Please give me a virtual slap!!

Sea78

HI all,

Back at the end of March I had my lightbulb moment. At least I thought I did. Throughout April I was FANTASTIC,:D sticking to a budget, grocey challenge, questionning every expense, selling things on Amazon and ebay etc. got all my finances in order, began to put little amounts as and when into credit cards etc.

However, for some stupid reason, I did feel I had less to spend than before (obviously!! I wasn't spending my money, it was the banks/credit cards etc). I seem to have hit a wall in the last 2 weeks and have been spending again on stupid things like magazines, grocery planning and budget out the window. Even used cc once :mad: At least I have carried on savings for council tax, christmas etc.

I got ill, so wasn't able to do anything, I'm better now but jsut feel so exhausted all the time. Need to snap out of it. I'm finding it hard to squash the feelings of envy and jealousey I have towards others in ohs family, who don't seem to work that hard, but have fallen on their feet, yesterday paid himself £10,000 for the month. Then I really don't like myself for having these feelings as I know it's more important to have a good relationship, happy family and kids than the money.

Sorry this is just a self indulgent moan. Feeling out of control with everything, even my eating has gone bananas - having binges again which haven't had for a very long time.

Am annoyed with myself just in this post and really hope that someone can tell me that this happens, but that I'll get back on track. Otherwise please just give me a big virtual slap and tell me to get back on it!!!

Thanks for reading!

Sea xx

Ali-OK

I think ((hugs)) are better than a slap!

It's often 2 steps forward then 1 step back - the important thing is you want to get back on track (ooh that rhymes! :rotfl: )

It's not easy when you've people around you with lots of money or new things, so well done for keeping the harmony with the rellies.

The important thing is that you already know where things went wrong...so you can easily put them right going forward.

Hope you're soon feeling well and on tops of things again - then the budget won't seem such a chore (hopefully!).

wanna-be-mortgage-free_2

I know exactly where you are and where you are coming from. It's such hard work keeping on track. Just look on it as a blip, don't dwell on it it's over and done with, pick yourself up and start afresh tomorrow. Just take each day as it comes. That's the only way I can do it. Just look at how far you have come already - it's fantastic how much you've paid off your debt to date :T Break your debt up and set yourself little targets rather than focusing on the whole amount, and then tick each target off as you reach it - it's a fantastic feeling.

Take care and keep posting and reading, there are plenty of people here that know what you're going through and who will give you as much support as they can.

homersimpson_3

Don't beat yourself up over it- you'll have good days and bad days.
Money saving can be great some times and you'll be full of ethusiasum. At other times you'll feel bored, jealous, resentful & fed up. Ethusiasum for money saving also depends on other priorities in life- sometimes your focus will be/has to be elsewhere and you won't care less about it. Today I'm full of money saving- at end of last week I couldn't be bothered- you can have too much of it and sometimes need a break. every now & then give yourself a day off- go to greggs & buy a pasty and cream cake (or whatever)- just try and limit the damage when you feel like this.

beanielou

Good thiing is that you know where you've gone wrong.
Its hard going and I imagine most of us find it really hard at times so you are not alone.

kuohu

I guess there are a lot of difficult steps to overcome being a DFW. The initial changes are hard, changing habits and everything. Although at that stage there's lots of support and everything, so maybe it makes it easier.

The real hard work, I think, is sticking at it for the long haul. Carrying on with the tight budget when you are doing it just for yourself and without the support you may have had at the beginning.

Good luck getting back on track, and I think it was a good (brave) move posting on here and admitting the bad choices you have made.

Best wishes.

Nick

lynzpower

I know exactly how you feel. I came in on a massive flourish,and things seem to have petered out a bit. Realised this morning, I havent looked at quidco for a couple of weeks, and I can barely close my cupbards as I went out with a 25 budget for the weekly shop and I spent 45! So I just feel like im off the wagon a bit. Thing is I feel a bit "richer" now than before, and even when I have budgeted money for stuff I feel like Im cheating or failing. I have a loose 20 a month budget for clothes, and I bought 2 tops for a fiver each and a skirt for a tenner at the FCUK warehouse sale and I feel like Ive gone a bit mad.

I think I need to have a self-imposed week of living on a tenner for the whole week, just to feel a bit more "on the ball"

Sorry not sure if that makes sense, It doenst really make much sense to me

Sea78

Thanks everyone...you've made me feel better but I just have to get back on track now and stop spendng ebay profits back on ebay!!

I feel guilty about spending anything(so I see what you mean lynzpower!), which then means I have broken out of that I think. I just need to pull it all back together again. Might revisit my SOA and do FULL spending diary for June to see where money is going. Hopefully some more things will sell on amazon and ebay...also must contact paypal with marriage certificate as then I can transfer money into my bank. Can't at the mo as it's still in my maiden name - convieniently forgotten to do that!!

Sea xx

minnie_the_mooch

((Sea))

oops_a_daisy

Hi Sea78 - its not a slap you need but a bit of support and you will get that here :grouphug: I must admit I have bit a bit naughty over the last couple of weeks - havent gone mad but my budgeting has started to go out of the window and old habits are creeping back in. I guess the good thing is that you can always make a new start tomorrow but at least you know where you are going wrong and with the knowledge gained from here you will succeed. Dont beat yourself up about it - stay positive. All the best and good luck

scottishspendaholic

What a chord this post strikes with me - Sea, Lynz, Oops and others - I feel exactly the same - I know what I need to do, I know how to do it - its just keeping up that motivation 100% - 7 days a week.

I've been so careless with money recently. I've not gone bonkers - just the odd £10 here and there, but you know how that mounts up and I just don't seem to have the motivation and need the DFW fire in my belly back!

So, how about it? Tomorrow is a new week, new DFW goals, Sunday, fresh start - we all have a good sleep tonight and start afresh tomorrow in whatever way works for us. For me, its going to be starting a spending diary again, counting no spend days, batch cooking, eating sensibly and trying to maximise my income amongst other things.

Anyone care to join me in a FRESH START to DFW?

scottishspendaholic x