Worry, worry and more worry

DrakesheadLabs

Its a worrying time for me right now. Its difficult to manage but after reading the leaflet on Mental Health & Debt I must admit to feeling better about things today. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for about 4 years and after my marriage broke down the spending has gone completely mad. I have loans, credit cards etc and find it difficult to stop sometimes. Yes, it is a true saying that retail therapy only lasts for a short time. Its a brief "feel good factor". I have contacted my bank etc but they are unwilling to assist. I am doing what I can to try and not spend unnecessarily but when the low mood hits its difficult.

Wonder if there are any of you folks out there that are in the same boat?? Would like to hear and share.

Tixy

Hi and welcome

A lot of people do feel like you and I think its easy to get into the habit of shopping as a hobby/distraction. It can be really hard to take that leap to get committed to changing your spending patterns.

There are lots of tips and advice on these forums but just as a few that might be useful.

-How about just taking out any cash you need to see you through the days plan and leaving your cards etc at home?
-Some people like to keep a credit card just for emergencies and either give the card to a trusted family member of freeze the card in an ice cream tub full of water. That means you can get to it if you really do have an emergency but can't just easily pick it up on the way out the door.
-Do you keep a spending diary where you can look back on where your money has gone for the month (if you add up lots of little spend over the month it can be a sobering figure and might help motivate you not to follow the same pattern the following month).
-Do you have things you have bought that could still be returned to the shops?
-Do you have items you have bought and don't need that you could sell on ebay or at a car boot sale?

Are you having problems with making your debt repayments? If so then rather than contact the bank it might be sensible to fill in a statement of affairs http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html and post it on here and to seek advice from one of the debt charities.
IMPORTANT - Where to seek professional impartial advice about your debts.

DrakesheadLabs

I am going to start, from next week, keeping a spending diary. Money just seems to fly out of my purse for some reason. I try so hard to pull the horns in but I cant pull them in anymore...

I was to go out this weekend with friends but have cancelled and admitted to them lack of funds.

summerstreetallotments

I'm in the same boat as you...long term depressed and constantly buying stuff in the hope that it'll make me feel better....I have a bit of mania too as I get fixated on one item and have to buy it in every format over and over again...i.e. giftsets...so...I have sent letters off to the creditors and am waiting for the replies...which I expect to be unpleasant and then it's one day at a time...at least I've found peiople on here helpful and non - judgemental...so I'm sure you'll get some help here...x

DrakesheadLabs

Summerstreetallotments...thanks for that.x

I am exactly the same. I have to buy things such as beauty products that if you buy 2 you get a free gift?? Why?? I do feel better then all of a sudden the "guilt" factor hits me and I feel down and its a constant worry. Do you ever feel like you HAVE TO HAVE something? I do, all the time.