Yet another DFW!! 21 months and counting!!

KPR11

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Um, are you really quitting???

I did for those few hours and then had withdrawal symptoms so came back.

I have listed the whole thing on a DFW nearly quit and then had a change of heart if you want to read (I wouldn't recommend it!)

KPR11

Evening friends!

It has been a while since I have been on here, loads going on in my life atm but still trying to make my way to my DFD.

As I mentioned in my other post (when I came very close to quitting, in hindsight I am glad I didn't) I spent a fair bit of money in April and still doing that in May mostly on coffees and take aways (as I study in a coffee house and I don't get home till quite late so end up buying something to eat)

BUT

I have also managed to keep on top of my debt. I believe according to my target I should have repaid c£1,420 of my debt by the end of April, I have exceeded that by over £100 and I have also managed to save £127 as part of my £365/365 day challenge. I have also been able to absord a hefty dental bill thanks to my emergency fund that I had included in my SOA (and also the house deposit that I got back, which was also used to partially fund the pressies).

The only thing that I really need to do is get a pair of work shoes, I still haven't replaced them from last time - been super gluing them but I think that is not going to work any more:o

Oh well, enough of my ranting! (Please tell me how did you manage to read the whole post? I know for a fact that I would have been super bored by the time I finished reading it)

psychopathbabble

Your post really wasn't that long. Well done though!!!! I think you can treat yourself to some work shoes.

KPR11

Time for another quick update, crossed the £2k mark

Still trying to keep my head above water and pay off my debts. It's rather slow progress. It started off as a sprint, expected it to continue being a sprint which didn't happen - got disheartened and nearly gave up but luckily didn't. I have finally managed to make myself realise that it is more likely to be a marathon than a sprint. I have also realised there will be months when it will be a sprint like the first couple of months, there will be other months when it will be a jog or even a walk or in the worse case will have to take a break to catch my breathe! What matters the most is the finishing line - being debt free (the debt free date is merely a target to keep me focused).

Still studying at Nero, managed to restrict myself to mostly a tea a day (I think this is the cheapest thing on the menu) and try to eat at home as often as I can!

Though I hardly post [have become a lurker now - never thought I would confess], I am still undertaking the things that I started namely PADs (more like a PAW for me but keeps me going) and £365/365 challenge (I seem to be making majority of my payments by card - to keep track of my spending, so hardly have cash so when I do spend cash I just bung any change left over under £10 and an occassional £10).

This is highly, highly embarrassing but I thought I would confess anyway, I still have not bought a new pair of work shoes - still trying to get away with super gluing the old totally worn out pair! Luckily I am on study at the moment and not visiting clients so can make it stretch a bit more but I know I will have to fork out for a pair in a couple of weeks

psychopathbabble

KPR11 wrote: »

Time for another quick update, crossed the £2k mark

Still trying to keep my head above water and pay off my debts. It's rather slow progress. It started off as a sprint, expected it to continue being a sprint which didn't happen - got disheartened and nearly gave up but luckily didn't. I have finally managed to make myself realise that it is more likely to be a marathon than a sprint. I have also realised there will be months when it will be a sprint like the first couple of months, there will be other months when it will be a jog or even a walk or in the worse case will have to take a break to catch my breathe! What matters the most is the finishing line - being debt free (the debt free date is merely a target to keep me focused).

Still studying at Nero, managed to restrict myself to mostly a tea a day (I think this is the cheapest thing on the menu) and try to eat at home as often as I can!

Though I hardly post [have become a lurker now - never thought I would confess], I am still undertaking the things that I started namely PADs (more like a PAW for me but keeps me going) and £365/365 challenge (I seem to be making majority of my payments by card - to keep track of my spending, so hardly have cash so when I do spend cash I just bung any change left over under £10 and an occassional £10).

This is highly, highly embarrassing but I thought I would confess anyway, I still have not bought a new pair of work shoes - still trying to get away with super gluing the old totally worn out pair! Luckily I am on study at the moment and not visiting clients so can make it stretch a bit more but I know I will have to fork out for a pair in a couple of weeks

Well done KPR.... I've missed your posts

Seriously, it might be time to treat yourself to a pair of work shoes..... you have done really well in getting over the 2k mark! :T:T

It's funny how it's you motivating me to keep going now.... I know you are right, it's a marathon not a sprint, but I'm just lacking conviction at the moment... I'm impatient to see those figures dropped and accounts closing!!

