Has your way of thinking changed?

rosiedee

Further to an earlier post, trying to think of ways to rid myself of a high interest MBNA debt, all my others are 0% or LOB, can't get any new cards, it's funny how when your on the DFW road how your thinking changes about money.
Just a 'for instance', we have just had to buy a new phone which has an answering machine combined, on a good deal of course!! At present we have BT Callminder which costs £2.50 per month. There would have been a time when I would have thought 'it's only £2.50' but I now find myself working out how much that is over the course of a year. Needless to say I'll be cancelling Callminder!!

get_me_debt_free

Hi, Yes I have changed the way I think, but I have had too, I know think before I buy things and I am contantly thinking of ways to pay off my debt, I really want them gone and the only way to do it is to work hard at it.
I do look for bargins, I am carefull but my downside is the kids... as they always need something, they do help me alot as I am a single mum, they washed the car yesterday so I got them a £4.99 DVD to watch for a treat, as we dont have sky anymore,
I am glad to be thinking differently as now I am dealing with debt instead of consolidating all the time as we used to in our marriage.

gettingbetter

Hi

My sound a bit silly but i was dancing round the living room on friday, if you had seen me you would have laughed. Why was i dancing about CAUSE CT HAD TAKEN THEIR MONEY BY DD.

Stupid or what, it has really made me watch each penny. Just thought i would share lol

kas

Rabbit-in-headlights

Hi Rosiedee,

Just a thought, did you know BT also do BT Answer, which is also on 1571, and is free of charge? You can even set it up so that if someone leaves you a message, you get a text sent to a mobile and you can phone home to pick up the message (costs about 15p per text, I think) - but that's optional. So if you're used to Callminder, you might prefer this, especially as it's free!

Rabbit

rosiedee

Hi Rabbit,

No I didn't, am off to look now!! Thank you

Rosiedee

jenjade

oh yeah i have changed i have saved a fortune by canceling direct debits etc. i use quidco and piggyback for everything i don;t waste half as much food and spend loads less and i can't even remember what i was wasting the money on anymore! many the things i am still listing on e bay ! i didn't need them!

woofwoofwoof

Rabbit-in-headlights wrote: »

Hi Rosiedee,

Just a thought, did you know BT also do BT Answer, which is also on 1571, and is free of charge? You can even set it up so that if someone leaves you a message, you get a text sent to a mobile and you can phone home to pick up the message (costs about 15p per text, I think) - but that's optional. So if you're used to Callminder, you might prefer this, especially as it's free!

Rabbit

We cancelled our BT answer 1571 because everytime someone phoned us and they got the message to 'please leave a message' it cost them money. Now if we are on the phone they just get the engaged tone.

savingholmes

They say you have to do something differently for 30 days for it to become a habit.... so hopefully my thinking is changing. In the last month:

*I've only been to the pub for coffee and desert once in the last month - normally it was 4x.
* Hardly spent any money on McDonalds for kids been having £1 pizza instead!
* Reduced grocery bill.
* Going to make kids have packed lunch whether they like it or not.
* Getting a lodger.
*Didn't use toll road over weekend saving £9.
* Used freebie adult entrance vouchers including for kids saving £60.
* Had less meals out and takeaways (have you noticed food is a common theme).
* Stopped having breakfasts at work (get free lunch). Saving up to £20 per month
* Been more grateful for the fruit bushes/trees I've planted.
* Looking out for freebies and reduced items more.
* Doing surveys and quidco and car boot etc - all things I would have written off as to difficult or not worth the effort before.;)
* No new dvds - previous spend £10 per month
* So small treats for the children - gone if they don't want to spend their pocket money on it they didn't want it enough and it didn't matter anyway. If they still want it at Xmas or birthday will consider.:rotfl:
* Doing baskets for presents using what already have! :j Given 5 so far Birthdays, Get well, Thank you all been well received. Saving £75-£100 so far
* Not been rescuing others - saving probably £40 plus this month alone!

So lots of changes still to make but progress being made.

**MissL2**

DEFINITELY!!!

I used to love going shopping... got a total buzz from buying a new top/ jeans/ make up- I could find something to buy wherever I went and it didn't matter how much it cost I would find the money from somewhere! Even at the Supermarket Id walk down the toiletries aisle and buy shampoo's and body lotions even if I didn't need them. I was a total shopaholic and I didn't care it was my credit card funding them!

Now I'm reformed:p . I calculate the value as well as the cost of everything. I'm always looking for ways to save money and make what I have go further. I now get a buzz from making over payments! When I hear my friends going on about what they've bought... I just feel happy for them I don't crave it too (in fact I feel sorry for them some of the time because I know it went on their cc and they're heading straight in it whereas I realised before it was too late).

It probably sounds really stupid but I feel like a better person for it... I don't feel life is just about having a wardrobe full of clothes that'll never get worn.

Lx

**MissL2**

Eating out has also started going right through me! It used to be 4x a week but now its a treat 2x a month! Me and my DP must have spent thousands on dining out!

Now if we fancy a takeway we buy a stir fry and some prawns from the supermarket for £4 and it tastes just as lovely!

Lx

cady

yeah i have leared me and my bf were living the same as we were before we bought our house still going out, shopping buying what we wanted then the money ran out the credit was gone and we had bills to pay, i havnt bought clotes since last summer i cpook food from scratch live on a budget and im now overpaying on my CC because i want to not because i have to !!!