Similar to me, I used to plough the majority of any excess (which isn't much considering I pay for everything and have 2 kids as well) into my pension pot, but I've basically stopped doing that to build a bit of a pot. I do have the recommended 3-4months salary put aside but that wasn't provisioned for this situation. Yes I know it's okay for some... My point isn't one of showing off, I've always been very careful with saving money for extreme situations, but this is going to be prolonged and I haven't planned for that at all. What I'm planning on doing is being very very strict with energy usage as that will have a greater impact. I.e. not using desktop pc but using laptop on battery until it needs charging, not turning the heating up, turning most things off at night that I didn't used to. Avoiding the oven and use the slow cooker. I've even just bought several rolls of insulation for the loft that I need to install soon. Other than that I'm not sure what else I can do. I'm focussing on cutting usage as much as I can whilst trying to maintain a certain amount of enjoyable life. Which I think is going to be stretching things.
I've saved over £100 pcm on cutting back from subscriptions, lowering internet package etc.... I'm now hypermileing everywhere!
I have a fairly cut back life so in some ways it's trickier.
Only Spotify (which may go) and Netflix (which won't), no BBC, sky etc.
Rarely eat out (rarer now)
Cut back on takeaways
No loans
No pcp
A bit of 0 percent credit
1.9pc mortgage fixed
Energy fixed until sep 2024
Bought an air fryer (great)
No new pc hardware in years (still running a 1070)
My hobbies only cost petrol and parking
I only drink the odd beer at home.
My only real expense now is holidays which I will not cut back on unless there is no other option.
Saving 200-300 a month on electricity if new cap comes through
And 200 a month if I hadn't fixed my mortgage. This will go to things like solar/new windows if applicable.
Only reason I haven't is not planning to stay here more than 4 years. And have cheap energy for 2 of those.
What I want to be able to do is see what the landscape is like in last 6 months of my fix. If it's as bad as now I'll get solar/new windows. Or move early. Then get solar etc.
Interest rates, energy costs, general economy.. Its so chaotic right now I can't properly plan/mitigate any more than I have.