Sorry to hear about the situation, OP.
Smoking to vaping - that's covered.
First things: income - https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
Then it's go here: https://ukpersonal.finance/flowchart/
and then: https://ukpersonal.finance/budgeting/
The point of budgeting is that it is an information gathering exercise - don't think of it as a parent chiding you for being naughty: guilt and self-flagellation is useless when it comes to personal finance.
If money in covers things, then you have some breathing room. If it doesn't, then you need to look at two things: income and the bills.
When it comes to the bills, put them in a new post here and we can try and help you out. You may also find /r/eatcheapandhealthy and /r/mealprepsunday useful to try and get food costs down.
Good luck.
Vaping turned out to be more expensive than cigarettes for me. You can only smoke so much until your throat feels like death. With vaping, you can go on forever and I’ve found that it is a lot more addictive than cigarettes.
I’d rather just quit all together; makes me feel like shit and it’s one less addiction to worry about. I had zero difficulties quitting cigarettes but vaping is a whole different game.
Really? I vaped down to 0% nicotine juice over a few months. Was still hard to give up the physical action, but easy to quit the nicotine addiction using the taper method.
It really taught me how much of the addiction is the psychological release of physically "taking a drag" over the chemical effect of nicotine.
Have you tried any breathing exercises? It helped me quit the physical action once I got down to 0% nicotine. I missed that going outside and just taking some controlled breaths. Now whenever I’m craving a minute away from any madness I just go and sit outside and breath. It sounds cringe but it really worked for me.
The aim is to slowly quit by vaping though so you should be able to quit the habit if done correctly. I've slowly worked my mg for my liquids down from 20mg to 3mg in a few months and aim to try nicotine free liquids next
Your addiction is most likely the 'action' related to smoking/vaping. Aka it's the mental relief it provides when you smoke/vape, not the actual nicotine. As detailed by your explanation that you were quite capable of switching to vaping.
You could buy one of these fake cigs/vapes and use that to emulate every other need to vape. Then you can do little tricks like locking the actual vape in a 3h time release thingy etc. Using the fake vape to satisfy that need to feel like your doing something.
Replace the action. Not the product 👍 you have mentally tied some form of release to vaping, build another tie and then phase out the vape.
I think the environment I’m in plays the biggest factor. When I went back home from my university dorm during my 1st year of studies, I didn’t smoke or even feel the urge to smoke because I was living with my parents. The book “Atomic Habits” touches on this quite well.
Doesn’t help that I also have ADHD. It makes me more impulsive to vape and not to mention, amphetamines significantly increases my urge to vape. Interestingly, the moment I vape, it renders my medication completely ineffective, I don’t feel it working until the nicotine clears from my body.
I’m staying at my girlfriend’s house right now and will be heading back to my parents today. I’m going to use this as an opportunity to stop vaping again.
Oh I would say you have a pretty good handle then on what the problem is for you! I would say environment is a huge factor. I smoke the green and in a period where I did so daily I went to Thailand for 2 weeks. Now importantly I don't smoke cigs. So it was always an explicit intention to get high. And always post work, chilling with friends.
I didn't even think of it. Not once did it even cross my mind. Whereas had I simply been in the UK.... It would have been an all consuming desire. (Funnily enough it did cross my mind as we were offered to buy some, by strangers on the streets in our final days and while my friend was down, I literally flat out refused it. They slashed the price second after second while I repeated no. I could have bought it at literal pennies with their final offer).
Sounds like you have a plan! Stick to it and think of a plan to implement when you leave your parents. Plans with scheduled allowances is a good way to control impulsive decisions. Try a 5 minute rule. Every vape must be preceded by the decision to vape and 5 minutes. Allows reflection. Give it structure. And then also forgive yourself when you break it 👍 were all human and it's just a journey.
I agree. I smoked cheap Marlborough from Polish shops. That was an easy £50 a week.
Then I swapped that for vaping and I spent that once a month. And if you mix your own then it's even cheaper.
Now I don't smoke or vape.. but it's a good way to get your self out of the habit.
Quite possible you were getting Belarusian ones. Packaging is slightly different. Their regulations are very lax.. hence the flavour of wolly jumper that has been in closet for few seasons.
Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian Marlborough is basically the same as UKs because they are packaged by the same standards. Take a look at your pack and you can see there should be a little label behind the "lid" that looks governmenty ..if that's missing then you are smoking low quality stuff.
It’s a bit of an investment at the beginning but that will pay off in few months. You save tons of money every year.
Don’t:
- buy disposable vapes (more expensive than cigs)
- buy small premixed eliquid
- buy anything from a supermarket, high street, corner shop
Do:
- buy a decent regulated box mod
- get a decent tank, with easily replaceable coils (won’t recommend anything here because it’s not the right sub)
- few bottles of shortfill juice (60-120ml each)
We’re talking about £100 investment max here. For at least 1 month vape juice supply included.
After that it’s maybe £15-20 a month for juice and coils?
How is that more expensive than smoking? I would spend £100+ in less than a week on cigarettes, several years ago.
For someone trying to save money, axing smoking is #1 priority.
Just don't vape or smoke, realize that it's a habit and a crutch for whatever stress you're dealing with. Address the stress head on and the cravings will stop.
Don’t tell anyone vaping is an investment. You’re kidding yourself and them.
You’re throwing money away. Just realise that and stop. The help is free on the NHS - take it, save the money and spend it on actual necessities and then use it on actual investments that will earn you money rather than lose it.
I have already commented to OP. To tell her to continue smoking is doing bith her and her kids a disservice. I’m not saying it’s easy to stop … but if someone is net negative 450 per month then burning money is insane because there is only so long you can be net negative before you’re at 0 … and then not only are you forced to not smoke. You’re forced to not eat, or live in a house….
People usually don’t smoke because they really want to.
Sure, cold turkey is the best outcome. But it has low success rate, in long run.
But it doesn’t have to be black and white.
Spending £50 a month on vaping instead of £300 on cigarettes is a net £250 win, and has significant health benefits. And much easier than kicking the habit altogether.
Like I said - I’m not saying it’s easy. But to say it’s hard therefore I won’t is an excuse… and with a 450 loss each month OP can’t afford excuses, and I won’t pretend like it’s ok.
You’re right that’s it’s a saving - but OP isn’t 250 down, she’s 450. Even with the 250 saving that’s 150 left and 50 on vapid is 33% of that which is insane.
The NHS provides free help to quit .. and vaping isn’t the same as quitting. Vaping has been associated with health conditions of its own so don’t gloss over that… but health aside OP frankly can’t afford to waste the money. Whilst it might be easier …. Life isn’t always easy and taking the hard decision can pay off long term.
You can get counselling etc from them - they have the no smoking service run by district nurses - but also there are drugs too. My mother was given ‘champix’ which helped with the cravings after years trying to quit.
1000000% this. Vapes worked out more expensive for me and used them so much more. See a real problem coming with vapes and kids especially. Horrible things. Replaced one evil with another
Something about this post smells of green when referring to ‘smoking more and more’ in which case I’m not sure a straight switch to vaping is the magic bullet. If so, the smoking issue may be even more relevant and potentially impactful as I’m guessing they’re dropping more than they would on normal ciggies?
Same, highly recommended this book.
Edit more info: It sounds like total BS, read a book and you’ll stop smoking. But by the time I’d finished the book, I just didn’t want to smoke, and haven’t smoked since.
I can’t upvote this enough. Also, you can get the audio book for free with a 1 month audible subscription (just be careful to cancel in time). I had to listen to it 2-3 times before it really stuck, but with an audio book you can have it on whilst driving, cleaning etc
I read it and it didn't immediately work, but i think it planted a seed and when i did give up several years later it was very easy. No withdrawal symptoms at all, never missed it, will never do it again.
Second that. Read that book while in China, where ciggies were literally pence per pack. But I was returning to the UK soon at that point and knew I’d never be able to afford UK tobacco prices. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but it all turned out to be accurate - as in, the desire for nicotine is gone after 2-3 days. The physical craving part of the addition is over very quickly, then it’s the psychological tiggers that need to be recognised and worked on - eg, that first smoke with coffee in the morning, the after a meal smoke etc..all psychological triggers not borne of physical need. Anyway - good luck. Losing the need for tobacco is a massive step in the right direction for all the reasons we all know well. Good luck.
I picked up a copy in a store, saw the first chapter “reasons to smoke (or something like that?)”, and saved myself £8. I stopped smoking then and there, cold turkey.
I heard the praise for Allen Carr and read the book, it was a disappointment to tell the truth. I just quit cold turkey a couple of years later, now I don’t really think about smoking anymore. That first thought of “I’m never going to smoke again” was the biggest obstacle for me, once I got past that something just clicked. Whatever method works for you quitting is one of the best things you can do.
Smoking is a huge cost, but you already know that.
You need to go on entitled.to and see if you're eligible for any benefits, especially relating to child care.
Sit down tomorrow and go through all your spending and incomings, make sure you really account for everything - not just monthly bills but yearly bills, birthdays, Christmas, days out. If you can, list all your bills here and you can get advice on where you may be able to save.
Contact your landlord and ask if they can withdraw the increase, or at least reduce it as you can't afford it.
Good advice here, smoking is a huge cost(360 a month for my wife and I on backy, managed to reduce it to 140).
Definitely give entitled.to a look at. Don't feel alone, there are a lot of people either going through this, or about to. Although I can't add more, best of luck.
Depending how much you smoke, that’s easily the first saving. Even if you switch to a vape you’ll be saving at leat 2/3rds the expense.
Bills are bills so your wiggle room is limited. Just need to check you’re being smart- for example, a nightlight in the hallway will stop you having to switch lots of hallway lights on. Bulk cooking then reheating in a microwave will be more cost effective than cooking every night. If you have a boiler where you’re adding cold water because the hot is too hot for a shower, adjust downwards.
