Hard to get by?

[lylabellablueyes]

Hello lovely people.

What do you do to cut back and afford to live these days? If you struggle to make ends meet that is.

Myself and my partner both work and still struggle by each month with mortgage, food, car, childcare. Blah blah blah :-)

What do you do to cut back? Hints And tips please x

[anneasquith]

i think most people feel the same as you lyla, a recent newspaper article suggested buying own brand food in supermarkets, i suppose its a start.

[LoftyLottie]

Apparently, the best way is to cut out eating!!! Sales in food have dropped dramatically more than any other goods! Not surprising seeing that food prices have risen more than anything else.

[craft1948]

I dip into my savings to live nowadays.............

[jno]

stop eating? Lottie, have you seen the price of funerals?!

[anneasquith]

i cant afford to die !!!!!!!!!!

[lylabellablueyes]

I do buy some 'own brand'. Maybe I should do it more.
Are people really cutting down on eating. Whatever next?

[anneasquith]

i do believe people are cutting down on taxi^s to go shopping, fresh fruit, and going out to eat and drink, and staying at home more

[slinky.kate]

use shops 'money off coupons'

[roxie_09]

I guess little things. i am a little begger for driving everywhere! I've now started riding my bike back and fore uni and really saving me on petrol and parking! i for one have no problem with own brands of food, very often they are exactly like the branded ones anyway, probably made by the same companys too, i know of a few things that this is the cse, so i opt for the cheaper option x

[jno]

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[LoftyLottie]

Food is my main expenditure. I love food and I love good food and I love cooking it too. We spend virtually nothing on alchohol, little on socialising and I have cut back on the use of my car. I think twice before I go out. Difficult because I can't get anywhere without a car.

We now grow a lot of our own veg.

I put on extra clothing rather than turn up the heating.

[Mamyalynne]

Shop at local markets and bulk cook/bake when things are on offer. Always clip coupons. try to sign up to survey sites that either pay cash or in vouchers.
I scan my own shopping after each trip and get paid for it, not a fortune but every bit helps.
Get an account at a cash and carry and bulk buy with friends.

[China Doll]

I like a good bargain and occasionally buy in bulk. I also use amazon and ebay to get second hand books or DVDs rather than pay full price. We used freecycle and got a microwave too.

[anneasquith]

mamy, the buying bulk is a good idea , but not everyone has a car, or the ready cash to do so

[boxtops]

I stopped going to the hairdresser, now someone does it at home, saves me £30 per month. We really cut back on food buying, we hardly ever go out, OH hardly ever goes to the pub, we bring beer home instead. I used to pop in a couple of t-shirts or tops in the shopping every month - not any longer, we have far too many clothes anyway. OH gave up cigarettes in favour of rollups, saved loads. The main difference is that everything we don't wear or don't need is being offered for sale on eBay. We still take our holidays because we need a break, but eBay is providing our holiday money.

[roxie_09]

i love freecycle :D

[jno]

we belong to CostCo and so buy in bulk quite a bit, but it can be irritating trying to store 30 toilet rolls at once.

[TTG]

TV package. Never watched half of it anyway. The freeview BBCs and ITVS are more than enough.

[SnakeEyes]

More and more people are giving up on watching the telly if you have a computer you can watch catch up tv legally without a TV Licence. This saves you £145 a year

The people who smoke are better off at home than the pub invite a few friends round ( Don't forget to tell them to bring some bottles )

Try to walk to the Shops instead of driving this will save on petrol and is more healthy

If you read use a Library rather than buying the latest paperbacks

Have a good look at what you are spending your money on. Do you really need it ?