How Do You Do It??

eagles74

Hi all,

I havent been on the site for a while. I decided last year that i would go bankrupt, but then realised if i just got an additional job i would be able to get myself out of my hole.

I would like some advice from anyone who has made a dent in their debt, as i am terrible with money. I set budgets but they dont last a week!
How do you all keep motivated? I wonder if i havent had my big lightbulb yet and am disillusioned!!

I am the same amount in debt now as last year, around 20,000. Even writing it down doesnt scare me too much, but i know that it hinders my future plans. Im able to pay my minimum payments off but waste any excess money i earn on stuff i dont need. How do you all do it?!

Sorry for waffling on. A massive size 9 up the backside would be appreciated too.

Thanks for reading
Eagles

Broken_hearted

Set small targes and join the challenges.

penguin83

I make sure I come here regularly to give me a bit of a kick when I need it - I also keep my snowball up to date as I find thats a massive boost when you can actually see the figures coming down - apart from that I am rubbish with my budget so I make sure that all my direct debits come out the day after I am paid so I dont have to worry about them! xx

hypno06

Give yourself something that acts as your motivation - for me, I can't move house until I have got rid of the debt.....so my motivation is the pictures of the houses I could afford if only I didn't have the debt.

Def join the challenges......and visit the snowball calculator too - www.whatsthecost.com it is a great motivator for many on this board.

Of course, your light bulb may not be on fully yet......just run with the flickers though, and remember that your debt has not increased in the last year, so you must be doing something right - be proud of that fact!

tigerfeet2006

All lot of us keep spending diaries. I have a little notebook and I put the date in each day then I note everything I spend in it, this even includes the odd chocolate bar, everything. Seeing it written down at the end of the day is a great demotivator to spend. I get really proud when I see a date and nothing under it.

Another thing I do is have two accounts. One where all the bills and debts come out of and another where a set amount is transfered to and that is my spends and fun account and when that is gone then no more spends. till next month..

taxi73

Set yourself a budget and don't waste money on anything that you don't need and pay any surplus off debts every little thing helps.Meal planning and again only shopping for what you need.Spending diary and you'll soon see where you are spending the surplus,take packed lunch to work,e-bay/car boot anything you don't need..there are loads of things you can do...Good luck x

ltm07

Hi eagles. I myself have been struggling with the whole DFW thing & as we all know there is no quick fix to clearing our debts. Personally I am going to work on a budget that allows us to clear our debts slowly, whilst not missing out on enjoying life. I don't want the paying off our debts to be one big depressing chore, so have put our DFD back five years & as the loans start to go, we will start to gain ground on our DFD IYKWIM! Good luck.

Broken_hearted

Putting it in sig helps too then everyone can see if I fail so I try harder not to.

GreenManG0

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

Another thing I do is have two accounts. One where all the bills and debts come out of and another where a set amount is transfered to and that is my spends and fun account and when that is gone then no more spends. till next month..

I do the same thing tigerfeet2006.
I set this up just over a month go and it has already taken a huge weight off my shoulders, I know my bills are all going to be paid and that when i check my account im not going to see money that isnt there (ie a bill is due, i forget and draw out the money and get even more overdrawn!)
Take tiny baby steps, set you self a target, ie no spend day/weekend and treat yourself with something like a bubble batch of a homemade hobnob if you achieve it! learn to enjoy the little things that dont cost much, then ou begin to appreciate the bigger things. I have lots of picnics now the summer is here, used to eat out loads but I now have fun prepaing things and finding spots, then i appreciate it when my boyfriend takes me out for dinner alot less freqently.
Good luck

eagles74

Thank you all so much for replying so quickly.

You have given me loads to think about, i now know that i havent even seen a fraction of this site.

Im going to def look in to the challenges, and add them to my signature, for all to see!
I also def need to do a spending diary, that would frighten me and probably bring on my full lightbulb moment!
Meal planning is a must cos i spend hideous amounts of money on food, and i waste alot. And spend too much on takeaways - will also help me lose lbs!
The first thing i am going to do is do the snowball. It looks like a great tool.
Im going to start right away.

You are a bunch of stars. I just needed a direction, and now i know where to start.
Thanks again.
eagles

beanielou

5 steps forard then 10 back it seems sometimes.
Just keep plodding on though!