Peer Pressure!

yummum_3

I just wanted to express my views to people who understand!!! You great money saving lot out there. Don't you just feel alone sometimes in your great money saving plans? My husband and I read martins book and since January have really put so many things into practice. We have made great achievements. ie.. trans our cc debt(£1,700) on a 0% cc and paid alot of it of (£670 left) reduced our weekly shop from £70-£80 to £40... changed suppliers, use reusable nappies and many more. We have really worked hard and felt great satisfaction. BUT! All the newness of money saving is wearing of in amongst the association of non-moneysavers. When others make you feel you must use certain brands. Or when everyone seems to have sky + and two cars. Its not that these things are wrong its just the peer pressure of having them because its the norm, yet we can't actually afford them. We both know we are doing so well paying off our last bit of debt to be debt free AND not getting anymore debt which we would have if we hadn't found this site. Its just difficult to keep it going and not just ruin all our hard work.

newleaf

Don't worry, your non money saving friends have probably got all their stuff on credit and don't actually 'own' any of it! You stick to your guns and watch those numbers tumble. I guarantee you'll have the last laugh.

yummum_3

thanks newleaf. Keep up your good work too! My OH was saying today how in 6 months time we will be so much better off (not rich but debt free!), and I know its true its just trying to keep positive. Its so easy to get trapped into thinking that things and stuff will result in a perfect life and thats what all the peer pressure is about. Never mind other people its everywhere, and after reading what martin says you can see so clearly how advertisements and retailers trap you into spending money. Will keep going and have the last laugh!

Slayerx

Have to agree I sometimes feel bad for example I dont buy new clothes all the time like a lot of my friends do and It can make you feel kind of embarrased as you tend to be seen in the same outfits etc.

At the end of the day though im not blowing my money on things I dont need as the clothes I have are fine and im saving money by not buying something I dont really need.

Lewby

I think it's called 'keeping up with the Jones's (no offence to anyone called Jones) and I believe that this desire to keep up appearances is what has led to the majority of people's debt.

Kids can cause some of this with their 'but so and so has got one' and it takes a very strong parent to say no. I think it's the same with cars, holidays, sky and all of the other 'visible' staus symbols .... but as newleaf said, they don't own most of it and are they really happy?

We have friends who have ridiculous mortgages, 2 car loans, a holiday last year that they still haven't paid for and lots of credit card bills that they ignore. At least we are the one who have faced up to it and have made the decision that we want to be DFW's!!!!

The pleasure that I will get in saving for something, buying it with cash and knowing it is mine ... I am dreaming of it!

Keep posting on here, getting confirmation that you are doing the right thing and celebrating every debt free milestone. Peer pressure is hard to resist but I sleep much better at night now in knowing my debt is reducing and knowing I am in control. Keep up your good work.

Lewby xx

In_Search_Of_Me

One think I've realised being DFW is that I dont actually need alot of what I had previously...the hundreds I spent on things like body lotion (£38 for one bottle...how much!) mean nothing to me now (except shock that I actually spent that much on something that is still sitting there!) and much of my stuff is on ebay! It can be hard when others are having luxurious hols etc but its just money down the drain & when you dont have the money that becomes a drain!! I much prefer myDFW way of life; a treat is now a treat and something I appreciate; I am in control of my money and that has a postive impact on other areas of my life...you just keep it up with the realisation taht when you're debt free you wont be giving your well earned dosh to the bank anymore!!

bargainbetty

Hey, we are your peers too - if you bow to peer pressure, then stick with DFW! :rotfl:

OberonSH

With you being DFW's, I'm assuming that you've got rid of sky, 2nd car etc. Can you say you miss them? Do you sit there at night and think, 'my god, my life just isn't complete without 500 channels of rubbish being beamed into my home!!'. I bet the answer is no.

Sometimes I feel odd for not being able to buy my DD loads of new clothes and toys, but a customer said to me today that kids don't rememeber the dust, or the clothes - just the time you spent with them, and that made me feel like I'm doing the right thing. When I'm Debt Free I want to take my daughter on holiday so we can make some memories, not dress her up in silly designer clothes, or buy her the latest toys. She's happiest with a box and I'm not rushing around trying to stop her getting her £40 outfit dirty!

homersimpson_3

When others make you feel you must use certain brands. Or when everyone seems to have sky + and two cars. Its not that these things are wrong its just the peer pressure of having them because its the norm, yet we can't actually afford them.

there's a thread on mse about alot of cheaper and branded items being one and the same thing- different packaging. alot of people who have sky don't watch half of the stuff they actually pay for?. these people are effectively being ripped off. it's people like them which lead to huge companies making billions of pounds of profits each year. the money can stay in my bank account rather than theirs thanks. when you get out of debt you can perharps buy 2 cars (if you want?) but at least they'll be yours and not belong to hp co. i've seen countless tv programmes where people buy the sporty car and then have it repossessed. what a waste of money- they've paid out thousands and damaged credit record for what? a few months driving around in a car!

StefanPaetow

!!!!!! peer pressure. I always get funny looks when I point out that I don't have a TV, no Sky+, no TV license, no Freeview. I don't buy at FCUK or NEXT, I don't bother with a lot of things that are probably considered necessities by others.

I have the Internet. It gives me news. I have a DVD rental service that gives me entertainment. What more do I want?

Don't get pressured into anything. If they can't live with you being prudent, then that's their problem.



Stefan

calleyw

I also don't have a TV by choice and would never inflict that on anyone else. As it is each to their own.

If you know that you friends will give you funny looks when you mention do X and Y. Easy don't tell them.

Live your life the way you want to not the way other people want you to.

Life is to short to worry what others think.


Enjoy yourself.


Take care.


Yours


Calley