What have you cut back on in recent times due to high costs?

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Made a change to my eating habits about 18 months ago after becoming a dad. Still spend about the same each month if not more but I started buying more organic fruit & veg, better quality meat wholesale (do a lot of vacuum packing and freezing), cut takeaways, crisps, chocolate etc.

So while not cut back from a financial standpoint, I get more, better quality food for the money.

As a result I have a 2 year old who choses fruit over chocolate and prefers veg to processed meals and I have lost just over 9 stone.

Win win.

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FilmFanatic1066@reddit

Organic food isn’t higher quality than non organic. Most effective marketing scam in history

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Organic foods are farmed in a less detrimental way, meaning food as a result will be of a better standard.

If you still think it's a marketing scam to reduce the use of forever chemicals and pesticides in food production that are detrimental to biodiversity, then that's up to you.

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FilmFanatic1066@reddit

Organic food still uses pesticides, not only that but the yield is significantly below traditional farming and thus uses more land, which is more detrimental to biodiversity. Please show me a peer reviewed study published in a reputable journal that supports the claim that organic food is higher standard and more nutritious than non organic food.

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

I'm really not interested in arguing with the tinfoil hat brigade.

As I said; if you believe better farming standards amount to marketing, that's up to you.

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FilmFanatic1066@reddit

So basically you can’t prove your position so have resorted to name calling? Using more land to produce less food does not equal better farming standards

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Legal_Alternative258@reddit

Like I've said several times now; I'm not interested in arguing with the tinfoil hat brigade.

It's well established that organic farming methods are better for soil quality and biodiversity.

The issue comes with the increase in greenhouse emissions as a result.

You are conflating the two.

Have a nice evening.

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FilmFanatic1066@reddit

I’m not wrong and the data shows that to be the case, it’s a little rich you calling others the tin hat brigade when it’s you spouting misinformation.

https://ourworldindata.org/is-organic-agriculture-better-for-the-environment

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Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit

Agreed. I only get my meat from the Market, or the meat mart. I am lucky to have both within a mile of my house. I've not got meat from a supermarket in 10 years

I make scotch eggs for my kids as they love them - and a Quiche. I can make a 16 inch cheese and onion for less than one you get in the supermarket

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Few_Recipe_9061@reddit

Sunbeds , use to treat myself this time of year get a base tan for holiday, cannot afford it

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FilmFanatic1066@reddit

How is increasing your skin cancer risk a treat?

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Few_Recipe_9061@reddit

God start living with the glass half full and let a ma live

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DoctorWhofan789eywim@reddit

Takeaways.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit

Crazy prices now right. I enjoy dominos once a month for the family. But looking over £40

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HopeWolfie18@reddit

Top tip - if you collect you can get a pizza and a side for £6.99 and it’s classed as small but it’s a decent normal size pizza. Hope that saves you some £££ and you can get a few amongst the family!

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit

Nice one will give it a go.

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DoctorWhofan789eywim@reddit

Curry isn't too bad as we make it last for two meals.

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YetAnotherMia@reddit

You can learn to make your own Chinese takeaway style food on YouTube. It's a fun thing to do on a Friday night I promise!

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discoveredunknown@reddit

I had a huge craving for Dominos tonight, long tough day, knackered, was gonna get me and my partner one. Had a look online, looking at £30 delivered. Went to the shop an bought a store one and something my partner could have with fries we already had, came to £7. Usually cook fresh every night, but been one of those day. Just as satisfied, hit my pizza craving, and saved £23.

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D0wnb0at@reddit

There was a point where I was ordering 5 a week. Completely for convenience cause I couldn’t be bothered to cook even tho I’m an ex chef. But it’s doubled in price in the last 6-7 years when I used to do that. I probably get 1 a month now

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Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit

My neighbour can't cook - they have had 3 a day every day for 10 years since I lived here. Madness!

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit

Pubs, well drinking alcohol all together.

There is no way I'm paying £6 plus a pint and I don't drink alcohol in the house.

Been 5 years now since I went into a pub.

My local was £2.95 a pint pre lockdown then after went to £5.75 no way. Do I miss it yes but I'm not paying it.

In 2012 there was 36 pubs within a 4 mile radius of where I live now just 2 remain.

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Broad-Attention-6133@reddit

That's sad.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit

Very

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sherman127592@reddit

It’s crazy how it’s £6 a pint outside of London now!

Even now in London you can easily find a good pint for £6-6:50 if you know where to go.

The fact that now that’s the normal price for a pint in a quiet suburban village pub is mad.

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Roofless_@reddit

skipping daily coffees, avocado toast, and Netflix subscription.

/s

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Youppi27@reddit

Coffee is a biggy!

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Broad-Attention-6133@reddit

You have presumably now got a portfolio of houses

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LaraStardust@reddit

of course it's /s times aren't that tough yet! ... .. /s

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rockandrollmark@reddit

Well, check out the future property mogul here!

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Sweet_Confusion9180@reddit

You'll afford a house in no time!!! /s

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Youppi27@reddit

Coffee from coffee shops. £4.50 is ridiculous!

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Natural_Bet6685@reddit

I've given up coffee. i was buying beans and then grinding them myself, but the cost has gone up so much i thought, you know what. Time to just drink green tea.

