Need to stay motivated!

2catsandme

Hello everyone! Just wondering how you all stay motivated? Payday was on the 24th, all bills have been paid, all debt repayments made, pet food bought in bulk for the month, done a big monthly shop and now have £15 left for bits and bobs throughout the month - till next payday! (Anything left over was added to the debt repayments)

It's just so depressing.. I know I don't need anything, I know I have enough food and I know that if something awful (big repairs bill eg) were to happen I still have me emergency fund. It just takes a lot of getting used to, after years and years of slapping it on the credit card. And because I've recently had my LBM, all I can think about is money, so I can't even put it to the back of my mind....

floopnoodle

Why not try and earn some extra money for spends or just to pad out your current account.

I always feel better knowing I have a bit of money in my account if I do want to spend it, rather than knowing I have no option, it just changes your frame of mind.

MFWannabe

2catsandme wrote: »

Hello everyone! Just wondering how you all stay motivated? Payday was on the 24th, all bills have been paid, all debt repayments made, pet food bought in bulk for the month, done a big monthly shop and now have £15 left for bits and bobs throughout the month - till next payday! (Anything left over was added to the debt repayments)

It's just so depressing.. I know I don't need anything, I know I have enough food and I know that if something awful (big repairs bill eg) were to happen I still have me emergency fund. It just takes a lot of getting used to, after years and years of slapping it on the credit card. And because I've recently had my LBM, all I can think about is money, so I can't even put it to the back of my mind....

Hi 2cats
I stay motivated by subscribing to threads such Pay All your Deb by Xmas 2012; you can see your percentage of debt paid off so that's motivating in itself but you also get to chat to lots of lovely people who are doing the same thing
I also post on other peoples threads and hopefully help and encourage others

2catsandme

Thanks guys, it's just so hard... I've sorted some very old Cds out to put them on Magpie and whenever that comes through (not used them before) I should have an extra £10 or so, but I feel so guilty if I don't put it towards the debt total immediately. I think I may have to rearrange how I pay off my debts each month next time, keeping the money in the bank and then being chuffed it's still there at the end of the month, rather than paying it all upfront and ended up a little de-motivated!

2catsandme

Ahh, new member and I've missposted already... Well being it so I'm on the Diary Board...

I'm a 35 year old and live in a flat with my two cats.

I bought the flat 4.5 years ago and the mortgage is v high, £547pm, but I bought just before everyone stopped lending 100%, so I think it's worth it. My fixed rate (6.9%) is up at the end of August, so even though I can't shop around (negative equity), I'm hoping that the repayments will reduce by quite, when they put me on normal repayment rates.

As at the end of January 2012 my total debts (excl mortgage - that's another £90k) are a whopping £24,872.67!!!! The only part of which is sort of justified is £3k loan balance (paid off in Aug) that I took out to top up my fund for what was needed when I moved from home (had savings, but no idea of what things actually costs!)
The rest was frittered away on clothes, makeup, shoes, gifts, going out and then normal bills for food. The worst purchase, that even makes me laugh out loud is that I bought my two cats on my credit card!!! I couldn't even be MS there and get free ones from the shelter!!!

Even though I've always known how much I owe down to the penny and kept a v detailed cashbook, I've never done anything about it. Probably thinking the debt fairy would pay it off in time! This is the start though and I've done the Snowball thingy and it should be 4.5 years. Which in the scheme of things isn't that long and if the repayments on my mortgage really go down and I use the 'saving' to pay off the cards - even less!!

I've scrutinised my monthly outgoings and reduced everything I can. On my monthly net of £1515, I am now making CC and loan repayments of £415, saving £50, paying bills of £900 and leaving myself £150 to live on (incl the boys food and litter). Anything extra I earn (Ebay, etc) is going to go in a seperate savings account for guilt free treats (as floopnoodle kindly suggested).

Right, so I was paid a few days ago and I have the grand sum of £18.31 to last the month - oh dear

Naomim

Hi,

I think once you start seeing your debt reduce it can become quite addictive. This year I am trying hard to throw as much as I can at my debt.

I am an unorganised person by nature so trying not to overstretch myself by eabaying everything in sight and not managing to send it all out. Just a few bits each week.

Have a look at the challenges on the DFW board and see if there is anything you think you could join in with. If you join in and then don't rise to the challenge, don't worry, no-one's going to tell you off Also have a look at the old style board, and the freebies board. I've been to see loads of preview films for nothing because of this board.:T

Naomi x

2catsandme

Thanks Naomi, having a rummage through all the threads now.

Feeling pretty good as my dinner for later (and a few portions to freeze) is in the oven - sausage casserole - all ingredients (okay, excluding the Colmans sachet) were Asda Smart Price

Naomim

Sounds lovely. I am having a very unmotivated day.. still in my nightie and done nothing but eat biscuits. Have just given the kids lunch, DS is playing the wii before the homework battle starts and DD is [STRIKE]scribbling [/STRIKE] drawing. DH is upstairs in bed with a headache (read watching footy/snooker (whichever applies)).

I even put the washing machine on the timer so I could delay it for 1 hour have a shower and wash my hair first.. I think it's about to start and I've done nothing! lol

Naomi

2catsandme

Having your nightie on on a Sunday afternoon is not unmotivated - it's very MS. Nowhere to go in any case, noone to see you, you're saving electric, water and powder by not dirtying clean clothes!!! Yes, I still have mine on too! Will be taking them off and replacing with clean ones this evening after shower!