highlights, I would do it myself. No expensive creams, waste of money. Free lunchtime concerts with a donation.
With all this careful stuff, I refuse to stop enjoying myself with meals out, theatre, concerts and away days.

We use the slow cooker, pressure cooker or air fryer for all the cooking now. The main oven was only used once in the last 8 months and that was for Christmas Day.
Thermostat on the heating has been turned down as per the recommendation on TV. Curtains are closed at night and all light bulbs are low energy. We wash all the clothes at a lower temperature - nothing really gets grubby now we are retired anyway.
Batch cooking can save us a lot of cash - double quantities in the slow cooker take the same length of time anyway and it means we have an instant meal to microwave at a later date. Neither of us smoke and as we are on medication alcohol intake is minimal.
Really cannot see how we can cut down further.