New-ish and looking for similar support

Ingela

Hi, i'm fairly new to this board and i've spent a lot of time reading everyone's diarys and long posts and i've got to say i'm very impressed! my debt is nothing like what many people have got, or had and managed to get rid of. It really is amazing.

But. Ive been using these threads in the wrong way. I've been looking at other people's debt and going 'o well, mine isn't so bad then. i don't need to be as frugal as everyone else is.' This is not good behaviour!

So really, what im saying is, if there's anyone else out there in a similar situation debt wise (currently 3.5k) who would like to help and kick each other into touch, that would be great! i really need a way of keeping on track and realising that even 3.5k is too much debt. especially for a 21 year old!

beanielou

just wanted to say hi & welcome
Hope you get someone to support u on your debt free journey.

brainfreeze

Welcome.

I wish I had had my lightbulb moment at 21! And I hope my children are as sensible as you.

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

Hi Ingela
I recognise what you are saying, I did exactly that this time last year I joined mse and my debt was only £8,500 - kept thinking oh I'm fine compared to others - big mistake - now its more than doubled!! Well done you!!
IDA
x

Ingela

brainfreeze wrote: »

Welcome.

I wish I had had my lightbulb moment at 21! And I hope my children are as sensible as you.

I think its because of my parents debt that i'm so scared of mine building up! They're in their early 50s and have nothing to show for years of hard graft, its a pretty terrifying thought for me.

And thanks for all the support so far!

saffronflowers

I know exactly what you are saying - I keep saying "£4,000 is nothing compared to others and it is not even mine! but it is not the right attitude I have snowballed the amount and worked out the soonest we can pay it back. When we have paid it - the money will be saved.

I have got my husband a prepaid credit card for his expenses, so he makes sure he claims them back!!!

Good luck and you are doing the right thing, well done

SFx

Skint_Catt

:hello: Hi hun! Well done on realising so early how you need to be with money. My worse debts were when I lived alone between 21 and 24 - I really struggled but didn't know all the possible ways to cut down that I do now!

I have just under £2.5 left which I hope to go quickly now!

Good luck and we're always here to motivate!

Catt xx

tealady

Good luck with being a DFW. Don't think of it as "only" a certain amount, calculate how much interest you have handed to the banks and it becomes a much larger figure. Then tell yourself what would you do if someone were to give you each month/week the amount you are paying to the bank, it might just give you the incentive to start clearing the debt.

Bunnyinthelights

Good luck and welcome-
Imagine how nice it will be to be DEBT FREE!
Use the knowledge of these boards to achieve that and you'll be EARNING interest instead of paying it...
Bunny x

Ingela

tealady wrote: »

Good luck with being a DFW. Don't think of it as "only" a certain amount, calculate how much interest you have handed to the banks and it becomes a much larger figure. Then tell yourself what would you do if someone were to give you each month/week the amount you are paying to the bank, it might just give you the incentive to start clearing the debt.

How is it possible that i never thought of it like that?? I've had these cards since i was 18, i've given them so much money!!

You're so right, thank you!

Storm

I know what you mean by your debt seeming small in comparison to others, but its all relative, as debts of £1000 are completely unmanageable to some, whilst other people can quite happily service £50k of debts.

Anyway, we're all here to support each other along the way, so please don't worry about the size of your debts, mine are smaller than many people's on here, and I'm not exactly making enormous inroads into them, but the total's going down, steadily, and perhaps the realisation that they weren't enormous compared to others has helped me in that it stopped me panicking - if people can pay off £20K of debt, then I could do £6K!