What else has debt made you think about?

thatsean

So for many of us on here debt, the getting into it - and the slow climb out is a very deep experience.

For me it involved feelings of denial, shame, regret, apathy and finally more shame as it finally dawned on me the situation that I was in.

Having decided to leave a high paid job for the sake of my health and spend some time studying while I'm on my road to recovery/DF I've spent a lot of time thinking about life, and what it is that I want.

I've also found that when you have to evaluate every pound you spend, you soon learn that money spend on experiences, rather than things makes you happier. In the spirit of that, I've booked some skiing lessons - it's my birthday soon, as I can't ski - and live near a ski slope, and one day, will be able to afford a skiing holiday.

Curious what other peoples' journeys are like, what have you discovered you like that you never thought you did - or what have you found you could live without far more easily than you expected?

sistafromanothermista

Well i've found i actually quite like the feeling checking the bank gives me (when it's in the black that is :laugh:) I've also recently given up smoking to save money which i have found much easier than i thought i would!!
Also i have come to realise how much my husband supports me in everything i want to do :kisses3:

FireWyrm

sistafromanothermista wrote: »

Well i've found i actually quite like the feeling checking the bank gives me (when it's in the black that is :laugh:) I've also recently given up smoking to save money which i have found much easier than i thought i would!!
Also i have come to realise how much my husband supports me in everything i want to do :kisses3:

I gave up smoking too a month or two ago and I put £80 a month into a box and that's my 'do whatever' money. If the kids need something for school, an emergency pair of shoes, or just a box of chocolates for me, that's the money I use. I feel quite good about it.

Permanently_confused

Thatsean, what a fantastic question!

I totally agree with you about getting debt free becoming more about experiences than "things". The experiences are what will stay with you forever as well, not impulse purchases or things you bought that you now only remember through looking at old credit card statements.

Travelling is now a big thing for me - I used to spend more on clothes/ shoes a month than I will on a two week holiday (booked last minute and on the cheap) and I will have the holiday memories forever.

I totally agree with sistafromanothermista about how good it is to see your bank balance in the black as well!

However, as much as I can now afford to do a bit of travelling/ treat myself every now and again, I still feel guilty buying clothes and anything else I used to buy that helped get me into debt, even when I genuinely need them. (I had a lot of help from an ex getting into trouble, the majority of things were for him, but I am the one that bought them on my credit, so the decision was mine.) Does anyone else experience that?

Good Luck quitting smoking!

lucylong1

going on a dmp with cccs , just last week, i at this present time feel a releif lifted off me already, knowing i can look forward to one payment a month, and calls etc to my home stopping has given me lots of hope. i hope to see a new improved me , with self esteme and a few quid to buy something for my kids instead of always saying no..

Fiddlestick

Permanently_confused wrote: »

However, as much as I can now afford to do a bit of travelling/ treat myself every now and again, I still feel guilty buying clothes and anything else I used to buy that helped get me into debt, even when I genuinely need them.

My head works in strange ways.

When I get paid at the end of the month I can quite happily spend 30+ on a new computer game as something for my hard work that month, yet I'll really begrudge spending a tenner on a packet of socks even though I need them

Fiddlestick

Permanently_confused wrote: »

Good Luck quitting smoking!

Seconded.

I've been an on-off smoker for the last thirteen years, with the longest I've gone between periods of smoking being three and a half years.

Tomorrow will be a week since my last cigarette and I'm feeling pretty positive about it.

I hope everything goes as well for you

beadgirl87

Thats a good question and I was just thinking about this last night actually.
for me the biggest change/surprise was that I just wanted to know how to cut down my debt and spend money a bit better, but have ended up changing alot more of my life than expected. I've found I have learn to cook alot better and eat better food, my house is cleaner and better looked after. I have started growing flowers and some veg and this small hobby makes me to happy to look out every morning at my little plants. I have also reorgainsed my room and was getting a bit swamped with all the stuff I've had, now I have managed to have my room slightly more minimalist. I am alot more orgainsed with regards to money, cooking and buying food, making packed lunches, planning chores etc.
It has improved many areas of my life which I was not bothered about before.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

beadgirl87 wrote: »

Thats a good question and I was just thinking about this last night actually.
for me the biggest change/surprise was that I just wanted to know how to cut down my debt and spend money a bit better, but have ended up changing alot more of my life than expected. I've found I have learn to cook alot better and eat better food, my house is cleaner and better looked after. I have started growing flowers and some veg and this small hobby makes me to happy to look out every morning at my little plants. I have also reorgainsed my room and was getting a bit swamped with all the stuff I've had, now I have managed to have my room slightly more minimalist. I am alot more orgainsed with regards to money, cooking and buying food, making packed lunches, planning chores etc.
It has improved many areas of my life which I was not bothered about before.

Great thread.

I'm with bead girl on this one. In addition have thought about being mortgage free one day and planning for retirement. Once my DMP finishes I plan to plough 80% of my dmp payment towards making my future more sustainable. The snowball mortgage calculator has been fantastic for this.

I dread to think what I have paid in interest and the wasted things I have bought.

Still, lessons learnt, hopefully!

HHx

Barbeduk

I also agree with above posts, it was almost as if debt was making all of my life out of control. Now the cc and overdraft are gone, I need to focus on the mortgage. I am also so much more organised in my home and work life.

I've been broke and I've been comfortably off and it's weird to say it but I think I'm a much nicer person when I'm a bit broke. It also makes me realise that the things that give me the most pleasure are free: walking on the moor, going to the beach, hanging out with the kids.

Good luck with giving up the smokes everyone.

thatsean

I'd agree with you there Barbed, I think I'm a far more patient person now that I've had to do my own bit of soul searching. Also, well jel (as the kids say) that you live near a beach - I'm about as far from one as it's possible to be :-(