Downhearted

Paige

Feeling much more positive this morning. It must have been your positive thinking plus a good intake of cadburys dairy milk. If I can pay off between £500 and £1000 pm I could be debt free within 17 - 36 months. I t does not sound too bad this morning. Have a good day everyone Paige x

D&DD

Wow Paige I think you should be patting yourself on the back hun!! :T
What an acheivement I think once the initial 'buzz' of the LBM wears off and we all get down to the hard slog of repayment after repayment it can often just grind you down..BUT there is light at the end of the tunnel now and you only have to come on here when you're feeling a bit low there's always someone around even at weird times of the morning :rotfl: Keep at it and just think how much choccie you can buy once you're debt free

Spirited_2

Well done Paige

How crafty could you be? You could customise a handbag that you already own or make one up from bits and pieces around the house or bought very cheaply from charity shops or markets. It might sound a bit daft if you've never done anything like it before, but just think - you could design your own original bags to match your own tastes and outfits. It could also be a rather cheap hobby to do during your spare time.

Look in your local library for crafty books for ideas and techniques. I've only recently taken up crafting, and it's really liberating to realise that you can have well fitted, beautiful and unique items in your favourite colours and fabrics at a fraction of the cost of commissioning a fancy-pants designer or tailor or searching around the shops for something which 'almost' matches what you are after. Ok, it might take a bit of practice to get right, but then that's the fun of taking up a new hobby.

It's just a suggestion, but I hope it's a useful one.

Regards x

Serialdieter

Don't beat yourself up, you've done fab to kick £1K off your debt so quickly and you've got your pressies and not spent on card. I'd say that's a result.

I agree with D&DD about the initial buzz, it's perfectly normal, but there is light and we can help you see it.

Jx

Valentina2

As Mrs. Sparkle pointed out, you have not added to your debt, which just goes to show you that you have changed your ways, which is a great achievement. Often having to live to a tight budget gets you down and you will find that often unexpected bills and expenses crop up and you are unable to pay as much off your debts as you would like but as long as you don´t add to your debts and can at least meet your repayments, you are well on the road to becoming debt free. I try to encourage myself by thinking about how wonderful it will be to treat myself with the money I am currently spending on repayments. Just think about what a nice handbag you will be able to treat yourself to as a reward for becoming debts free!
How about asking for a nice handbag for christmas, or some vouchers so you an treat yourself guilt free in the sales?

Verbatim

Wow I think you're doing brilliantly. £1000 in the first month is good good going. As for xmas I've got the cake and pudding made so far and bought the cards but that's it. So well done you.

Paige

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. Result re the new handbag, my mum asked me if there was anything in particular I would like for christmas today. ! Trying to keep positive is hard, at first I was buzzing with everything money saving but I think the novelty is wearing thin now !.
It is especially hard when you get an unexpected bill, I then feel like a real failure if I have not stuck completely to my budget, then its a vicious circle for me, feel low = buy nice expensive treat.