Londoner Saves Over £23,000 by Cutting Out Daily Treats and Making Smart Lifestyle Swaps
While 'little treat' culture has become a hallmark of Gen Z self-care, with daily coffees and brunches seen as essential indulgences, one Londoner has proven that cutting back on these expenses can lead to substantial savings. Ruth Awori, a 26-year-old living in the capital, has saved more than £23,000 over three years by making simple but effective lifestyle adjustments.
The High Cost of Daily Habits
Ruth realised that her daily spending habits were preventing her from saving for a house deposit. 'I absolutely love my coffees but it was getting to the point where I was spending £15 to £20 a day on them,' she explains. 'Added to that, it costs about £20 to get anywhere in London. Going out for dinner with my friends is another £40 to £50. I realised I was spending hundreds on little things that really added up.'
Having previously prioritised immediate lifestyle enjoyment over future financial security, Ruth decided that she didn't have to choose between the two. Instead, she implemented a series of small changes that collectively made a significant difference to her savings.
Practical Changes That Added Up
Ruth's approach focused on tweaking rather than eliminating her favourite activities. 'I didn't want to give up everything I love so I tweaked how I was doing them,' she says. Her key adjustments included:
- Making her own matcha lattes at home instead of buying them daily from cafes
- Cooking meals rather than ordering takeaways or eating out regularly
- Hosting dinner parties with friends at home, creating themed nights to maintain social connections
- Receiving coffee care packages from family in Kenya, supplemented with separately purchased syrups
Ruth estimates that approximately £15,000 of her total savings came specifically from cutting out these expensive daily habits, representing around £450 in monthly savings over three years.
Additional Factors That Supported Her Savings Journey
Ruth acknowledges that certain circumstances helped accelerate her savings. After graduating from Bath University with a degree in management and marketing, she lived rent-free with family in London for two years. 'I know that really helped as I wasn't chucking my entire salary on rent,' she admits. 'But even so, small lifestyle changes have really made a difference.'
Now working in financial services research, Ruth has also embraced financial education tools to support her saving goals. 'I've had to make a real effort to learn how to save but there's lots of great stuff on TikTok and I found an app called Plum which helps me save what I can afford each month automatically,' she explains.
Building Toward Home Ownership
While Ruth currently saves most of her money in cash, she has recently begun dipping her toe into investing with a small amount placed in an exchange traded tracker fund through Vanguard. 'With the cost of living and economy in such a crappy place, I've prioritised saving over investing so far,' she says. 'I feel like I don't know heaps about it yet.'
Nevertheless, with her substantial savings and growing financial knowledge, Ruth feels optimistic about her prospects. 'But with my toe in the water now and plans to buy my first home a possibility, Ruth says she feels she's finally on the right track.' Her journey demonstrates that even in an expensive city like London, strategic lifestyle adjustments can make home ownership more achievable for young professionals.
