Cost of living crisis 2022 - what have you cut back on?

[Ditto]

We have a cleaner once a fortnight. OH would regard me as the 'gadget' if I proposed that cost saving

More seriously, the hovering bit isn't such a drag, it's the bathroom and kitchen cleaning, and we're not yet their with robotics yet - well not at an affordable level.

[Bumhug360]

Is anyone thinking of getting rid of their cleaner and getting a gadget to make up for it?

 

Cleaner no, but butler is down to 4 days a week

[DalekSec]

People have cleaners! I need to change role....

 

Hopefully one day be able to upgrade my chef to a Michelin star one.

[Ditto]

Cleaner no, but butler is down to 4 days a week

Love it! When on first joining the local tennis club, a bunch of old codgers were bemoaning how expensive it's been getting to heat their swimming pools - no pun intended, well maybe, but their well out of my depth. More recently, a conversation about cleaners came up and I used much the same butler quote! Who has a butler nowadays? It's a marvellous concept, but sadly not something I have access too.

Edited January 26, 2023 by Ditto

[nicholab]

Love it! When on first joining the local tennis club, a bunch of old codgers were bemoaning how expensive it's been getting to heat their swimming pools - no pun intended, well maybe, but their well out of my depth. More recently, a conversation about cleaners came up and I used much the same butler quote! Who has a butler nowadays? It's a marvellous concept, but sadly not something I have access too.

 

I mean there was no ski holiday and we have already let the Gardener go. (I am joking but a lot people I know have cleaners.)

[jmak]

We have a cleaner once a fortnight. OH would regard me as the 'gadget' if I proposed that cost saving

More seriously, the hovering bit isn't such a drag, it's the bathroom and kitchen cleaning, and we're not yet their with robotics yet - well not at an affordable level.

You've worked out hovering? If you can do that I'm surprised you can't afford a butler [emoji16]

[Ditto]

You've worked out hovering? If you can do that I'm surprised you can't afford a butler [emoji16]

Darn, two typos picked up this week - @mikeprice, move aside

[JRA]

Off-topic, but a friend and I were discussing this very thing and SURELY there should be more robots doing housework by now.

[Brax]

Off-topic, but a friend and I were discussing this very thing and SURELY there should be more robots doing housework by now.

True, Has anyone got one of those roomba hoovers? Any good?

[enjay]

True, Has anyone got one of those roomba hoovers? Any good?

 

A friend has one, they take ages but they do get the job done. The cat hates it!

[LeMarchand]

Off-topic, but a friend and I were discussing this very thing and SURELY there should be more robots doing housework by now.

 

I can think of quite a few reasons why not but can't really discuss them here.

 

On a tangent, I recently played "Detroit: Become Human" and was struck by how cheap the androids were. The base model seemed to be around $3k (though there seemed to be some, possibly second hand, models for <$1k) with fairly advanced ones being c$9k. Although most people seemed unemployed, lots of people owned androids. As far as I can tell, protagonist Kara cost her owner less than a new Roomba S9+!

[nicholab]

Another area that I guessing would cause up set is how often the good lady visits the beauticians, hairdressers and/or nail salon.

 

My wife is a beautician and I heard about the wads of cash handed over after a 3 hour’s of treatments for one customer.

 

Also the same for us men the hairdressers/barber that can be £18.

[LeMarchand]

A friend has one, they take ages but they do get the job done. The cat hates it!

 

Not all cats hate them.

 

[elsiegee40]

Another area that I guessing would cause up set is how often the good lady visits the beauticians, hairdressers and/or nail salon.

 

My wife is a beautician and I heard about the wads of cash handed over after a 3 hour’s of treatments for one customer.

 

Also the same for us men the hairdressers/barber that can be £18.

 

Hmmm. If you’re concerned about your “good lady” (or other gendered other half) I would suggest a joint review of finances rather than targeting one element of spending. Especially if you value your partnership and/or your private parts. You can bet your bottom dollar they will point out exactly what your weak point is for spending.

 

Please remember there are female members of this forum as well as male ones and comments like this are extremely out of place bordering misogynistic.

 

Also note that I haven’t used the mod tag. This is my own personal anger boiling over.