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Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit

Not that bad - 2KG of Amazons light roast is £21. We have a bean to cup machine and no issues with the cost

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Natural_Bet6685@reddit

Amazons coffee is shite. im a trained barista. not working as one but i know good coffee beans.

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Broad-Attention-6133@reddit

Steak

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Marvel--Jesus@reddit

Everything. I'm stressing over the cost of everything these days.

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SirLongShank@reddit

Pub. Miss it

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Knowlesdinho@reddit

I cut back on my lunches. I work from home and was having more quick convenient lunches. I just changed things slightly by going through the pain of bulk prepping with lots of fresh ingredients on a Sunday and making 4 days of meals, usually the same every day, but changes weekly.

Honestly saves a decent amount a week.

So what about that 5th day I hear you ask, well that's fat Friday where I go to the deli...times aren't that hard that I'm sacrificing fat Friday.

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5flyingfks@reddit

Can I ask what you make? I need to start doing this

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Knowlesdinho@reddit

So i make salad bowls. A coleslaw with red cabbage, white cabbage, grated carrots, spring onions mixed with Greek yoghurt, dijon mustard, white wine vinegar and seasoning. That makes about 4 portions.

I shred some lettuce, top with a generous portion of coleslaw and then the topping varies, which I of course mix in.

Topping is something like a beef chilli, but a reduced version that is not as saucy.

Cajun chicken breast with bacon (fat cut off)

A variation of marinated chicken, can really mix it up tbh.

Turkey keema.

Just get inventive with the Topping, mix it in to the salad and it's a big filling bowl.

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Glittering_Place_355@reddit

This is one of my go-to’s. Double the ingredients and then divide into about 6-8 portions which can be frozen. I then take a portion in, microwave it and plonk in on some nice toast (aldi toasting sourdough is my fav) with feta sprinkled on top. Easy and cheap and weirdly I don’t get bored of having it all the time.

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EntrepreneurAway419@reddit

https://www.eatingbyelaine.com/mediterranean-dense-bean-salad/

This is my winner, or cook and shred some chicken (i use my mixer) - could do just mayo, coronation chicken sauce, sweet chilli. Tuna pasta salad another option. Prep a load of salad veg on a Sun and a Weds, just easier to grab out of the fridge, hummus pots. When I'm WFH I usually do wholemeal toast, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, sriracha and avocado somewhere around 11am then not hungry until dinner.

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TimeTimeClock@reddit

I haven't bought beef in non-mince form in about 5 years.

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discoveredunknown@reddit

Bought a steak the other day and the cheapest one I could get was £6. Not worth it. I get 20% fat mine now which is about £3.50 for 500g and has immense flavour anyway.

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Illustrious_Bus8440@reddit

£17.50/kg for brisket I saw the other day. Used to be able to get 500g Rolled Brisket for about £3.

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Rubostars@reddit

Those fancy Yeo Valley and Onken yogurts. Used to be £1 when on offer, now they're so expensive. Also holidays in the UK. Now we go to France / Belgium instead

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MiskonceptioN@reddit

Lots of French people there though

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Sweet_Confusion9180@reddit

Pretty much everything.

But I'll say video games. I used to buy a lit of new games when they came out or stay up to date with the newest consolas.

Hardly remeber the last time I bought a brand new game, now they cost £60+

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OnePossibility5868@reddit

Same here, takes something pretty special for me to buy day 1. I save them on my wishlist and wait for some deep discounts.

I play a lot of older retro remaster games in-between the big releases as they are usually much cheaper, small and quick to download and don't require 100s of GB of updates and patches just to be playable.

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Various_Extreme_8773@reddit

The new GTA 6 is £90 on release I hear. It's disgusting.

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tazmusicandmeat@reddit

And we will pay it happily

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deprevino@reddit

It's worth noting that's complete speculation, though there is an industry push to normalise £70.

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Dramatic-Parking-943@reddit

I've not had a professional hair cut in 2 years and stopped dyeing my hair 4 years ago. Husband bought some hairdressing scissors from Amazon and trims my hair now.

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Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit

We have 3 kids - all of them and 1 have out hair done with a decent trimmer. Dam am I paying £15 for a kid to have a grade 4 all over!. The trimmer was only £20 and has done us for year so far

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Fraggle_ninja@reddit

I just started trimming my own, surprisingly easy. It wasn’t even for cutting back expenses but the fact the hairdressers now charge for a cut, and charge extra to dry your hair and no option for a dry cut. Like yeah sure I’ll let you wash it and walk out with wet hair and check the cut when I get home. F off.

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BeachTheHam13@reddit

Life!

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

Eating out. When did lunch for two go from £60 to £110?

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Admirable-Ask-3017@reddit

I, too, accidentally stumble into set course dinners at michellin establishments

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

I wish that was Michelin places, that just seems to be standard London prices now for a nice restaurant.

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Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit

Main and desert for 2 adults and 3 kids came to £99 with drinks the other dayin a Harvester. It was a rare occasion and won't be happeneing again

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Acrobatic-Ad584@reddit

And in the sticks

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mauriceminor1964@reddit

Health insurance. I had a rubbish policy that only paid for one consultation but did not work because the NHS would not give evidence of long waiting lists.

The NHS saved my life with no help from my insurance, so I will save my pennies and be grateful.

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