How do you deal with lapses?

princess*daisy

Hello all

I'm looking for some advice on how you all deal with any lapses you might have while on your debt free journey. The reason I ask is because this month I have been a bit naughty and spent on my CC (although the card has been cut up, I still have the number/expiry date written down...long story). I'm really gutted because it's the first time in 6 months that I've used it. It's not massive amounts that I've spent, but enough to put me a month behind in terms of my plan to have that card paid off. Also, my spending seems to be slipping a bit. Again, not massively and nowhere near like my pre-LBM spending, but enough for me to notice that it's harder to make my wages last all month. As a result, I feel quite defeated and disappointed in myself

What are your experiences with this kind of thing? Any advice on how to get over this and get back on track? Anything would be much appreciated, thanks

fwor

Overspend months are an unavoidable fact of life - one month in six doesn't sound at all bad.

The thing you really need to be able to do is to have a few underspend months as well. The two may not quite cancel each other out, but it does help to retain the motivation to keep trying. I have roughly the same overspend frequency (typically a couple of times a year) and usually two months of scrimping afterwards comes close to wiping it out.

DVardysShadow

Things happen, debt free or wannabe. So you can end up spending more than your month's income in the odd month. If you are debt free, you just spend a little of the surplus in your bank account in that month and put it right the next month without needing to feel bad about it.

If you are a wannabe, you should still be living to a debt free style - all your debt should be historic rather than current and you can have the same peace of mind about going over in the odd month. What you need to do is firstly have a small emergency fund and secondly, cut down on debt repayment for a month or 2 to get a surplus of say £250 in your current account on the day your pay goes in. This will allow you to spend a little over if the essentials demand it that month - without needing to go back to the credit card and without needing to feel guilty

determined_new_ms

I think generally when I overspend I try to sell some things that are languishing in the cupboards to raise some extra cash - doesn't always work, but it can offset the spends so it doesn't have a massive impact on the next month. Although DF I still do this and when I have an extra expense (this month I want to go to a festival) I sell anything that isn't used regularly to raise some cash

I never did this but some peeps on a thread I post regularly give themselves a small "frivolous" amount to spend each month - say a fiver - and swear it keeps them on the straight and narrow. They say having a small amount they can blow stops them going out and caining the cc

Also try to look for things that are free to do or take up a hobby - me & my oh have taken up rambling. We have downloaded loads of walks in our county and every weekend weather is permitting off we go with a picnic, coffee (and cider if we have it!) and ramble away for the day. Lots of fun, good for our heath and keeps us out of the shops Hths x

asparagus1968

i plan a frugal month!(july has been mine!!)

in june for some reason i had a splurge in boots-£90 worth,think its because it was my birthday and i was fed up and felt i deserved a treat.

so,guilt set in and over july i have recouped that £90.

we all have a blip now and again,we are only human

rdchick

can I ask why you have kept the CC number but cut up the card? It might be best to get rid of it hun, to avoid making new debt? if you haven't got it you can't spend it.

I am having a terrible month financially but I have cut up all my cards and haven't used any other means of borrowing this month - it's going cold turkey and it's really ruddy scary but it's showing me I can do it! xxx

Asiacat

One of the most pithy pieces of advice I've heard is:-


Never turn a slip up into a give up!