How to Outsmart the Cost of Living Crisis: 15 Budget Hacks for Rising Prices
Last updated: January 2026
The Cost of Living is Up. But You Don’t Have to Go Down With It.
If you've found yourself wondering how your paycheck is disappearing faster than ever – you're not alone. In both the UK and US, inflation has crept into every corner of daily life. Groceries are up. Energy bills are up. Rents and mortgages? You guessed it. Up.
But here's the thing: surviving the cost of living crisis doesn’t mean giving up everything you love. It means getting smarter about how you spend, save, and simplify.
This guide gives you 15 practical, grounded hacks to help you take back control of your budget – without burnout, shame, or spreadsheets that make your eyes glaze over.
1. Audit Your Essentials
Start with your top three expenses: housing, food, and transport. Knowing your baseline costs helps you focus energy on what matters most.
2. Try a One-Month Spending Cleanse
Track everything for 30 days. Use a free app, notebook, or our printable Budget Tracker. Awareness is power – and often, surprising.
3. Switch Supermarket Brands
Downgrading from premium to store-brand goods could shave 20% off your grocery bill. And no, the pasta doesn’t taste worse. We tested it.
4. Batch Cook Like a Pro
Cook 2-3 dishes on Sunday. Freeze extras. Saves time, stress, and electricity.
5. Use a Cash Envelope for Food or Fun
Old school? Yes. But it works. Withdraw a fixed amount each week. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
6. Unplug Phantom Energy Drains
Devices on standby still cost you. Unplug or use a smart power strip.
7. Drop One Subscription
Most people waste $200/yr on unused services. Audit your digital life. Cancel one thing today.
Free Download: Subscription Tracker
Subscriptions are one of the easiest ways to lose money without noticing — £6.99 here, £9.99 there, every month.
Download the Slow Money Subscription Tracker™ to list everything you’re paying for, total the real monthly + annual cost, and cancel what you don’t actually use.
✔️ Track subscriptions in one place
✔️ Spot forgotten renewals + “free trials”
✔️ Follow a simple cancellation plan
✔️ Set a monthly limit that feels realistic
8. Walk or Cycle Short Journeys
Fuel is expensive. Walking is free. Bonus: mental clarity.
9. Use Comparison Sites for Energy & Insurance
Switching providers or plans can save you hundreds. Do a review every 6-12 months.
10. Plan Meals with a Leftover Night
One night a week, eat what you already have. It’s budget-friendly and reduces food waste.
11. Ask for Discounts (Yes, Really)
At local markets, on your broadband plan, even your rent. It works more often than you think.
12. Lower Your Thermostat by 1 Degree
In colder months, even 1°C less can save 10% on heating bills. Layer up.
13. Join a Library
Free books, movies, and classes? The library is the original subscription-free entertainment.
14. Start a No-Spend Weekend
Choose one weekend a month to skip spending. Get creative: picnics, board games, decluttering.
15. Set a Weekly Budget Ritual
Make it feel good. Tea, music, candles – then check your spending and plan the week ahead. Regular check-ins = less panic.
What to Do Next
Start with 2-3 of these tips this week. Don’t aim for perfection – just progress.
Free Download: The Starter Stack™
If the cost of living squeeze has made money feel tighter than it should, you don’t need a perfect budget — you need a simple system you can actually stick to.
The Starter Stack™ is my free collection of practical tools to help you:
reduce money stress
spot easy savings fast
build steadier habits (without cutting all joy)
Explore Next:
The Great Subscription Audit: A 30-Minute Guide to Cancel and Save
Slow Hustle: How to Earn More Without Burning Out
5 Tiny Habits to Kickstart Your Emergency Fund
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