The additonal Benefits of Being Debt Free

Nottoobadyet

Great thread! Now that I am debt free, I love that:

• I can take a pay cut at work to go into the field (I work for an international charity) and move my career into forward drive
• I can use my spreadsheets to forecast savings, not my debt free date!
• I can save! For what? a house? retirement? a gap year? who knows!

I haven't really changed my lifestyle since getting out of debt, so have been keeping up my frugal ways while enjoying the journey.

jonjamie1970

What I didn't consider was the impact of being debt free would have on peoples emotional and even physical well being just as much as the little things that make living easier.

Sleeping well at night and these little things are helping people to enjoy their lives more.

debtfreewannabe321

Oh great thread, for me personally it will be
* being able to answer 'withheld' numbers on my phone without having a mild panic attack (large panic attacks if it is the end of the month and NO money left)
* getting to the end of the month and not having to use CC or overdraft for everything
* being able to SAVE!
* sleeping well
* looking forward to the mail popping on my door mat and without big RED words all over it

foxgloves

TV licence is another one. We pay in instalments to avoid a big bill coming off one month's money, but they add a bit of interest on to that, so if you can pay it in one lump sum annually, you pay a little bit less.

mrs-t-w

Although i'm only just starting to clear my debt - I'm looking forward to going on nights out with work and family parties:beer: rather that have to find some excuse why I/we can't go:(

Angel84

Great thread!! I'm just starting on my journey to clearing my debts and although I have a long way to go I have managed to 'find' more money by cutting back and to be honest haven't missed anything. But the one thing I am looking forward to when I'm debt free is for me and the OH to be able to take advantage of our local pubs Curry Night on a Wednesday. Curry, poppadoms and a pint for £7. At the moment this doesn't fit in with our plans but we have promised it will be our night out once we are debt free and I can't wait!!

dominos

Me and the boyfriend are 3 months away from being debt free :j Have to say I'm looking forward to checking out the savings and investments board and directing my energy to accumulating

incesticde

Silvafox wrote: »

Not having to empty the coppers jar to buy food

I remember those days
:rotfl:

After I became debt free my copper jars just grew and grew until eventually I just gave it all to charity rather than count it all out

incesticde

dreamdreamer wrote: »

This is the one I can't wait for - not living in dread that something is going to happen that will totally cripple you!

Also: being able to put all the money i waste on debt repayments into high-interest savings and watching them give ME money rather than the other way around!

I was looking forward to getting lots of savings but despite having a lot in savings now the amount I get added on is a pittance (thanks credit crunch!).

bloody typical, first time in my life I have savings and the intrest rate is !!!!!

TightWadAndStillPoor

It's not quite the purpose of this board but I noticed a couple of comments regarding TV licences.
In January I pay my annual TV licence online using my credit card. There isn't any additional fee for doing so (assuming you pay it off in full and aren't charged interest), but it extends the time that I have to pay it by one month into February where I pay it off in full as there isn't a Council Tax bill to pay this month.