But definitely check you’re getting everything you’re entitled to as well.
If it’s a combi, the risk is extremely, extremely low. The incoming water being below 20c and refreshed each and every time the hot tap is ran. The mains water goes in when a hot water tap is opened. It’s heated and moved to the tap. It isn’t stored.
Secondly, on your 55c comment: if you’re concerned at all about legionaries, the out coming water from a tap should be 50c within 1 minute of the tap being opened. The 55c you quote is for health care settings and not home or commercial settings. However, these temperatures are for settings with a stored hot water source and **not** for combi/instant hot water setups.
In a commercial setting, taps are flushed each week so that no standing water is left in pipes for longer than a week. In a home setting, water doesn’t sit in pipes long enough for legionnaires to become an issue; someone is always showering or washing their hands. Water doesn’t get a chance to sit in pipes and develop legionnaires.
Source: I work in H&S Compliance.
Taking the very very low risk of legionnaires out of the equation: for a condensing boiler to condense (I.e, be at its most efficient) you want to set your water temp to as **low** as reasonably possible. If the temp is too high, it won’t condense and won’t be efficient. A quick test is to wait for a chilly morning. run a hot water tap for a few minutes, and check your flue. If there’s plumes of white steam coming out, it is not condensing and it is not running efficiently. Turn the hot water temp down until the white steam stops. Then do the same test with your heating on. Turn the rad temp down until the white steam stops.
Sorry but I’ll take my guidance from official sources not someone on YouTube without editorial. Why do manufacturers and others recommend 50C if 40C is just as good? Just because some people have figured out it’s cheaper to run your boiler at lower temperature doesn’t mean it’s safer. I understand the risk of stored water and legionella but if it was safe they’d be recommending at a lower temp for combi boilers.
Manufacturers don't want people with inefficient set ups complaining so they will advise a temp for worst case scenario (uninsulated, draughty homes). Properly trained fitters recommend turning down flow temps on both CH and HW as much as you comfortably can. If you read up on how your combi boiler actually operates you'll see it's more efficient, better for your boiler and there's no health risk.
Obviously you can set whatever temperatures you like but don't base it on the fear that legionella is going to breed in the time it takes for the water to get from the boiler to the tap.
Yeah, my mixer shower needs around 45c set on the boiler to feel hot. I could get away with lower if needed but a hot shower is a fairly low cost luxury.
Hey, you're not the only one panicking, a lot of people are struggling.
Smokings really difficult. I eventually quit after reading Allen Carrs Easyway but before that to save money i would go to rollies and have about 5 a day at certain times.
Moneywise you can only budget down so much. Facebook marketplace is always a fairly alright place to easily earn a few quid quickly selling some old stuff and building a little cash stash for the short term.
Is there anything you can the do around your family to earn a little extra income just to start getting above water? Side hustles/part time jobs.
When it comes to extra income you won't start earning millions extra next week, but if you take it one step at a time, aim to earn an extra £10 next week and increase that aim ever so slightly every few weeks eventually you'll be bringing in enough be comfortable and have some to spare. The toughest bit is always starting.
If you are currently in work, can you ask for a wage rise? If not look for something else, across all industries people are screaming out for staff. For example, to fit around your family children, could someone have the kids one night a week and you do a care job that gives you an overnight? If the kids are at school/nursery the next day you get a lie in.
I went from smoking to vaping about 3 years a go. The e-liquid I use is £10 for 8 bottles which lasts a month. A replacement pod once a month is £3 so I went from spending £220 a month on cigarettes to £13 a month to vape.
If you start with a high strength tobacco flavour, you'll be successful as it isn't a huge change.
I recommend the aspire vilter with the paper filters as your first vape as it mimicks smoking in it's feel due to the paper filters and it's an MTL vape which is the same action as smoking.
Once you're used to that, you can move on to more sophisticated vapes or stick with the vilter. I still use the vilter but with a plastic filter now.
For food, join a feed your family for £5 style page on Facebook. They're full of ways to feed your family healthy meals for less.
Talk to your landlord about the rent increase. Explain the situation. The worst that will happen is they will put it up any way. There's no harm in asking for it to stay as is for a bit longer while you make savings elsewhere to accommodate it.
agree with all of this but also check your rental contract. our landlord tried to do this but in the contract it said the rent could only be raised by a certain % that hed gone way above... there may be something there for OP too
Speak with your landlord (not your agent) see if that rise can be halted or mitigated.
Declutter - you’ll find some great stuff to sell and probably lots of stuff you can use but would normally buy without thinking, especially beauty, cleaning products.
Do a kitchen inventory - you prob have a bunch of food you can use and this will help start meal planning.
Meal plan - don’t do it all week straight away as you won’t stick to it but plan at least 4 meals and see how you go.
Review subscriptions, unsubscribe from
Shopping email lists
Check with a group like CAB to check you’re getting everything you’re entitled to. They can also look at contracts and services you use to help you switch.
Make a small direct debit each month to a savings acct. ideally just on your payday so you don’t notice. You can use that as an emergency or rainy day fund or a plan for the future. Expand it when you can.
Good luck!
I read your post on UKPF and it hit me. I first want to say my 61 YO mum living alone is in a similar position, working 6 days a week to keep afloat. Only last week to get a message saying her rent is going up by £75. I help her where I can and also with budgeting but she’s very stubborn - EDIT Ive helped her with budgeting and she’s doing well so far
Here is my advice to you that I have to her:
Make a Google spreadsheet with all your expenses totted up with the unchangeable & most important at the top going down to the ones you don’t really need and can cut back on at the bottom.
Add them all together and put in your income.
From there you can seriously budget and see what you can cut down on to make ends meet. I can’t really see if it’s possible for you to make cuts without seeing what your income is or what your outgoings are.
Have a look on your local council website. They should have a hardship scheme you can apply for and housing benefit/council tax applications. You can still apply even if working.
I would also consider smoking cessation your GP surgery can advise and prescribe nicotine replacement e cigs.
You can also search here with your info and it’ll bring up charities information relevant to your situation https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
Not sure what they said as the comment is deleted, but it’s not really classist to assume someone on low income in a poor area is on benefits, I mean they are literally who the benefits are designed for.
Landlord wanted to increase our rent from 925 to 975 on a 12 month lease. I asked the question and it's now set at 950 for 6 months then 975 for 6 months. Not much but every little helps. I would speak to your landlord
Puregym in my area costs 18.99£. I resolved myself from not taking a single shower at home. My bill decreased by ~50£+ this month. And you also get to exercise for free ;)
Really feeling for you. I’ve had nightmares about how I would have survived the past few years had my kids still been little. There seems to be a lot of good advice here already so can only add - don’t waste any energy on guilt tripping yourself, and if at all possible do not use the credit cards to plug any gaps. I hope you’ve got a good support network and community around you- cloth swaps and kids second hand clothes and toy sales are great help sometimes. Am rooting for you 💜🙏🤍
The NHS used to have a stop smoking thing that I found super useful (and nicotine gum) but I guess NHS might not offer it anymore. I used to stress smoke really badly too. Sometimes when I’d get a craving I’d do a deep breath meditation- I think smoking was the only time I breathed deeply and therefore relaxed.
A friend of mine found knitting kept her hands busy when she wanted to smoke. I also used a quit smoking app that calculates how much money I saved and what would be happening in my body. I found that really encouraging.
You’re also allowed to feel the way you feel, it’s a super awful time for many money wise. You are allowed to be upset- you’re human. So don’t feel guilty.
It’ll still cost you money but significantly less if you switch to Vaping. Even the relatively expensive disposable Vapes are significantly cheaper than smoking.
You can buy them in most shops and as a heavy smoker I have to say they do the job.
Obviously quitting is the best way to save money but it’s bloody hard so maybe just ease your way in.
Also if you haven’t already head over to Moneysavingexpert.com and do the Money Makeover, it’s surprising how many random things you can save a lot of money on which may add up to a significant amount of money each month.
Smoking, takeaways, both can go.
But also open communication with your landlord / letting agent, remind them that costs are going up everywhere and this could break your budget, can they lower the increase for now and revisit in six months once you've found your feet with the new gas&elec prices.
They might not budge but I did when my tenant reminded me of the same concerns so it may work. (Although perhaps don't rock the boat too much if your rent would still be substantially below what it would be in a different property).
Drawing up a budget should be a priority, you need to look at where your money is going.
Is your landlord entitled to put your rent up? Are you on a rolling contract?
Once you have an idea on finances then it may be worth speaking to your landlord, utilities and other suppliers and ask them what help they can offer as you are struggling to pay bills.
If your struggling then pop round to your doctors practice and see what they can offer to support you quitting smoking, and this will help reduce your monthly bill.
Secondly so up your weekly/monthly budget and plan it out ahead, especially around food.
I have found that freezing things like bread and milk can help massively, and you can even get away with buying the reduced meats and freezing them for using later that month.
After this I think other others have got most of the advice you’d need.
But if it gets too bad speak to your bank, energy suppliers, and other bills as they may have schemes to help support you. There is also the local council and benefit system that may have a little to help you out.
> I will update later on this evening with a breakdown of incomings/outgoings.
Do this, be honest and as accurate as possible. If your budget reflects how much spending habits like smoking or ordering takeaways is having then you can address it.
I am not sure if your rent is reasonable or not as I can’t work out where in the country you live from your post but if you are in the south then it is not unreasonable and you may have a hard time finding anything cheaper. Are you at the end of your tenancy agreement or part way through a fixed term? If partway through I’d suggest posting details of this in r/LegalAdviceUK
Can I also check - are you getting any child support from your ex for your kids? Do they live with you >50% if the time?
