Please please please let this not just be a faze...

mf0u1098

I have been in debt all my adult life (I'm now 30) and despite my best efforts at will power I have never been able to stop my spending habits. I got most of my debt from purchasing a ridiculously expensive car years ago and am still paying for it. Couple with credit card and overdraft debt from uni, I have felt like I'm drowning for so long. I think about the debt everyday and have felt overwhelming embarrassement and shame.

I seriously joined MSE in October 2011 and I wish I knew what exactly prompted me to do this but I'm very glad I did. I have joined lots of the challenges and have even made up some of my own. I don't see the debt as overwhelming anymore, I now feel more like it's just a journey to the best day of my life.

I am doing absolutely everything in my power to hit my target of being debt free by christmas eve 2012. I just keep imagining that feeling of making the last payment and knowing that I'm FREE. Just gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

This is the longest I've ever stuck to anything before, my personality seems to be that I put 110% into something but then it quickly fizzles out and I'm worried that this faze is just lasting a little longer than usual.

I've tried to make lots of little changes and I think that's making the difference because it's now changed my mindset. What has really helped is seeing how many people are changing their circumstances one penny and one day at a time. This is about changing the way I view money and see materialism as the disease that it is.

Anyway, only another 416 days to go until my first debt free christmas ever as an adult!

Night night all xxx

chevalier

oooo you are so close compared to where you started. i bet you can almost taste it. Keep going you WILL get there this time! chev

mf0u1098

Friday 4th November

Well today is going well. I took sandwiches into work again and resisted being tempted by a) usual bacon butty and b) KFC for lunch... our usual Fat Friday treats at work! My sandwiches look as appealing as the empty cardboard box of Weetabix at home as the bread is probably on it's last day of use so not very fresh. However, food is food and I guess the moral of money saving is not always having the things you want when something else will do and saving treats as just that: Treats! Not having these as the norm.

I thought I was going to lose an NSD today as it's normally chippy tea but my parents are going to pay so that's great! Since it's only 4 weeks until the works xmas do and I need to slim by about 7lbs to get into my lovely slinky dress then I think I'll have just the fish (take the batter off) and a few chips but then go for a long walk later.

xxx

mizmir

Just stumbled upon your diary and am subscribing as i can can really empathise with the putting "110% into something but then it quickly fizzles out" bit. I'm just back on MSE having tried twice (at least) before to get debt free. Like you I'm doing challenges and stuff and have a plan (though mine is going to take a bit longer than yours ). But I need to make sure it is doable and that I can keep at it. Am trying to change habits as it seems to me that is the key - make the MSE ways habits to replace the bad ones that have got us into this mess! But of course easier said than done.

Anyway - good luck with your plans - am routing for you!

Helen105

mf0u1098 wrote: »

Friday 4th November

My sandwiches look as appealing as the empty cardboard box of Weetabix at home as the bread is probably on it's last day of use so not very fresh.

xxx

Do you have a toaster at work? Those toastiebags make stale sandwiches a bit more appealing. Or if there is a microwave you can make a batch of soup on a weekend and freeze it in daily portions. Zero effort during the week and low calorie to boot!

Good luck anyway in the plodding away.

mf0u1098

Helen105 wrote: »

Do you have a toaster at work? Those toastiebags make stale sandwiches a bit more appealing. Or if there is a microwave you can make a batch of soup on a weekend and freeze it in daily portions. Zero effort during the week and low calorie to boot!

Good luck anyway in the plodding away.

Thanks Helen105! I have tried making soup before but it always tastes bland to be honest. I cannot have any cream as I'm lactose intolerant but love Minestone or vegetable soups. Any tips on how to make any and what you use to freeze it in daily portions? Is it as simple as tuperware?

Really appreciate your suggestion! We have a microwave and a toaster plus fridge etc at work so no excuse really for not bringing in lovely homemade food except laziness in the past. xxx

mf0u1098

mizmir wrote: »

Just stumbled upon your diary and am subscribing as i can can really empathise with the putting "110% into something but then it quickly fizzles out" bit. I'm just back on MSE having tried twice (at least) before to get debt free. Like you I'm doing challenges and stuff and have a plan (though mine is going to take a bit longer than yours ). But I need to make sure it is doable and that I can keep at it. Am trying to change habits as it seems to me that is the key - make the MSE ways habits to replace the bad ones that have got us into this mess! But of course easier said than done.

Anyway - good luck with your plans - am routing for you!

Thank you Mizmir, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is like this. It's so frustrating that I have the best of intentions but cannot seem to finish what I start. I bought a treadmill as I don't like the gym but it's still in our spare room and I make up excuses every day not to go on it. I started Pilates and again stopped going after a few sessions. I think I'm quite an impulsive person and when I want something it's like a drug and I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!! I cannot think of anything else but that. That's how I bought my ridiculously expensive car etc. I admit that I am getting better as I was taking my mum to look at different cars as she's looking for her first one and I was sorely tempted to trade mine in but I resisted the urge as I kept repeating the mantra: "There is nothing wrong with your car, it's the image and that isn't important. What is important is the feeling next christmas eve when all that debt is gone". Bit of a long mantra and luckily didn't say it outloud otherwise may have been given a hugging white jacket!

What challenges are you doing and what is your plan to be debt free? xxx

beanielou

A Morrisey fan by any chance?
WEll done on having no mortgage :j

mizmir

mf0u1098 wrote: »

What challenges are you doing and what is your plan to be debt free? xxx

I'm doing "Make £10 a day" (but am going for £15!) and "A payment a day" plus one to avoid wasting food. My DFD at the moment is May 2016 but I expect it to be sooner. Biggest issue at the moment is we are trying to sell our house (moved due to OH getting a much better job) and my job ends in May next year. So we need a reserve fund in case we need to cover the mortgage and rent on one salary. I am working on alternative home-based businesses - all exciting but time is pressing!

Erme

Carrot and coriander is really yummy and no cream...

Just brown the onion
Cook the carrots (microwave or hob)

Blend (possibly with a tin of beans or potatoes)

add coriander...

Yum



Another good one is parnsnip and red pepper...

Same method as before - only don't forget to add the peppper AFTER you've done the parnsnips (i.e. don't cook the pepper)

Yum

Another really quick one is an old WW one...Baked bean and tomato

Just a tin of beans and a tin of tomatoes...heated...cut up ham (any) blend...

Yum

Hope that helps with a few ideas...

When I make soup I just tend to bung a load of veggies on cook and then blend....Usually with potatoes or beans to make it thicker..

Or try playing with cornflour for for thickness...

E

mf0u1098

I have been looking at the £10 a day but it seems impossible. I've been reading several diaries on here about getting money for surveys and things but I don't know where to start. I think there is a section on the forum dedicated to them so I'll try and track it down.
Can you please tell me where the wasting food one is? I am such a food waster it's scary!!! I only like fruit when it's hard and I will only eat meat up to one day after being bought etc. Luckily my parents like brown bananas and older food but still loads is wasted. I cringe to think what I have wasted in the past on food.

My DFD should have been 15th Aug 2014 (etched into my brain) but I can't stand this any longer and I know that with determination that I can do this. I just need to keep focused, keep motivated and remember everyday why I am doing this. I know that you can too, we just need to keep each other motivated! xxx