Live Q&A: What would you give up to increase your disposable income?

A recent ICM poll revealed that, against a backdrop of rising inflation, UK employees are struggling to maintain their incomes. If push came to shove, what would you have to make way in your life to keep your finances on an even keel? What do you regard as indispensable? Join HR journalist Peter Crush and a panel of experts in a debate about disposable income.

Achieving a good work-life balance means allowing ourselves some indulgences. But what can people do maximise and protect their regular income? Photograph: Winston Davidian/Getty Images

A recent ICM poll, commissioned by the Guardian on behalf of income protection provider Unum, reveals that 24% of working adults have just £50 or less personal disposable income left at the end of every month, while nearly half (47%) have less than £150. These gloomy statistics are only likely to get worse as, thanks to rising inflation, practically everything we buy now costs more today than it did a year ago.
Of course to ach
ieve a good work-life balance we all need to allow ourselves some indulgences, but in order to do so in these tough economic times it is increasingly important for people to maximise and protect their regular income.
It all means we're going to have to be wiser with what we do spend, and cutting out what isn't needed. Financial experts argue people simply need to reassess what they spend their money on, and give up some so-called necessities. But what are the "essentials" you could give up? Or is life so stripped to the bone that nothing can be lost without a negative effect? And what safeguards do you have in place for your continued financial security?
Join our live panel debate where our experts discuss what we can do to boost our disposable income, and tell us which items you consider essential nowadays.
Join us here from 1pm on Tuesday 4 October to take part in the live discussion.
Please note that this webchat is designed to promote discussion and debate around the subject of working life and personal finances. Any posts that are deemed "off topic" will be subject to the usual rules regarding the Guardian's community standards, which you can read here.

The panel:

Peter Crush – HR journalist and Work:Life UK editor
Piper Terrett – author of The Frugal Life
Geoff Beattie – professor of psychology, University of Manchester
Clare Newsome - group editor, What Hi FI? Sound and Vision, gadget expert and former editor of Stuff magazine