Sinking Stomach Feeling....again!!

Googlewhacker

Hovel_lady wrote: »

Think about this.

Your cigerettes are costing you 21% of your income.

Wow, put like that it just shows how silly it is really

OP well done on meeting this head on but definately definately stop smoking!

GeorgieFTB

ok, on the smoking bit... go join the group, I may be along in a little while!

Until you manage to quit it might be worth going roll your own, £land do filters, papers and rolling machines, then you just need to buy the baccy. I used to smoke 20 a day and now my smoking costs £50 a month. Its not a long term solution but short term it does help!

Gx

LaFolie

dee8788 wrote: »

I had a lightbulb moment some years ago and kind of got some things back on track, and now things are off track again.

First of all, well done you! You're obviously a strong woman: you look after 2 kids on your own, and have been brave enough to do what you WANT to do, rather than just merrily pottering about!

I haven't much to say on the SOA other than the obvious (smoking), but never having been a smoker, I don't feel that I can be in a position to say 'omg why don't you just stop smoking?!!1'.

Not having anything particularly constructive to add, I just decided to drop by and comment that you totally can do this! You've done it once before, and you can do it again: this time you have your little man as an incentive, too

I'm a firm believer that positive thinking goes a long way, so stay strong!

sharp910sh

Why aren't you claiming maintenance from you daughter's father? http://www.cmoptions.org/

dee8788

I claimed maintenance from the time my daughter was born, however been the ever so loving absent father that he is, he refused to pay. The CSA did manage to get some arrears which were paid in full, then after that he paid nothing else. I found out where he worked, along with cash in hand jobs that he did...being a dj in various places, but things never seemed to pick up. I just got tired of constantly ringing them to see if there were any updates!!!

It's all changed now since i've had my son, completely different.

FireWyrm

dee8788 wrote: »

Thanks guys, i know smoking is one of the biggest things i need to sort out, and wish it was as easy to stop as it was to start!! I have made arrangements to go to the clinic for help with it, so fingers crossed!

Hi

I've been a smoker since I was 14 give or take so I know exactly what I'm talking about. You don't need to go to the clinic, all you have to do is make the decision and then stick to it. You can buy 6 weeks of patches from EBay for £35ish, I know, it's exactly what I just did. I gave up on Friday and with the help of the patches, it's actually not that bad. Yes, I miss cigarettes, but to be honest, I miss the 'breaks' rather than the smoking.

Even if you end up just living on patches, that's still a saving of around £140 a month. Think what you could be doing with your spare cash in 24 months if you pay off your debt. You'll have stopped smoking AND paid your debt all in one...and without breaking a sweat...much.

Go on...you know what you have to do for the sake of yourself and your future with those kids.

You know why I gave up? Not because I couldn't afford it, but because my daughter asked me to. It's all the motivation I needed. Find something that motivates you, and then use it to your advantage.

snazzyru

Hi,

I've just been doing the budgetbrain thing myself so I hope you don't mind me comparing a bit (I'm a single mum of two too)

First, your phone bills?! Both landline and mobile seem really high to me, not sure if you are in a position to switch (contract wise etc) but I managed to cut my mobile bill in half at the end of it's contract in Feb. Makes a big difference when added up over the month.

Secondly, your TV. I don't know your life etc but have you thought about a freeview box or similar? I have freesat (sky's freeview) though don't watch a lot personally but it works well for me as I don't have to pay for it. I watch things online through iplayer etc too as that's free

Your petrol bill seemed pretty high too but depends on lifestyle. I know mine is low as I live in a little town and everything is handy so walking's the name of the game! Might be worth working it out though, how much a trip to the shops cost and could you have shopping delivered cheaper etc or do one big shop less regularly?

The smoking I am not going to comment on much as there's a lot of advice already on the thread but I do hope you can get some support and do it. What a difference it'll make for you

I think you're doing great to be in the position of wanting to sort it, I know from experience how easy it is to stick the head in sand and increase the overdraft just a little bit more each month but keep strong and get the debt cleared, just think how much more money you'll have for your kids to enjoy then that's what keeps me going!

dee8788

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has posted to offer advice, i do appreciate it and it certainly works in my favour! GeorgieFTB, i do still buy tobacco, filters and stuff anyway, usually to save me if i don't have enough cash for cigs it does come in handy! My friend is also a tobacco smoker and has been telling me for a long time to stop buying cigs and buy tobacco instead so thank you for that!!

FireWyrm, thank you so much for your post, i do know what you mean about not necessarily stopping for you, but stopping for your daughter. My daughter also hates smoking, has kept asking me to stop...and now my little boy does the same. Obviously the negative effects of smoking do scare me, and i do want to be around long enough to see my kids grow up properly. My grandad recently died of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, from smoking i'm assuming and to watch how ill he became, and see him dying the way he was really, really scared me, to the point of not being able to sleep. I know all i need is will power, and the strength to say no, i don't need one. Like you i started smoking at 14 and it's a long time to smoke but i know people have smoked for a lot longer than me and i know i can do it because i've done it before...this time it just needs to be forever!!!

Angry_Bear

FireWyrm wrote: »

I've been a smoker since I was 14 give or take so I know exactly what I'm talking about. You don't need to go to the clinic, all you have to do is make the decision and then stick to it.

^^ This. Except I've been just over a year now (and it gets easier, I promise ). I used the inhalors and it cost me less than a weeks worth of cigarettes for all the ones I used!

However, especially when times are stressful that first step is difficult to take. If you can't face it just now could you maybe switch to tobacco until you're ready?

dee8788

Snazzyru...thanks for the post! My landline i've just swapped to go with O2, i was with BT and my bills were extremely expensive to say i hardly use the landline. I have broadband and landline with O2 and i'm on a 'something plan' i can't remember the name for the time being as there was no room on the exchange for me at the moment, it will be reduced by over half once this space comes up.

My mobile bill i upgraded to a different plan which had more free minutes as i was going over every month. My contract is up for renewal in December so will be looking for a cheaper plan also then.

As for sky TV, i don't really watch it that much, apart from on an evening / weekend. The kids watch it, but i am going to look into getting freeview also, i know a lot of people recommend it. I've said it for a long time about sky, that it's pretty rubbish for the money it costs for the repeated programmes that are continuously on!

Petrol, i don't really do many miles in it only the school runs / college 3 days per week and i also pick my mum up from work 3 nights per week and she does most of the time contribute to fuel!

I know i do need to look over my whole budget and cut things out that really aren't necessary. I will be doing this over the next few days...hopefully getting sorted as soon as possible.