How do you cope with financial worry?

gailey_2

Im sure im not the only one but me and hubby have struggled latly and due to evil car costing us far too much money this year we are more in debts and vowed that 2008 was gona be the year to make serious progress on debt paying but instead so many things have gone wrong

washing machine broke down so had 2 buy new
car constantly breaking down and needing lots of money to get it through mot
my scooter breaking down costing em money then me crashing it and writing it off was 3rd party insurance so not covered!
Toddler braeking expensive tv and £100 excess on insurance thats recent so worrying about that.

I gave up my job in july as couldent cope with 60hours plus child as hubby works loads of hoours too and was offered transfer further away so more commuting but gets travel payrise and increased career prospects out of it.

I started my won business and selling stuff but not made as much as needed so looking for p/t job and contemplating sellings scooter to pay off some debts and give us some breathing space.

Both me and hubby worrying about money a lot.
Latly im feeling sick down and not sleeping over it.

So I wondered everyone must be bit stressed in current climate,my mates morgae just gone up £300 a montha nd they in neg equity.

Im trying to be positive and not stress but its hard

hypno06

I deal with it by posting on MSE - knowing that you have the support of others and getting the ideas, kicks up the bum, laughter, etc that we need, can make all the difference when the going gets difficult.

Remember - tough times never last..........tough people do. You will get through it.

petrafyde

I used to bury my head in the sand and pretend it didn't exist. Caused me years of worry (because of course I knew it did) until recently I came here and am sorting myself out. There are literally hundreds of friendly, supportive people who will always try to help.

Incidentally, have you thought about taking out extended warranty on your appliances? Then, no matter whats up with it they'll fix or replace for free. They can cover TV's too - but we just have the main kitchen ones covered.

Hope you're feeling a bit better since posting, you've come to the right place - you can teach yourself some amazing money saving tricks on here!

thepinkladez_2

welcome to the board. You will get loads of useful help and advice here, not to mention bucketfulls of support.
You are not alone in struggling (particually at the moment), i used o believe i was the only one going through something but coming on here i have realised there are lots of other people going through the same thing, who can give lots of support.
Is there anything else you think you can cut back on or pay less for etc??

gailey_2

Thanks everyone for kidn comments. I been board few montsh now actually been veiwing for years but joined few montsh ago but dont post a hude deal.
I did start diary but stopped as found it quite negative as never had much postive thinsg happen.
The challanges have been slightly more succesful, I need motivation as when I get down I feel less motivated if that makes sense.
Our biggest success has been the grocery challange as made few savings there.
I need to get more focussed on earn £10 a day and ebay challange.
Doing well on no spend days as been totally broke!
We have changed all our suppliers hubby got fab fixed deal on electric/gas until 2010.
Our rent goes up minimal we have basic sky our one and only luxury as we rarly go out downgraded vigin media fone packagechanged our mobiles started shopping at aldos and being more savvy with our deals buyings clothes,xmas presents 2nd hand from carboots and ebay shopped around for car/bike/house insurance.

I have been selling lots on 4sale boards ebay and carboots.
I Love carboots as find it lovley day out earn soem cahs and pick up some bargains.

One of my bad habits is unfinished business and putting stuff off

things liek unpaid bills needing to leave loads of feedback on ebayunfinished housework play on my mind.

So today my mission is

get up to date with washing
go to postoffice with 7parcels
Sort out ebay minimise watch list leave outstanding feedback
list 5 things on ebay -new challange
Apply for payapl perpaid top up card
search intrenet for p/t jobs
Make something nice for hubbys dinner

my mission this week
start comping again as got to be in it to win it, did have ambitous target of 400comps a month!

sort out my bedroon and spare room as complete nitemare
declutter the house and get more stuff to take to next sundays carboot sale
pay credit card bill
Got appointment with Lloyds tommorow really worried as they want overdraft back £1500 which I dont have so hoping to negociate installments their letter says they will be sympathetic and fair!
Aplly for few p/t jobs
take more stuff to postoffice!
Buy some special bags for posting
make £200 to get em back within od limit.

Im hoping I keep myself busy will distract me from worry as if im achiveing will boost my confidence and motivate me.

Might take scooter round bike shop wed and ask how much he would pay me.
It greives me as vespa my 2nd baby but rarly used now as used it for work and would be better to pay off debts with it.

On the plus side people with mponey probs seem to be in majority atm with economy getting worse.
I now realise how much I wasted and how important 2009 is to pay off debts rather than holiday or expensive things as nothing can be better feeling than being debt free and not worrying.
Will discuss bike with hubby and keep working on trying to get him to change to cheaper car!

I think living within my means paying off chunks and hubting bargains could be fun.
.

petrafyde

Wow! Selling the vespa - what a brave thing to do. My husband would have an apoplexy if he saw you were doing that (but then he isn't sensible!) Well done on confronting this head on

Really positive post Gailey. Nice one

bathgatebuyer

I don't have a coping strategy at all! I spent years putting up with - and everyone around me had to put up with - my own mood swings as I would go home in a good mood, then get a letter from MBNA or whomever and it would cut my good mood right down. More than once have I tried to resolve disputes and the like with banks or set-up payment arrangements and one part of the company would not speak to the other, so I would think everything was resolved and then some other dept would get in touch as they'd never been told of the arrangement. Woooooooosh! Bang goes contentedness!

Now I still struggle with it. My personality has changed so much from being in debt. I probably verged on the edge of a breakdown a few years back. I had panic attacks, depression and still struggle to deal with debts or anything relating to job security brings all those thoughts flooding right back.

Broken_hearted

Set targets and join challenges, without them I just go off spending. Even with them I fall off the wagon from time to time.

Gemmzie

* Get the situation as under control as possible and then don't sweat the small stuff.
At the beginning, any month where we kept the debt the same was an achievement as before it was being run up at approx £1k a month - just on normal living expenses, not luxuries! :eek:
* Challenges / Targets
They make light of it all and it's a bit of fun, Hypno's chart idea works fantastically as you can see the money made in front of you.
* Don't panic
When things go wrong! Just re-adjust budgets and work out where the priority lies.

gailey_2

Bath gate sounds like you doing well despite banks refusual to co-operate well done on comp wins,reclaims and savings.
Im hoping I can win something would be nice holiday would be fab!
As for bank charges given up on that idea atm as everythings been on hold 4 so long but bank charges have made my life hell last few months!

Im trying not to stress worry and be moody with family. We rent on nice estate and I alway feel poor compared to our neighbours.
I cant bring myself to visit new state of teh art shopping centre as its all expensive shops cannot afford to buy let alone bus fair to town to get there!
I worry when the phone rings and number withhekld or what letters the postie has.
At the moment im trying to work with my creditors and up my income as cant see how we can cut back anymore.
Hubbys down because we in debtno luxuries and dont won our own house I keep telling him its lucky we dident buy as so many of his mates struggling!

isgman

I Cope by lookingb at this site, knowing that should I need "Help" I can post here and get some words of advice from like minded people, this is the best place to help you get you head together, and point you in the right direction.