Well here I am chapter 1-ADDICTED TO REPEATING THE SAME PATTERN!

willow41

Where do I start.
Growing up was very difficult financially. There was never enough money within our family. No extended family for help either. Dad never worked.. :mad: died when I was 13 - mum didn't even have enough to bury him so the pattern begins!
At college was always the one who had no money for coffee, trendy clothes, cigarettes (in those days) and so on. The one that always had to say, "sorry I can't"...
First bounced cheque - 18 yrs old
Moved into first flat (thought I was all grown up and independent) got behind with rent...Always paid it in the end.
Circle of friends had great paying jobs, bought nice car, went out to fancy restaurants, holidays abroad etc....
I just became more and more stuck. Afraid to do the things I really wanted to do. Money held me back. Well thats what my excuse was.( If you get my meaning)
Always worked very hard at whatever it was I was doing at the time, studied, studied and more study but it didn't really get me anywhere. Didn't quite make it??:rolleyes:

Writing it all down tells me that I've felt sorry for myself for too long???
Until next time.

[Deleted User]

Hi Willow,

Welcome to the boards, they are a friendly lot here.

Tea
x

penguin83

Hi Willow - welcome to DFW and your shiny new diary.

Good luck with your journey, now is the time to break the cycle

x x x x x

EssexHebridean

Welcome Willow. Looks like you know the real problem - and with that knowledge comes the ability to change your behaviour and take control of your finances. I have every sympathy - until last year I was rather the same - constantly worried about finances and with that shadow hanging over my head of "I'm not the sort of person who understands about taking control of my finances..." - well I can tell you that situation can be changed. Take it a step at a time, ask for help on here when you need it, and in a years time you'll not recognise the person you've become. Someone on here recently described me as being "really organised with money" and once I'd stopped thinking she was taking the mickey I had the sudden realisation that she was right - I am, now, and what's more, I like it!

boredofbeingathome

What EH says^^^^^^^^.

Good luck with your journey Willow.

willow41

Thanks all xxxxxxxxx

chevalier

well done on realising there is a problem. some people never do. well done on posting on here too. We are a helpful bunch pretty much

If you get together all of your paperwork and do a Statement of Affairs (SOA), i am sure that there is things we can suggest to you to decrease your expenditure or up your income. Good luck with the journey it will be tricky at times, but we will be there to support you
chev

fabfuture

Welcome Willow41 and good luck with your diary. It's easy to slip into bad spending habits, but once you start thinking in a MSE way, there is a way to turn around the oil tanker (that's the way I think of my debts). It's just going to take a while. Hope you manage to change your spending and saving way.