Keeping sane when money saving?

nalou

I'm new here, been lurking around for a while but this is my first post.

I'd love some advice on how other people on here manage to stay sane while furiously money saving. For me it has got to the stage where I'm obsessed with paying off my debts. I have been keeping a spending diary for a year now and it has become such an obsession that I'm spending hours making different graphs tracking my expenses and how long each debt will take to pay off! Not only that, but I have just moved to London and am finding it hard to meet new people when I am so reluctant to spend money on anything! I don't earn a lot and after rent, bills and travel there isn't a whole lot left.

Any advice?

*Robin*

Hello Nalou, :hello:

Happy shiny new Diary - welcome to MSE Diaries board!

There's a great deal of satisfaction to be had from seeing those negative figures slowly creeping towards zero, and you'll find loads of support here on the way.

London is pricey, true - but also probably has access to more free entertainment than the rest of the UK (though I'm open to being challenged on that, lol!).

Keep posting and you'll soon hear from other MSEers who're in a similar position to yourself on the debt-free journey, then one day you'll find yourself needing to look at Martin's articles on savings, which is a great moment.

Best of Luck Nalou!

elantan

Have you got a realistic debt free date?

Can u devote 2 hrs per month ( when you know how much you will earn) to your spreadsheets and the rest of the time it's just ticking over things that should by now be habitual like you spending diary?

You need to cut yourself some slack and enjoy the journey and all the lessons that happen along the way

NewLeaf_2

do you have time to do any volunteer work? you can meet loads of friends that way