There's a big misconception that instant meals and microwave dishes are for eating on a budget. It's actually amazing how much money I save when cutting those out.

We found the same. Making a weekly meal plan and doing a main shop once a week (rather than dropping in for stuff every day) saved us loads. We've slipped a bit with this lately and are just trying o get back into making a weekly plans.

I'd much rather be able to save up for my travels than waste £60 on a hangover and sore ears!

I was having a conversation with my son recently who said that he spends about £60 on a night out. I was gob smacked!!!! I had no idea.

I own my phone and don't have to worry about paying a contract off.

Same for me on this one too. I have a Samsung A5 and my pay as you go is so old I actually get it for nothing because I get a free coffee from O2 every week (which I would normally pay for). 😂

Sounds like a good plan regarding property.

Prices in the South of England (at least where there are jobs) are nuts. My daughter can't even afford to rent in Brighton and Hove and has had to move further an further out of town.

I think Northumbria is probably the cheapest of the places you mention but a friend of mine moved back there from here some years ago and has really struggled with local attitudes etc., even though she is from there originally.

She's hoping to move closer to Edinburgh next year and it can't come fast enough as far as she's concerned.

Where are you're wife's family Nearer Moscow or St Petersburg or neither? 😊