Edited January 27, 2023 by elsiegee40

[mavhc]

Amazon often have deals for robovacs, got a Eufy 30C a few years ago, side effect: makes me tidy the floor. Can also vacuum tables. Can make it work with Home Assistant, put an old phone on top and enhance the AI

[southhamster]

If you're not that bothered about fancy haircuts an electric clipper can be a good saver. An all over no.3 can look pretty good, or get someone else to do it

Mrs. SH does mine but she had some basic hairdressing training in her punk days.

For some reason she won't let me loose on her hair though.

[LeMarchand]

Another area that I guessing would cause up set is how often the good lady visits the beauticians, hairdressers and/or nail salon.

 

My wife is a beautician and I heard about the wads of cash handed over after a 3 hour’s of treatments for one customer.

 

Also the same for us men the hairdressers/barber that can be £18.

 

Not at Château LeMarchand! Mme LeMarchand is naturally beautiful and has her hair tidied maybe once a year. That's only "expensive" because ladies' cuts always are compared to men's. Never goes to the beautician or nail salon. I haven't had a haircut since Lockdown 1.

[Andrew_C]

Serious potential £saving in the hair dept.

 

MrsC has a hairdresser come to us. Not to colour her roots at all (I didn't say that!)... She also does anyone else at home - not so much to do now the girls are at Uni, but it works out quite cheaply. MrsC colour and cut £60, me or MrsC's boy £10, can't remember what she charged for the girls, but typically it was <£120 for 4/5 people.

[elsiegee40]

I am not disagreeing with cost savings to be made on hair and beauty treatments by the way. They’re there to be had.

 

My gripe was with the choice of language/approach of the post where I blew my top.

 

My hairdresser comes to the house and charges £35 for a cut & blow dry for the record. (I have embraced the grey… there’s too much now) Mr gee40 goes to a barber and pays less than half that. He also has less hair … and mine is short but also very thick

 

Many mens hairdressers do a dry cut and they usually charge less so there’s always going to be a difference sadly.

 

As I said, if you think your significant other is spending too much then do a joint review of finances otherwise you are on to a loser from the outset.

Edited January 27, 2023 by elsiegee40

[enjay]

My hairdresser comes to the house and charges £35 for a cut & blow dry for the record. (I have embraced the grey… there’s too much now) Mr gee40 goes to a barber and pays less than half that.

 

Some of that is about time taken though, isn't it. Mrs Jay's haircuts take an hour and include a hair wash, mine take 10 minutes. That said, her hair is more than 6x longer than mine, so maybe I'm the one not getting value for money!

[LeMarchand]

I am not disagreeing with cost savings to be made on hair and beauty treatments by the way. They’re there to be had.

 

I clicked on something on Groupon as I wondered what it meant and continually get hair/nail/pamper/spa etc offers now.

[enjay]

I clicked on something on Groupon as I wondered what it meant and continually get hair/nail/pamper/spa etc offers now.

 

I've had some very odd targeted advertising on Facebook as a result of an accidental tap or putting my phone down while an advert was showing (so the algorithms think I'm interested in that item).

[JRA]

I have a USB-powered ceramic bladed hair clipper, which will do a very passable #1.8-2 on my hair and beard. Think it cost all of £17. Also have a solar USB battery pack for it which seems to never ever run down (which I vaguely recall cost about the same.)

 

At £12/haircut it has paid for itself and I can recharge it/other devices for free from nature.

 

I luckily mitigate wear and tear on the blades by going bald as quickly as possible, and also save the time I'd spend at the hairdresser dreaming of a future where androids do my washing up.

[enjay]

Also have a solar USB battery pack for it which seems to never ever run down (which I vaguely recall cost about the same.)

 

Very interested in that. Which one do you have?

[Sharkman]

My hairdresser comes to the house and charges £35 for a cut & blow dry for the record.Many mens hairdressers do a dry cut and they usually charge less so there’s always going to be a difference sadly.

 

I have short hair and go to a barber (prefer the cut compared to a regular hair dresser) and pay £15 a visit but I need my hair cut every 2-3 months which adds up. Mrs Sharkman has her hair cut maybe once every year, so I end up spending much more than she does! It's not just about the price of the treatment, mine ends up more expensive because I have to go more often - that's something to consider too