Tips for positivity

Exercise. Brisk walk somewhere nice, or a run, or a cycle. It's free, you can do it on your own, it's exhilarating, it takes you out of yourself for a while, and you feel good about yourself afterwards.

You can set goals for yourself in performance or weight loss, for example, and bask in the glow of your achievements when you reach these goals.


I've decided to further my education while I'm on a DMP. It's not expensive and it provides a focus that is not to do with the everyday profit and loss. My current personal statement is "In six years I will be debt-free and have a PhD."

I have just come to realise that my family and family time together is the most important thing and keeps me posotive and focused. You are doing so well give yourself praise.:j

missrabbit wrote: »

I have moved back home and am spending the bare minimum on everything, hence why I havent put my SOA's on here. So far in under five months i have paid back £3445 on my debts on a very low salary. I still have £9725 to go though : (

One of the key thing is that you have the support of your family, but don't try and do too much. Allow yourself some time for you. Don't think "I must pay it all off as fast as possible" instead think " I will pay x amount off xxx this month" and treat yourself every now and again. Not a mega spend, just little stuff, whatever takes your fancy, you know what your limits are.

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

BUT the best thing I have found is

Don't compare yourself to other people ( I do that loads) (unless they are living beyond their means and have taken the !!!!, then feel smug)

Do set small goals pay such and such debt off by such and such date (join the 100 days challenge!)

Get your hot sweaty hands on all freebies, vouchers,giveaways. If possible allow one treat a month/week Look for cheap weekends away - hotel giveaways enter competitions. You do deserve fun

Take advantage of any freebies on the board, or do surveys, you can get vouchers.

For me, I allow myself a spend from either Thorntons or BodyShop every payday, whichever has a decent offer. I keep the spend under £10 and check the Grabbit board for any offers.

Good Luck and keep up the good work. If you start getting down about it, as said before, read some of the diaries, people manage to get through all sorts.

Love this thread !!!

Right, I would firstly decide if you want to do this the hard and short way, or the longer but less painful way. I decided to go hell for leather and decided on a DFD of 12 months. I know some people on here cannot sustain this and decide on a more leisurely DFD.:p

So, having decided this, you need to work out your exact debt free date using the snowball calculator. You need to put this in your signature and tell yourself everyday about how this date is getting nearer. Everytime you pay off some extra, that debt free date will get closer. I think if you have a high APR credit card, even additional payments of £40 will cut off a few weeks.:D

I love the idea of naming the debts. This would be fab !!;)

It then all depends on how much time and effort you want to devote to this cause, or even want to. I know some people are embarrassed by debt, or try not to think too much about it because of emotional stress, or health issues etc.. I personally work better when I devote 100% of my time to something. So I have spreadsheets galore which I fiddle with daily, even though I dont need to ! I have pieces of paper on the fridge, cupboards, handbag, diary, computer screen etc.. to keep me motivated during the day. My best one was a post it note in my purse that said 'But do you really need it?' I have put back so many things in my time after seeing that note !! I bored my kids and partner with useless info I had learnt about money and debt. I studied the boards here to learn about baliffs, charges, reclaiming stuff, cheap recipe ideas, competitions, surveys, freebies etc.. I monitored the challenges and gained tips about car boot sales, ebay, amazon, play.com etc...

I personally paid off the smallest debts first to get the number of debts down and to feel slightly smug about it !! But it is advisable to tackle highest APR first so ignore me ! :mad:

The payment a day idea really works too. Set it all up online and transfer £0.50 if thats what you have available. Getting a 2 page credit card statement full of payments made, rather than transactions made is a great feeling !!!

I guess I am trying to say I kept motivated by living and breathing money,saving, debt busting etc... everyday. It was never far from my mind and I loved knowing the exact amount of debt I had, and what I had paid and it made me feel in control again. I did become a smug cow and took almost pleasure in turning down takeaways/meals out/drinks out etc.. as though I was above all that ! Sounds horrendous but it was what worked for me !

Working out the percentage paid, rather than the larger amount to go might help too.

I also think if you started a diary on here and talk about your experiences, you would definitely find you would help and inspire so many people - the work you have done so far is amazing :j

Sorry for the long post

:rotfl: