Where Would You Make Cut Backs?

You would just buy what you need and the basic essentials first and then shop around, change habits, etc. I’m way off pension age but working part time as a choice because of health reasons so I have made cutbacks. Downbrand, share things, look at websites where people offer stuff for free. Freecycle, olio for example.

I would only buy what I need. I wouldn't go out for coffee or food. Would make sure I used the free bus pass instead of driving. There are lots of things I do now to make sure I spend as little as possible so would continue to do those and then look at what else I could sacrifice. You hopefully wouldn't have a mortgage by then and could maybe downsize.

That's almost £1000 per month so put simply it would be about £400 on bills and £300 on food and household items, assuming it is only one person. This is close to my own situation so I do not have any tv subscriptions, I use as little energy as possible, plan my meals etc. This leaves £200 per month to save for things like car costs (if you have one) and other insurance and unexpected outlay.

All of this is assuming that there is no rent or mortgage to pay.....If there is then you're bu**ered.

Some great tips. Thanks

I am a 54 year old disabled person living on less than that and have had to cut back on everything. I didn't dare put my heating on this winter regardless of getting the £150 help money. That just covers the standing charge. I have thick heavy curtains partitioning my living room so that I only have to heat a small area which I use an oil heater for. When it comes to food I buy breast of chicken in bulk from Lidls which although is £15 I separate it into portions and freeze them. This lasts me for months. I stopped buying red meat altogether. I could go on but the list is endless.

Your using a website so I'm guessing computer literate and maybe you have interests that give you some expertise in some areas. People supplement their income by buying goods from car boots, facebook marketplace, gumtree and even ebay and then resell on ebay for example at higher prices. You may already have stuff you don't need so could spend time listing and selling such items for extra revenue. If you have a garden you can grown your own veg and some fruits and of course being home grown these will be organic so will be a hugely saving on organic fruit and veg from supermarkets.

Where additional clothes at home so you can save on energy. I went through the winter with hardly putting any heating on at all. I typically go on an exercise bike first thing in the morning and with extra clothes on I soon get hot, often too hot even in deep winter and that sets me up as comfortable for the rest of the day if I'm home all day.

Make sure you don't have any energy inefficient devices you use frequently like a plasma TV for example.

Register with all supermarkets for their loyalty schemes and apps so you get as many vouchers and offers as possible and keep changing where you shop depending on the voucher or offer you have at the time. If you are going into a supermarket and buying without offers that benefit from the loyalty card don't show you loyalty card and pay by cash so they don't know you have shopped there. That way you are more likely to get vouchers sent to you sooner rather than later.

Wow some very useful advice!!!

Lower your Boiler Temperature from 80°C to 60°C. This saves your Gas Bill by up to 9%, plus you are saving energy. Invest In Energy Saving Lightbulbs. Buy only store branded Items and not high branded things. Use your Washing Machine after 11:00pm to 07:00 for a lower tariff.

I earn not much more then that a year. I live to the best I can try not to spend on things we don't need

I thought I had read that if you get Less than 24000 a year as a single person and 34000 for a couple you were entitled to some form of benefit. Maybe you should check this out.

Soup is really great for warming you up in the daytime. Make your own and batch cook if you can afford to buy in bulk. Food banks will help. Depends on how much outgoings you have.

I would bulk buy certain items which obviously is more expensive in the short term but pays off over time. I’d batch cook and freeze food to get the most out of it. I’d take advantage of reductions at supermarkets etc.

Getting together and cooking/sharing meals with friends or family to keep costs lower.

You will have to find ways of making money that's why there is more crime so greedy businesses should have a look at themselves

Find someone to cohabit with to share the costs or take in a lodger. For the tax year 2022 to 2023, the annual Rent-a-Room limit is £7,500