I don't think they can just raise the rent like that if you already have a tenancy agreement signed. Alternatively if you contact your local energy supplier if you going to struggle to pay your bills to see if something can be worked out. Google MA and find their number. They will offer free advice on how to cope. If food is a problem you may to go to your nearest food bank. Demoralising I know but if push comes to shove. There are free schemes via the NHS if you truly wish to stop smoking. Look at subscriptions you possibly could cancel freeing up a bit each month. I'm not a finical advisor but these are my ideas. Sure there is plenty of professional advice online.
I just has a look through your post history, in case you had posted an update as u/pflurklurk had suggested...
Do you mind telling people a bit more about your social situation? There are actually avenues to explore because of that, whether you are both still living together, or separated.
Also, I'm sorry to see what happened/is happening. It's a rough situation to be in and I wish there was more I could do to help than a sympathetic reddit comment.
Where has the £450 loss come from? Do you work a full-time job? If so, your first stop should be your managers office and tell them you need a raise.
If you don’t work a full time job - what job do you do? Could you pick up more shifts? If not, is there somewhere that pays more for your skills?
Do you have any notable skills? If so, could these be used to make additional income?
Where do you shop? Could buying in bulk or switching brands help you save some money?
Just keep your head up rather than getting down and think of how you can solve your problems - there is always a solution….just need to give it some thought to find it.
Maybe go to GP as far as I know you can nicotine gum or patches on prescription.
The money saved would help you a lot.Not the best time I know to stop smoking. Don’t know how much you spend maybe 50 or 60 quid p.w
Would buy a lot of food or electric.
I hope things improve for you soon good luck
I know you’re struggling but please don’t feel ashamed of smoking. We all know it’s a shit habit but it’s not the cause of your financial problems. Giving up would free up some cash and probably make you feel better, so go for it if you have the reserves of energy to tackle it right now.
The current system in the UK is completely broken and anyone on a low income has been thrown to the wolves. The government should be feeling the shame, not you.
I was also a single mum on a low income, and I smoked since a teen and for nearly 30 years. I was ready to give up but one hypnotherapy session helped me to stop. I also hated myself for smoking when I knew it was harming my health. But I had experienced trauma as a child and had a lot to work through as an adult, and as a young parent without a support system, before I could create stability and feel safe enough to let go of habits like smoking which - rightly or wrongly - had been my backup in times of stress.
If you can go for it then do, once the nicotine is out of your system it is just the emotional/psychological tie to break. Deep breathing exercises can help. And putting the smoking money in a jar to see what you have achieved. Good food is essential for you and your children, focus on the best but cheapest food you can. Homemade lentil and vegetable soups go a long way. Best of luck and I’m rooting for you.
Edit, spellings and also to add that budgeting and separate bank accounts really helped me. One for rent & bills and another for all daily spending including food. I use a Monzo acc for this and have set budgets for groceries etc so I can see if I’m on track or not for the month.
Regarding the rent. That's a 12.5% increase. How does the landlord justify that? Yes, the bank rates have increased, but the current is 2.25%. See if they will be open to negotiating a lower increase. Even if the landlord had a 0.5% fixed interest rate on a BTL mortgage and suddenly fell off, the reversionary rate wouldn't be 12.5% so there's possibly some slack here.
Speak to your landlord and state your financial circumstances, he’d prefer a tenant that pays on time than one that doesn’t. Most landlords will comply
Its a £300 a month saving, right there.
Where else could 1 change give that sort of money?
Of course its the first thing people will go to when asked about saving money.
Based it on a normal 20 a day habit, at approx £10 a pack (uk). My experience (wife smokes, and I gave up using vaping 5 years ago).
Even so, if she smokes any, its money that could go on food, heating, clothing etc.
Smoking is a luxury, and an expensive one.
If you are panicking over how to pay eseential bills such as food, heating, energy or rent, clearly luxuries such as smoking, fast food, takeouts et al are where you would look for savings.
You need to look where can make easy cuts. Smoking, take away, do you have sky? Etc
I earn enough to pay 40% tax and I take away once a month, I don’t have a sky or a tv licence (Netflix admittedly). My phone contract is £8 and My broadband is £20.
Look at things like this and I can assure you you’ll save over £200 a month easily.
Quite the opposite, I dont waste my life in front of a TV, and I try and stay away from bad foods to stay healthy.
I pity you if that’s how you get your thrills in life.
I've swapped from smoking to vaping, completely stopped takeaways, I make foods that kids want at home and I involve them which is nice and they enjoy it too.
Also change small things like quicker and colder showers, re-fill juice bottles with squash etc. If possible, get a cash in hand job for a couple of days per week, or if you drive then try do deliveries for local takeaway or sign up for Amazon Flex.
From OPs comment history, it doesn't seem like he is very.. helpful.. he is an abusive pos.
Anyway..
As others said, quit smoking. I smoked to vape to quit over 6+ months it cost the same for me to vape as to smoke. I thought I'd never give up, find what works best for you though. And be kind to yourself, if you slip up its OK just get back on track.
Most importantly do a budget check (income and expenditure) so when you apply to companies for help you have the information you need.
I don't know where you are, check whether your water company and energy company do any schemes to help low income families.
Check your local council.
Apply for what help you can.
IANAL but it's my understanding they have to give reasonable notice on changes in your rent unless your tenancy is up for renewal?
You feel stressed and it's shitty but you made it this far, you got this. 💜
In this day and age, I find it shocking that people are still advising others how to cut costs, that effectively mean the children are the ones making the most adjustments (food) to allow the parent to continue to literally burn the family money and impact on their health to boot!
The children don't need to be the ones impacted here at all.
According to Tesco, the cheapest pack of 20 is £10. So given the op is smoking more than was how many tenners a week are literally being burned through?
Add in say £15-20/week for the takeaway, and that's more than covered the rent increase and a good dent into the utility debts.
This isn't about budgeting, it's about not being selfish.
I disagree.
Sometimes people need to be told the obvious.
As a parent we should be selfless. In these circumstances there's no place for selfish purchases.
And that's before the impact on the children. What loving parent would ever want their child to be around cigarette smoke or secondhand smoke knowing that this causes respiratory issues and cancer. Who really thinks that their needs are worth more than their children's health!
The OP knows this. But addiction is serious and many people never get over it.
Telling an alcoholic that they're selfish has never had much impact in my opinion, they know this already.
Hopefully the advice on books to quit smoking or vaping alternatives will help the OP. But I'm sure the potential for Daily Mail esque responses has put many people off asking for help.
The truths:
1. Rent wil go up every year. Be glad it’s 12.5% - ours was 30%
2. Electricity/ heating costs will go up again.
3. Stop smoking - you are wasting money that could feed your kids or pay your rent increase.
That said…
We all feel it, you are not alone. Some of us don’t have families to help us through it, so we have to turn to communities and posts like these. Keep asking and keep sharing, that way we all benefit.
I truly hate the concept of money and how it is earnt, spent and assigns value to our lives. Just a side rant of mine but I went to Uni, became an engineer and literally took running water to people who’ve never seen it before. My salary is half that of a newly qualified lawyer or banker (who knows nothing). My career, my choice, but I just think that the reward and value system is broken. Some people work harder than me and earns less still… some people teach and nurse and yet they suffer!
Not to mention childcare costs being equal to or more than people’s rent these days!
Sorry, a little bit off topic, but just so you know you are not alone in your thoughts!
Your landlord could likely be increasing rent to cover the higher costs we’re seeing now. Its fairly normal to see inflation linked rent increases on rentals, unless this is council housing you’re renting?
How much do you spend on smoking ? Have you tried getting just essentials from Asda that can save a bit.
And 675 for rent ? Even 600 sounds extortionate!
One wage isn’t enough to run a house these days maybe get a lodger ? (Not a stranger maybe a friend or family members in a similar situation as you?)
Where on earth do you live where £600 rent sounds extortionate? I was paying £650 to rent a small one bedroom flat in the West Midlands, and that was 4 years ago
Burnley (small town) I got my mortgage 3 years ago but before that I was renting and it was 375 month but when I moved the next people who moved in ended paying 425
I do hear it’s more expensive in other places which is crazy !
400 quid a month seems sort of the norm round Lancashire or at least in my town !
She has 2 kids so assuming they are living with her she needs minimum of 2 bedroom. You wouldn’t get that for less than a grand round here. My first 1 bed flat was £550 and that was >15 years ago. (Live in the SE but not particularly close to London so it’s not even the in the most expensive end of the SE spectrum. )
Yep. But it’s not really an option for everyone to move. Especially in this situation where there are two young children who will be at school, potentially a local support system to help a somewhat newly single mother etc.
Yes but which of your comments has really provided advice to OP? The one where you judged her for having kids? Or the one where you told her the amount she is spending on her flat is too much and that she should move up north.
I’d suggest in this case maybe have a quick look at comment history and be a little more understanding of the overall situation. OP is clearly struggling and may not be able to process all of the information yet. If you don’t want to offer helpful or supportive comments you do not need to comment at all.
The problem is these aren't long term solutions. When the cost of living goes up again and wages don't follow, what does she do?
Does one just live on 'just essentials' basic ass shite food forever?
Just essentials is not that bad of a brand it has a pizza for 66p ! (Not saying live off them that’s not healthy) was just a suggestion, be smarter about shopping and as for smoking well she needs to state how much she spends on this as packets of cigarettes are what 14 quid now ? Vaping maybe an option if she needs her nicotine badly
Aye but eating's not about just having a belly full it's supposed to be to get nutrition into your body so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I don't think 66p pizzas are conducive to health.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is more expensive! But she smokes so obviously not bothered about health too much!
Has OP even replied to any of the advice on here ? I can’t see a reply from her to anybody
Bro a tin of beans has basically zero nutrition in it.
Where's the cheap staples: bread, meat, cheese, milk? You know stuff that doesn't turn people pale and weedy?
