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

[chazzy2501]

My cottage is Energy rated G (although expired) and as it's awkward to reach with no parking. So I don't qualify for grants (gas or air source) and no parking so builders shy away!

[LeMarchand]

Any cheap/quick fixes you could DIY? Thicker curtains, especially over doors, secondary double glazing, even draught excluding tape and the like?

[mavhc]

Why care about an estimate?, you have actual data you can use to calculate the correct numbers

[LeMarchand]

Why care about an estimate?, you have actual data you can use to calculate the correct numbers

 

If he had a time machine, why would he need to worry about heating his house?

[mavhc]

You likely have the previous year's usage figures, so use those

[hardtailstar]

You likely have the previous year's usage figures, so use those

 

That would be an estimate for the current year surely not?

 

Probably said it before but I've cut back on branded clothing and just buy fruit of the loom tshirts/jumpers.

 

Just as good and probably what the branded clothing started out as but instead of paying £20 for a tshirt, I now pay £20 for about 5.

 

Trainers I really shop around for on websites to find the cheapest I can in my size.

 

Ive also stopped going to the pub on a Friday night and instead play football which is cheaper than a pint!

[PotNoodleTech]

I'm not sure how you could test this, but you might find it better to leave your heating on low all day through the winter then turning it up in the evening. A vicar friend of mine says they do that in their church, as it is cheaper than heating it back up as needed.

 

Tested it. Costs more. Quite a bit more.

[mavhc]

With a heat pump not leaving it on all the time could cause it to run less efficiently. With gas turning it off/down should be better

[KK20]

wow that does seem high. Im on a smart meter so I know what my usage is annually. Im with octopus and my usage from May to March is £2690. We live in a 5 bedroom house with 4 kids (2 are foster but have been with us over a year), heating is on from 6 till 7 and 5 till 8 in the evening, boost till 9pm if its cold. Thermostat set to 19C. We run the tumble drier weekdays for school uniforms if they get dirty. Otherwise I have a utility room with a dehumidifier where the washing dries. Gas cooker, gas heating. No TVs in rooms, computers and electronic devices to be used in communal areas (house rules), rooms for sleeping (and homework but door stays open.)

[BOOT]

...Well I'm about to stop paying for food. It's all that's left to cut. I'll let you get back to complaining about your mansions, heat pumps, swimming pools etc.

[Brax]

...Well I'm about to stop paying for food. It's all that's left to cut. I'll let you get back to complaining about your mansions, heat pumps, swimming pools etc.

If I recall correctly didn't some edugeeks offer you help?

[BOOT]

I do appreciate the offers. I'm not too proud to accept a little charity here and there, but it's not really a sustainable solution is it? I'm not exactly dirt-poor, I'm not wasteful either. I just don't understand how everyone else seems to be so much better off, much less understand how they can even complain about it.

[LeMarchand]

I do appreciate the offers. I'm not too proud to accept a little charity here and there, but it's not really a sustainable solution is it? I'm not exactly dirt-poor, I'm not wasteful either. I just don't understand how everyone else seems to be so much better off

 

I have to admit that I sometimes wonder how people on here can afford such expensive cars and this, that, and the other or how cost-cutting measures include not buying stuff that I have never bought. I guess some aren't in EDU or are a on lot more than me! That said, if you are struggling to feed yourself, something is wrong - not necessarily with how you are managing your money, but with the fact that someone in a reasonably skilled job is in your position.

 

Have you been to Citizen's Advice? They might be able to point you at ways you can claim towards outgoings. You may also need to consider foodbanks. Without wishing to pry, how much do you have to spend on food? Happy for you to PM me if you'd prefer. Asking as someone I do the odd job for recently fell on lean times and couldn't understand why social services were questioning his weekly food bill of more than I was spending on 3 adults. In his case, he couldn't imagine not shopping at Waitrose or buying cheaper brands; things soon changed. Not thinking that's where you're at, but it may just be that you're buying the "wrong" stuff.

 

Whilst you probably wouldn't get direct financial help from any requests posted here, I reckon you'd get some good advice on all sorts of things.

Edited March 31, 2023 by LeMarchand

[Steve21]

I do appreciate the offers. I'm not too proud to accept a little charity here and there, but it's not really a sustainable solution is it? I'm not exactly dirt-poor, I'm not wasteful either. I just don't understand how everyone else seems to be so much better off, much less understand how they can even complain about it.

