SS's 2007 Debt Free Challenge

southernscouser

red_ratty_rat wrote:

You say into your overdraft not over so what is the big problem. Do they charge you to use your overdraft or something?

If it's only interest on amount owed then it is worth going into a little to pay off your debts. Most authorised overdraft interest rates are small anyway.

Nah my rate is around the 16% mark I think which is higher than my debt APR. Plus I don't want to get into the OD trap again! :doh:

kathfisch

southernscouser wrote:

Well I'm certainly gonna fail this one! :doh:

I just seem to have lost all motivation for this !!!!!!!

I feel like I've paid nothing off this year and although I've got money left over each month I'm not paying it towards the debts. It's getting trickled away coz I keep thinking I'm gonna go into my overdraft so leave it in my account!

Anyone got any solutions coz I've totally lost the plot?

Ok, some suggestions:

a) Take a break. Whether its from overpaying, keeping a spending diary, coming on MSE, whatever. Not a license to go out and spend, just take a break.

b) Be realistic. You're well known on here and your debt-busting is legendary but that's got to add pressure! If you're not going to manage this, set a smaller target and give yourself a better chance of succeeding and staying positive. It might help not to tell us, or maybe you need the motivation?

c) Think why you've put yourself through all that you have. What motivated you at the beginning, is that the same now or have things changed? I think it was LookingAhead who said she'd found a 'new way' of being dfw... can't remember exactly how she put it... but basically a level of cut-backs that she's happy with and can sustain rather than a constant cycle of enthusiasm followed by disappointment cos its so hard.

d) Is this being influenced by something separate from debts/dfw? I mean, are you lacking motivation cos you're distracted or preoccupied with something else? Were there emotional reasons behind all the spending in the first place, are they reappearing? Again... none of our business if you don't want it to be but doesn't hurt to think about!

Hope something of that lot helps!

P.S. e) Don't stay away just cos you feel !!!!!!

southernscouser

All of that helps thanks Kath. :kisses3:

Have got 'other' crap going on that probably isn't helping but I just feel like it's never gonna end at the moment. Before the New Year I could see light at the end of the tunnel! Now? Nothing. :wall:

I know this sounds well daft but I feel life is passing me by! I'm gonna look back at my early and mid 20's with such regret and have absolutely nothing to show for it!

I think sleeping is the answer! :rotfl:

southern_chick

Hi Southern Scouser

Just wanted to send you lots of:grouphug: :grouphug: your posts always make me smile, give yourself a break but at the same time keep up the good work, it will be worth it in the end

Southern Chick xx

kathfisch

Sleeping sounds very wise!

Sounds like you're in 'beat self up' mode For sure, there are things you could be doing if it weren't for the debt but what's done is done. And if you don't eventually look back on these years and feel proud of the determination you've shown and what you've done, I'll eat my hat! Or any other item of clothing if you prefer!! :rotfl:

x

*zippy*

southernscouser wrote:

I know this sounds well daft but I feel life is passing me by! I'm gonna look back at my early and mid 20's with such regret and have absolutely nothing to show for it!

I know what you mean SS we have been in debt most of our kids lives and so they have missed out on things, by the time we are debt free my eldest will be 17 and probably not want to go on holiday with us etc. There's no other option though, two years and we can be debt free and then we can make up for lost time....saving for it of course

You can look back on your 20's and remember all your nerdy buddies :beer:

Fab post Kath :T

snoozer

SS

Just a couple of points really. Like everyone else has said you have done so well you mustn't dismiss everything you've achieved so far just because you're feeling !!!!!! at the moment.

Looking at your sig you have a debt free date of October 2009, I assume this is just making normal loan payments etc. I know you want to get it down sooner but why not take the pressure off a bit and decide that for a few months you'll not try to pay any more off. After all it's only 2.5 years (i know it seems a long time but take it from me (at nearly 50:eek:, it will go very quickly).

James240

southernscouser wrote:

All of that helps thanks Kath. :kisses3:

Have got 'other' crap going on that probably isn't helping but I just feel like it's never gonna end at the moment. Before the New Year I could see light at the end of the tunnel! Now? Nothing. :wall:

I know this sounds well daft but I feel life is passing me by! I'm gonna look back at my early and mid 20's with such regret and have absolutely nothing to show for it!

I think sleeping is the answer! :rotfl:

Mate i know exactly how u feel i have spent all my 20's in debt and im 30 in about inabout 6 months time, i know what ur going through but ur doing absolutly fantastic in ur fight against ur debt i mean look how far u have come u have paid off nearly £13,000 of ur debt already which in my book is absolutly !!!!!!! fantastic

Keep ur chin up ur doing so well and the light is at the end of the tunnel cos ill give u a foot up so that u can see it over the hedge

James

themaccas

Hi SS, think you're hitting 'the wall', this is a marathon and I can really empathise with the way you are feeling towards your debt, I have felt like that recently and had a £1.3K blow out recently in a vain attempt to make me feel better which of course did not work. Now I've got to pay it back and I feel 10 times worse!

As others have said sometimes you need to step back and appreciate what you have achieved - paying 13K off is an amazing achievement, we have only managed to achieve our total because there are 2 of us.

Keep posting on here
hugs

southernscouser

Happy !!!!!! here reporting for duty!

I've just paid an extra £200 off my Capital One card. Wo-bloody-hoo! :rolleyes:

Had to take the car to the quacks today aswell which set me back 150 notes! :wall: :mad:

A few payments have cleared but to be honest I can't even be bothered to update my sig! Says a lot about me!


I don't want to sound all attention seeking (who me? :eek: ) but I think this is one of the lowest points I have felt. I just want to be able to go to sleep and wake up when it's all paid off!

I've got loads of bookies to do with match betting aswell to make some seriously easy money but just have got no motivation for it!

Maybe I'll come back when I've cheered up! :xmassign: