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what luxuries have you cut
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Ooh parmo, yum! Sometimes I really miss living up north!
I stopped smoking at the beginning of last July and according to my stop smoking calculator I have saved about £650 (this scared me a LOT!)
I used to drink a lot of diet coke (the branded one as I never liked own brands - only for cola though, I think it's psychological) and I gave that up as my new year's resolution - now I drink tap water or Aldi lemonade which is about £1.40 less per 2l bottle and have a can of lemonade from a multipack per day at work (rather than 2 500ml bottles which is disgusting I know), the rest of the time I drink water or fruit tea. Dread to think how much I had wasted on this over the years!
The last few months I have pretty much given up shopping - I am on a mission to use what I have before I buy more stuff, so paid an extra £50 each month on credit cards.
All in all a lot of savings and I don't miss anything!
Restaurant meals, except for special occasions
Ready meals
OHs haircuts (I do it for him:D)
Holidays abroad
Full price clothing for me - al l charity shop or at least 50% off
New furniture, carpets etc.
Things that have increased/added - second car for 2 years only while DD is in college - we are not on the bus route - and coffee out- relatively small spend but still feels like a luxury.
Most of this does'nt bother me, but I struggle with winters and would love to be able to spend a couple of weeks somewhere sunny.
I used to love fresh veg but now buy frozen which is way way cheaper and doesn't go off either!
I do ned my car to get to work as i am not on a bus route but i swapped to a diesel last year and its saved me a fortune with the cosy of diesel at £1.33!!
I absolutely dreaded getting rid of my car but can honestly say I've not missed it at all! My son is a lot less lazy now, before when we went out of the front door he would go straight to the car and would have a major tant if we were walking
I have never had a car either, I walk most places or get the bus, coach or train for longer distances (bikes and I do not get on!) We are getting a car later this year (my mum had a windfall recently and has very generously offered to get one for us and pay expenses except petrol until we have a bit more money). I don't plan to stop walking however OH will use it for work as it will work out cheaper than his bus pass, and I'll use it for trips to see my mum as the train is extortionate! But if this opportunity hadn't arisen I would be happy to continue without one.
I have added a mortgage a bank loan a car and a baby and I am STILL better off.. such was my financial state 5 years ago..
Don't you have 10 kids? I don't know how you managed to get rid of that debt with all those mouths to feed, (guess there must be a decent wage coming in) but well done to you. :beer::T