 

Have you considered putting up your monthly budget and letting others see if they can give advice? (Whether here or on the Reddit money forums etc)

 

There are lots of people who are having issues across the country, but only you know where your money is going currently, but the type of comments you’re making about people bragging etc just because they’re discussing how to save money isn’t going to help anyone

 

Steve

[arwen]

My main gripe about bills right now is council tax. Why oh why do we still run a system of charging houses based on what they were/would have been worth in the 90's. Even if the house didn't exist then. How is what a house was worth relevent to what council tax pays for!?

 

I live in a 3 bed house alone (for now). Yes I get a whole 25% off my bill. But I generate a whole lot less waste than the families around me in the same houses, and houses across the road that are a lower band...

[mrbios]

I do appreciate the offers. I'm not too proud to accept a little charity here and there, but it's not really a sustainable solution is it? I'm not exactly dirt-poor, I'm not wasteful either. I just don't understand how everyone else seems to be so much better off, much less understand how they can even complain about it.

 

It's entirely circumstantial and everyone/household is going to be unique. Depends what you earn, how many dependents you have, whether you're living with anyone else (two wages obviously makes a big difference) whether you had pre-existing debts that you're servicing before the cost of living crisis started, especially if those are on variable rates. All that before taking into account the rise in energy prices or rent/mortgage costs, and how it has affected people differently. If you want to list off your circumstances, I and many here are probably happy to try and give advice, I'm very aware with my personal finances but never afraid to ask for advice in case i'm missing something, but i understand it can be highly personal and understand if you don't want to divulge such information.

 

If you wanted to be more anonymous /r/UKPersonalFinance on reddit is super useful if you want help or suggestions, there's some really knowledgeable people on there for dealing with money worries or just general advice.

 

Personally i've been very lucky, and im thankful for that, I'm not on a crazy wage by any stretch, but the cost of living crisis hasn't properly hit me yet (Though it's going to very soon unfortunately)

[nicholab]

Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from! It's crazy how much some branded clothing can cost. Even if I'm a girl and I like them, I've definitely started to be more mindful of my spending, and have started to opt for more affordable options.What about playing football instead of going to the pub - Idk, I like to meet new people and socialize)

 

My local Ju-Jutsu club cost me £5 a week that good for a bit of socialising and hanging out with people using Swords. I only been going 6 months but it great fun. I get to fight someone at the end of the week.

[hardtailstar]

My local Ju-Jutsu club cost me £5 a week that good for a bit of socialising and hanging out with people using Swords. I only been going 6 months but it great fun. I get to fight someone at the end of the week.

Football is like that too and get to smash a ball about.

[Rob_D]

Football is like that too and get to smash a ball about.

Wait you get to use swords and fight people? Maybe this football thing is more fun than I've been led to believe...

[LeMarchand]

Perhaps the most appropriate place for this. Noticed that Amazon's "free delivery" minimum price for non-book goods has gone up 25% to £25.

[mrbios]

Out with the old (20 year old system boiler):

 

In with the new (Veissman 100W combi):

 

Hopefully that results in a handy energy saving as a worthwhile investment!

(I'm aware the airing cupboard is in dire need of a decorating .... bought this house off a HEAVY smoker 4 years ago, it's the last space left to be de-nicotined)

Edited April 3, 2023 by mrbios

[mavhc]

I assume council tax is based of old house prices to avoid people being priced out of their own homes when the area they live in gets more expensive

[jmak]

I assume council tax is based of old house prices to avoid people being priced out of their own homes when the area they live in gets more expensive

It was a snapshot, but it was supposed to give a rating compared to other properties in your street/council ward/district.

 

The theory being that the most affluent in an area should pay the most towards local services.

 

Whether it's a suitable or fair method or if there's a better alternative is definitely a political topic, so I'll steer clear of that.

[LeMarchand]

Possibly the most relevant thread.

 

During my weekly shop, I noticed that Tesco "cheapo" cashews had gone up 33% (75p to £1) and the 32 pack of Cushelle loo roll that was £8.50 during Lockdown #1 had gone up from £15.50 to £16.50 since the week before, amongst others that currently escape me.

[arwen]

Loads of stuff has shot up by crazy percentages I've found. Alpro soya being the most obvious to me. In early 2022 I could pick it up for around £1.20 in most shops. Now, it's around £2.00-£2.50 depending what shop. I've moved back to asda own brand soya thats £1.10ish. It used to be 80p