What things could you give up easily?

66Mustang

On my other thread here which is about things you’d never give up, @Alicewillow suggested asking the opposite question i.e. what things you have already given up as a result of the price of living. If you haven’t given anything up yet what would be the first things you would cut out?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Personally I could easily get rid of the television/TV license.
I could also live without the heating on much, if at all, in winter as I really like the cold, however other family couldn’t so won’t be doing that!

Ross_Alumni

We've given up larger portions. I like my food and don't put on weight easily so I've always tended to eat more than I need to. Recently we've started halving certain quantities of food in order to save those precious pennies, and I'm not missing the larger portions.

Sandy_123

Take aways, the prices have gone up, also half the time I'm disappointed with food I get. I attempted a chicken chow mein yesterday home made, preferred it better, a lot cheaper to make and get more. Half the ingredients all ready in, like veg, mushrooms, carrots etc. Also I don't buy junk food any more, mainly to be more healthy, desserts are now natural yogurt with fruit and nuts. I've also swapped to a lot of shop own brands. 

SueHeath

mmm this is a hard one @66Mustang well we only have a take away about once a week.
I have cut down on my wine - but that was before all this.
I have totally given up bus journeys - but that was when i got this bad with my health.
I have been saying i would look more into charity shops for clothes.
I have given up tinned spaghetti - but thats because i don't like it.
I have reduced my buying of summer bedding plants and replaced some of the plants in my borders with plants that will come up each year - but thats to help my old bones.  xx

janer1967

I could give up alcohol very easily only have it on odd occasion anyway 

Less eating out would save some money and could certainly cut down food bill by getting less luxuries and getting more basic food 

But while I can I will continue I've been there where all I could afford to eat is beans on toast or pasta etc 

Tori_Scope

I've really tried to cut down on takeaways and meal deals, which is a terrible habit I got into. I've also been trying to cut down on coffees from coffee shops, which is another of my vices!

I'm not particularly into fashion, but I've also tried to stop buying clothes new. Almost all of my 'new' clothes and shoes over the past year or so have been from charity shops, bar a few things I couldn't find and wanted for an occasion. It's cheaper, helps charities out, and is better for the environment, so it's a win all round. 

leeCal

Car journeys are expensive so we’ve reduced them a lot. No more days out. I don’t drink coffee out so that’s a big saving, to be honest I really don’t like the taste of bought coffees, I prefer my own at home.

takeaways will also be reduced, like fish and chips on a Friday, far too expensive. 

As far as heating is concerned, we pay by direct debit and it seems to me well be lucky to get any kind of rebate if and when we reduce our consumption.i have the heating on at 17c which isn’t too bad considering, but it won’t go on til October depending on the weather of course. 

Sad days really, if not a little scary.

Sandy_123

1 item that could easily go is tv licence  if I had to start reducing be 1st thing to go.i have netflix, utube etc. I pay 26.50 a month tv licence 

Alex_Alumni

I think I would consider the internet essential now @Alicewillow as so many things rely on it. It's a thought provoking question though!

I think one thing I could give up easily if I had to would be meals out, as nice as they are, they can be very expensive. Unless you know you'll definitely like the food, there's a risk you might not enjoy it as well.

leeCal

@Alicewillow since so many things require the internet these days I think yes, the internet is essential. Though I suppose you could use the local library ...when it’s open that is.

as an aside, I really resent the ever increasing and unnecessary charges for internet though!

SueHeath

I would deff not give up the internet it's what is keeping us all connected.

bexter73

tv!!! I never watch it. The only reason I’ve still got one is so my fella can watch the blasted football lol. 

SueHeath

That 's a thought @bexter73 i will give up football ha ha 

bexter73

Lol @SueHeath

Cartini

What could I give up easily?

If a subscription option for BBC ever materialises, I`d bin the licence and BBC straight away.  I wouldn`t bin TV though - I love cooking, so I watch an awful lot of cookery programmes.

Binning wine?  That`s a no-no.  You are allowed one pleasure in your life (single and live on my own).

Bin the internet?  As much as I don`t like certain elements surrounding the internet, it couldn`t be binned because nearly all "domestic administration, budgeting and logistics" is completed online.

I no longer do take aways; I found out many years ago that "fake aways" can be much tastier and a lot cheaper than actual take aways (not to mention the therapeutic effect they have when cooking them).

I too prefer a colder over a warmer house, so my heating goes off 1st May and stays off until 1st October, and then it only comes on if it`s really, really cold.  If it`s "only" really cold, I have a lovely firebowl in the living room - I just fill the container up, watch the dancing flame and enjoy the change it makes in temperature (whilst under my throw with a glass of wine )

I`d like to give up my car, but a very close friend has just been diagnosed with Parkinsons, so she can no longer drive.  My driving services are now there for her needs.

I can`t think of anything else I could, or would, give up because living on my own I`ve learnt to live with less.

Andy