Does anyone else feel miserable being skint all the time?

flippin36

People have debts for all kinds of reasons. Some self inflicted, some not. There is a whole world out there with different people and a different set of circumstances. Reading some diaries on here has taught me not to judge.

YoungBusinessman

My debts are totally self inflicted. More or less wouldn't have my income near what it is, without my £32.5k of debt that came with it and £800+ minimum payments each month.This is highest amount that it was at in October. It will be down below £24k tomorrow. Wont always be getting paid off each month as need decent cashflow to keep business going and everything running smoothly...could just see me phoning someone up end of this week saying cant come as need 2 new tyres on my van and i cant afford to get them!

It does make you miserable....if you are comparing yourself to others. I think you need to forget what everyone else is buying etc as for all you know they are on there way UP to £19k while you, doing without the pleasures they have, are on your way DOWN.

I cannot wait for debt free day, it has been lifes most valuable lessons and im a young man (so im told) at 21 years so im glad it will be out the way sooner rather than later. However as soon as its gone there will be a mortgage here to start paying off. Maybe all of us will meet again over on that boards.

kelpie35

This is just a suggestion.

Would it be possible for you to sell the majority of things that got you into this financial mess?

I do not have loads of money but if I get fed up of something or decide on a colour change I then sell it and put towards something new.

Good luck to everyone who is trying to deal with their debts :beer:

lollipopsarah

No you are not alone.
I have no debts now ( if you don't count hubbys credit card), but I don't have any money either.
I earn it to pay the rent and he pays other bills, but we still struggle.
I would love a hair cut and need a pair of shoes for work but s=d it I'll make do - I just get on with it, no point worrying about it because there is always someone worse off.
Yes I do get fed up, but that's life at the moment.
He ho,
Things can only get better!!
xx

Sharon87

kelpie35 wrote: »

This is just a suggestion.

Would it be possible for you to sell the majority of things that got you into this financial mess?

I do not have loads of money but if I get fed up of something or decide on a colour change I then sell it and put towards something new.

Good luck to everyone who is trying to deal with their debts :beer:

I use to do that, whenever I got skint, I sold a few things I bought on ebay. I can't do that much these days as the things I've spent money on have been going out, meals, gigs, festivals. Can't sell experiences. Or maybe I could... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18766865

I'm not in as much debt as some others here, but it's more than enough. I'm still spending more than I should, mostly on music gigs, I have about 8 or 9 lined up for the rest of the year! I can't really afford them, well not all of them. I tried living frugally a couple times, as I was unemployed at the time and I got so miserable, which is why I started spending more money when I started working in my chosen career!

I am now resisting buying gig tickets, there's 2 bands I said I'll see if they go on tour, and that's it and only one 1 I think is likely to be touring soon and that's Green Day.

I sometimes enjoy money saving, but money saving on some things is harder than others.

LondonGirl252

Hi Princess,

I've been at this almost a year now and looking back the first 6 months were the hardest whilst it was breaking old (bad) habits and getting into good ones. It does become normal after a while and you don't notice any different. From talking to friends of mine when they buy nice things most of them follow it up with "can't afford it though" or "god knows when I'll pay that off" so by taking steps now you're bringing forward the date when you can buy things guilt free knowing you can afford it and you'll enjoy them so much more for that.

Just think of the things you'd like with the money whenever you're low and think about how much sooner you can have it now you're on the road to debt freedom

sistafromanothermista

Shark wrote: »

You had your glory days of living a life you could not afford and maybe you made others feel rotten when you bought stuff they wanted.
Now you have a few years of pain to pay back the debt, this luckily for you is a lesson not to burden yourself with these debts in the future and live within your means.

Sorry to sound harsh, but just an outsider looking in point of view.

???? :rotfl: What on earth is this about?????? :rotfl:

lesgeo2012

sistafromanothermista wrote: »

???? :rotfl: What on earth is this about?????? :rotfl:

Heaven knows but it was uncalled for. Rise above it!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

partridge_pie

Glad I am not on my own on this one! And that is only those bothered to be part of this forum. What gets me down is what I could do with the amount I pay off debt each month (although it is coming down drastically).

I have a 5 year old son (getting divorced) and I feel I am letting him down even though the majority of my debt has been caused by my soon-to-be ex-wife. OK my fault partly as I let her buy things but things were bought then promised to be paid off but never were.

Now fortunately I am in total control of my finances, I get the Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit with her consent (she cheated on me so felt guilty I suppose) and we have joint custody.

My LBM came as soon as she left back in November as that enabled me to have complete financial freedom.

Made a few CC transfers etc and a relative paid off a couple of debts to enable me to pay her back directly at 0% interest rather than repaying CC companies with interest - so effectively my debt free date immediately was brought forward.

Current debt:

£900 Barclays Personal Loan at 9.9% (will be repaid Jan 2013)
£852.80 Virgin Money (just transferred from Santander bank account OD) 10.9% until July 2013
£3840 Family relative at 0%
£3122.36 Halifax 0% for about another 17 months or so
£2326.79 Barclaycard 5.9% until Aug 2012 (will have to balance transfer)

Total Debt £11041.95

This has come right down from £12559.45 at the beginning of March 2012 - so £1518 in a short space of time.

My monthly payments are a minimum of £400 (can be more depending on cashflow).

I earn £1416 per month and get £81.20 child benefit every 4 weeks plus £212.54 child tax credit - I do put away £100 per month for savings such as christmas, bithdays, emergency fund etc

Will post later my full SOA - I have been meaning to do this for years!!

redfragglebiker

I know how you feel completely OP - The fact that you know you got yourself in the mess doesn't always negate the fact that you kinow you are earning good money yet still seem to have nothing. Keep plugging away though sweets, it does get better. I just keep counting down to the day I will be debt free again and keep trying to remind myself that what I'm doing now means I'll be free as a bird eventually. When that day hits I will only be buying things IF I CAN AFFORD THEM Nand am quite looking forward to the sense of pride that comes with 'I earned that and paid for it all myself'
Personally I've found the vast majority of fellow MSE'ers to be brilliantly helpful and great help, even if it's just to have a chat with if I'm feeling a bit down about my current situ.

On a side note have you tried signing up to any of the freebie sites that give out samples. It;s not quite the same but it can be a hell of a cheer up to receive a little something in the post that's cost you nothing. It's like getting a little present every so often.

Chin up and hang in there. We're all behind you!