My first week without using credit. Feeling pleased, but skint.

frankie1_2

This week is my first week without using credit cards!!.My first monthly payment has been made to Payplan (only another 108 months to go)and I can see how my creditors have being paid, online. This is comforting as I was unable to manage this on my own.
I have been 2 days without spending any money, but this is because I now have so little to spend and have to manage my pennies better. My frequent trips to M&S have now become trips to Lidl ( they really do have some good stuff ). I do however feel for my kids, as this is the first year that we have not gone away on holiday. I can bear the 3-4 phone calls a day from creditors threatening both myself and my wife but it is far harder telling the children that they may be adults before we can afford to travel abroad again.
Then again, I brought it on myself

Broken_hearted

Well done. Children don't need fancy holidays.

loobyloo1980

well done xxx

vivaladiva

Well done. I've just spent a month going cold turkey on the plastic and I feel much better for it.
Now you know exactly how much you have to spend why not post an SOA and see if the DFW's can save you some cash. It's amazing how much you can save, but you can't always see it for yourself. Have you been to the Old Style board? There are always loads of brilliant ideas. If you can, why not join the pin money challenge and see if you can save up for even a few days away even if its cheap ferry to France with a tent.

spud30

Frankie,

My kids have never been on holiday, until now down to the fact we have a selection of furry family members we would hate to leave behind.

We've always spent our holidays having days out, and my kids love it.

We have just spent our first few weeks without plastic.

Now we have a debt problem, we will still be doing similar things, but in a DFW way. We have been saving Tesco vouchers and have enough to pay for a few theme park days out with just petrol to buy. Other days we will take our furry family with us to local country parks etc with a picnic.

You can still have a nice time without spending loads, you just have to put a bit of thought into it. :j

**purpleprincess**

:beer: well done!! It's a great feeling to stop using credit isn't it!

spud30

**purpleprincess** wrote:

:beer: well done!! It's a great feeling to stop using credit isn't it!

It does feel great, but terrifying all at the same time.

A bit like going out in public naked, no security to hide behind.

Not that I go out naked in public, you understand :eek:

owessomuch

Well Done :T

Just think of the excellent holiday you'll be able to take your kids on when your debt free!

BullyCornedBeef

Hey Frankie,

Dont worry about the hollidays mate, I was 19 before I went abroad with my parents for the first time. If they are fewer and further between you will all appreciate them a lot more. The weather has been brilliant recently perhaps when you can afford it a weekend in Conrwall or Wales?

Your doing great and keep it up. :j

LittleL_4

When I was a wee girl growing up we never went on expensive holidays. We were'nt poor, but my parents never took us abroad. Yet, I have really fond memories of them. In fact, I remember staying in a b/b with an outside toilet!

It's the small things in life that matter..... Chin up, you're doing your best and nobody can ask for more than that, not even your kids..

L
x

lynsayjane

funny story...when i was 13 an started at high school i came home one day in tears, refusing to tell mum what was wrong. eventually she got out of me that there was a school trip to france i really wanted to go on (id never been abroad before) but i knew she couldnt afford it so i hadn't even picked up the application form. much to her credit she found the money and i got on the trip, after much grief over not getting a place but being a reserve etc...


point of the story, even at 13 a kid can easily understand their folks not having money and cope quite happily. they may grump if the've been spoiled and are used to annual holidays abroad, but when they grow up and realise the value of money they'll appreciate all you do for them.