New Poster - afraid of relapse!

cpt1_2

Hi All,

This is my first post - I apologise if its in the wrong place!

A (fair) few years ago, I was a shopaholic - at 18 I found it amazingly easy to get my first store card, which then seemed to produce offspring that I had a purse full of credit & store cards.

I was making the minimum payments each month, but it was a struggle.
My lightbulb moment happened when I sadly miscarried & due to my state of mind mis-managed payments.

I am now on a DMP & debt is due to all be paid by March 2012 - with all but one debtor due to be paid by Feb 2011.

Since I started the DMP, I swung from shopaholic to complete opposite and refusing to buy anything that wasn't a necessity ie only food & toiletries.
It was a brilliant feeling being able to pay for car repairs out of my own pocket knowing it was money that I didn't owe anyone or was going to be charged interest for!

3 years ago - about a year or so after i started the DMP - I met my fiance. I left my job to move in with him in the south (I previously lived in the north - Dang love chemicals & hormones, but it was impossible for him to move up north due to having 2 young children with his previous partner).
I found a job straight away so didn't suffer too much money wise, other than the shock of cost of living in the south compared to the north (Rental prices mostly - that shock has not worn off!!).

Recently though, I feel myself 'falling off the wagon' I'm starting to have the shopaholic urges again which I'm managing to keep at bay at the moment with 'window' shopping on the internet & filling in the online polls and other sites suggested on MSE .

How does anyone else work through the 'falling off the wagon'?


Advice is greatly appreciated
Sorry for the waffle!

Thanks-in-advance

WASHER

I fell off the wagon many times during my debt free journey, and even now I still do the occassional silly thing, like blow £400 on something stupid and pointless and regret it.

The thing is, according to your signature you will be debt free in 2 years time, its only 24 months - it isn't long, try and be disciplined and I know its not easy to resist temptation. You must if you can give yourself a wee treat every now and then, it will help you.

I wish you the best on becoming debt free.

WASHER.x.

solventsoon

Hi cpt1
How about starting a debt-free diary? Have a look at the diaries for some inspiration at first.

Or how about joining some of the challenges? I find the NSD one brilliant, lots of motivation on there and it really makes me think about spending anything (if it can have that effect on me there is hope for anyone:o). There's a list of them is at the top of the board.

Hope this helps and good luck - you haven't got long to go, try to keep that in mind.:)
ss
x

jennyo

I simply remember how painful it all was, put myself in that state, the wanting to cry all the time, the feeling sick, eyes feeling like they want to explode, fear when the phone rings, when the letter box rattles, its a great cure, puts you off spending money.

de1amo

Just think what it will be like to be in the clear and earning interest on the cash you can stash!

gonzo127

Hi on your statement of affairs do you have some 'wriggle' room with one or two things basically is there anything that you could drop down a little bit further and free up a small amount of treat money?

i believe you have to budget at least a small amount of treat money so that you can be a bit naughty without feeling too bad since you have actually budgetted for it even £5 a month gives £60 throughout a year which is enough to have a few treats on top of the rewards for doing internet polls etc

speedycat

jennyo wrote: »

I simply remember how painful it all was, put myself in that state, the wanting to cry all the time, the feeling sick, eyes feeling like they want to explode, fear when the phone rings, when the letter box rattles, its a great cure, puts you off spending money.

I second this - the startled, panicky feeling every time the letterbox goes - The threatening phone calls. The degrading phone calls (coming to arrangements with them) - it's changed my life. I will NEVER EVER go back there EVER EVER again! and you'd be wise not to as well - I'm too old to waste another 4 years of my life dealing with DCA's and paying off debt. It's all about budgeting for what you want now :A

cpt1_2

thankyou for your replies :beer:

I certainly dont want to feel like I did before with the constant calls and letters I daren't open.

I've started the spending diary - it has holes in it where I forget to fill it in, but will persevere.

To be honest, the best thing I could have done is discover this forum & join - everyone here is helpful and seems a great community to be part of.

I'll get through my spending urges in whatever way works at the time

thanks again for your replies :A