How to balance becoming debt-free with having a life??

determined_new_ms

Thriftyknickers wrote: »

Try this for a free swim - http://www.britishgas.co.uk/about-british-gas/british-swimming/free-swim.html I've read on another forum that you don't have to be a British Gas customer.

Thanks for this, I just signed up with BG and there's a pool near my work. I love swimming but am a member of a gym so been going there - i know a gym memership isn't MS but but I'm tied into it until August so can't bring myself to pay for swimming until then

Also op try http://www.thinqfitness.com/video.asp?s4rr=E for free exercise tutorials

Nottoobadyet

I know how you feel! I think its all about priorities. If you try to do everything on your wish list all at once (new clothes! new shoes! driving lessons! new car!) you'll end up spending lots of money and probubly exhausting yourself. If you pick just one or two though, I think you can work out ways to budget for them.

For example, Im not much older than you and traveling is a major priority for me, far more important than haircuts, clothes or living in a nice flat. To afford it, I budget for it every month by reducing my spends on other things - I have had my hair cut by students for free for years, almost all of my clothes are second hand, my flat is cheep and cheerful and I only go to the cinema about once a year. I havent seen your SOA, but I bet by doing some cuts you could put enough asside for driving lessons or regular swims.

Also, can you cook? If you can, invite your mates over for dinner and whip up something yummy cheaply and have them bring the booze. Far better than yelling at each other in some noisy pub!

JuicyLou

It's hard to live on just the basics and you'll feel like packing it in if you don't have some treats now and then.
There's loads of ways to get something for nothing or at a bargain.

Ask around to find out when your local supermarket does their reductions. You can sometimes pick up luxuries for next to nothing. My best deal was a whole salmon in Asda reduced from £30 down to £3.50!

Check freecycle for bits for your flat. I've gotten a new desk, a big telly and even some new walking boots. It's all free and you're helping the environment!

Car boot sales are my favourite place to look for bargains. My best find was a designer silk dress for £1, but I've also found loads of other bits at next to nothing including a slow cooker (£3), a solid wood TV unit (£4), a new suede coat for my OH (£3) and loads of clothes, jewellery and makeup for about 50p each. Have a google to see where your nearest sale is.

Join a research panel to get freebies in the post. You can keep what they send as long as you test it and give them some feedback. I've had makeup, skin creams, drinks and shampoo.

Good luck and don't feel bad if you slip up.

moneysaver599

Wow. Thank you everybody for all the support and great ideas. I only have internet access at work so don't have time to read them all just now but I'll print them off and keep them in my handbag to read through for inspiration in support. Everytime I feel myself slipping I can have a read through and get my motivation back.

Everyone is right, if I'm so strict with myself I don't allow any treats I will get fed up and won't stick to my budget.

Going to re-do my SOA tonight and each month I will pick one "treat" for myself such as a haircut, new underwear, a new pair of jeans, a night out or a day away with my other half. Whichever one I feel is most important (next month is new undies!!!)

Will definately do the running now that I have a pair of trainers as it's free and it'll burn up some stress and make me feel miles better! I'm dragged my other half into coming running with me so it's something free and fun for us to do together!

I've had a look at Up Your Income but most of the things you need internet access for. I no longer have a laptop as it's broke although I do write some reviews on dooyoo. I will be treating myself to a nice £50.00 probably in another 3 months

Also trying to find Mystery Shopping in my area but not having a lot of luck. Been looking for a second job too but it's unlikely I'll find anything as I live rurally and I'm already out over 10 hours per day. I might even see if I can do a shift at the pub on a Saturday night, it might even be almost as fun as a night out, you never know!

My friends are definately working their way into debt and always flashing the credit cards!! Guess in a year or two, I'll be treating myself more than they are when I've finished paying off the debt!

Sorry I couldn't reply to everyone just now, back soon!

mandy8532

I know what that's like - I ended up in debt due to my ex. Where I used to work everyone spent loads this was 7 years ago I was upto my neck in debt with 7 year old and no maintence from the ex - amazingly I tried for a while to keep up with them - bottles of wine and lunch out etc funny now I'm debt free I bring my lunch and am I lot tighter - we dont do as much but I have a better quality of friends.
The people who I worked with that spent the most - I did find out in time that it was was all on credit cards - I felt so bad at the time as the poor relative but as time went on and my situation changed I saw it for what it was.

Good luck do try and treat yourself I had a spreadsheet that showed me thwn the loads we're up and each month I transfered a payment from the owed to paid column after a while it starts looks better and more positive.

debtdesperado

Keep going moneysaver - the start of a DFJ is really hard I think - it will only just be hitting home that paying off debt is a bit of a slog, but that is to be expected - previously you've been living above your means, now you need to live below your means to pay the debt off, and only then can you learn to live to you means. My tip is to build in a 'treat' each month (if you want it - sometimes you won't). I'd also suggest keeping a simple bar chart where you colour in the amount of debt you have so you can see it going down each month. You also need to 'reverse' your thinking a bit - I think it's quite common but what got me into debt was always thinking about what I couldn't/didn't have and then rushing out to the shops to buy it immediately, rather than focussing on what I do have... if you read any magazines, stop, and also stop walking round the shops - go running instead. The less you see to buy, the less you will want to buy and so you can get on with paying the debt off. The year will go faster than you think! (I should be largely debt free by the end of the year - have been doing about 15 months of it so far, starter debt was £42k, am now around the £20k mark) Good luck!

vasseur

You're doing fine really you are. A year will go really quickly. Don't automatically assume that your friends have loads of spare cash - I NEVER felt broke when I had credit cards - only when I realised I had to pay them off :eek:. You are at a great stage in life to start really learning about money. If you can be debt free and have 'good' spending habits by your early 20s it will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. You really don't want to spend your 30s paying off your 20s do you?

A few bits of advice I've picked up along the way (apologies if I've duplicated anything from above...)

Seriously start jogging. It's free and the fresh air does you good and makes you FEEL good. Also while you're jogging you're not in the shops. I do 2 miles 4 times a week at lunchtime - it keeps me out of the shops plus you see results really quickly - it tones you up all over and gives you the incentive to keep at it.

Get your hair cut at your local college. I had a cut and blowdry last week and it cost me just £7.50 and I would say it's one of the best cuts I've ever had.

Question everything you buy - can I get this cheaper elsewhere? do I really need it?

Be tight with everything - you don't need to use as much toothpaste as they show in the adverts or as much fabric softener as it says on the bottle. Make things last longer - re-use things.

Also this can actually be enjoyable. It is an extremely empowering feeling knowing that you haven't been ripped off. It's far nicer getting your purchases home knowing you've stayed within budget. The initial buzz of a real blow-out rarely lasts longer than the time it takes you to leave the shop!

Best of luck!

ZarZar1990

Keep going moneysaver!
I was in a similar position to you when I was 19 (I'm only 20 now lol), but I realised and now I've paid half of my debts off .
You'll be fine, pick 2 things for the long term (driving lessons, new clothes) and start saving a small amount each paycheque, it doesn't have to be vast amounts, but every little helps!