KPR11

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Well done KPR.... I've missed your posts

Seriously, it might be time to treat yourself to a pair of work shoes..... you have done really well in getting over the 2k mark! :T:T

It's funny how it's you motivating me to keep going now.... I know you are right, it's a marathon not a sprint, but I'm just lacking conviction at the moment... I'm impatient to see those figures dropped and accounts closing!!

I will try to make more frequent posts after the exams!

I will be treating myself to a pair after my exams! Hoping sale will have started by then (heard summer sales start end of june)!

It's all about expectation management, the more I read on here the more depressed I became and was pushing myself to the limit. It was not realistic at all (for me anyway). I know some people can live a real frugal life but that's not me. I might get stoned to death for saying this, I like having a life and am not going to give up on it (so long as I am living within my means) or damage my mental well being so I can pay off my debts a bit sooner!

The way I look at it now is that so long as my debt is coming down albeit at a slow pace I am doing well, the last thing I want is to snap again and actually quit this time or pile up more debt.

You are doing exceptionally well and have made a lot of compromises, just remember that a happy and healthy you will result in debt being repaid quicker and more importantly be a lot cheaper in the long run! There is a reason why they say that money can't buy you health and/or happiness! :cool:

psychopathbabble

Very true KPR... we are very wise sometimes..... :rotfl:

That is why I'm still doing things, if I was properly frugal then I'd say no and do nothing all the time, but I would just be seriously depressed again and I'm not going down that road.

Anyway, good work!! Say hello a bit more often:)

KPR11

I can not believe I have not posted for a long, long time!


For whoever cares, I got my results on Friday and passed all of them!!! :j As a reward I get to do more exams which are even harder than the last lot - studying starts in 5 weeks, I have to get myself prepared for it by doing a whole load of pre-course reading (3 of the fattest books I have ever seen plus the leg)!! oh well! It will be over soon!!

Considering this is a MSE / Debt bust thread, I may as well give an update I have just crossed the £2,500 mark! Can you believe it!! Now I only owe less than £6,000!!

I am also very close to having saved £200 as part of my £365/365

I still haven't bought the shoes, saw some nice ones but are quite expensive so am holding fire. I went out a fair bit after the exam so spent a lot of money (I will be on study soon and will hardly have a life again so thought may as well make the most of it, if it counts as an excuse), will try and save up this month for the shoes.

Am hoping to cross the £3,000 by the end of the month / in a months time. That will mean I will have made the usual repayments and potentially cleared the OD!!! Happy days!

savingholmes

hi kpr - glad you didn't quit. You sound like you are making good progress to me. I think the secret with these boards is to take what you can learn from others, and try and apply some of that motivation in your own life, but stay at a pace you can go with long term. There have been times when I have full steamed ahead, others when I have just trod water and yet others when I have gone backwards. Hopefully next will come full speed ahead - but I have still allowed some slack in my budget for holiday, gifts, hair and a monthly family treat. I think not doing that makes it like dieting - you starve yourself then pig out which is pointless

KPR11

Hi Savingholmes,

Thanks for the motivation - it really is appreciated.

When I joined I was more than gung ho and all pumped up to take the bull by the horns, which I did and still do. However, as time progressed I realised that for some frugal living is almost a religion to some whilst others are way too inspired on their debt busting mission that any spare money that does not go towards debt busting is frowned upon. This was quite depressing

I did not quite appreciate that I had to find my own pace and as such got frustrated. I have now learnt the secret the hard way, and as such I have become more of a lurker now. I must also admit that though I read the DFW board on a daily basis, I prefer to spend more time on the savings / investing board as I feel that it inspires me to want to get to that stage - if that makes sense!

I do owe all the MSEs particularly the ones on DFW and S/I a debt of gratitude as they have made me realise the importance of living within ones own means. I still spend money, far more than I should but the aim is always to save something and never to exceed my income even if the credit card is interest free.

I really like your idea of having slack in your budget for things like holidays, treats etc - to me that is the ultimate aim, have a budget which incorporates savings, regular monthly expenses, irregular expenses, and treats etc (hopefully saving from these treats). Thanks for the motivation, you a star!