Save money they said! Spend less they said! But how exactly would one go about doing this?

Two weeks ago, we asked readers to share their top tips for cutting down the cost of living. And boy did you deliver! It took us a while to go through the masses of comments but here we are, ready to share YOUR top tips with the rest of our fellow RTL Today readers.

Food: 'I had to learn how to eat the whole broccoli'

In May, food prices had increased by 5.7% year-on-year, and by July that figure has risen to 7.5%. It's therefore no surprise that food, grocery shopping and eating out made it to the top of the categories.

  • Instead of buying brand products, try to buy more generic and store owned brands and labels. They are often as good, if not even better and cost only a fraction of the price.

  • Explore and try out different stores, compare prices and try to buy products that are on offer!

  • If possible try cross border shopping, but always keep in mind the distance/gas ratio vs what you'll actually be able to save. For our readers, Germany is the biggest and best contender when it comes to buying food outside the Grand Duchy.

  • Freeze excess food for longer storage so it doesn't go to waste; same thing with food that is close to the expiration date: freeze it as well. As one of our readers said: The freezer is your best friend!

We've actually published a supermarket and shopping abroad guide. Here you'll find more information about the different supermarkets here in Luxembourg and even an analysis of whether cross border shopping is worth it.

Energy: 'And of course this winter, wear sweaters in the house'

Next to food prices, liquid fuels were up by 81.9% and gas by 42.6%. Saving energy was therefore another big contender when it comes to saving money.

  • Turn off the lights if you're not currently using them.

  • Unplug chargers when not in use.

  • Only run washing machines and dishwashers when they are completely full. This not only saves money but is also good for the environment!

  • Keep your heating at around 18-19 degrees at home and start wearing sweaters and socks at home, while using the occasional blanket as well. It's winter -  there is no need to run around in shorts and t-shirts. 

  • Only heat the room you are currently in and keep heating in other rooms turned off.

  • Charge your electric car at work if possible.

RTL

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Avoid eating out: 'HORESCA sector has become super expensive'

According to a Statec report, Luxembourgers spend a whopping 3,800 euro per year on eating out. No wonder this made the top 3..

But there is an easy way out: Eat at home and cook from scratch! You'd be surprised how easy it is to make a good lasagne or pizza. (Here's a bunch of recipes - from the humble to the impressive - to get you started).

RTL

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Subscriptions: 'Remember you can always join back'

These are often forgotten and it's very easy to lose track of what we're actually spending.

  • These should be among the first to go when looking to trim the budget.

  • Who needs five different streaming platforms? (Also who has the time?)

  • You can always rejoin!

  • Can you find a cheaper plan for your mobile phone?

  • Do you REALLY need that LinkedIn subscription?

Here are some tips on how to stick to a budget.

General savings: 'In short - live like your grandparents did! Is it a NEED or a WANT?'

While that sounds a bit harsh, there is some truth behind this reader's statement.

Try and use public transport more often, it's free!

'Do we really need 5 new pairs of shoes every year?' a reader asked.

Stop impulse buying and only buy something if you really need it. Also mend instead of replacing everything.

'Iron your shirts yourself', another reader suggested.

It's going to take some time to change our consumer habits but always remember to try and live within your means.

Be more aware of what you spend, write it down, use an Excel sheet. It will increase self-awareness and you might be able to avoid some of the traps that cost you a lot of money.

A lot of comments mentioned that one should just move out and leave Luxembourg, but the point of this article is to navigate life in the Grand Duchy and not necessarily run away from it.

It's not going to be a cakewalk for a lot of people, that's for sure, but there is a lot you can do to reduce your expenses and still live a comfortable life. We hope that this article might give you some starting points.

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Honourable mention: 'Do not accept inflation and mediocrity'. Yes don't settle for mediocrity, but are we really able to just not accept inflation? Nice try though! :-)