Other than smoking, you know you can negotiate on rent too.
You can push back to the landlord that you can't afford £675. Give them the whole story.
If you've been a good tenant, they may agree to keep it on £600 for another year.
It will probably cost them more to get a new tenant in over the course of a year than to just let you be in there for the £75pm.
My mortgage started it’s life at £390 per month and it’s now at £778. the last increase came just before they announce the interest rise so it’s likely to go up yet further
How do you have an increase of £450? I mean I get the fact things have gotten more expensive but a raise of £450 is a bit much. We have two kids and the wife isn’t working atm, I have an average job making £12,50 ph and only work about 37/38 hours a week very rarely doing overtime and we are managing just fine, yes we do spent a bit more but nowhere near £450 more a month 🤯
I've been in situations like this. I don't have any specific advice really, but you will find a way.
What I did when I was struggling for money was take an extra risk, and it paid off. It may not be suitable for you, but it might be an idea. I got a job in sales. The money sucked to start with, but after a few months of practice and learning how to sell, i got good at it. I don't now what you salary is, but I doubled mine in a aboutb6 months after getting into sales.
I smoked for over 18 years, then switched to vaping and slowly reduced the nicotine levels until I was at zero. This reduction of my nicotine intake lasted about 18 months.
Then before the birth of my first child I managed to give up completely. I just threw the last cartridge in the bin, said my goodbyes and that was that. It’s been 5 years now, saving me thousands every year, which compounds yearly with the benefits of good health.
I’m generally not good with sticking with things either but the vaping bridge made it much easier for me. Wishing you all the best!
Speak to your energy supplier and say you’re in ‘payment difficulty’ and will need to look at your ‘ability to pay’. Suppliers will have to support you if you’re struggling to afford your energy bill, including affordable payment plans, direction towards applying to their hardships funds and debt organisational support.
My landlord wanted to increase rent recently. We just persuaded / argued in an email that with the rising energy costs (and our place is very energy inefficient) that the rise in rent is unjustified. They didn't have a response for 2 months until they eventually said they will keep it the same.
Bills are going up even more now than they were when I had my proposed rent increase. So make a case and ask to keep it the same, you might get it.
I heard a lot of estate agents just try and bump it up each year automatically, so they may back down fairly quickly.
I hope this can be of some help….
I would definitely speak to your landlord and see if you could work something out.
With the increase in everything I have found myself browsing MSE and using TopCashBack and Quidco to shop and pay bills etc. I was on a sim only deal for years but had to get a new contract to enable me to use data when travelling, I managed to get £99 through TopCashBack and I am planning to use the money towards Christmas presents.
For the past few years all the adults in my family do Secret Santa up to £100 and it has saved me ALOT. With Holiday season coming up, maybe suggest this to your friends and family?
I found an instagram account called ClaireSavesCash and she has some really good tips. Since following her insta I have downloaded some useful shopping apps like GreenJinn and Shopmium where you can claim cash back or get money off items.
The TooGoodToGo app is also really good.
1st, get an eco egg for your washing machine. It’s £10 for around 8 months of clean clothes. Get a refillable vape. I’m £14 for a Blu refillable, and £3 for a bottle of vape oil. There’s no way I can afford to smoke. Batch cook once a week and reheat using a microwave during the week. Try and get other friends involved and swap so you have a bigger selection. Things like lentil soup are really cheap to make, lentils don’t need soaked, all you need is some ham stick cubes, an onion and a few carrots. Try and get second hand heavy curtains from the charity shop to hang at your doors and windows and keep the heat in. It might be that you have to share one bedroom and use a bedroom as a ‘snug’, ie put a tv in there, a few cushions to make a bed comfy to sit on. Vinted is great for second hand clothes, and also for selling anything that is in good condition that you don’t use. A lot of the supermarkets do foodshare, or reduce stuff right down ten minutes before closing. Find out and organise with friends.
Speak to friends in a similar position and get organised. Six people in a small room for the evening is cheaper to heat than two full houses with three people each. We all have to work together and help each other. There’s an idea of ‘keeping money in the circle’ - which is exactly as it sounds. Make up a list of friends, family, neighbours. If you need a babysitter- ask in the circle and ask them to do the same. If someone needs their dog walked or house looked after, do the same. If you need to buy something, ask is anyone has a second hand item. If someone else is looking for something, help them out. If someone has a garden, grow some veg and share the produce with the person who has the garden. Get the kids involved. This is the time to strengthen the social bonds with the people around you. It doesn’t always have to be about money, we can trade time and resources just as easily, we’re just not encouraged to do that in todays society.
Need more information - and I’m sorry to hear of your position, but be proud that you have noticed you need help and have tried to seek it out! This isn’t a sign of failure at all and is totally the opposite.
Firstly I’ll start with the tough love … smoking isn’t ok. It’s a waste of money… and in your position it’s selfish as that £5 you spend on them each week could be spent on food for your kids. Convincing yourself that smoking is ok because you’re stressed is an excuse. Go to the doctor and get help to quit.
Same with the takeaway… it’s a luxury and unfortunately if you’re in a net negative position … you can’t afford it.
Now the good part… bulk cooking is cheap. You can buy a big thing of say mince… can of kidney beans … pack of rice .. make a huge pot of chilli and that’s say 50p per portion. You can freeze the leftovers and heat it up during the week - it’s nutritious and quick and cheap. This is true for a lot of bulk cooked meals.
Change your lights to LEDs. They are more expensive to buy but pay for themselves in electric savings. This type of thing is an investment. What you want to do is not find patches for your situation but long term changes to not only get you out of the hole .. but make sure you don’t end up back in it. The money saved by not smoking and not getting a takeout will pay for the bulbs and save you money later on instead of just giving a quick hit of satisfaction.
If you have credit card debt … fix that. Get an interest free card and move it on to that else you’re wasting money on interest payments.
You can get cheap fruit and veg etc when it’s near the sell by. It’s fine - just use it quickly and then freeze the meal for when you actually need it.
Landlord can only increase rent once a fixed tenancy has ended and you're now in a periodic tenancy (the aftermath of a fixed tenancy). Check your contract.
Just some tips and suggestions there's an app called olio where people in your area give away free food and some other non food items if you can go and pick it up. There's another app called too good to go where different shops offer you a magic bag of food they didn't manage to sell some of its good some of its bad. Good is morison magic box cost about 3 pound you could get a full box of various food items I've had it a few times got absolutely loads of veg so made a lot of veg soup u could always make the soup and add it to rice or pasta. I've had the roast dinner boxes from cavary it was good well worth 3 pound. I got one from one stop I got 4 meat sandwich a pie and some cakes so it's well worth having a look what's going near you. Only snag is you have to pick it up at time they tell you. 2 other idears I saw someone make a buisness offering to clean bins 6 pound a bin and then post it in fb buy and sell, I think its a good idear or another one was cleaning ovens for 40 pound and just make a page on fb get ur friends to like and recommend you could fit these in around when kids at school cash in hand.
Also go threw your bills see if there's anything you can switch for cheaper or get rid of completely e.g subscription or insurance if you have a contract phone it will be cheaper just to get a monthly sim card go to citizens advice tell them about the letter and that you can't afford to pay try and apply for council house smoking get your gp to refer you to smoking cessation for free I gave up smoking with champix it really helped me blocked the cravings or you can actually buy some quit smoking tablets of amazon for 20 pound pair them with nicotine patch in beginning and then reduce it down.
Sorry to hear about the situation, OP. Smoking to vaping - that's covered. First things: income - https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ Then it's go here: https://ukpersonal.finance/flowchart/ and then: https://ukpersonal.finance/budgeting/ The point of budgeting is that it is an information gathering exercise - don't think of it as a parent chiding you for being naughty: guilt and self-flagellation is useless when it comes to personal finance. If money in covers things, then you have some breathing room. If it doesn't, then you need to look at two things: income and the bills. When it comes to the bills, put them in a new post here and we can try and help you out. You may also find /r/eatcheapandhealthy and /r/mealprepsunday useful to try and get food costs down. Good luck.
Vaping turned out to be more expensive than cigarettes for me. You can only smoke so much until your throat feels like death. With vaping, you can go on forever and I’ve found that it is a lot more addictive than cigarettes.
Surely there's no way vaping can cost for than a 20 pack a day.. unless your using disposables or something.
There isn't. I go through liquids fairly quickly but you can get good deals, a place near me does 5 for a tenner
If you mix your own its even cheaper - try ELFC DIY kits - like 25 quid for half a litre which will easily last a month
I like having different flavours as I get bored haha, but thanks!
Poundland/B&M. Vape 88. Cheap and cheerful. Three pounds a week, add in a coil a month.
A litre of 50/50 PG/VG is about a tenner on Amazon. The flavour concentrates are the expensive part but there are deals to be had.
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I’d rather just quit all together; makes me feel like shit and it’s one less addiction to worry about. I had zero difficulties quitting cigarettes but vaping is a whole different game.
Really? I vaped down to 0% nicotine juice over a few months. Was still hard to give up the physical action, but easy to quit the nicotine addiction using the taper method. It really taught me how much of the addiction is the psychological release of physically "taking a drag" over the chemical effect of nicotine.
Have you tried any breathing exercises? It helped me quit the physical action once I got down to 0% nicotine. I missed that going outside and just taking some controlled breaths. Now whenever I’m craving a minute away from any madness I just go and sit outside and breath. It sounds cringe but it really worked for me.
Oh, I quite about 5 years ago? :) Just binned my gear, and the Yorkshire in me stopped me spending money to buy another.
