Looking on the bright side...

In_Search_Of_Me

Thought it would be good to have a thread that looks at the positives of becoming debt free for those days when the going is tough! So far for me these are (a) Feeling in control of my spending rather than it controlling me (b) Finding out who your supporters are (c) Becoming part of this community & knowing that I am not alone, therefore making me more determined & giving me the conviction that I can do it (d) Finding a new focus (that isnt shopping!) (e) Starting to enjoy the simple things in life again like clean sheets, watching my pennies grow, the joy of reaching a goal (paid my first credit card off today & skipped around the kitchen!!)...
So come on friends share your highs and hopefully spread a little sunshine & inspiration along the way....:smileyhea

Hobsch

A Great Idea.

So far for me finding this site and being able to share thoughts, experiences, ideas etc. with people in a similar situation is great. Being able to list my current status is giving me focus and incentive to clear my debt.

I feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me and I cannot wait to be debt free. Gonna start ebaying to get some extra cash in. Today put 23p in my money box (found 8p down the sofa and 6p outside walking the dogs) and even that feels great. If I could do that every day thats £83.29 for the year put in the box.

For me now there are positives rather than negetives!

In_Search_Of_Me

Noone else want to play?!!

tesuhoha

Just the feeling that your money is all your own. Knowing that it is for you to do as you please and not see it disappearing to pay off some debt that you no longer remember what you had for it.

domestic_goddess

I am new to this site - well new to posting, but have been a regular reading everyone elses posts for a few weeks. I am looking forward to gettingto know everyone as there is a real community spirit here. I am enjoying my quest to become debt free as I feel in control. For years I have not looked at my bank statements for weeks after they have come and I have opened them feeling sick. Now even though they dont read that much better (yet!) i open them straight away and dont feel sick as I have faced it. That may sound silly but to me that is a big thing.
Also I love thinking of ways to save money and what I am going to feel like when I am debt free.

tesuhoha

Thats what im looking forward to by the way. I'm not in that position yet.

Ali-OK

Yes, I'd like to play! :rotfl:

So many things...where to start!

Meeting others in the same situation and supporting each other, which in turn has 'lifted' me and knowing you're not the only one. Learning so much about money, being in control of it. Earning money through things like Quidco. Realising that "inclusive" deals (like contract mobiles and bank accounts that charge) aren't value for money for me.

Moving from the thrill I used to get from shopping, to the thrill of the challenges of money-saving and bargain hunting. Sad, but true!

Spending more time and getting enjoyment from things like gardening and walking.

I guess my motto now is...Making money work for me, rather than Spend today, worry tomorrow.

ms_london

Because I am saving I sometimes forget that I am debt free. Doh!! I do feel as though a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders - even when the debt was under control it was still there. It means that I have more choices open to me, where I want to live, what I want to do for a job - it means I can make decisions without it all boiling down to money. And of course I am going travelling so thats something fantastic to look forward to - and a HUGE motivating factor as to why I wanted to be debt free as soon as possible....

Just having your finances under control is a huge relief in itself. You are all taking positive steps to sort out your life, I know it is a struggle but you should be proud of yourself. Being in debt wont last forever and soon the money will be yours to spend/save as you like!! Dont try and run before you can walk. If you've spent years running up the debt you are not going to be able to live within/below your means overnight - it does take time!!

Best of luck to you all.

xx

joseph_2

Hey fishface,

"(e) Starting to enjoy the simple things in life again like clean sheets,"

I know theres extreme ways to becoming debt free but not doing any washing.......

only joking

Joseph

In_Search_Of_Me

PMSL (!!!!!! myself laughing!)...I do wash the sheets regularly ta muchly what I meant was before I forgot how nice the little things are..smell of homemade bread etc!! What are you like eh! If you think thats extreme go to the entreme money saving tips, the one about loo paper is particularly gross and as for resuisable tampax....!!!

joseph wrote:

Hey fishface,

"(e) Starting to enjoy the simple things in life again like clean sheets,"

I know theres extreme ways to becoming debt free but not doing any washing.......

only joking

Joseph

OberonSH

I want to be able to teach my daughter that putting it on the plastic is not a good way of doing things (unless of course you can afford to pay it off at the end of the month and you're following one of Martin's screw-em-right-back tips) I also want to know that I don't owe anyone any money, and that when I by something it's mine.

I'm enjoying the challenge of seeing how little we can live on in this 'you must have all this stuff to be happy' culture, and showing my soon to be ex husband how well we can do without him bleeding me dry.