How has your lightbuld moment changed you?

Toto

I was thinking today how wasteful I used to be. My lightbulb moment actually came a long time ago, long before I came to this site (still waiting for OHs). My most recent debts weren't developed through overspending as such (maybe a little) mostly through business hard times.

But previously I was shocking, I mean I am actually embarrassed to admit some of it. But I will share.

I used to use 2 tea bags in a cup of tea because I like it strong and frankly was too impatient to wait for it to brew a bit longer.

I used to go to the supermarket, spend about £120 for a weeks shopping, then get a takeaway that night, half of the food (no kidding) would end up in the bin the next week.

I used to impulse buy for England, on clothes, online, you name it, but I never got around to taking/sending things back if they didn't fit or weren't right. I would find bags of clothes in my wardrobes that were supposed to be taken back but never got there, so they ended up in charity shops.

I would impulse buy something in a sale at say for example a £30 reduction, then think I had saved myself £30 so I could spend that on something else.

Unbelievable and crazy to me now. I am such a totally different person, bordering on penny pinching. I haven’t bought any new clothes in over a year, I don’t need any. I rarely throw any food away. 1 tea bag lol. Every time I think of impulse buying something I imagine seeing my kids on holiday (something we haven’t done in 4 years) and that stops me dead. We don’t have sky, we don’t have luxuries and sometimes it is tough going, but I wasn’t any happier then. Shame I still have the debt though Grrr!:mad:

keith_lard

Think in your new ways your Debt will disappear faster than you think!
I have totally changed, I was kinda like yourself , SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.

I walk past Currys, Comet and all other shops I used to go in and spend with out a care!

Now I get a real 'kick' out of saving money!!!!

Buy a New PC!!! EEErrrr NO!!
Learn to build your own, get the parts of Ebay (very Cheap) get a used system for under £140, but then again a PC does not make the tea and I dont eat them.

So will stick with the one I have!!!

HEY that £140 saved!!!!


Hee Hee


k.

lynzpower

How has your lightbuld moment changed you?

Short answer- beyond all recognition

Toto

oops lol, obviously didn't help my touch typing skills any!

zombiecazz

I had my light bulb moment ages ago. I knew that we don't earn enough money and our bills almost exactly match our earnings. What has changed me is the mixture of DFW and this site.
Listening and learning I have had the back-up and incentive to push things that I would have not done before.
I have always looked for the best deals on things like insurance etc, but the other day I found a great deal on car insurance, but then managed to haggle (using advise from here) my present insurer to give me the same price, plus a £20 voucher for ASDA (Woopee!! That's where I'm getting my groceries this week)
My washing machine recently broke down 10 days outside my year warrenty, with the knowledge and evidence from this site I managed to get agreement from my washing machine supplier that they would still cover the costs of the repair (good old Sale of Goods Act).
I now won't let anyone push me or prod me into decisions about purchases, money debts etc without looking here first.
I've been old style for a long time, but still spent far to much on food. Mainly through lack of organisation and not planning ahead. Now I plan ahead and don't overbuy.

Plus I've been dabbling in matched betting, a whole new hobbies that makes me a little money on the side. Didn't think that was possible.

Sorry about the ramble:D but I just wanted to say I've changed, but only because of the amount free information that I have gained here

Kevicho

I used to be an emo kid, now i never get bullied or even cry!

**Disclaimer - the comments of this post may not reflect my real history or be truthful in any way***

duncans-mum_2

As I am still quite new into my journey, I am at the moment very obsessive about money. I am always thinking about it. Yes thats good cos I can talk myself out of things that i don't really need, but I also get very frustrated because I don't feel like its going down quick enough and get a bit stressed with it all.

OberonSH

I was going through my old bank statements or my charges, and was absolutely horrified at the sheer amount of '£35 - local indian', '£15 quiksave' - the little bits that add up. Although I do say that a lot of this was The Creep From Pluto, I didn't do anything to stop him. I did once get The Moneysaving Diet, but he laughed at me for 'my new fad'. Once he left, and I was able to make my own decisions about money, I'm an absolute addict! I love telling people how little DD and I live on.

I'm having to start not putting my lappy adaptor in again, as I'm spending far too much time on here and not getting my chores or the ebaying done. I've been waiting impatiently for the fabric softener to run out so I can try the vinegar.

I need to get out more.

wigginsmum

For me, it was the recognition that approaching 40 and with a family and mortgage, I was still living the carefree life I did 15 years ago and whacking everything on credit. And if I carried on, I'd still have that level of debt at retirement age! And no-one could change that but me.

I get a real kick out of researching MS things now and updating my spreadsheet. And I have a newfound enthusiasm for homecooking whereas before I always felt too tired after work so we'd spend £15 on a takeaway several times a week. Yesterday I made pizza for £2 and it was just as nice as Pizza Hut.

jessicamb

I'm a much savvier shopper now - its not a bargain unless I can get real discounts - & starting to get into e-bay/amazon selling too.

Stardrops cleans everything

I'm not happy unless I can get a couple of freebies a week.

Know to the penny what is (not) in the bank.

postingalwaysposting

seeing as my lightbulb momment was small and my debt free day was so soon i still learned loads well i have got rid of my credit cards (well the last one will be gone once the statement comes through). I never go on online shopping sites only ebay or if i need to find the lowest price for something. I make sure all my bills are paid before i even attempt to spend any of my 'own' money. finally i sleep on any purchase that i am not sure about and in the morning i dont want it :j but i must say i wouldnt have been able to get there if it wasnt for all you lot