Money Wellness

money saver

Published 14 Jul 2025

3 min read

Half of Brits think cost-of-living crisis will never end

Half of Brits think the cost-of-living crisis is here to stay, according to new research. More in Common’s Shattered Britain report reveals money is the biggest source of stress for 43% of people.

A woman checks the shopping list on her phone as she pushes a trolley round the supermarket
routledge

Written by: Rebecca Routledge

Head of Content

Published: 14 July 2025

Despite years of hearing about ‘tough choices’ and ‘belt-tightening’, many of us haven’t seen an improvement in our financial situation.

If times are tight for you, we’ve focused on five areas where it may be possible to cut costs and make significant savings. Here’s how to do it.

1. Energy bills

Rising energy costs are one of the biggest contributors to household stress. To cut costs:

2. Food shopping

Supermarket prices have soared, but you can still save by:

  • planning meals in advance to avoid impulse buys and reduce waste
  • switching to supermarket own brands
  • use cashback apps and loyalty schemes like Shopmium, Nectar and Clubcard
  • buy in bulk for items you use regularly, and freeze leftovers to stretch meals further

3. Fuel costs

If you’re a motorist, fuel is likely swallowing a big chunk of your budget but you can drive down your costs by:

  • using petrol price comparison apps like PetrolPrices to find the cheapest place to fill up in your area
  • driving smoothly - harsh acceleration and braking use more fuel
  • car sharing for commuting or school runs
  • walking or cycling for shorter journeys to save money on both fuel and parking

4. Clothing

Clothing costs can soon add up, but you can make sizeable savings by:

  • shopping second-hand in charity shops, vintage markets or on apps like Vinted and Depop
  • taking advantage of sales and using discount codes from sites like Honey or VoucherCodes.
  • hosting a clothes swap with friends or colleagues
  • focusing on quality over quantity - investing in fewer, longer-lasting basics can save money in the long run

5. Socialising

You can cut back without cutting out all the fun by:

  • hosting at home - inviting friends round for a meal or drinks is usually cheaper than a night out
  • looking for free local events - from community fairs to museum exhibitions
  • making use of discounts, like cinema vouchers or 2-for-1 deals
  • setting spending limits for social occasions to avoid costs spiralling

 

routledge

Written by: Rebecca Routledge

Head of Content

A qualified journalist for over 15 years with a background in financial services. Rebecca is Money Wellness’s consumer champion, helping you improve your financial wellbeing by providing information on everything from income maximisation to budgeting and saving tips.

Published: 14 July 2025

The information in this post was correct at the time of publishing. Please check when it was written, as information can go out of date over time.

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routledge

Written by: Rebecca Routledge

Head of Content

Published: 14 July 2025

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