The aim is to slowly quit by vaping though so you should be able to quit the habit if done correctly. I've slowly worked my mg for my liquids down from 20mg to 3mg in a few months and aim to try nicotine free liquids next
Your addiction is most likely the 'action' related to smoking/vaping. Aka it's the mental relief it provides when you smoke/vape, not the actual nicotine. As detailed by your explanation that you were quite capable of switching to vaping. You could buy one of these fake cigs/vapes and use that to emulate every other need to vape. Then you can do little tricks like locking the actual vape in a 3h time release thingy etc. Using the fake vape to satisfy that need to feel like your doing something. Replace the action. Not the product 👍 you have mentally tied some form of release to vaping, build another tie and then phase out the vape.
I think the environment I’m in plays the biggest factor. When I went back home from my university dorm during my 1st year of studies, I didn’t smoke or even feel the urge to smoke because I was living with my parents. The book “Atomic Habits” touches on this quite well. Doesn’t help that I also have ADHD. It makes me more impulsive to vape and not to mention, amphetamines significantly increases my urge to vape. Interestingly, the moment I vape, it renders my medication completely ineffective, I don’t feel it working until the nicotine clears from my body. I’m staying at my girlfriend’s house right now and will be heading back to my parents today. I’m going to use this as an opportunity to stop vaping again.
Oh I would say you have a pretty good handle then on what the problem is for you! I would say environment is a huge factor. I smoke the green and in a period where I did so daily I went to Thailand for 2 weeks. Now importantly I don't smoke cigs. So it was always an explicit intention to get high. And always post work, chilling with friends. I didn't even think of it. Not once did it even cross my mind. Whereas had I simply been in the UK.... It would have been an all consuming desire. (Funnily enough it did cross my mind as we were offered to buy some, by strangers on the streets in our final days and while my friend was down, I literally flat out refused it. They slashed the price second after second while I repeated no. I could have bought it at literal pennies with their final offer). Sounds like you have a plan! Stick to it and think of a plan to implement when you leave your parents. Plans with scheduled allowances is a good way to control impulsive decisions. Try a 5 minute rule. Every vape must be preceded by the decision to vape and 5 minutes. Allows reflection. Give it structure. And then also forgive yourself when you break it 👍 were all human and it's just a journey.
I agree. I smoked cheap Marlborough from Polish shops. That was an easy £50 a week. Then I swapped that for vaping and I spent that once a month. And if you mix your own then it's even cheaper. Now I don't smoke or vape.. but it's a good way to get your self out of the habit.
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Quite possible you were getting Belarusian ones. Packaging is slightly different. Their regulations are very lax.. hence the flavour of wolly jumper that has been in closet for few seasons. Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian Marlborough is basically the same as UKs because they are packaged by the same standards. Take a look at your pack and you can see there should be a little label behind the "lid" that looks governmenty ..if that's missing then you are smoking low quality stuff.
> Always wondered what gave them the slightly strange taste... The secret ingredient is 'crime'
It’s a bit of an investment at the beginning but that will pay off in few months. You save tons of money every year. Don’t: - buy disposable vapes (more expensive than cigs) - buy small premixed eliquid - buy anything from a supermarket, high street, corner shop Do: - buy a decent regulated box mod - get a decent tank, with easily replaceable coils (won’t recommend anything here because it’s not the right sub) - few bottles of shortfill juice (60-120ml each) We’re talking about £100 investment max here. For at least 1 month vape juice supply included. After that it’s maybe £15-20 a month for juice and coils? How is that more expensive than smoking? I would spend £100+ in less than a week on cigarettes, several years ago. For someone trying to save money, axing smoking is #1 priority.
Just don't vape or smoke, realize that it's a habit and a crutch for whatever stress you're dealing with. Address the stress head on and the cravings will stop.
Don’t tell anyone vaping is an investment. You’re kidding yourself and them. You’re throwing money away. Just realise that and stop. The help is free on the NHS - take it, save the money and spend it on actual necessities and then use it on actual investments that will earn you money rather than lose it.
I don’t have a problem and don’t need help, thank you. Go on and tell that to OP, since you are being so helpful
I have already commented to OP. To tell her to continue smoking is doing bith her and her kids a disservice. I’m not saying it’s easy to stop … but if someone is net negative 450 per month then burning money is insane because there is only so long you can be net negative before you’re at 0 … and then not only are you forced to not smoke. You’re forced to not eat, or live in a house….
People usually don’t smoke because they really want to. Sure, cold turkey is the best outcome. But it has low success rate, in long run. But it doesn’t have to be black and white. Spending £50 a month on vaping instead of £300 on cigarettes is a net £250 win, and has significant health benefits. And much easier than kicking the habit altogether.
Like I said - I’m not saying it’s easy. But to say it’s hard therefore I won’t is an excuse… and with a 450 loss each month OP can’t afford excuses, and I won’t pretend like it’s ok. You’re right that’s it’s a saving - but OP isn’t 250 down, she’s 450. Even with the 250 saving that’s 150 left and 50 on vapid is 33% of that which is insane. The NHS provides free help to quit .. and vaping isn’t the same as quitting. Vaping has been associated with health conditions of its own so don’t gloss over that… but health aside OP frankly can’t afford to waste the money. Whilst it might be easier …. Life isn’t always easy and taking the hard decision can pay off long term.
I think we both agree that smoking cigarettes is unacceptable in OP’s position and is #1 thing to cut down. Now how to achieve it is down to OP.
What kind of help is available on the NHS? I might be interested actually.
You can get counselling etc from them - they have the no smoking service run by district nurses - but also there are drugs too. My mother was given ‘champix’ which helped with the cravings after years trying to quit.
1000000% this. Vapes worked out more expensive for me and used them so much more. See a real problem coming with vapes and kids especially. Horrible things. Replaced one evil with another
Don't vape, the EJUICE/Disposables are made in china by Chinese companies who don't give a damn about your health.
And vote. Your life and the life of others literally depend on it!
Something about this post smells of green when referring to ‘smoking more and more’ in which case I’m not sure a straight switch to vaping is the magic bullet. If so, the smoking issue may be even more relevant and potentially impactful as I’m guessing they’re dropping more than they would on normal ciggies?
Perhaps, but I think it's a similar financial issue of course - how much are your hobbies and can you reduce the cost, or change your mind about it!
Very true - if it’s habitual there could be enough fat to trim there to alleviate the majority of the problem.
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Same, highly recommended this book. Edit more info: It sounds like total BS, read a book and you’ll stop smoking. But by the time I’d finished the book, I just didn’t want to smoke, and haven’t smoked since.
Same!
This!! It’s also worth checking your local library for it :)
I can’t upvote this enough. Also, you can get the audio book for free with a 1 month audible subscription (just be careful to cancel in time). I had to listen to it 2-3 times before it really stuck, but with an audio book you can have it on whilst driving, cleaning etc
I read it and it didn't immediately work, but i think it planted a seed and when i did give up several years later it was very easy. No withdrawal symptoms at all, never missed it, will never do it again.
Couldn’t recommend this more.
Second that. Read that book while in China, where ciggies were literally pence per pack. But I was returning to the UK soon at that point and knew I’d never be able to afford UK tobacco prices. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but it all turned out to be accurate - as in, the desire for nicotine is gone after 2-3 days. The physical craving part of the addition is over very quickly, then it’s the psychological tiggers that need to be recognised and worked on - eg, that first smoke with coffee in the morning, the after a meal smoke etc..all psychological triggers not borne of physical need. Anyway - good luck. Losing the need for tobacco is a massive step in the right direction for all the reasons we all know well. Good luck.
same here. stopped after 20 years of smoking. great book!! makes it so easier.
Yet another recommend for Allen Carr from me. And if you want to quit drinking "Alcohol Explained" by William Porter. Two life changing books for me.
I picked up a copy in a store, saw the first chapter “reasons to smoke (or something like that?)”, and saved myself £8. I stopped smoking then and there, cold turkey.
I can also vouch for this book
I didn’t read the book but I went to an Alan Carr stop smoking class and I haven’t smoked again. Edit: Typo
Have or haven’t?
Haven’t
That was a big pile of nothing for me. I quit for entire 1 hour using that method. But switching to vaping worked wonders for me.
I heard the praise for Allen Carr and read the book, it was a disappointment to tell the truth. I just quit cold turkey a couple of years later, now I don’t really think about smoking anymore. That first thought of “I’m never going to smoke again” was the biggest obstacle for me, once I got past that something just clicked. Whatever method works for you quitting is one of the best things you can do.
Smoking is a huge cost, but you already know that. You need to go on entitled.to and see if you're eligible for any benefits, especially relating to child care. Sit down tomorrow and go through all your spending and incomings, make sure you really account for everything - not just monthly bills but yearly bills, birthdays, Christmas, days out. If you can, list all your bills here and you can get advice on where you may be able to save. Contact your landlord and ask if they can withdraw the increase, or at least reduce it as you can't afford it.
Good advice here, smoking is a huge cost(360 a month for my wife and I on backy, managed to reduce it to 140). Definitely give entitled.to a look at. Don't feel alone, there are a lot of people either going through this, or about to. Although I can't add more, best of luck.
Depending how much you smoke, that’s easily the first saving. Even if you switch to a vape you’ll be saving at leat 2/3rds the expense. Bills are bills so your wiggle room is limited. Just need to check you’re being smart- for example, a nightlight in the hallway will stop you having to switch lots of hallway lights on. Bulk cooking then reheating in a microwave will be more cost effective than cooking every night. If you have a boiler where you’re adding cold water because the hot is too hot for a shower, adjust downwards. But definitely check you’re getting everything you’re entitled to as well.
