UK households are planning to cut back on takeaways, streaming subscriptions and nights out as rising living costs force budget cuts
Brits are gearing up to be more cutthroat with their non-essential spending in 2026 – giving the boot to takeaways, scrapping unused subscriptions and reining in nights out. A yearly survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 30% of those trimming expenses aim to prioritise investing, while 19% aspire to hit their financial targets as swiftly as possible.
The annual poll by savings and investment platform Moneybox—which monitors spending habits and people’s sentiments about their finances for the upcoming year—indicated that soaring living costs could be a significant factor, with monthly grocery bills rising by 14%, leaping from £313.09 to £355.66.
The average monthly expenditure on rent and mortgages has surged from £531.97 to £657.58—a 24% increase—between 2024 and 2025. Some have already sprung into action, with spending on takeaways dropping by 9%, from £77.58 to £70.72.
Many hope these cutbacks will make their money go further, aiming to free up extra dosh to achieve their primary financial goals for the coming year, such as bolstering their emergency fund (28%), setting aside more for retirement (20%) and home improvements (18%).
However, as 2025 winds down, despite the escalating cost of living, 37% feel they’re in a better financial position than when the year kicked off, compared to 19% who do not.
This improvement has been aided by making strides towards financial goals (31%), better budgeting. A solid 28% have seen a healthy return on their investments, 28% received a much-appreciated pay rise and 21% managed to reduce their debts.
Brian Byrnes, director of personal finance at Moneybox, said: “Regularly reviewing your spending is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to build better financial habits. Small changes made consistently can unlock money you didn’t even realise you were spending.
“Even modest mindset shifts like committing to spending 30 minutes a week on your personal finances can make a meaningful difference to your financial situation over time.”
The study also revealed that a hopeful 57% of those surveyed believe they will continue to improve their finances in the coming year.
Among the optimists, 47% have a strategy to save more, while confidence is growing for 28% who now feel more adept at managing their money.
An additional 26% who are positive about improving their financial situation have set clear monetary goals for 2026, and 24% feel more driven to take control of their finances.
Meanwhile, 15% are dedicated to investing more regularly. In total, 32% actively invested their money in 2025, and a whopping 65% felt more confident doing so compared to the previous year.
This confidence has increased for 44% because they feel more informed about investing, while 35% had the confidence to re-enter the market after previously seeing good returns, according to the OnePoll findings.
Another 33% revealed that their confidence to invest was bolstered by saving more this year, while 25% credited the surge to enhanced market stability.
A spokesman for Moneybox added: “What this research shows is that people aren’t just tightening their belts, they’re becoming far more intentional about their money. Rising costs have forced tough choices, but confidence is growing as people get clearer on their goals and take action, whether that’s investing regularly, building an emergency fund or planning for the long term.
“When people feel informed and supported, financial confidence becomes the unlock that turns good intentions into better financial outcomes.”
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