Have you ever sabotaged your debt-free journey?

Optimisticpair

I admire the lot of you for your tenacity, honest, it is so very hard to do something as difficult as pay off debt and not see the results except on paper. Maybe that's one of the answers, build in small regular treats so that you do see a visible reward. Pardon me if you have already been doing that.

Just had another idea. About 15 years ago I really wanted something costing £650 and on my income it was hard. I couldn't see any progress! I drew a picture of this thing I wanted, and divided it into bits, I labelled the bits £5, £10 and £2 so every time I saved a bit I coloured in a bit that was 'bought' ie saved for. I could see how well I was doing then. Maybe you could draw something that represents your debt and every time you pay a bit off colour that bit in. Or a tall bottle of coloured water, pay a bit off = empty a bit out.

If every day you could see your sucess, if you could see your drawing/ water/ debt reducing or a picture changing of your savings for a bigger treat, it might help to keep you going when you are fed up? It worked for me.

Arlen

A few years ago I stopped being sensibe and bought a load of new parts for some bikes I was working (£600), then powdercoating for the frames (£200) then tyres (£200) and I was down to the last penny in my bank account. I found it humiliating having to visit the bank to withdraw my last £2.43 just so I could eat. This gave me a good kick up the jacksie and now I am out of my overdraft (since May been in it for a good 6 years), my credit card is clear (from April higher APR then my overdraft) and I am £1500 away from clearing a personal debt (had to borrow money from the family).

In the same vain as Optimisticpair, I have my DFW goal (a new motorbike) as my PC wallpaper at work and even on my mobile! This makes sure that I stay commited to clearing the debt then I can buy it in cash and not on tick. I could have caved in months ago and almost did, but it will be sweeter paying in cash

meyore

Optimisticpair wrote: »

I admire the lot of you for your tenacity, honest, it is so very hard to do something as difficult as pay off debt and not see the results except on paper. Maybe that's one of the answers, build in small regular treats so that you do see a visible reward. Pardon me if you have already been doing that.

Just had another idea. About 15 years ago I really wanted something costing £650 and on my income it was hard. I couldn't see any progress! I drew a picture of this thing I wanted, and divided it into bits, I labelled the bits £5, £10 and £2 so every time I saved a bit I coloured in a bit that was 'bought' ie saved for. I could see how well I was doing then. Maybe you could draw something that represents your debt and every time you pay a bit off colour that bit in. Or a tall bottle of coloured water, pay a bit off = empty a bit out.

If every day you could see your sucess, if you could see your drawing/ water/ debt reducing or a picture changing of your savings for a bigger treat, it might help to keep you going when you are fed up? It worked for me.

Thats a really good idea

I know I'm just about to ruin my DF journey (again) as we're getting married and things are spiralling as they do...

happy_chick_3

Optimisticpair - thats a fantastic idea. I've got some sticky stars and I'm going to draw a debt repayment chart for my wall and stick on a star for every £50 I pay off.

Arla- big congrats on getting the overdraft paid off - what a wonderful feeling! :j

MYLITTLESISTERLOLA

My theory is ( after 10 years of yo-yoing debt ) I feel deprived if I dont spend on myself for long periods of time, so now I keep my treats to a minimum to make me feel like I'm not missing out on life.
Treats that work for me include
new pyjamas £5 Primark
going to bootsales and spending about £10 a week, often buying things to sell on Ebay for a substancial profit
Fancy new bath stuff when its on offer followed by a candle lit bath
A nice bar of chocolate

Sounds boring but when your watching every penny you feel deprived, I believe we all need to spend a bit to treat ourselves...going from having eating out twice a week, takeaways whenever we want them, buying new clothes every week to then not spending anything on treats makes me feel undervalued ( silly I know but that me ) I have now been on the straight and narrow since returning from /wedding/honeymoon in March and have aims to be debt free next June

Good luck to everyone else but remember treat yourselves when you reach a target doesn't have to be extravagant just a £1 bottle of fancy bubble bath, a luxurious choc bar 50p, home hair dye from £3, a cheap take away £5, a new item of clothing £5...getting free from debt is very important but so is enjoying life:beer:

rubydoiwannabee

MYLITTLESISTERLOLA wrote: »

getting free from debt is very important but so is enjoying life:beer:

I couldn't agree more.