DFSD's motivational ramblings...

debtfreesomeday

Ok, I've got a confession to make... I've taken my eye off the DFW ball this past week. We've spent a lot of money, mostly on DIY stuff needed for the house. Unfortunately, I'm ashamed to say, £450 of it has gone on the previously cleared egg card. So we now have another debt to tackle. :eek: I don't know how much we are going to be overdrawn by before next payday, but I think it might be quite a bit. Admittedly we didn't need to spend quite as much as we did - we probably could have done it cheaper, but I lost focus for a while and ended up spending too much.
Anyway, its done and we now need to work on clearing it again, starting with another car boot sale on Sunday - maybe - if I can muster-up the will to do so!

I also need to start ebaying but am stuck without a camera at the moment and can't afford to buy a new one. Urgh, I think I've hit my mid-debtfree-journey crisis!

Ok, let's look at the positives:

• I have already bought hubby's birthday pressies and a lot of what we need for his party next month. Also bought and wrapped all birthday pressies needed up until September - even have some Christmas presents bought already.
• A weekend away we can't get out of has already been paid for months ago and hubby has some money saved to pay for meals / drinks etc.
• We have loads of groceries in and don't need any shopping for a good while. We have fresh fruit, veg & salad growing in the garden which we're picking daily.

Urm... I think that's it.

I'm aware I'm losing the will to do this, and I need some real motivation to focus on clearing the rest of this debt. I'm really struggling to be honest, and need a kick up the bum..... or a windfall! Anyone have either? (Think I can guess which I'm more likely to get!).

Raini

*Kick up the bum* as requested!!

I think you're being too hard on yourself. It really isn't fun HAVING to wastch every penny & I've certainly lost motivation at times as I'm sure we all have!

BUT (and it's an important but) you admitted it & you're now back on track!

Yay you!! :T

debtfreesomeday

Thanks Raini, it was almost fun at first, or certainly inspiring - seeing how much we could save and setting ourselves challenges etc. but now it's becoming a real nuisance at times. Still, needs must I guess. :rolleyes:

debtfreesomeday

*Right*... in an attempt to get myself motivated again, I've taken inspiration from a few others on the boards (namely hypno!) and am going to keep a detailed DAILY spending diary on here for the month of July. I tried over the last couple of weeks but lost track and forgot what I'd spent by the time I logged in to record it. BUT, this is my project for July, so expect a shiny new spending diary entry from me tomorrow! I'm not including direct debits/ monthly household bills, but it shall include all other spending such as groceries, petrol and the rest which seems to be stolen by the purse fairies every month... we shall see how much is essential and how much I fritter away every month!

debtfreesomeday

Forgot to mention, I also cancelled my ww online membership the other day, saving me £10 a month.

debtfreesomeday

It's likely that there will be chance to do some overtime at work this weekend. As much as it pains me to do it, I really can't refuse in current debt-fighting status. It's a good payer - time and a half on Saturday and double time on Sunday; so I guess it's goodbye to my weekend (but hello to a little bit more money to throw at a debt!) :rolleyes:

wantabetterlife

Hi DFSD. I used to keep a spending diary aswell and couldnt believe how much i spent on eating out and takeaways- about £200- £300 per month:eek:. We have completely cut out takeaways but i still go for the odd lunch. Instead of going to a hotel for lunch and spending nearly £20 i now go to a nice trendy cafe and it costs about a fiver. This way i can still do what i like to do with my friends and i dont feel im missing out! Goodluck with the spending diary for July:D

debtfreesomeday

Thanks wantabetterlife, I'm sure it'll make me think twice too before the 'little' spends which seem to add up!

Well on a plus note, we just took another look at our bank account and worked out we're not as skint as I'd imagined we would be this month (which usually makes me think I've forgotten about some big payment due!!!). Anyhow, we worked out we can afford to make another small payment to the egg card, so I've paid £30 off for now and we may pay more at the end of the month if we have any money left.

debtfreesomeday

Not a good start to the month, or the spending diary: woke up in pain at 2.30am then 4am, gave in at 4.30am and dragged myself to the local 24 hour supermarket to get some pain relief and picked up bananas and household things we'd run out of.

Total spent:
£10.97, all quite necessary unfortunately.
£3.49 on a half price lampshade for our bedroom - which I didn't like when I got it home...
Total: £14.46

Don't plan on spending any more money today. Feeling quite rough so hoping my day at work goes really quickly today.

Raini

Hope you're OK DFSD? x