What does being in debt stop you from doing?

cleggie

Hi all,

i have been struggling a bit today with being such a scrooge in order to clear my debts.
Yes, yes, i know, i know, needs must etc...
but anyway, as an insentive to carry on, and to remind myself again why i want to be debt free, i thought i'd post a list of things i want to do, but cant afford because of being in debt.
Feel free to add yours!

1- i want to move house to a nice area- with a GARDEN!

2- i want to do a diploma in counselling after finishing my degree (approx £2000)

3- i want to take my kids on holiday somewhere hot..i havent been abroad since i was 16,and my kids have never been abroad! And besdies, we dont have passports!

4-i want to be able to decorate my house (when i move!!)- it looks terrible as i cant afford to redecorate yet

I cant wait to be debt free and be able to do these things!!

vintagegirl

hiya i work 2 jobs and would love to take a night off to enjoy going out with my friends and get drunk, the usual things people my age do but i would feel guilty because i think i should be earning

cleggie

Hell yeah, i know that feeling. I've been out once in 7 yrs, cant afford it till i am debt free- i really cant wait!

Superbiatch

Being on a DMP stops me getting anymore credit, which is an absolute blessing to - other than that I can do pretty much anything I want provided I can fund it. I work extra hours if i want more £ every now and again

Jinx

It stops me overpaying on my mortgage, having savings and giving my daughter more financial support through Uni...

Sharon87

it stops me from doing a variety of things including:

Driving lessons

Going to the gym - need to get fit!

Saving for various things, like holidays and emergency fund. My current emergency fund is an overdraft I don't currently use.

Cazza1

Being in debt, and on a small income! Means no holidays or new clothes for me of OH. It also stops us from going out for dinner like we used to and updating my little punto. It also means oh can't get his car fixed and is left borrowing his friends.

Debt and low income has tested our relationship to the max with OHs bankruptcy, and struggles in getting an income, and my stress at managing the household on a little budget.

BUT it has also taught us soooooo much. I have a full on respect for our money and make the little we have stretch to cover all of our needs. I can feed us 3 and the cat on about 45 a week which includes LOs milk and organic produce. Sometimes its more ie when there's some good reduced items I will stock up.

We've got rid of sky tv and my gym subscrption. I don't miss either although should start to do some exercise soon as I'm not feel so stressed there'll be less nervous energy to burn the calories! Life has become simpler which is a good thing and once the overdraft is paid off we can start saving, so life will still be frugal but I don't mind at all.

YORKSHIRELASS

If I wasnt in debt I would decorate and recarpet the house (which is looking very scruffy and tired) and put in new doors and windows. At one time I would have said go on holiday abroad but I dont think this is as important to me as it once was.

Other than that, well we manage OK. It would be nice to go out for a meal sometimes and would be nice to spend a bit more money on our camping holidays. I have learned so much with the help of this website that when I am out of debt I am always going to be more careful with my money.

YORKSHIRELASS

Just been thinking about this again - I would also love to have a decent pot of savings. It would be so nice to know that if something went wrong with the car or we needed to buy something for the house there was money there to do it. That would be the best luxury of all for me.

cyclura

I would be saving for our first family holiday, but that wont happen for at least 2 years now due toour debts

consultant31

Sharon87 wrote: »

it stops me from doing a variety of things including:

Driving lessons

Going to the gym - need to get fit!

Saving for various things, like holidays and emergency fund. My current emergency fund is an overdraft I don't currently use.

You don't need to go to a gym to get fit - far from it! You can walk/jog/run around your local area for free. Use a couple of cans of beans for weights or fill a couple of small cloth bags with sand or even soil if you want heavier weights (stitch the bags shut after filling).

Perhaps you can persuade a friend or relative to give you driving lessons if you're willing to pay for the fuel. It can be frought with danger if it's a loved one - the language can tend to get a bit bad if you constantly crash the gears for instance :rotfl:but it's much cheaper than a driving school.......it worked for me anyway

PS: if you do go running, see if there's a neighbour who can't get out much who'd like you to take their dog on your runs - it'll give you a rosy glow knowing you're helping someone else out at the same time as getting yourself fitter