What do you do when you start to lose motivation?

Moths · 12 February 2006 at 10:57PM

I have some debts which need to be paid off - and I am in control of them, its just that I'm getting sick of waiting, I'm making little repayments each month but it just seems like tiny tiny steps

I also have a weekend job, share a house with three other people and am massively frugal with shopping etc, its just that the last few months seem to have been one step, forward and two steps back for me! This month, am having heart palpitations everytime I look at my bank account :eek:

Its very difficult not to feel a bit depressed when my house mate has just got back from another snow boarding trip and my other friends are talking about that big round the world trip their making in the next few months - you just ending up feeling a little left behind and a bit like a boring loser! I keep thinking I'm going to look back on my 20's and this is all I'll remember!

aaanyway, there is my little winge, I try and think about all the people living on a doller a day or worse, but thats not working for me at the moment - just getting a bit fed up with it all

Anyone else feeling like this or have any tips? I'm losing my moneysaving motivation :rolleyes:

Steve_82 · 12 February 2006 at 11:05PM

You have to think of the greater good though. Last night at about 10pm i got the urge for a beer and asked my mate to come out to a club. He agreed, and I went and had a shower, and in there I realised that I could save myself £40 by not going out tonight. So i phoned back my mate and blew it out.

Everyone is tempted to go out, and spend money, but if you just sit back and think why you're doing it, and how good it'll be to be debt free, it'll be worth it.

skintchick · 12 February 2006 at 11:07PM

I look at my sig!

You should do one, and you'll see it in black and white how well you are doing.

But do allow yourself a treat sometimes, whatever it is, so you don;t feel like life is just one big effort all the time.

A takeaway can be only a fiver, but you'll enjoy it. Or a bottle of wine.

pivotalgubbins · 12 February 2006 at 11:07PM

I would suggest starting by setting yourself an eventual aim - e.g. when your out-of-debt (however far away that might be) you could then allow yourself to save for a holiday, maybe even plan a round-the-world trip of your own!

Also, remind yourself of the position your friends are in. Some of their bank accounts will be severly tested my their lifestyle, and that is something you are working to avoid. I'm certain you don't come across as boring, you'd probably find that many of your friends will admire your efforts. I certainly wouldn't criticise them!

Finally, don't deprive yourself of every one of life's comforts. Depending on your situation, think of a treat you can allow yourself on an infrequent basis. This will help bash the blues and act as a perfect pick-me-up. There was recently a thread on here suggesting cheap and cheerful ways to make yourself a little happier - be sure to check it out.

Stick with it - you'll be pleased you did in the long-term.

fairylights_2 · 13 February 2006 at 12:10AM

I have an image of somewhere I want to be, that I know I could never manage (or enjoy) without worrying if we were still in debt. It's not more kids, or a big house, or retiring at 40, or anything like that. It's close by, so that I don't have to wait forever to get there. When that day comes, I know my life will be ok financially. It's just making sure that every time I feel despondent about living so frugally when everyone else has dvds in their cars, big posh digital cameras blah blah blah then I think of how I'm going to feel that day and know that it's MY day, and I don't owe ANYONE for it.

For my OH, it was a pair of posh specs that he's wanted for ages. I know we cheated and bought them pre-debt free, but they were budgeted for, and it's keeping his nose to our tiny bit of grindstone that's left :T

ps OP - you think you're going to look back on your 20s with regret? Imagine looking back on them and remembering hiding from debt collectors - OR WORSE!. Debt free day will come and then every penny will be yours to spend on whatever you want - without dreading the statement at the end of the month. Oh, and I'm still in my 20s too - two degrees, marriage and two kids. Don't think I could ever regret the last ten years - definitely not the last six! (getting soppy with Tuesday coming!)

scottishspendaholic · 13 February 2006 at 12:21AM

Hi Moths,

I just wanted to say - you are not alone! I am so scared that I'll have spent my twenties paying off my debts, wearing charity shop clothes and never going out - I totally get where you are coming from!

No-one I know (except you guys!) knows the extent of my debts and can't understand why I'm not drinking (immediately think I am pregnant!), not buying new clothes or going on big holidays.

I agree with fairylights - that its that debt free date that is keeping me motivated. I also agree that everyone needs wee pick-me-ups - so can you plan for the future or think or something you REALLY want and put away a little something (even £1/£2 a week) for it and buy it before your debt free date? Just think, how amazing it will feel, knowing YOU have paid for it, out of your hard earned cash.

When I need a bit of a boost (like just now), I am reading Martin's book, The Money Diet and Alvin Hall's Money For Life. They really make you think and (I think) are like Allan Carr's hypnosis book - I can be in a shop and Martin's voice is going through my head 'do you really need that?'!

I also agree with skintchick, that you should definitely update your signature, so that you and everyone else can see the debt reducing. You can do this by clicking on 'User CP' at the top of the chat forum page.

Sorry this is a bit rambly, but I hope you get what I am trying to say.

scottishspendaholic x

JAMIEDODGER · 13 February 2006 at 8:03AM

i too have days where i totally lose motivation to get rid of those debts! it happens, so dont beat yourself up about it and try to look at the light at the end of the tunnel!

i find what helps me is to have little goals to achieve and little treats for doing them. every sunday i have a pamper me night, face pack, bubble bath, hair treatment (all on the cheap tho!) which sets me up for the next week in a good mood! try doing something cheap that makes you feel good too!

i save (check out the £2 coin club thread) my £2 coins towards a holiday, i know its going to take a long time but every £2 coin brings me closer. and for the more immediate future: i save £1 coins just towards a night out for me! but you could save them for a new CD or DVD or game etc whatever takes your fancy!

hope this helps,

JD x

postingalwaysposting · 13 February 2006 at 10:51AM

at the momment i dont know how your situation feels, i dont know if that is a good/bad thing

. do give yourself a 'treat' every now and again if that be a bottle of wine, a dvd, a rented dvd or something else. ok £5 will put a tiny dent in your debt but when you buy that 'treat' remember all the 'treats' you have given up in order to bash you debts already. btw a signature helps too

lottie26_2 · 13 February 2006 at 12:27PM

We all feel the same I felt a bit like this last week and it doe's get you down you just have to look to the future and all the things you can do when you are debt free and saving for your holidays I think you will appreiciate them more than putting them on a cc.
(Jamiedodger,well done on paying off your Barclaycard)

skintchick · 13 February 2006 at 1:26PM

Look at it this way - I spent my 20s going out and running up debt, and am now spending my 30s paying it off.

At least you will be free when you are my age!

Tondella · 13 February 2006 at 1:27PM

Try thinking about your snowboarding friends looking back on their twenties and kicking themselves for getting into so much debt, with so little to show, and having to sort it all out in their thirties and forties on top of keeping the house, raising kids, etc etc

What do you do when you start to lose motivation?

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free