Um, help and advice please?

Hawthorn

Ames wrote: »

Ouch, that's a lot! If you can't stop could you switch to roll your own?

And try not to stress too much, there's never been a problem that can't be sorted on here!

We could yes. I want to stop, as my husband and I would like to try for a baby. We're both sick of smoking, to be honest, but we just struggle with quitting it. I hate the smell, the taste, the lot, but my body craves it and I become an anxious wreck if I can't have one. Nuts ain't it.

Ames

Do you buy branded food? You could save a lot by downgrading to value stuff. I honestly can't taste the difference, and often it's the same stuff just a different packaging, for instance having tins that need a tin opener instead of a pull top.

Do you know anyone with a card for macro or costco or somewhere like that? Bulk buying washing powder etc will work out cheaper.

floss2

Hawthorn wrote: »

.....I know I could probably cut down on that, but I have a morbid FEAR of having empty cupboards. Seriously. I can't cope if they even get halfway down. I have a shedful of food :embarasse

Do menu planning to save some cash & use some of that money you have sitting in your cupboards....make a list of everything eatable in the house and then plan as many meals as possible without buying anything else. Stick to the meal plan. Then plan next month's menus and only buy what you need.

Ames

There's definitely hope with the smoking, my dad stopped and if he could do it anyone can! The NHS is really geared up to it right now, could you speak to your GP?

floss2

Hawthorn wrote: »

We could yes. I want to stop, as my husband and I would like to try for a baby. We're both sick of smoking, to be honest, but we just struggle with quitting it. I hate the smell, the taste, the lot, but my body craves it and I become an anxious wreck if I can't have one. Nuts ain't it.

NHS stop-smoking program & clinics are an excellent way to quit.

Hawthorn

Merlot, no we don't have sky. We were thinking of getting it, but having seen the state of our budget not a hope in hell LOL. We also have an allotment which costs us £35 a year. Not getting much off that just yet, because we only just started, but we are serious about cutting debt out.
Is child allowance Child tax credit? I get that and child benefit

Whereabouts in East yorkshire are you? We're just outside of Hull!

floss2

Hawthorn wrote: »

Merlot, no we don't have sky. We were thinking of getting it, but having seen the state of our budget not a hope in hell LOL. We also have an allotment which costs us £35 a year. Not getting much off that just yet, because we only just started, but we are serious about cutting debt out.
Is child allowance Child tax credit? I get that and child benefit

Whereabouts in East yorkshire are you? We're just outside of Hull!

where was this in your list above? and the £80 for cigarettes?

Child benefit is family allowance, paid to all families (even Gordon Brown), Child Tax Credit is different (& is means tested)

slowlyfading

Firstly, £80 a week on tabacco?! :eek::eek::eek: You know what I'm going to say here, so I'm not going to say it. Also, mobiles can be cut down, as can the grocery Keep a spending diary, so that you can see exactly where your spare money goes, Don't worry, you're in the right place

Merlot

Hawthorn wrote: »

Merlot, no we don't have sky. We were thinking of getting it, but having seen the state of our budget not a hope in hell LOL. We also have an allotment which costs us £35 a year. Not getting much off that just yet, because we only just started, but we are serious about cutting debt out.
Is child allowance Child tax credit? I get that and child benefit

Whereabouts in East yorkshire are you? We're just outside of Hull!

I live near the Captial of the Wolds:D

Do you work? Would it be worth you working considering your tax credits etc, Asda at Kingswood is a good place to try.

Merlot.x.

Hawthorn

Ames wrote: »

Do you buy branded food? You could save a lot by downgrading to value stuff. I honestly can't taste the difference, and often it's the same stuff just a different packaging, for instance having tins that need a tin opener instead of a pull top.

Do you know anyone with a card for macro or costco or somewhere like that? Bulk buying washing powder etc will work out cheaper.

Nope. We shop at lidl, and buy the stuff we can't get there at either Tesco or ASDA. The only branded thing I buy is wash powder and softener, and I tend to stock up when these are on offer. I rarely pay full price for them.
I do buy good quality meat.....again though, I buy in bulk at the butchers and get it at a reduced price.
I don't know anyone with a card unfortunately.

We tried the nicotine patches, but ended up smoking whilst wearing them. I didn't sleep at all well, strangely enough *blushes*
I am going to the doctors next week, so I'll ask his advice when I go, see what, if anything he can do to help

Floss, tall order LOL. We could probably survive for months on what I have stashed. That's gonna take some planning!
I'll give it a go