RMR's running away from debt diary

Sarahx

Oh well done. You're doing really well. Just remember - when your friends are doing all these activities they are probably getting into more debt for it, and your getting out of debt when saying no (they just wouldn't want to admit it!)

You seem to have your priorities in order and making good progress. I am motivated to be debt free this year, so keep up your inspirational posts it helps us all to keep going!!

Good luck xx

runmichellerun

Sarahx wrote: »

Oh well done. You're doing really well. Just remember - when your friends are doing all these activities they are probably getting into more debt for it, and your getting out of debt when saying no (they just wouldn't want to admit it!)

You seem to have your priorities in order and making good progress. I am motivated to be debt free this year, so keep up your inspirational posts it helps us all to keep going!!

Good luck xx

Thank you Sarah!! Yes, they may well be getting into debt. I suppose it's difficult to sit at home while friends are out all the time, but if I limit it to once a week then it's not too bad.

Oh!!! Just remembered. I got free tickets to slumdog millionnaire this Tuesday. How exciting?!

JoolzS

I don't know if this will help at all but many years ago I discovered that there is absolutely nothing new in any of the magazines. I used to be a bit of a collector and had every issue of Honey (no longer published) from the first issue. I even took those magazines from place to place whenever I moved. I also used to buy at least four or five glossies each month. One day, about 15 years ago (or maybe even longer), I decided it was ridiculous to be storing those old magazines so I decided to read through them one last time and then throw them away. I was very, very surprised to realise that the articles, problem pages, even the fashion, wasn't really that much different in a 20 year old magazine to a new magazine - I was basically just paying money to read recycled rubbish. From that point I cut my buying down to one or two glossies a month - Marie Claire and Cosmo were hard to give up - but once I had noticed the "recyclying" trend I could no longer *not* notice it and I stopped buying the final two magazines after a while.

I hadn't bought a copy of Marie Claire or Cosmo for about 10 years until about six months ago when I was ill and feeling very sorry for myself. I didn't feel up to reading books so my DH thought I might enjoy reading mags so he bought me a copy of MC and Cosmo. Once again, I was simply reading the same old articles.

I'm not saying they reprint things that were written 20 years ago - but in reality not a lot changes so the writers have nothing really new to write about.

If you have the space, and currently don't think you can completely wean yourself off the magazines, then may I suggest that you keep the ones you buy for a year. Then next year when you buy, or perhaps only consider buying, each magazine, dig out this year's copy and see just how similar they are.

Magazines are a strange little mental addiction - I still find myself drawn to them when I go into shops, but I now have a good reason to not buy them, so I don't.

Julie

tinypawz

OMG Julie


I am so going to be doing this....I have a little (read huge) magazine addiction. I have convinced myself the I am getting a good 'bargain' because I have subscriptions.

I did cancel these when ex first left and I literally didn't have the money to buy a tin of formula for lo:( .....although I have slowly re-set them up again. I have never actually thought of keeping them to re-read.

Thanks for the brilliant idea.

Shoe_Gal

Tiny Pawz/Joolz

Here I was thinking it's just me addicted to magazines!! I remember Honey too, and am now mourning the demise of Eve!

But no more - I have committed to buying no magazines in 2009! Have used my Nectar points for a subscription to Red but not sure how I'm going to manage - Tuesday won't be Tuesday without Closer!!!! :rotfl: I feel ridiculous just reading that!!!

Shoe Gal x

runmichellerun

I used to buy Heat every week. God knows how much money I spent on that magazine. Now I just look at their website for free and don't buy the mag ever. I have three magazine subscriptions but for some reason it just isn't enough. I get so drawn to the mag section in shops but enough really is enough.

I have about 10 books that I still haven't read yet so that's what I shall read instead of magazines.

Joolz, I'm sure you're absolutely right. I mean, how much new information can there really be in one month? I shall definitely be thinking about that when I get tempted at the magazine stand.

runmichellerun

Well, I still haven't bought a magazine this month. I also haven't bought clothes, and am being generally frugal with everything. I wanted to buy a book earlier, but resisted until I get paid in a week and a half. Also, I was invited out with some friends tonight and I resisted. Yes, I'm a sad loser at home alone on a Friday, but at least I'm living within my means. And it's not forever.

I only have about £15 to last me until I get paid next, so that's a bit of a worry. But I only have to feed me, and am surviving on uncle bens rice with some bacon mixed in. Not necessarily as nutritious as I should be, but it fills me up and I'm not a fruit and veg kinda girl anyway.

I also have some bits listed on ebay and will get at least £10 from those. Something extra for my £10 a day challenge which I am failing at quite miserably.

I just don't have the motivation to take pictures of all my ebay 'to-list' items and write descriptions of them all. I think I might do one a day. Actually, I will get off my fat @rse and do one now...

Bowski_1011

runmichellerun wrote: »

I think I might do one a day. Actually, I will get off my fat @rse and do one now...

Did you do it??

I know what you mean... I just cannot get into it either :mad:

runmichellerun

Bowski_1011 wrote: »

Did you do it??

I know what you mean... I just cannot get into it either :mad:

Actually, I took pictures of all the clothes I have to sell. So I did more than 1 :j But I haven't written descriptions with them yet, or put them on ebay. One thing at a time I suppose.

Why is it so difficult to do it? I hate the packaging up and posting of things too.

I must try and focus on those lovely pounds being in my bank account one morning

Floxxie

Why don't you come and join our eBay challenge? I hate eBay but there's plenty of people who will keep you motivated.....it's somewhere on this board....

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1211517

(hope that works)

Good luck!

Floxxie