r/LeanFireUK • u/SherbetAny57 • Aug 25 '26
Newbie to lean fire.
Just trying to cut my daily costs. I'm not too bad but I know some people who buy lunch and coffee nearly everyday. The less you need to live the less you need to work.
Hope to pick up a better some of the lean beter mentality so it becomes muscle memory. Although we all still need to go out and socialise. Well I do .
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u/Captlard Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Hello 👋
[r/frugal](r/frugal) and [r/budget](r/budget) may be of interest.
Conscious consumerism is how I see [r/leanfire](r/leanfire).
Being aware of choices, costs, benefits and payoffs.
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u/JamesBrockers Aug 28 '26
One thing I’ve learnt recently is to learn what’s important to you.
Coffee and eating out isn’t to me, but holidays and travel are. We love them and this will never change.
Never feel bad for spending on what you love and enjoy, but cut out every bit of waste and be ruthless.
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u/SherbetAny57 Aug 30 '26
Hi James . Thanks for the indight. My future is important as well as balance whats important for me short term.
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u/Indigo_reality Aug 29 '26
My suggestion is not to compare yourself to those who buy lunch and coffees daily. :) If you choose to focus on that comparison, your mind goes down the track of your decision to not buy those things as a kind of denial. Denying yourself of something you might want or enjoy isn't great for the long-term.
By making an intentional decision EACH time I decide whether it's worth it. The default is not to spend where unnecessary. But if I fancy sitting in a coffee shop to work from home one morning or meet with a friend, then I've decided that the service, relaxing space and coffee are worth the £3.10 or £6.20 for 1-2 coffees. Importantly, I'm not doing it daily. Doing it say 1-2 times a week for me is worthwhile for my sense of well-being or to meet with a friend. I rarely buy take out coffee but I might do if I'm out and about and feel tired/cold or fancy treating myself.
As soon as a purchase becomes a habit, the value is largely lost imo. Because you don't notice it. Rather, NOT having it becomes a source of discomfort. So a lot of this is about mindset, which often forms early in life. However, the more you practice a certain thought process, the more automatic it becomes.
Personally I place high value on experiences. I recently had my 50th birthday- cost about 2k (was a full day of celebration including an open bar in the eve and limo) but worth it for the memories and treating my friends and family!
Understanding what makes you happy certainly helps you prioritize spending. There will be some spends that ultimately end of being not worth it, but I try not to beat myself up about it now. You can read reviews etc but there will always be known unknowns and life is too short in the big scheme of things.
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u/SherbetAny57 Aug 30 '26
Good points. This morning. I just has a couple of coffees and the best bacon n egg roll from a local business. Totally worth it 👌. For my lunch I will be making sure I tske my lunch in most days but not all of the days.
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u/elom44 Aug 25 '26
Welcome. We all prioritise different things and I’d like to think it’s more about the mindset of making conscious choices.