Miserable and Fed up with Debt

downcdebt

... just wondering if anyone out there has any good tips or advice on how to stay motivated and not get too depressed over debt? I'm starting to feel really down about it all and struggle to see an end to the scrimping and watching every penny. I'm finding that it is constantly on my mind day in day out and starting to get me really down.

I am lucky in that I can afford to pay off the minimum + a bit more each month, but it just feels like I am never going to get to be debt free.

This forum has been a life saver in terms of helping me face up to my debt and start to tackle it. I've ebayed everything I can. I have all my outgoings and income in a spreadsheet and am updating everything on the snowball to help me see that I am slowly getting there..... I'm single, so don't have the support from an OH, so it often feels sometimes quite a lonely battle.

None of my friends are in the same situation - they are really understanding about my lack of funds to go out and do stuff - but I just can't help but be a bit envious that they are not in my situation!

How do other people not let it get them so down??

Sorry - moan over!! Think I must have PMT...!!:D

isy1011

Well I just think it's money that's the problem right now and I have a plan for that. It's not life threatening. Just chip away and keep healthy.

tealady

Hi
What is you envy? Their clothes, nights out or latest gadgets?
Youl could try selling some stuff and use that as "treat" money, finding a cheap way to have what you want.
Or look at the demotivator and sue the snowballer to make sure you are paying your debts in the right order.

ovetta2001

The biggest thing that I found helped me was a 'positive board'. I wrote down all my different debts and a total at the bottom. Everytime I paid some of it off I would change all the information and when one debt was totally paid off I took great pride in putting a big black line though the middle.
It really motivated me to pay a little more off and not get the 'best new phone' because I wanted to change my final balance and make it lower again.
It is also great seeing it getting lower and lower.

Not to mention the amount of compliments I got from my friends/family whou would come around and everytime it have changed!

downcdebt

Hi thanks for your responses. I will try and keep positive! You are right, it is only money - there are more important things like health and people!

tealady - nope, I dont envy anything material they have in terms of clothes and gagets - I guess it is more I envy their peace of mind about not having to worry about what they spend, and the freedom that gives them. E.g I would like (within reason) to be able to live where I wanted to, and afford to live on my own rather than house share in my mid 30's, but can't afford to do it. That and afford to be able to join in on things such as hen do's that are all coming up, and actually afford to go out to potentially meet another OH!! etc..... but one day it will come good ;-)

I think I will print off my snowball and keep reminding myself that it is coming down....

xx

Lottebear

Chin up, we all have moments like this along the way, can you get yourself a treat using you loyatly points a chocolate bar of magazine, free coffee sometimes it is the small things that make the difference.

andrea1968_2

In 6 months time you'll look at where you are now and realise the debt is coming down.

I found that if I kept analysing it every day it just made me more and more obsessed. I knew that the snowball would work and I decided that I would only look at the totals every 3 months or so, that way it had gone down in chunks and it made me feel better.

My debt free date is 8 months away and to think about where I was 4 years ago when I finally took stock of things - it honestly seems like a lifetime away.

Your positivity will come and once those numbers start tumbling it'll increase and grow stronger and stronger.

Good luck:)

dalleDF

I'm feeling the same way at the moment. It is a long slog. I also have a list of the original totals and the totals now that I adjust each month or even when I pay off £1 here and there. It makes me feel I am making progress but I have now become obsessed with lists and spreadsheets! Just keep on slogging, although it's hard. It will be so worth it in the end. Good luck.

terakris

I actually liked watching the pennies, shuffling money around the accounts and watching the total go down - i think that was a good thing for me, knowing what i owe and seeing it go down and down until it was totally gone!

Joining the challenges here are great, the "pay of £X by xmas" was a great one, that gave me some good motivation to beat my target to be debt free by the end of the year.

Batfink

Are you doing any of the challenges? They really helped me as you build up quite a bond with the other people taking part, and it turns ever £1 you pay off into something to celebrate. Obviously, you will need to find one suitable for you, and your circumstances, but they definitely help.

Sometimes I'd find myself rushing home so that I could post my latest mini-success and read about those of my online friends.

x

Watalie

terakris wrote: »

I actually liked watching the pennies, shuffling money around the accounts and watching the total go down - i think that was a good thing for me, knowing what i owe and seeing it go down and down until it was totally gone!

Joining the challenges here are great, the "pay of £X by xmas" was a great one, that gave me some good motivation to beat my target to be debt free by the end of the year.

Me too - I'm like a psycho :rotfl: in fact my OH laughs at my dependancy on spreadsheets...

I spreadsheet EVERYTHING and log on to my bank at least 5 times a day... just to be sure!!

It will get easier it just seems somedays, it's never ending!!