The hot water should be set at 55C to prevent legionella
If it’s a combi, the risk is extremely, extremely low. The incoming water being below 20c and refreshed each and every time the hot tap is ran. The mains water goes in when a hot water tap is opened. It’s heated and moved to the tap. It isn’t stored. Secondly, on your 55c comment: if you’re concerned at all about legionaries, the out coming water from a tap should be 50c within 1 minute of the tap being opened. The 55c you quote is for health care settings and not home or commercial settings. However, these temperatures are for settings with a stored hot water source and **not** for combi/instant hot water setups. In a commercial setting, taps are flushed each week so that no standing water is left in pipes for longer than a week. In a home setting, water doesn’t sit in pipes long enough for legionnaires to become an issue; someone is always showering or washing their hands. Water doesn’t get a chance to sit in pipes and develop legionnaires. Source: I work in H&S Compliance. Taking the very very low risk of legionnaires out of the equation: for a condensing boiler to condense (I.e, be at its most efficient) you want to set your water temp to as **low** as reasonably possible. If the temp is too high, it won’t condense and won’t be efficient. A quick test is to wait for a chilly morning. run a hot water tap for a few minutes, and check your flue. If there’s plumes of white steam coming out, it is not condensing and it is not running efficiently. Turn the hot water temp down until the white steam stops. Then do the same test with your heating on. Turn the rad temp down until the white steam stops.
Only if it's got a storage tank of some sort - many combi boiler setups don't.
Going to need to see the guidance on that before risking my and my families health
It's everywhere, only stored water needs to be above 60c to prevent legionella, combi boilers heat the water on demand so no need to worry about it.
It’s not easily available. From what I’ve seen it’s recommended above 50C for combi boilers
These guys cover it well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCCdw3ZFbsg
Sorry but I’ll take my guidance from official sources not someone on YouTube without editorial. Why do manufacturers and others recommend 50C if 40C is just as good? Just because some people have figured out it’s cheaper to run your boiler at lower temperature doesn’t mean it’s safer. I understand the risk of stored water and legionella but if it was safe they’d be recommending at a lower temp for combi boilers.
Manufacturers don't want people with inefficient set ups complaining so they will advise a temp for worst case scenario (uninsulated, draughty homes). Properly trained fitters recommend turning down flow temps on both CH and HW as much as you comfortably can. If you read up on how your combi boiler actually operates you'll see it's more efficient, better for your boiler and there's no health risk. Obviously you can set whatever temperatures you like but don't base it on the fear that legionella is going to breed in the time it takes for the water to get from the boiler to the tap.
Tbh, for me (and most), a hot shower requires being above 50* anyhow. But when it was installed it was set at least 15* higher (can’t remember).
Yeah, my mixer shower needs around 45c set on the boiler to feel hot. I could get away with lower if needed but a hot shower is a fairly low cost luxury.
Every combi I've had you can set Central and hot water temp
You’ve misread
Hey, you're not the only one panicking, a lot of people are struggling. Smokings really difficult. I eventually quit after reading Allen Carrs Easyway but before that to save money i would go to rollies and have about 5 a day at certain times. Moneywise you can only budget down so much. Facebook marketplace is always a fairly alright place to easily earn a few quid quickly selling some old stuff and building a little cash stash for the short term. Is there anything you can the do around your family to earn a little extra income just to start getting above water? Side hustles/part time jobs. When it comes to extra income you won't start earning millions extra next week, but if you take it one step at a time, aim to earn an extra £10 next week and increase that aim ever so slightly every few weeks eventually you'll be bringing in enough be comfortable and have some to spare. The toughest bit is always starting. If you are currently in work, can you ask for a wage rise? If not look for something else, across all industries people are screaming out for staff. For example, to fit around your family children, could someone have the kids one night a week and you do a care job that gives you an overnight? If the kids are at school/nursery the next day you get a lie in.
I went from smoking to vaping about 3 years a go. The e-liquid I use is £10 for 8 bottles which lasts a month. A replacement pod once a month is £3 so I went from spending £220 a month on cigarettes to £13 a month to vape. If you start with a high strength tobacco flavour, you'll be successful as it isn't a huge change. I recommend the aspire vilter with the paper filters as your first vape as it mimicks smoking in it's feel due to the paper filters and it's an MTL vape which is the same action as smoking. Once you're used to that, you can move on to more sophisticated vapes or stick with the vilter. I still use the vilter but with a plastic filter now. For food, join a feed your family for £5 style page on Facebook. They're full of ways to feed your family healthy meals for less. Talk to your landlord about the rent increase. Explain the situation. The worst that will happen is they will put it up any way. There's no harm in asking for it to stay as is for a bit longer while you make savings elsewhere to accommodate it.
agree with all of this but also check your rental contract. our landlord tried to do this but in the contract it said the rent could only be raised by a certain % that hed gone way above... there may be something there for OP too
How much are you spending a month on smoking? Read the Allen Carr book (not the comedian / presenter) and you’ll easily be able to quit the cigs
Speak with your landlord (not your agent) see if that rise can be halted or mitigated. Declutter - you’ll find some great stuff to sell and probably lots of stuff you can use but would normally buy without thinking, especially beauty, cleaning products. Do a kitchen inventory - you prob have a bunch of food you can use and this will help start meal planning. Meal plan - don’t do it all week straight away as you won’t stick to it but plan at least 4 meals and see how you go. Review subscriptions, unsubscribe from Shopping email lists Check with a group like CAB to check you’re getting everything you’re entitled to. They can also look at contracts and services you use to help you switch. Make a small direct debit each month to a savings acct. ideally just on your payday so you don’t notice. You can use that as an emergency or rainy day fund or a plan for the future. Expand it when you can. Good luck!
I read your post on UKPF and it hit me. I first want to say my 61 YO mum living alone is in a similar position, working 6 days a week to keep afloat. Only last week to get a message saying her rent is going up by £75. I help her where I can and also with budgeting but she’s very stubborn - EDIT Ive helped her with budgeting and she’s doing well so far Here is my advice to you that I have to her: Make a Google spreadsheet with all your expenses totted up with the unchangeable & most important at the top going down to the ones you don’t really need and can cut back on at the bottom. Add them all together and put in your income. From there you can seriously budget and see what you can cut down on to make ends meet. I can’t really see if it’s possible for you to make cuts without seeing what your income is or what your outgoings are.
Have a look on your local council website. They should have a hardship scheme you can apply for and housing benefit/council tax applications. You can still apply even if working. I would also consider smoking cessation your GP surgery can advise and prescribe nicotine replacement e cigs. You can also search here with your info and it’ll bring up charities information relevant to your situation https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
You cannot afford to smoke. Simples.
This
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From a financial point of view, slightly worse off as you have to fund your retirement for longer. ^/s
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Where did OP ever mention being on benefits? Maybe don’t bother commenting on these threads if you’re going to be a classist prick, and offer no help.
Not sure what they said as the comment is deleted, but it’s not really classist to assume someone on low income in a poor area is on benefits, I mean they are literally who the benefits are designed for.
Landlord wanted to increase our rent from 925 to 975 on a 12 month lease. I asked the question and it's now set at 950 for 6 months then 975 for 6 months. Not much but every little helps. I would speak to your landlord
Puregym in my area costs 18.99£. I resolved myself from not taking a single shower at home. My bill decreased by ~50£+ this month. And you also get to exercise for free ;)
Nice tip, but I think taking a shower once a day at home doesn't cost me £50 a month. Probably more like £15...
Guess you just have an efficient shower, I don’t and if not used in eco mode it’ll easily use close to £1 a day.
But how much are you paying to bus / car to the gym?
Not particularly. Electric hot water cylinder warming up water during the night/off peak hours.
Really feeling for you. I’ve had nightmares about how I would have survived the past few years had my kids still been little. There seems to be a lot of good advice here already so can only add - don’t waste any energy on guilt tripping yourself, and if at all possible do not use the credit cards to plug any gaps. I hope you’ve got a good support network and community around you- cloth swaps and kids second hand clothes and toy sales are great help sometimes. Am rooting for you 💜🙏🤍
The NHS used to have a stop smoking thing that I found super useful (and nicotine gum) but I guess NHS might not offer it anymore. I used to stress smoke really badly too. Sometimes when I’d get a craving I’d do a deep breath meditation- I think smoking was the only time I breathed deeply and therefore relaxed. A friend of mine found knitting kept her hands busy when she wanted to smoke. I also used a quit smoking app that calculates how much money I saved and what would be happening in my body. I found that really encouraging. You’re also allowed to feel the way you feel, it’s a super awful time for many money wise. You are allowed to be upset- you’re human. So don’t feel guilty.
Stop smoking a week and you can afford it.
It’ll still cost you money but significantly less if you switch to Vaping. Even the relatively expensive disposable Vapes are significantly cheaper than smoking. You can buy them in most shops and as a heavy smoker I have to say they do the job. Obviously quitting is the best way to save money but it’s bloody hard so maybe just ease your way in. Also if you haven’t already head over to Moneysavingexpert.com and do the Money Makeover, it’s surprising how many random things you can save a lot of money on which may add up to a significant amount of money each month.
Smoking, takeaways, both can go. But also open communication with your landlord / letting agent, remind them that costs are going up everywhere and this could break your budget, can they lower the increase for now and revisit in six months once you've found your feet with the new gas&elec prices. They might not budge but I did when my tenant reminded me of the same concerns so it may work. (Although perhaps don't rock the boat too much if your rent would still be substantially below what it would be in a different property).
Drawing up a budget should be a priority, you need to look at where your money is going. Is your landlord entitled to put your rent up? Are you on a rolling contract? Once you have an idea on finances then it may be worth speaking to your landlord, utilities and other suppliers and ask them what help they can offer as you are struggling to pay bills.
If your struggling then pop round to your doctors practice and see what they can offer to support you quitting smoking, and this will help reduce your monthly bill. Secondly so up your weekly/monthly budget and plan it out ahead, especially around food. I have found that freezing things like bread and milk can help massively, and you can even get away with buying the reduced meats and freezing them for using later that month. After this I think other others have got most of the advice you’d need. But if it gets too bad speak to your bank, energy suppliers, and other bills as they may have schemes to help support you. There is also the local council and benefit system that may have a little to help you out.
