Anyone have any resolutions

[Corin]

i always thought you were a banker

Working in a bank, does not necessarily mean that one is a banker by profession.

[Nick Harvey]

Working in a bank, does not necessarily mean that one is a banker by profession.

No, but in YOUR case, it DOES rhyme.

[cat]

I have resolved to stop spending vast quantities of money on myself.

I will achieve this through aversion therapy, and as such will indulge in a major shopping binge at the start of the year whilst systematically emptying my bank account. The pain from the empty bank account will cause emotional distress, thus preventing any more spending. There is the small issue of not having any money left to spend, too.

Oh, and stop swearing.

[cdd]

Cutting down is the only option, because I really don't see myself quitting within the next decade.

Obviously it's your deciison, but have you tried to stop outright? If so, how long are you sucessful for? Have you tried letting cravings, even the most severe ones, subside? Is a return to cigarettes usually brought about by something in particular, like something stressful? Answering those questions will mean you'll likely have more success in the future.

[Dr Lobster*]

it is difficult to stop smoking outright, i only know 1 person who has just gone cold turkey and never touched a cigarette again.

i used to be a moderate smoker and nrt (gum/patches) are the only way to go. the gum actually gives you a nicotine kick like a cigarette and i found these the most effective method to give up. best thing i ever did and has saved me a load of money.

of course i wish i never started but i've learnt from my mistake.

[cdd]

Why is that?

If you can't stand banks, then the answer is simple. Don't use them.

If you hate mobile phone companies, then don't have a phone.

If enough people did this, then they would fold pretty quickly.

No offence intended, but that answer is 'simplistic' rather than 'simple'.

Bank accounts are essential for many aspects of one's life, not only for their intended use, but amongst other things proof of identity.

If you haven't yet had the need to discover this truth then you will have it all to come.

It's really a question of 'lesser of evils' when choosing bank, but there's really no getting round it.

I know it is a rather simplistic point of view, but perhaps inspired by my experience of dealing with a certain bank in the summer of last year, I feel if I could do away with the bank account, I would.

And yes, it is definately a lesser of evils when choosing a bank - I am off to Natwest soon as Lloyds are not great.

As for mobile phones, that's much easier. I have one, but rarely use it (and even now that the battery has died or the charging mechanism has packed in, whatever is wrong with it, I don't feel any need to go and rush out to get one). I hate the damn things, and I hate calling people on them too, as it costs bucket loads compared to normal lines.

Unless you choose to go contract for 18/12 months, and pay them £25 or whatever it is for X amount of texts and X amount of minutes per month, you really get screwed royally - for my pay and go tariff with O2 it costs 45ppm to call someone else on another network. Now that's a rip off - £2.25 to talk to someone for 5 minutes!!!! If only I were paid that amount to talk to someone in real life - I am sure I'd be a rich, rich man by now.

But sadly, the mobile phone has taken off, and people are ditching their landlines in favour of these devices. I cringe when people say "I could never live without it these days".

I suppose as technology moves forward, companies are always there to capitalise on it, and get the general public hooked by their marketing ploys.

I think we're one of the very few people left on this earth who haven't been taken in by these mobiles. I get by crediting £10/yr on my Pay as you Go O2 phone, and frankly I've had no problems. Moreover, I leave my phone off all the time. Most of the time I don't even carry my phone with me -- what are payphones for, remind me? I haven't got an amazing phone, in fact my phone isn't even vaguely good. If I want to take photos I'll use a camera, and if I want to note tasks I'll use a personal organiser, or better still a DIARY (remember what that is!?), I don't need a contraption that offers these services whilst conning me out of a lot of money. I think good ol' Flanders had the right idea about combatting this telephone "status symbol" in this clip!

Alas though mobile phones are a necessecity these days, not so much because YOU couldn't get by without them, but because others can't. You're expected to have a mobile phone, and the number of payphones available are declining rapidly. As mobile phone companies monopolise the communication market it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid them.

By the way, does anyone else find the concept of telephony incredibly and infuriatingly rude? If I'm having a conversation with someone, you wouldn't just butt in and say "EXCUSE ME, how are you/did you remember the carrots/how was your day" -- yet this is exactly what people do when they call people.

[Pete]

By the way, does anyone else find the concept of telephony incredibly and infuriatingly rude? If I'm having a conversation with someone, you wouldn't just butt in and say "EXCUSE ME, how are you/did you remember the carrots/how was your day" -- yet this is exactly what people do when they call people.

no it's just you. who didn't approve of the concept of business either iirc

[cdd]

By the way, does anyone else find the concept of telephony incredibly and infuriatingly rude? If I'm having a conversation with someone, you wouldn't just butt in and say "EXCUSE ME, how are you/did you remember the carrots/how was your day" -- yet this is exactly what people do when they call people.

no it's just you. who didn't approve of the concept of business either iirc

Avert thine eyes -- Hymagumba is one of the captured souls! And we always thought your bizarre name came from a fisherman's excalamation...

[Pete]

i'm sure there is a deeper meanng in that last post I'm not picking up on

[Gavin Scott]

By the way, does anyone else find the concept of telephony incredibly and infuriatingly rude? If I'm having a conversation with someone, you wouldn't just butt in and say "EXCUSE ME, how are you/did you remember the carrots/how was your day" -- yet this is exactly what people do when they call people.

Well I suppose if they start with "excuse me" then it seems like the classy thing to do is let them interrupt.

Mind you, if all anyone ever called to ask me about was carrots then I shouldn't bother carrying a phone either.

Ahem.

Avert thine eyes -- Hymagumba is one of the captured souls! And we always thought your bizarre name came from a fisherman's excalamation...

i'm sure there is a deeper meanng in that last post I'm not picking up on

I'm a wee bit lost there too.

[Pete]

I'm a wee bit lost there too.

maybe if I go into a comber I'll be able to decipher it.