FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE 2010, part 1. (Living on £4,000 a year)

the_cat

Well despite needing to get a few bits from supermarket, I can report a NSD!
OH went for me and paid instead:D (don't think I will get away with that too often though!!)

Will have to content myself with filling in some direct debits to my spreadsheet:rotfl:

cw18

nikki20022008 wrote: »

ohhh no I haven't CW I will book an appointment and start later than planned but at least I'll save some money I don't pay prescriptions so free is good lol Thanks for the advice

If you don't pay, check if a local pharmacy has a " Stop Smoking Clinic". One of ours (the one that also runs the "minor ailments" scheme for those exempt from charges) does this, and they can issue them free, without you needing to see the GP. You just need to have a 'chat' (in a private room) with the Pharmacist to make you're committed to giving up

mooomin

Good luck on quitting nicky - I've been off the smokes for almost 16 months now and don't regret it.

I tried three times with patches - total failure for me! The last time (my successful time!) I went to Boots to buy nicotine gum and walked out again - I wasn't willing to pay £12 for a weeks supply of chewing gum but was spending £40 a week on fags *doh*

In the end I quit using normal chewing gum and willpower and the first two days were hell, but I'm glad I did it!

Well done for taking the steps to quit, we'll be cheering you on here!

PS - I put the money I was saving into a savings account each day. My initial plan was to buy myself something I would never have been able to afford (The plan was a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes!) but in the end I bought Christmas 2008 without using credit and also got myself a lovely new coat. Treat yourself at a milestone - small treat for 1 week, big treat for 1 month. Good luck :T

nikki20022008

I'm really looking forward to starting unfortuantly the pharmacy doesn't have a quit clinic which is a pain. I have tried a few times but the last time I had a major reaction to the gum but I know I'm ok on the patches as I have used those before too but this time I am determined to pay for my holiday with the money I save a great swap I think fags for a holiday for two weeks with the lil one.

elaine373

Here is my budget for our family which consists of 3 adults, 3 children, 1 cat, 1, rabbit, 2 guinea pigs and our tortoise, based on recent monthly bills.(Doesnt include rent and council tax which in itself is
Rent- 3,520
council tax- 1,152) £4,672

water rates 363
gas 960
electric 708
phone and bb 276
mobile 120
petrol 1,200
breakdown 144
car insurance 372
car tax 210
tv license 145
horse riding(children) 768
school dinners 300 (one term only in cold weather)
groceries 3,120
next bill 590
clothes 150
shoes 120.
Grand total.......................................£10,246 :eek::eek::eek: ITS GOT TO COME DOWN!!!!!!!!!!



Heres to a year of living healthily but not in excess, God willing..

knithappens

ceridwen wrote: »

One thought re those wishing to grow food in containers - betcha you hadnt thought of your old childrens paddling pools:

http://www.technologyforthepoor.com/UrbanAgriculture/Garden.htm

i was going to get rid of my baby bath, but thinking of using it to grow something instead, not sure what yet

Jules

I quit 5 years ago with the patches, don't be tempted to stop them early, complete the course. I tried many times before I succeeded. You have something wonderful to aim for and that should help.

Good luck Nikki you can do it.

Fishcake_Random

I haven't smoked for about 21 weeks as I quit when I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant. Everytime I had a craving I just imagined the baby coughing and being smothered in smoke in there. Worked for me but a bit more extreme than chewing gum lol Maybe not so MSE lol
x x x x

Fishcake_Random

Knithappens- You soooooo have to use it for baby sweetcorn lol or something with baby in the title lol Baby spinach????

rozeepozee

nikki20022008 wrote: »

I'm really looking forward to starting unfortuantly the pharmacy doesn't have a quit clinic which is a pain. I have tried a few times but the last time I had a major reaction to the gum but I know I'm ok on the patches as I have used those before too but this time I am determined to pay for my holiday with the money I save a great swap I think fags for a holiday for two weeks with the lil one.

Nikki, the nurse at our GP's runs a clinic, so you may wanna enquire about that. Stop smoking technology has moved on and he's had patches, gum, mints and the latest is an inhaler. Remember that a lapse in your intentions is part of the cycle of change, so don't be too hard on yourself if you slip up and get back on the horse (DP's had a couple of lapses but has still had many weeks of not smoking) - apparently most people try to give up 17 times before they finally quit!

Incidentally, the cycle of change theory applies to all attempts at changing behaviour, including changing spending habits, so this could be useful to others on here

http://www.surreycounsellingservice.co.uk/html/cycle_of_change.html