i need a telling off and a kick up the bum please

Charlie2301

Hi Marie
Don't worry about feeling sorry for yourself. I get like that all the time and had a relapse last week when a local shop had a sale and I 'had' to have the bargains! However, when I got home I felt so awful about letting myself down that I took them all back at the weekend Whenever I get like that I sit in my house and feel lucky that Ive got a lovely roof over my head and a fabulous son and no amount of purchases will make me feel better!!
At least you know where you are going wrong so should be able to do something about it before you go down that road again!!!
Kick completed - keep up the good work
C xx

Casual

My friend who sturggles to control her spending gave me her debit card. We spend a lot of time together so it works out fine. I give her 'pocket money' at the start of the week and then she manages her spending accordingly. I know by using the phrase pocket money it sounds a little childlike but it really isn't. She just likes knowing what she can spend and what is a waste. Handing over a £20 in a shop is very different to just putting your PIN in some machine. She never appreciated the value of it otherwise.

Oh, and if you do need to splurge then go shopping at Primark or something. I love the place, a fab new top for a couple of pounds really cheers me up. I make my own lunch for work everyday and then if I buy a top at the weekend I don't feel guilty at all!

Good luck Marie!

AMILLIONDOLLARS

You've still got to pay off £60,577.99!!!!




you can't pay off this debt if you keep on spending

Has this done the trick!!!!:D

queenofthedump

Thank you amilliondollars yes i think that has done the trick

library_lady_2

I think I had a light bulb moment recently, with secret debts of £15,000 and a low income it occured to me that I treat money like food and economising like dieting, for instance have money (food) will spend (eat) and deny myself money (food) and desire it more. Therefore commonsense tells me that a sensible financial plan is all that is needed and a little if what you fancy does you good. Whilst I recognise the ethos of this board is throw everything at your debt which makes perfect sense and is cheaper, allow yourself to still "have a life" and a little treat now and again. That way spending sensibly becomes a way of life instead of a crash diet and swifter slip back into old spending ways. Don't beat yourself up - you can and will do it!! Hope this makes sense.

Reya

That's a brilliant way of thinking about it, library lady!

D&DD

Hi marie firstly even though you want me to kick your butt I'm still going to tell you you are doing so well Your great threads have given me no end of laughs on here and I'm sad to know you're finding it tough today.Theres plenty of us around to pick you up again so do post when you're feeling hacked off (rather than go shopping :rotfl: ) I'm in this for the long haul too and still get days when I want to splurge..old habits eh? But I find coming on here posting like you have done normally sets me straight and back on track.I found by sorting out my budget (eventually) I do have a little spare now some weeks,even if it's only a couple of quid for a mag its a good pickmeup and I appreciate it more now as its a 'treat'.Don't be too harsh on yourself as someone said you do need a life still and there are ways you can have fun without having to spend

moongarden

check out the freebies board and enter some free online competitions - i sometimes do that to cheer myself up. i got some lovely product samples this morning completely free.

also do you have a reward system in place for yourself? i have a planned reward at the end of each quarter so rather than fritter £35 a month on "stuff to cheer me up" i am going to spend carefully £100 on something i really want like an mp3 player or whatever. (i'll make sure i research it on here first to get the best deal)

also i have a budget of £200 a month for food and petrol but every so often if i have managed to save any of that by the end of the month i spend that on myself too.
bought a pair of jeans in a sale yesterday (60 down to 25) still got £8 left and get paid tomorrow so going to treat myself to a takeaway tonight as a reward for spending 90 mins doing my financial "homework"/budget stuff.

check the other boards on here for free "cheer you up" stuff as well

Murtle

hi Marie, great advice for you here, and I hope you are feeling more cheery now. However, I like the idea of entering lots of competions, takes your time up and you never know what you might win!!

You do have some way to go, but the desire is there and it seems to be paying off, so rather then spend come and groan and mumble on here instead.

What kind of things are you buying at the moment? list them up and we'll see if we can find alternatives for you!!!

x x x