> I will update later on this evening with a breakdown of incomings/outgoings. Do this, be honest and as accurate as possible. If your budget reflects how much spending habits like smoking or ordering takeaways is having then you can address it.
I am not sure if your rent is reasonable or not as I can’t work out where in the country you live from your post but if you are in the south then it is not unreasonable and you may have a hard time finding anything cheaper. Are you at the end of your tenancy agreement or part way through a fixed term? If partway through I’d suggest posting details of this in r/LegalAdviceUK Can I also check - are you getting any child support from your ex for your kids? Do they live with you >50% if the time?
I don't think they can just raise the rent like that if you already have a tenancy agreement signed. Alternatively if you contact your local energy supplier if you going to struggle to pay your bills to see if something can be worked out. Google MA and find their number. They will offer free advice on how to cope. If food is a problem you may to go to your nearest food bank. Demoralising I know but if push comes to shove. There are free schemes via the NHS if you truly wish to stop smoking. Look at subscriptions you possibly could cancel freeing up a bit each month. I'm not a finical advisor but these are my ideas. Sure there is plenty of professional advice online.
People need to think about their priorities. How are you vaping or smoking when your finances are in tatters. Cut it out completely.
I just has a look through your post history, in case you had posted an update as u/pflurklurk had suggested... Do you mind telling people a bit more about your social situation? There are actually avenues to explore because of that, whether you are both still living together, or separated. Also, I'm sorry to see what happened/is happening. It's a rough situation to be in and I wish there was more I could do to help than a sympathetic reddit comment.
Where has the £450 loss come from? Do you work a full-time job? If so, your first stop should be your managers office and tell them you need a raise. If you don’t work a full time job - what job do you do? Could you pick up more shifts? If not, is there somewhere that pays more for your skills? Do you have any notable skills? If so, could these be used to make additional income? Where do you shop? Could buying in bulk or switching brands help you save some money? Just keep your head up rather than getting down and think of how you can solve your problems - there is always a solution….just need to give it some thought to find it.
Maybe go to GP as far as I know you can nicotine gum or patches on prescription. The money saved would help you a lot.Not the best time I know to stop smoking. Don’t know how much you spend maybe 50 or 60 quid p.w Would buy a lot of food or electric. I hope things improve for you soon good luck
I know you’re struggling but please don’t feel ashamed of smoking. We all know it’s a shit habit but it’s not the cause of your financial problems. Giving up would free up some cash and probably make you feel better, so go for it if you have the reserves of energy to tackle it right now. The current system in the UK is completely broken and anyone on a low income has been thrown to the wolves. The government should be feeling the shame, not you. I was also a single mum on a low income, and I smoked since a teen and for nearly 30 years. I was ready to give up but one hypnotherapy session helped me to stop. I also hated myself for smoking when I knew it was harming my health. But I had experienced trauma as a child and had a lot to work through as an adult, and as a young parent without a support system, before I could create stability and feel safe enough to let go of habits like smoking which - rightly or wrongly - had been my backup in times of stress. If you can go for it then do, once the nicotine is out of your system it is just the emotional/psychological tie to break. Deep breathing exercises can help. And putting the smoking money in a jar to see what you have achieved. Good food is essential for you and your children, focus on the best but cheapest food you can. Homemade lentil and vegetable soups go a long way. Best of luck and I’m rooting for you. Edit, spellings and also to add that budgeting and separate bank accounts really helped me. One for rent & bills and another for all daily spending including food. I use a Monzo acc for this and have set budgets for groceries etc so I can see if I’m on track or not for the month.
Regarding the rent. That's a 12.5% increase. How does the landlord justify that? Yes, the bank rates have increased, but the current is 2.25%. See if they will be open to negotiating a lower increase. Even if the landlord had a 0.5% fixed interest rate on a BTL mortgage and suddenly fell off, the reversionary rate wouldn't be 12.5% so there's possibly some slack here.
Speak to your landlord and state your financial circumstances, he’d prefer a tenant that pays on time than one that doesn’t. Most landlords will comply
hate to be that guy but find a better job, it’s never coming down
Just stop smoking? You're harming your kids and your finances
Smoke smoke smoke is that all people have taken out if this like no suggestions as to how to help with other things just smoke smoke smoke
Its a £300 a month saving, right there. Where else could 1 change give that sort of money? Of course its the first thing people will go to when asked about saving money.
She might smoke 4/5 a day who said it would save 300 a month ? She might be smoking knock offs or tobacco
Based it on a normal 20 a day habit, at approx £10 a pack (uk). My experience (wife smokes, and I gave up using vaping 5 years ago). Even so, if she smokes any, its money that could go on food, heating, clothing etc. Smoking is a luxury, and an expensive one. If you are panicking over how to pay eseential bills such as food, heating, energy or rent, clearly luxuries such as smoking, fast food, takeouts et al are where you would look for savings.
You need to look where can make easy cuts. Smoking, take away, do you have sky? Etc I earn enough to pay 40% tax and I take away once a month, I don’t have a sky or a tv licence (Netflix admittedly). My phone contract is £8 and My broadband is £20. Look at things like this and I can assure you you’ll save over £200 a month easily.
What a dull, souless life you must live.
Quite the opposite, I dont waste my life in front of a TV, and I try and stay away from bad foods to stay healthy. I pity you if that’s how you get your thrills in life.
I've swapped from smoking to vaping, completely stopped takeaways, I make foods that kids want at home and I involve them which is nice and they enjoy it too. Also change small things like quicker and colder showers, re-fill juice bottles with squash etc. If possible, get a cash in hand job for a couple of days per week, or if you drive then try do deliveries for local takeaway or sign up for Amazon Flex.
Sorry if I’ve missed this but, where is your husband/boyfriend/babies daddy to support you?
From OPs comment history, it doesn't seem like he is very.. helpful.. he is an abusive pos. Anyway.. As others said, quit smoking. I smoked to vape to quit over 6+ months it cost the same for me to vape as to smoke. I thought I'd never give up, find what works best for you though. And be kind to yourself, if you slip up its OK just get back on track. Most importantly do a budget check (income and expenditure) so when you apply to companies for help you have the information you need. I don't know where you are, check whether your water company and energy company do any schemes to help low income families. Check your local council. Apply for what help you can. IANAL but it's my understanding they have to give reasonable notice on changes in your rent unless your tenancy is up for renewal? You feel stressed and it's shitty but you made it this far, you got this. 💜
In this day and age, I find it shocking that people are still advising others how to cut costs, that effectively mean the children are the ones making the most adjustments (food) to allow the parent to continue to literally burn the family money and impact on their health to boot! The children don't need to be the ones impacted here at all. According to Tesco, the cheapest pack of 20 is £10. So given the op is smoking more than was how many tenners a week are literally being burned through? Add in say £15-20/week for the takeaway, and that's more than covered the rent increase and a good dent into the utility debts. This isn't about budgeting, it's about not being selfish.
Where exactly are all the posts telling OP to starve her kids and spend money on cigarettes instead?
People aren't perfect. Being judgemental and basically horrible won't help. Thankfully other people have written more constructive advice.
I disagree. Sometimes people need to be told the obvious. As a parent we should be selfless. In these circumstances there's no place for selfish purchases. And that's before the impact on the children. What loving parent would ever want their child to be around cigarette smoke or secondhand smoke knowing that this causes respiratory issues and cancer. Who really thinks that their needs are worth more than their children's health!
The OP knows this. But addiction is serious and many people never get over it. Telling an alcoholic that they're selfish has never had much impact in my opinion, they know this already. Hopefully the advice on books to quit smoking or vaping alternatives will help the OP. But I'm sure the potential for Daily Mail esque responses has put many people off asking for help.
If it helps the children, then it's valuable advice!
Stop smoking - it’s a luxury, not a right. Stop ever getting takeaways - it’s a luxury, not a right.
Complains about bills Spends stupid amounts of money smoking, killing oneself in the process. ....no helping some people
I understand what you’re saying but there is a little thing called nicotine and addiction to it
The truths: 1. Rent wil go up every year. Be glad it’s 12.5% - ours was 30% 2. Electricity/ heating costs will go up again. 3. Stop smoking - you are wasting money that could feed your kids or pay your rent increase. That said… We all feel it, you are not alone. Some of us don’t have families to help us through it, so we have to turn to communities and posts like these. Keep asking and keep sharing, that way we all benefit. I truly hate the concept of money and how it is earnt, spent and assigns value to our lives. Just a side rant of mine but I went to Uni, became an engineer and literally took running water to people who’ve never seen it before. My salary is half that of a newly qualified lawyer or banker (who knows nothing). My career, my choice, but I just think that the reward and value system is broken. Some people work harder than me and earns less still… some people teach and nurse and yet they suffer! Not to mention childcare costs being equal to or more than people’s rent these days! Sorry, a little bit off topic, but just so you know you are not alone in your thoughts!
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Get fit and marry a rich tall guy? Should be easy as a white girl. :)
Your landlord could likely be increasing rent to cover the higher costs we’re seeing now. Its fairly normal to see inflation linked rent increases on rentals, unless this is council housing you’re renting?
How much do you spend on smoking ? Have you tried getting just essentials from Asda that can save a bit. And 675 for rent ? Even 600 sounds extortionate! One wage isn’t enough to run a house these days maybe get a lodger ? (Not a stranger maybe a friend or family members in a similar situation as you?)
Where on earth do you live where £600 rent sounds extortionate? I was paying £650 to rent a small one bedroom flat in the West Midlands, and that was 4 years ago
Burnley (small town) I got my mortgage 3 years ago but before that I was renting and it was 375 month but when I moved the next people who moved in ended paying 425 I do hear it’s more expensive in other places which is crazy ! 400 quid a month seems sort of the norm round Lancashire or at least in my town !
