Is it the end, or just the beginning.....?

yummymommy

hypno06 wrote: »

It is my new "must have"!!! Again, one of those things that previously I couldn't have brought myself to part with that much money for, due to budget restrictions, but now I will do my damndest to be able to replace it when it runs out!

I love the fact that it blends in so well - none of that "cakey" look that often happens around the eyes when using concealer.....

Couldn't be without mine:D cheapsmells website is the cheapest I have ever found it . Well done on the decluttering. Sending positive thoughts for you Hypno... keep going girl! xx:T

Nargleblast

You may have said that in jest, Z, but it is a valid point. If anyone is bogged down with problems (mental, emotional, financial, whatever) then it is important they put their own health and wellbeing first by eating properly, as dealing with life's cr ap requires a whole lot of energy!

What is for dinner, Hypno - tinned Brussels sprouts by any chance?

Strike that remark - the news this morning included an item about Brussels sprouts - they are all frozen in the fields, so there will probably be a shortage come Christmas. Hang on to that tin, Hypno, it could make you a fortune...

mooomin

Ellidee wrote: »

Morning lovely ladies ! I have tried the Touche Eclat but am using the Aldi version at the moment which is surprisingly good and only about £3 ( I think). Well worth a try imho.

Well done on the progress made in the garage Hypno - onwards & upwards ! xx

£3.49 and absolutely brilliant...much better than the £18 Benefit version I had

hypno06

Yup.....I am eating regular meals again.....fret not Z!

So....top tips.....hmm, well I guess the main one is simply to post on here every day - even if I have nothing "moneywise" to say, it keeps my focus on what I am doing, spending, etc.

In the early days when my debt was at its highest, I joined every challenge going - because I needed every way possible to keep that focus - so, the make £10 a day challenge, the olympic challenge, the pay £20k in a year challenge, the NSD challenge, you name it, I think I did it.

By doing those challenges, I opened myself up to other parts of the MSE board - the "up your income" board, freebies boards and OS board for example which in turn helped me concentrate on different "strands" of the debt clearance rather than just focusing on "debt debt debt".

Of course, as the years have gone by, and the pressure of the debt itself has reduced, my focus on those challenges has not been so great as I haven't "needed" them in the same way. However, if I "want" them, they will always be there to take part in!

My only other tip, really, is to adapt all the time - what you need to brainstorm and act on when you are at the beginning of a journey with £100k debt, is not the same as you will need to do as time goes on - finding what works for each stage of the journey is hard, but by giving things a go, working with them while they last, and then moving onto the next thing works well - adapt, try, don't fret if it doesn't work. Things I have done that have helped and worked in their own way are the "how long can I make £20 last" game, the envelope budget system, the dreaded spending diary, etc etc etc - all of which are of limited "life" but which are very appropriate for various steps of the way.

Oh, and last tip - don't let your children get involved in expensive sports :rotfl:

Souk08

Love it Hypno. All very good advice. Can you link to your old diaries when you have time? It's bad out again tonight and I'm off tomorrow and could use a good read!

hypno06

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12

And of course this one is chapter 13.......that'll keep you going for a day or so souk :rotfl:

Souk08

Goodness! That's like War and Peace Hypno

hypno06

Just read the first page of each and you'll get a fairly good idea of the last few years

Souk08

And look at you now! Off for a bath with a glass of red and a mag then must do toenails.

benbenandme

Can I just add to your top tips list, however much of a long slog your journey may feel, you never know whats around the corner that may give you a sudden boost in the debt-busting; qho can forget the money that was made in the bingo frenzy a couple of years ago?? Aah, those were good times Who knows what tomorrow will bring, a new offer from quidco, a freebie, a matched bet, a survey site payout, an ebay sale ... all small steps but they all chip away towards the bigger goal