oh my life...... Light Bulb moment.

crazy_cat_lady

It took me almost 6 years - I went through Stepchange and did a dmp. Some months were awful, some were relatively straightforward. I had times where I cried, times where I went a bit wild and times where I got a bit addicted to money saving. My only regret is not joining up on here earlier. I joined in August when one of my uninsured cats needed an operation on her leg to the tune of almost £1000 and I just couldn't find the money. All of the support and advice I got on here really focussed me into finding the extra money to get it sorted, and bringing my df date forward by 3 months. I am completely and totally broke this month but have the feeling it will be the best Christmas ever.
I found that joining in with challenges on here really helps - I do a few, and I also invested in YNAB software to help me budget right from the beginning of the month rather than waiting until the cash ran out and then doing nothing until next payday. I'm still not overly keen on recording every single penny I spend because it's a hassle but like everything else in my life, if I don't write it down then I forget about it.
Oh, and my diary as well - I find that writing everything down and sharing with like minded people on here is a real help. You will get there Mimi - life has its ups and downs, good days and bad days - just don't give up on getting there...

January2015

I had my LBM in January this year, and started my DMP in March. The biggest thing that has made it possible was finding YNAB (apart from this forum of course )

I cannot recommend it enough.

Think positively - you have recognised your debts and problems at a much earlier stage that some others (er.....that would be me then )

MiMi66

Thank you so much Crazy Cat lady and January 2015!
I don't know what a YNAB is? Will crawl out from under cats and have. breakfast and google the acronym. I am wondering if it is something Hong like 'You Need A Break' or 'You're Not A Bloody-hopeless-financial-case' or even 'Yes, Never Again Buy-anything'..... I could go on?

foxgloves

Hello Mimi, I remember your thread from last year & how hard you were working to adapt spending habits to address your debts. I'm sure you can do this again now that your head is in the right place. For those of us who have been over-spenders, thete is always that knowledge that old habits might just resurface as a default setting. We've been debt-free since 2011 but I still post regularly on the DFW daily things thread as it helps focus my mind on my simpler lifestyle & what I need to do to maintain it. I can only say to encourage you that there is simply no bag of tat I could come home with now which would make me feel as happy as paying off that final bit of debt did.
Welcome back. Breathe, focus, accept support where it's offered & finish the job.
Good luck,
F x

January2015

MiMi66 wrote: »

Thank you so much Crazy Cat lady and January 2015!
I don't know what a YNAB is? Will crawl out from under cats and have. breakfast and google the acronym. I am wondering if it is something Hong like 'You Need A Break' or 'You're Not A Bloody-hopeless-financial-case' or even 'Yes, Never Again Buy-anything'..... I could go on?

That made me smile.... but it actually stands for You Need a Budget

Great support thread on this forum

MiMi66

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

It took me almost 6 years - I went through Stepchange and did a dmp. Some months were awful, some were relatively straightforward. I had times where I cried, times where I went a bit wild and times where I got a bit addicted to money saving. My only regret is not joining up on here earlier. I joined in August when one of my uninsured cats needed an operation on her leg to the tune of almost £1000 and I just couldn't find the money. All of the support and advice I got on here really focussed me into finding the extra money to get it sorted, and bringing my df date forward by 3 months. I am completely and totally broke this month but have the feeling it will be the best Christmas ever.
I found that joining in with challenges on here really helps - I do a few, and I also invested in YNAB software to help me budget right from the beginning of the month rather than waiting until the cash ran out and then doing nothing until next payday. I'm still not overly keen on recording every single penny I spend because it's a hassle but like everything else in my life, if I don't write it down then I forget about it.
Oh, and my diary as well - I find that writing everything down and sharing with like minded people on here is a real help. You will get there Mimi - life has its ups and downs, good days and bad days - just don't give up on getting there...

That sounds like the journey I have had to date and likely to go on until I achieve a debt free status - really reassuring to know there are people like you who have faced it and managed to be debt free. And a broke but clean feeling for Christmas - what a wonderful gift you have given yourself! I hope you have a lovely time surrounded by those who care for you and appreciate what you have achieved. Gifts are not the point of Christmas afterall.

We are having a practical Christmas - great kids again about this. I am opting to get a coat for my son as he needs a new warm one, and boots for my daughter and stockings with pants and socks and toiletries that would be needed. Books maybe. All paid for at purchase by cash. Baked beans for the month until we get to the main event. And I am not going to Christmas working outings in general - I have so many on offer as I work across teams - I shall be 'busy' as they are just money hungry evenings out.

Thank you again for sharing how you managed it. I'm glad I am not the only one who had blips and ups and downs. This site is a fantastic reality check and support isn't it.

January2015

Hi Mimi

Just a thought - last Christmas I didn't buy any Christmas 'extra' goodies (food/sweets/mince pies/puddings) until after Christmas Day.

I spent £44 and got several joints for the freezer, packets of biscuits, sweets etc. etc. So we still had Christmas goodies to the same over indulged quantity as before but spent about a quarter of what I would usually have spent.

Also, in years gone past, I made a pact with my kids (they were teenagers then) that 'christmas' day present opening would be on New Year's day. They knew we were struggling for money (hubby was unemployed that Christmas). They were brilliant about it, and we bought the pressies in the sales.

MiMi66

January2015 wrote: »

That made me smile.... but it actually stands for You Need a Budget

Great support thread on this forum

Ahhhhh yes I do need a better budget than the one I have!! Mine evidently is not working. I will look at that!

So today: clean out lovely hens (Fluffnut and Chequers) who bizarrely have started laying, well Fluffnut has - green large eggs - pretty.
Tidy disgusting bedroom and face the fact that half my clothes would not stand up to going outside, and bag them up and get rid. I have heard you can get material weighed and sell it?
Look at YNAB and get a grip today on money going out. I have £30 in my wallet til I get paid on Friday and that is going to pack lunch supplies and a little food. Hopefully will have some left for the pot
Contemplate more decluttering, but have to be mindful not to overdo it and hurt healing surgical wounds - have 5 incisions. Stitches still in place and itchy distracting things they are! Actually having the surgery was good for my health but really bad for my debt - loss of overtime ability and I immersed myself in Internet shopping..... So bad. Hoping I can start to pick up some extra work over Christmas but will need to be very careful not to overdo it.
Anyway - now rambling. Still under live cat blanket. Lovely ☺️

crazy_cat_lady

There's such a lot of stress around Christmas - keeping up with the Joneses etc. I think the reality for most is very different to what we see in the films etc. I'm adjusting to a different sort of Christmas this year but I don't mind one bit - the important thing for me is the time off work and with my family. I like a useful Christmas because I feel so annoyed when I see a house full of gifts that never get opened etc. I'd far rather spend a little bit of money on things people want and will use...

12_month_challenge

Hi MiMi

I just wanted to pop in and wish you luck on your journey.

I have only just started out and have up days and down days

I find that keeping a diary is really helping. Most of the time I ramble on about nothing but it helps.

I have learned so much on here and have had nothing but positive,non judgemental advice and tips to clear my debt.

I will subscribe to spur you on and I will be taking small steps to becoming debt free with you.

Small steps and we WILL get there :T:T
x