Does anyone else get demoralised/demotivated?

~Beanie~

I had my lightbulb moment in Feb this year and since then, have stopped using the credit cards (no choice really, all up to their limit) and have done a budget. However, something always seems to happen to get me off track!

My budget includes £62 per month which is for £10 clothes, £10 car tax, £20 car maintenance, £12 TV Licence and £10 presents. Since the day I started my budget I haven't been able to save the £62!

For example, my TV licence came out the first month of my budget which was £35ish and not the £12 it should be per month.

I always seem to owe someone £10 or £20 which comes out of my £62.

I can't afford clothes (as the £10's never get chance to build up) so I get them from Next Directory or my catalogue which obviously increases my debt!

Next month my car tax is due, I haven't been able to save £10 per month so nearly £60 is needed (for 6 months tax) which obviously means my £62 won't get saved AGAIN!!

My car insurance was due for renewal at the beginning of August, I couldn't afford to switch to a cheaper provider (I could definately get it cheaper) as they wanted a deposit for the first months payment which I just didn't have.

On top of this, my lodger has moved out losing me £30 per week and my 2nd job (£55 per week) is under threat. Also my fixed rate mortgage ends in September and although I have secured a new deal, it will increase by £50 per month.

Sorry if I seem like I'm moaning but I'm really, really, trying to pay off my debt but sometimes it just feels like I am swimming in treacle, I'm not getting anywhere!!!

Does anyone else feel like this sometimes and do you have any tips how I can get through it?

I can't really get another lodger, I have a spare bedroom and my friend moved in which was fine but my house isn't really big enough to have a complete stranger living here.

I am right at this moment listing anything that isn't nailed down on Ebay but at 99p for a DVD, it won't be a massive help. I also do all the surveys (useless) and am registered with 6 mystery shopping websites although work is very sparse in my area.

Cheers

~Beanie~

Rabbit-in-headlights

Hi Beanie,

Everything you say sounds oh too familiar to me, so you are definitely not alone in feeling like yuo're running to stand still. But I see from your signature that you have reduced your debt by about £1000 in 6 months!!! That's fantastic! :beer:

Just focus on the positive, and you'll get your motivation back:D

And you've inspired me to believe it really is possible to get my debts down, so thank you!:j


Rabbit

Herewegoagain

Hiya beanie,
it's a place we've all been, like wading in jelly i think, but if you can't save what you planed then make sure you put up something, and build up. I'm doing the £2, 20p, sealed pot, finds in the street challenges, and you can use this money for what you want so maybe this is a way to help in your plan, it can't hurt eh. Best of luck, you can do it, as they say, every race starts with one step:beer:
HWGA x

want2bfree84

Yep, know totally how you feel. Doesn't help when the creditors ruin every effort you are making by adding so much all the time:mad:

~Beanie~

Thanks, it is nice to know I'm not the only one that feels like this

I see so many people who have reduced their debt by thousands in a few months, it really makes me feel like I'm getting nowhere!

The only reason my debt is reducing is because I have a loan which is reducing by £200 per month, I can't inrcrease that debt if I wanted to! My credit cards seem to be going nowhere - I pay off £80 per month and it only reduces the actual debt by about £20!!

I know I got myself into this mess and it is upto me to get me out of it but I don't know, I wonder how I ever got here?

At the moment I am repaying c£450 on my debt, right now if I had that much money spare each month it makes me wonder why I ever needed to use my credit cards in the first place!

~Beanie~

Also, up until about 2 hours ago, I had £5 to last me until Friday night when I get 2nd job wages. I have no credit whatsoever on my phone (downgraded from a contract to PAYG) and no electricity in the meter.

I spent the £5 on a bottle of wine as I felt so miserable!!

I figured if anyone rings or texts me I can use the landine to ring them back and I've got £5 emergency credit on the leccy. Bad I know but the budgeted amount for electricity didn't make it onto the meter this month and I need the wine to cheer me up!!

want2bfree84

Totally know how you feel Beanie, I really do

I have opened a basic account and I am getting my ex to pay my maintanence into it and from this I am going to pay my debt straight out so i know that is dealt with. I am *hoping* that a I can pay off HSBC & Co-op who are giving me alot of trouble with my in-laws who said he'd get a card in his name. This way I can pay the DMP £110 still and £100 to my in-laws, all in the other account so it's not stressing me out seeing it go out every month and I know what I have and haven't got

Cleosmum

How about doing a renewed SOA? I started back in feb and have done a renewed SOA a couple of times, to take into account each time I have managed to pay off a debt. Maybe look at the £62 differently too? Your tv licence should be in the have to pay section, rather than the would be nice if I have it section. Have you cut up the credit cards? That helps, they effectively become a loan that you cant dip back into.

You have my sympathies with feeling demotivated, I dont feel like Im clearing things fast enough, have had to learn that it took just over 2 years to build up the debt, will take that long to get rid of I think the last time I felt demotivated I redid my budget, just to make sure I hadnt missed something and I also joined a few challenges on here. Keep your chin up

want2bfree84

Enjoy the wine:beer:

boredofbeingathome

Hi beanie, just wanted to add that everyone feels peed off at times. I have been living on a tight budget and just had a bit of a splurge on hols. I don't feel guilty about it as i reckon sometimes something is needed..even if it is to refresh your determination.
The other side of things as well is that whilst folk do seem to be clearing thousands..it is just relevant to salaries etc. Everyone has their own personal goals ...it is not a competition to the end ( although the challenges do get competative)
Most folk agree that debt busting has to be at a realistic level, or you just become demotivated..so why not have a fresh look at finances and redo your budget to allow for the odd treat..as in i paid £20 Off this debt, so i can put £1 in a treat box, or have a look at the surveys for vouchers and use those to treat yourself.
We all have to find little ways to make life bearable and not wear a hairshirt and beat ourselves up about it all.
BOB X

FrankieM

It always seems to take ages for the 'pots' of money to get to anywhere near a decent amount. I feel like I'm always borrowing off to make up another..
I've just redone my budget, always a good move during the summer holidays (not) and I know come the end of the month all my pots will be empty.
I'm hoping to have a careful month during September, in the vain hope I can build them up.
In regards to lodgers, there is no harm in advertising. If you are upfront about the size of your house, you may be surprised...our house is a bit of a building site but we still manage to get someone...

Keep your chin...you can do it...