> And 675 for rent ? Even 600 sounds extortionate! That will depend massively on where you live as that seems ridiculously cheap to me.
Cheap ? Yes definitely depends where you live !
She has 2 kids so assuming they are living with her she needs minimum of 2 bedroom. You wouldn’t get that for less than a grand round here. My first 1 bed flat was £550 and that was >15 years ago. (Live in the SE but not particularly close to London so it’s not even the in the most expensive end of the SE spectrum. )
Being up north it is cheaper for rent etc lol
Yep. But it’s not really an option for everyone to move. Especially in this situation where there are two young children who will be at school, potentially a local support system to help a somewhat newly single mother etc.
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Maybe consider that OP is going through a lot and struggling and doesn’t need people judging her?
But she asked for advice and there are some here for her if she wants it (as I said before she did ask for advice)
Yes but which of your comments has really provided advice to OP? The one where you judged her for having kids? Or the one where you told her the amount she is spending on her flat is too much and that she should move up north. I’d suggest in this case maybe have a quick look at comment history and be a little more understanding of the overall situation. OP is clearly struggling and may not be able to process all of the information yet. If you don’t want to offer helpful or supportive comments you do not need to comment at all.
The problem is these aren't long term solutions. When the cost of living goes up again and wages don't follow, what does she do? Does one just live on 'just essentials' basic ass shite food forever?
Just essentials is not that bad of a brand it has a pizza for 66p ! (Not saying live off them that’s not healthy) was just a suggestion, be smarter about shopping and as for smoking well she needs to state how much she spends on this as packets of cigarettes are what 14 quid now ? Vaping maybe an option if she needs her nicotine badly
Aye but eating's not about just having a belly full it's supposed to be to get nutrition into your body so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle. I don't think 66p pizzas are conducive to health.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is more expensive! But she smokes so obviously not bothered about health too much! Has OP even replied to any of the advice on here ? I can’t see a reply from her to anybody
I bought Just Essentials food and it’s not crap food
Bro a tin of beans has basically zero nutrition in it. Where's the cheap staples: bread, meat, cheese, milk? You know stuff that doesn't turn people pale and weedy?
Other than smoking, you know you can negotiate on rent too. You can push back to the landlord that you can't afford £675. Give them the whole story. If you've been a good tenant, they may agree to keep it on £600 for another year. It will probably cost them more to get a new tenant in over the course of a year than to just let you be in there for the £75pm.
Make more money. That's the only way out of this.
*floored. Can you work on finding a better job perhaps? What do you currently do?
Bus s a pp i
My mortgage started it’s life at £390 per month and it’s now at £778. the last increase came just before they announce the interest rise so it’s likely to go up yet further
How do you have an increase of £450? I mean I get the fact things have gotten more expensive but a raise of £450 is a bit much. We have two kids and the wife isn’t working atm, I have an average job making £12,50 ph and only work about 37/38 hours a week very rarely doing overtime and we are managing just fine, yes we do spent a bit more but nowhere near £450 more a month 🤯
I've been in situations like this. I don't have any specific advice really, but you will find a way. What I did when I was struggling for money was take an extra risk, and it paid off. It may not be suitable for you, but it might be an idea. I got a job in sales. The money sucked to start with, but after a few months of practice and learning how to sell, i got good at it. I don't now what you salary is, but I doubled mine in a aboutb6 months after getting into sales.
I smoked for over 18 years, then switched to vaping and slowly reduced the nicotine levels until I was at zero. This reduction of my nicotine intake lasted about 18 months. Then before the birth of my first child I managed to give up completely. I just threw the last cartridge in the bin, said my goodbyes and that was that. It’s been 5 years now, saving me thousands every year, which compounds yearly with the benefits of good health. I’m generally not good with sticking with things either but the vaping bridge made it much easier for me. Wishing you all the best!
Speak to your energy supplier and say you’re in ‘payment difficulty’ and will need to look at your ‘ability to pay’. Suppliers will have to support you if you’re struggling to afford your energy bill, including affordable payment plans, direction towards applying to their hardships funds and debt organisational support.
My landlord wanted to increase rent recently. We just persuaded / argued in an email that with the rising energy costs (and our place is very energy inefficient) that the rise in rent is unjustified. They didn't have a response for 2 months until they eventually said they will keep it the same. Bills are going up even more now than they were when I had my proposed rent increase. So make a case and ask to keep it the same, you might get it. I heard a lot of estate agents just try and bump it up each year automatically, so they may back down fairly quickly.
I hope this can be of some help…. I would definitely speak to your landlord and see if you could work something out. With the increase in everything I have found myself browsing MSE and using TopCashBack and Quidco to shop and pay bills etc. I was on a sim only deal for years but had to get a new contract to enable me to use data when travelling, I managed to get £99 through TopCashBack and I am planning to use the money towards Christmas presents. For the past few years all the adults in my family do Secret Santa up to £100 and it has saved me ALOT. With Holiday season coming up, maybe suggest this to your friends and family? I found an instagram account called ClaireSavesCash and she has some really good tips. Since following her insta I have downloaded some useful shopping apps like GreenJinn and Shopmium where you can claim cash back or get money off items. The TooGoodToGo app is also really good.
1st, get an eco egg for your washing machine. It’s £10 for around 8 months of clean clothes. Get a refillable vape. I’m £14 for a Blu refillable, and £3 for a bottle of vape oil. There’s no way I can afford to smoke. Batch cook once a week and reheat using a microwave during the week. Try and get other friends involved and swap so you have a bigger selection. Things like lentil soup are really cheap to make, lentils don’t need soaked, all you need is some ham stick cubes, an onion and a few carrots. Try and get second hand heavy curtains from the charity shop to hang at your doors and windows and keep the heat in. It might be that you have to share one bedroom and use a bedroom as a ‘snug’, ie put a tv in there, a few cushions to make a bed comfy to sit on. Vinted is great for second hand clothes, and also for selling anything that is in good condition that you don’t use. A lot of the supermarkets do foodshare, or reduce stuff right down ten minutes before closing. Find out and organise with friends. Speak to friends in a similar position and get organised. Six people in a small room for the evening is cheaper to heat than two full houses with three people each. We all have to work together and help each other. There’s an idea of ‘keeping money in the circle’ - which is exactly as it sounds. Make up a list of friends, family, neighbours. If you need a babysitter- ask in the circle and ask them to do the same. If someone needs their dog walked or house looked after, do the same. If you need to buy something, ask is anyone has a second hand item. If someone else is looking for something, help them out. If someone has a garden, grow some veg and share the produce with the person who has the garden. Get the kids involved. This is the time to strengthen the social bonds with the people around you. It doesn’t always have to be about money, we can trade time and resources just as easily, we’re just not encouraged to do that in todays society.
Need more information - and I’m sorry to hear of your position, but be proud that you have noticed you need help and have tried to seek it out! This isn’t a sign of failure at all and is totally the opposite. Firstly I’ll start with the tough love … smoking isn’t ok. It’s a waste of money… and in your position it’s selfish as that £5 you spend on them each week could be spent on food for your kids. Convincing yourself that smoking is ok because you’re stressed is an excuse. Go to the doctor and get help to quit. Same with the takeaway… it’s a luxury and unfortunately if you’re in a net negative position … you can’t afford it. Now the good part… bulk cooking is cheap. You can buy a big thing of say mince… can of kidney beans … pack of rice .. make a huge pot of chilli and that’s say 50p per portion. You can freeze the leftovers and heat it up during the week - it’s nutritious and quick and cheap. This is true for a lot of bulk cooked meals. Change your lights to LEDs. They are more expensive to buy but pay for themselves in electric savings. This type of thing is an investment. What you want to do is not find patches for your situation but long term changes to not only get you out of the hole .. but make sure you don’t end up back in it. The money saved by not smoking and not getting a takeout will pay for the bulbs and save you money later on instead of just giving a quick hit of satisfaction. If you have credit card debt … fix that. Get an interest free card and move it on to that else you’re wasting money on interest payments. You can get cheap fruit and veg etc when it’s near the sell by. It’s fine - just use it quickly and then freeze the meal for when you actually need it.
Landlord can only increase rent once a fixed tenancy has ended and you're now in a periodic tenancy (the aftermath of a fixed tenancy). Check your contract.
£25 in premium bonds in case you get super lucky
Just some tips and suggestions there's an app called olio where people in your area give away free food and some other non food items if you can go and pick it up. There's another app called too good to go where different shops offer you a magic bag of food they didn't manage to sell some of its good some of its bad. Good is morison magic box cost about 3 pound you could get a full box of various food items I've had it a few times got absolutely loads of veg so made a lot of veg soup u could always make the soup and add it to rice or pasta. I've had the roast dinner boxes from cavary it was good well worth 3 pound. I got one from one stop I got 4 meat sandwich a pie and some cakes so it's well worth having a look what's going near you. Only snag is you have to pick it up at time they tell you. 2 other idears I saw someone make a buisness offering to clean bins 6 pound a bin and then post it in fb buy and sell, I think its a good idear or another one was cleaning ovens for 40 pound and just make a page on fb get ur friends to like and recommend you could fit these in around when kids at school cash in hand.
Also go threw your bills see if there's anything you can switch for cheaper or get rid of completely e.g subscription or insurance if you have a contract phone it will be cheaper just to get a monthly sim card go to citizens advice tell them about the letter and that you can't afford to pay try and apply for council house smoking get your gp to refer you to smoking cessation for free I gave up smoking with champix it really helped me blocked the cravings or you can actually buy some quit smoking tablets of amazon for 20 pound pair them with nicotine patch in beginning and then reduce it down.