Does Being broke turn you into a grump

bathgatebuyer

Oh, and £200 is my groceries, entertainment and petrol bill for the month!! I sit next to people at work who seem to buy laptops, gadgets, ipods, holidays, weekend breaks and the like every weekend! They tell me in great detail about how much they've spent and I do occasionally have to make a, "Can't afford it" reminder to them as a gentle hint to stop bragging about it all the time!

JES_F1

Hello :hello:

Having read your post, I checked out Glen0000's thread. I decided not to reply to that thread as others had made lots of great suggestions. I think it probably was rather insensitive of him to post on here but guess it's all relative!

Being strapped for cash does make me grumpy sometimes but the relief of now knowing I'm dealing with things outweighs my grumpiness!

I do envy those that don't have to worry about money. Once I've paid off my debts, I appreciate now that I'll actually be able to have a comfortable life living within my current salary without the need of credit cards.

I had my lightbulb moment in January and started my CCCS DMP in March, but it's only in the last couple of months that I've fully appreciated just how much I was spending. For example, I used to buy a coffee from Costa or Caffè Nero almost every day without even a second thought - I treat myself to one or two a month at most now, and relish every sip!

A friend and I used to go out once a month for a meal that would cost us £35-£40 each. We now alternate months meeting for lunch (costing less than £10) one month and an evening meal (up to £20, less if we go somewhere with a 2-for-1 voucher) the next. We still have a fabulous time.

The current "credit crunch" gives everyone a great excuse to cut back without feeling embarrassed - saving money can even be considered trendy!

Good luck with your final six months - I look forward to envying you then!

:beer:

skintandscared_2

icka, I don't think you were overly harsh and you gave some really constructive advice. Don't be so hard on yourself!

It's funny how people look at things isn't it... when I first read the "socialising" thread I actually felt quite sorry for them, to be in a relationship where he and his wife were bored when they didn't have money to go out with other people...!!! The one part of our budgeting which has improved my and my OH's relationship is evenings in together instead of going down the pub all the time We are more than happy to spend evenings in together and my perfect weekend doesn't involve leaving the flat once

PS I, too, will be green with envy when you are debt free in six months, but will just keep thinking "one day...!"

JES_F1

JES_F1 wrote: »

I used to buy a coffee from Costa or Caffè Nero almost every day without even a second thought - I treat myself to one or two a month at most now, and relish every sip!

A friend and I used to go out once a month for a meal that would cost us £35-£40 each. We now alternate months meeting for lunch (costing less than £10) one month and an evening meal (up to £20, less if we go somewhere with a 2-for-1 voucher) the next. We still have a fabulous time.

Just wanted to clarify that if I spend a little more on "entertainment" than my CCCS budget allows, I adjust my food budget to compensate. Thankfully, I love pasta and getting lots of vegetables from the market! I didn't want the above to come across as not taking my DMP seriously!

mrs-d_3

OP thank you for posting this. Just the other day my OH was telling me how I changed and became obsessed with our debt, I'm miserable all the time and I don't smile as much as I used to. He's right it's at the back of my mind all the time. What makes it worst is when friends talk about shopping and things they buy and we can just about to afford food. I envy them and get angry with myself for being in this situation. So no you are not alone for feeling that way. I try and see positive side, remind myself that at least we can afford food and pay the bills. You just remember that you'll be debt free in 6 mth!! (well done) And let's hope we've learned our lesson.

judi24

In answer to the OP question - yes it makes me grumpy and miserable! I have one day a month - pay day (which happens to be today!) where I am happy! then I realise what bills have to be paid and what I have to live on then I revert to being grumpy and miserable! lol

Floxxie

Before I found this site I used to get really upset that others had more available money than me and I spent thousands on credit cards that I couldn't afford to pay back. It made me a very unhappy person.

Now I still have debt which I am paying off but I use the 'free' money made from the various challenges on this board to treat myself and my family. That way I am grumpy only part of the time!

Floxxie

Bunnyinthelights

It doesn't make me grumpy. I was stressed and scared before I got in control of my money situation and now I sleep at night.

I get sad sometimes from impact my credit history has had but that's about it.
I don't hang around people now that are 'things' driven and generally find that my money mindset is the same across all my friends. Which is how is choose it to be.

mbaz

Hiya

Yes it does make me grumpy. More at myself than anything else for allowing myself to get into such a mess. I felt jealous of you when you said you'll be DF in 6 months! I always feel a pang of jealousy when someone posts an "I've done it" thread on here as I feel like I'll never post one but slowly but surely I'm getting there and once I'm DF I'll hve so much more money but I'm going to start saving for house and uni (and no doubt the cycle will begin again...!!)

Hardup_Hester

Hi Icka
Your post made me feel better, I don't have debt apart from my mortgage but I do live a very frugal life out of sheer necessity. I had a very bad day last Friday, one work colleague was complaining bitterly that the brand new car she had just bought wasn't the same colour as it looked in the brochure & another was complaining that she'd made plans to catch up on her housework over half term & had just found out that her husband had booked a hotel in Cyprus for the week & that it only gave her 1 day to buy new clothes to take with her!
Yes I was bitter & grumpy & really had to grit my teeth, oh well, maybe I'll get my reward in heaven, lol.
Hester