Single and in debt.

SmileyG_2

SunderlandBlackCat wrote: »

I did some fairly extreme things to get debt free. Right after my LBM I sold almost the entire contents of my home. The only things that survived were my bed, 1 wardrobe, enough clothes to fill the wardrobe, a tv stand, washing machine, cooker, & fridge

I then got an inflatable sofa, a couple of throws to go over it & a portable TV & I lived like that for nearly 5 years. I only started building back up again once I'd got debt free & saved up 6 months worth of outgoings.

Wow, that's pretty extreme.

Does give you a heads-up on what you need, as opposed to what you want.

Didn't manage to empty the house, but then in comparison to most, my debts were modest. The debt carousel kept the collectors off our backs at the time I had the
LBM.

Becoming frugal didn't save our relationship, but it was essential at the time.

Rest assurred, being in charge of what whent out the bank account was the biggest relief ever, and I swear it's a habit you keep for life.

Anyway where is everyone tonight, and if you're partying why wasn't I invited?

SmileyG

Lula-Hula

Hello *wind whistles through the empty streets*

SuSu & RunMichelle,

It would be great to have some company on the £100 clothes challenge , having read that Sundy managed to live on bare essentials for 5 years in order to get rid of the debt, I feel he's kind thrown down the gauntlet :eek: .

Although I want to buy clothes & redecorate & refurnish & have holidays & be thinner again, above all I want to be debt free & regain control of my life.

Every non essential item that I buy makes the DFD further away :mad: . So, I'm going to try to reverse that & bring the DFD closer

Will be busy for the rest of the week end so hope you all have a good one
- girls shop for your lives while you still can :rotfl:

Lula-Hula

Hey smiley,

just us for now i think * fears of secret thread resurface*

SmileyG_2

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hello *wind whistles through the empty streets*

SuSu & RunMichelle,

It would be great to have some company on the £100 clothes challenge , having read that Sundy managed to live on bare essentials for 5 years in order to get rid of the debt, I feel he's kind thrown down the gauntlet :eek: .

Although I want to buy clothes & redecorate & refurnish & have holidays & be thinner again, above all I want to be debt free & regain control of my life.

Every non essential item that I buy makes the DFD further away :mad: . So, I'm going to try to reverse that & bring the DFD closer

Will be busy for the rest of the week end so hope you all have a good one
- girls shop for your lives while you still can :rotfl:

Hi Lula-Hula,

Gotta be impressed with SBC, not sure I would have survived 5 years of that as a singleton, That's tough.

Impressed with your resolution for the future. I still have similar objectives (although being thinner is probably not in the top 20; being healthier? Yes!).

Along the way you still have to have the little treats, and the big ones too (although less often).

You'll have to comeback and tell us about your week of busyness, it seems quite intriguing...

SmileyG

Buffythedebtslayer

ok haven't read anything an drunk after staff do, heellllllllo everyone xxx

what is this 100 pound clothes challenge?
xx

lilly81

I don't spend a lot on clothes for myself, this year I've bought a coat £40, 2 x Jeans £25, a top £2 (charity shop), Jumper £4 (charity shop), Socks (£4)
I have also bought 2 bras using £10 M & S vouchers my aunty give me each xmas.
I do however spend a fortune on clothes for my DS aged 6 as he's tall and skinny and can only wear M & S school trousers as the others fall down n he doesnt like belts

My DS is going on a sleep over tonight, and I am doing nothing!
I was meant to have a date, via internet dating website but after the guy admitted to going to prison twice for GBH, once on an X girlfriend, I thought I'd best give it a miss!

Maybe internet dating isn't worth it, maybe I should get a hobby instead of a man :rotfl:

bathgatebuyer

I very rarely buy expnsive clothes any more! I used to regularly go into River Island and drop £40 on a pair of jeans, but my last pair were from George at Asda for £8! I've actually had a few compliments about them as they fit just right - that's the thing with jeans, you can buy two pairs of the same kind and yet only one pair will fit 'right'. Funny that!

I used to spend loads at Thomas Pink buying blouses for work, but now I only buy their stuff either off Ebay or after searching through the charity shops.

