Please help new and desperate

MissKJ

not at all Tricia, saving mone has to become an addiction for those DFW who want to graduate to the MFW status. Whatever works for you!

jaapie

Any advice is appreciated. Do you know what I have not used any cards since I wrote on here (apart from to buy diesel which I used to pay at pump so I did not go in the shop). I have had a cash amout. I am a little worried about next week as I have to go to work on monday and I used to pop to the supermarket in my lunch hour as there is no where else to go so it is a case of changing habits. TriciaE your advice is appreciated I am going to treat it as a game but my aim is to get it down and not up! That will come later.

Keeping_Motivated

Hi... Yes its about changing habits... In your lunch time could you read a book, borrowed from the library of course!! Actually the library is something else free to do with the children... They can borrow books, and films and I don't know how old they are but most libraries organise things like story time etc for children. My daughter is a member of library (she is 4) and has her own library card and feels really grown up and she likes changing her books for new ones.

Keeping_Motivated

Also if you are going to take your lunch to work there are many threads on ideas for packed lunches on the Old Style Board which helps to get inspiring ideas so lunches don't become boring.... I've yet to master this though I will try next week when I go back to work too.

TriciaE

Don't get me started on lunches ! It's amazing how trends change and people follow the herd so to speak. The only time I can get my kids (well, they are grown up now and have just left to travel for a year) to make a sarnie for their lunch is when they are skint, they think it's embarrassing to take lunch to work :rolleyes: If you know you need to go in the supermarket for something then when you go to work, take only the money required for the item you need, if it's not in your pocket you'd have great difficulty in spending it. I hate shopping with a passion, hey, maybe that's why I hate it because I know it will 'steal' some of my money, lol !!

I've noticed a few posts where people feel guilty for not being able to give their kids what they want.....please don't. When I met my husband I was a divorcee with 2 under fives and I remember going in to toysrus for my daughter's birthday present. I only had £30 spare for the month and she needed some clothes, so I guided her to what she needed saying how pretty they were and she was like 'oh yes Mummy that's a lovely jumper' etc. When I got home I felt so guilty that in my eyes I really hadn't bought her a present, merely what she needed but then I slapped myself round the chops and told myself she was happy and that's all that mattered because all they really want at that age is attention and that costs nothing.

Be strong and when you see temptation just repeat 'Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee, you want me to buy you but you won't beat me' :rotfl:

asp746

i prefer taking sandwiches to work but have to let my friend mind them else they're eaten by 10am:rotfl: I also find going out to buy lunch not only costs money but cuts into my dinnertime - now no-one is clock watching me but i can't be bothered queuing at lunchtime.

As a treat tho, i do have a bought lunch on payday - gotta have a treat now and again.

glad you've shared your feelings with dh - a problem shared is a problem halved. Have you done the snowball yet - how long will it take you to clear things off??

fletch3163

Hi there

I too am starting work on Monday and I've joined the following challenge. You never know, it just might work.....

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=659253

Wanna_Bee_Free

Hi Jaapie,

Well done - you've made such good progress already. Just popping back in to see how you're getting on - really pleased to see how much things have improved for you in such a short tine. Good luck for your first shop; remember not to beat yourself up if things don't go exactly to plan first time.

Bee

asp746

haven't heard from you in a few days - let us know how you're getting on.