How much do you live on per month?

The_Matelot

I like the nicotine free as well lucy! I have been for 18 days now!

Lucy1010

The_Matelot wrote: »

I like the nicotine free as well lucy! I have been for 18 days now!

Excellent!! How do you feel? I think I am over the worst... it has been hell though! I had an amazing workout at the gym this eve, didn't get out of breath once - usually I struggle running but not tonight!

The_Matelot

Lucy1010 wrote: »

Excellent!! How do you feel? I think I am over the worst... it has been hell though! I had an amazing workout at the gym this eve, didn't get out of breath once - usually I struggle running but not tonight!

I feel completely different. I am able to run a mile and half (navy standard fitness test) in just over 9 mins now, whereas a year ago it was 10:30 mins!!

skyvicky123

Can I just say what a great thread!

I really do feel for all of those who are struggling to get by on next to nothing, it just doesn't seem fair to me that people (esp. those working to support their families) should be left without enough to eat in this Country and this day and age.

I don't feel right to post what we spend on food, beer and eating out as it seems ridiculous compared to others. Reading this thread has made me thoroughly ashamed about it (and that's after I had reduced it to what I thought was an acceptable level)

I think I will give us another 2 weeks as it is and then start to cut. I need to do it without OH noticing a change though as he doesn't see why we have to "be so extreme" about things. But we have a high level of debt, no savings and a massive mortgage so I think that is a serious reason to get things under control.

Thanks to Lucy for starting the convo - BTW I shop at Aldi and Lidl as well as snooping round reduced counters at key times of the day!

Lucy1010

skyvicky123 wrote: »

Can I just say what a great thread!

I really do feel for all of those who are struggling to get by on next to nothing, it just doesn't seem fair to me that people (esp. those working to support their families) should be left without enough to eat in this Country and this day and age.

I don't feel right to post what we spend on food, beer and eating out as it seems ridiculous compared to others. Reading this thread has made me thoroughly ashamed about it (and that's after I had reduced it to what I thought was an acceptable level)

I think I will give us another 2 weeks as it is and then start to cut. I need to do it without OH noticing a change though as he doesn't see why we have to "be so extreme" about things. But we have a high level of debt, no savings and a massive mortgage so I think that is a serious reason to get things under control.

Thanks to Lucy for starting the convo - BTW I shop at Aldi and Lidl as well as snooping round reduced counters at key times of the day!

Thanks for sharing this with us Skyvicky

Matelot, did you get support from the giving up smoking forum?

OK, my budget for food and treats is now £20 p/w instead of £100 and it is tight even for a single person because I like nice toiletries etc... cheaper brands don't do the same job.... I also had to cancel a lunch date this week because my budget doesn't allow

The_Matelot

Lucy1010 wrote: »

Matelot, did you get support from the giving up smoking forum?

Nope just thought enough is enough and binned every bit of smoking parrafenalia i had (except my two zippos. Very rare limited edition one offs!) and toughed it out. It was hard but im over em now!

kerri_gt

Cyril wrote: »

Funny though I don't feel able to compromise on the quality of the food my animals have. My dog has JWB which is £50 a bag and the pony has branded food aswell £10 a bag. I've never seen offers on horse feed or very many on the big JWB's. Each will last abut 3 weeks. This makes me feel bad when I read on here how little some people have to feed their kids.

I tend to go between to main brands for my moggie as i know she'll usually eat both of these and between the two there's usually an offer on one or the other.

I think the reason I would feel uncomfortable compromising on my pet food is because it's my choice to have a pet, and since she can't go out and choose her own food, I have a responsibility to provide adequatly for her. Now I'm not suggesting that I feed her what some would consider 'the best' but she seems well and happy. I did purchase prescription food for our other mog (due to him having Feline CRF) who we sadly lost 18mths ago and that was about £50 a bag :eek:

Of course I appreciate that I am in a position where I can choose - and it's not the same for everyone, but I would cut back on other things first before feeling that I was compromising moggies food.

bluebag

SHELLSHOCK wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been reading through this post and found it all very inspiring, interesting and sometimes amusing!

We've just started on the DMP road and are finally trying to work to a budget rather than going mad when pay day arrives and having lots of treats! I sometimes wish we got paid weekly!

I had all good intentions and had worked out approximately how much we had left over for food/petrol/spends and had divided it by 4.33 to get our weekly total and I was going to withdraw the amount each week......... that was until some idiot took my husbands wing mirror off the car and my son told me his school shoes were too small........ How does everyone else amnage to stick to the budget? It just feels like I was all sorted out and was in the right frame of mind but now we have all these unexpected expenses and all the money is going to be gone!

Some of the posts from thrifty shoppers are great but everytime I go to the supermarket at 3.45pm on a Sunday I end up buying reduced donuts and flowers - not exactly essentials!!

I do shop in Lidl/Aldi but I don't drive so my husband has to come with me. Bad move! He goes round putting lots of biscuits, sweets etc in the trolley and I end up with lots of stuff that I wouldn't buy if I was doing my shop in Asda!

Does anyone else have the problem of "Ohhh thats cheap, I'll have that" when its something they wouldn't usually buy!!

The way I do it is to put an amount away on payday for a crisis, this money is only to be spent on really essential emergencies like a new kidney or kids shoes.

You may find it helpful to do a meal plan, just something simple like mince on Monday, sausage on Tuesday, curry on Wednesday type thing and shop online, it helps me know exactly what I'm spending and saves the 'Oh please can we try some of these?' unneccesary expenses.

Barros

hi everyone, thought id add my thoughts!

forgive me though as i am not in debt but felt compelled to read every post. after all bills a month i am left with about £1k, sometimes £1200 (bonus depending). i am trying to live on £25 p/w for food, entertainment, exercise, the lot. i did have a blowout at the weekend though (long story) and spent £100 but that happens very rarely. the other £8-900 ish i try and save every penny.

crazy whoever posted about their mates earning £2.5K pm and spending it all!! i couldn't do though but we never had tonnes when we were growing up so i think i really appreciate what i have and im determined not to waste it on crap.

Lucy1010

Barros wrote: »

hi everyone, thought id add my thoughts!

forgive me though as i am not in debt but felt compelled to read every post. after all bills a month i am left with about £1k, sometimes £1200 (bonus depending). i am trying to live on £25 p/w for food, entertainment, exercise, the lot. i did have a blowout at the weekend though (long story) and spent £100 but that happens very rarely. the other £8-900 ish i try and save every penny.

crazy whoever posted about their mates earning £2.5K pm and spending it all!! i couldn't do though but we never had tonnes when we were growing up so i think i really appreciate what i have and im determined not to waste it on crap.

Are you single? If so I need some tips on how to keep to a budget of £20 p/w. (Single people need to get out more or they go crazy sitting at home alone) I don't have to stick to this budget but I want to pay my debts off really quickly so that I can be in the same position as you....