I did treat myself earlier in the year when I bought a Lyle and Scott jumper off Koodos for £24.99 (which I used Quidco for and got 18% cashback and also got free delivery and £10 off using a discount code!). I tred it on in Xile in Edinburgh and it was £80 in there, tried it on to see if it would fit, it did, so bought it for a fraction of the price elsewhere! I love the chase for a bargain too - and have managed to learn that it's only really a bargain if I'm going to actually wear it.

A lesson harshly learned!

RosaBernicia

I'm also here but I'm afraid I'm very grumpy and hiding in the corner wondering if more strawberry daiquiris would help (failing that, the lovely organic honey beer I've just remembered is in the fridge).

MSing was going well but has now taken rather a tumble due to:
1. Computer dying suddenly (even computer uncle can't fix it, so am bringing work one home for the mo but do need separate one) :mad:
2. Doing the right thing (I scratched someone's bumper after realising the reason a parking space was empty was because it was impossible to get into, and while reversing out past the scooter that I didn't want to knock and have it scrape the side of my car, misjudged moving over and bumped bumpers. Felt v bad as was upset when someone scraped mine and naffed off, and was about to go to class on ethics and how people should behave to each other, so left note on windscreen. For anyone who may be as daft as me, this is NOT the thing to do. Being honest is costing me £500 (the holiday I was planning for my birthday) and frankly I'd rather have lived with the guilt. :mad: :mad:
3. Flatmate moving out next weekend, which leads to double bills and replacement TV. :mad:
4. Christmas

I can get the new computer on don't-pay-til-Sep09 and then put on 0%, but the car thing will knock me back 2 months and I'm FED UP. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Don't think I would manage the £100 clothes challenge, but am really trying to only buy stuff that I really will wear in my actual life (not the one I wish I had, where the appropriate clothes just sit in the wardrobe). It's changing my style a bit as means more 'classic' stuff, but am actually quite happy with that. Have reorganised wardrobe into weekend, going out, work, formal occasions and it's much easier to figure what I really need and wear - eg. have stopped buying dressy stuff as rarely go to it and have enough options already, but have bought decent new boots as they get worn for both work and weekend.

Apologies for ranting/ rambling, I am off to find that beer and will be back (less grumpy) later

Rosa xx

sarahb123_3

Hi Rosa, I'm not surprised you're fed up, what a rotten week:mad: Get the honey beer out immediately!

Did you ask the replacement flatmate you had in mind whether he wanted to move in? £500:eek: sounds an awful lot for a bumper, not that I know about these things, but do you think they might be trying to pull a fast one? It just seems very expensive. I am starting to hate cars, mine seems to thing I have a personal cash machine. If you do need a new computer then the pay nothing til Sept 09 seems the best option but it's so annoying when you are trying your best and these additional expenses come along all at once:mad: . Do you have much left to get for Christmas?

I know there's not a lot I can say to make you feel better but you have got yourself through other difficult financial times and you will get yourself through this one. Try not to get too down, it might have put your DFD back a bit but at least you are on the right road.

I hope writing it all down has made you feel a bit calmer and you are now sat in front of the tv with your feet up and honey beer and chocs to hand xxx

sarahb123_3

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Don't think I would manage the £100 clothes challenge, but am really trying to only buy stuff that I really will wear in my actual life (not the one I wish I had, where the appropriate clothes just sit in the wardrobe). It's changing my style a bit as means more 'classic' stuff, but am actually quite happy with that. Have reorganised wardrobe into weekend, going out, work, formal occasions and it's much easier to figure what I really need and wear - eg. have stopped buying dressy stuff as rarely go to it and have enough options already, but have bought decent new boots as they get worn for both work and weekend.

I never thought of it like that before, a lot of the stuff in my wardrobe is for the life I want and not the life I have. How did I miss that fact? It's so true. According to my wardrobe I have a life which requires a lot of smart casual lounging around, lunching in fine hotels and having romantic weekends away. I get these clothes out and admire them but never actually wear them- they don't fit anyway. Am going to have a huge wardrobe clear out and a severe talk with myself.