trying to become debt free is making me sad :(

hypno06

Oh how I wish I had £100 for spends to last me to the end of the month:o This month is really tight and we have £100 for food and household shopping for a family of 5 for the month :eek: Thank goodness it isn't every month.

£100 spends can go a long way - think of the enjoyment you get out of choosing what you can spend it on, with the satisfaction that it is budgetted for and you will be free of debt in 4 short months.

Your friend may look flush now, but she may wind up with a problem in due course.

lyndah2004

thanks everyone! i feel a little better! i know that my debt is small in comparission to others but i have never been o nthe whole budget theng before

lynda x

rayday2

Well stick to it for 4 more months and you will have a slightly bigger one with possibly some new habits learnt and determined never to HAVE to budget again which I wish I had discovered a few years back with a couple less redunancies and divorces lol!

EllieB_2

I know its hard and feels depressing at first trying to stick to a budget - but believe me in the long run it will make you feel happy not sad - cos you are in control - your friend may be spending but unless she has saved that money first -the buzz is quickly replaced by panic - I know I have been there. Spending money you have saved for something gives you a great feeling - spending someone else's money on something you don't need doesn't do it. The best feeling of all is feeling you are in control of your finances. Better than a new top any day.

Molanole

lyndah - take a look at my sig. The debt at highest amount is what happens when you listen to the little sad voices. In my case it was CD's and gig tickets rather than clothes but the little voices are the same. Do you really want this to happen to you? I'm 30, have a well paid job with long stressful hours with a salary that is TOTALLY swallowed up by debt repayments, when I should be buying a house, travelling the world, enjoying my very hard earned cash.

BUT, and this is the clincher. The short lived buzz I used to get from spending is FAAARRRR surpassed by the huge sense of self righteousness when pay day comes around and another massive chunk is paid off my debt. That's what being on this site does to you. You still look forward to pay day but for completely different reasons.

I suspect that you may not have had your lightbulb moment yet, the moment where you think "I really really really have to tackle my debts, otherwise what's the point of life", that moment normally comes at crunch time when there's no other option. But you're in the right place none the less. Stick around here, read this board, get to know a few people, perhaps get involved in some of the challenges, hopefully you can pick up enough tips here to avoid a MAJOR debt crisis in your life further down the line.

backtomum

lyndah2004 wrote: »

i owe about £4400, My OH raves abotu this site and did me a budget that see me debt free in september this year!

i have £150 spends a month, (bearing in mind i used to spend about £400 a month on clothes alone)

i have been paid 12 days ago now and i have spent £42.38 (i have receipts for everything and i write down what i spend in a little book (OHs idea))

i get paid again 3 weeks today and i have £100 left! is this possible??? (this £100 does not include food i have money set aside for food shopping)


also i went shopping with my best friend on wed and she spent over £150 in one shop on her credit card, where i spent £2 on one top, it made me very sad as i would like to spend like her too

lynda x

Hi Lynda - I know its hard - but fortunately you don't owe too much and just think about when you are solvent. You'll be a lot happier in the long run. I get fed up too. I work and sometimes can't help feeling a little envious about the holidays, cars and clothes my colleagues can buy and afford. I only ever carry my bus fare with me - I'm often down to zero money by Wednesday of every week.

katepnlo

it is hard isnt it! my debt free date was this coming tuesday...then the tv blew up!! so i am back to owing 650.00 on tuesday. We have been paying our debt for the last couple of years and i often get a huge NEED to go shopping.....but i cant! i cant spend the money knowing i will only owe it back lol it is good when your mind gets in the right place
you really dont have debt to pay and it does go quickly, once you get into the swing of it, i think it is a great feeling seeeing the debt come down i have big plans of starting up the renovation of our house in a month or two......with our own money not credit and it is a great feeling
The forums here are great theyu really are haveyou reclaimed any bank cahrges?? i am mid doing ours, only 3 banks, but two have replied and so far with interest i am claiming just over 200.00 and i estimate another 100.00 off my bank..that could be 300.00 for a few minutes to write a letter or two :O)
good luck
kate

Broken_hearted

I think it's great you will be debt free by September. You will be able to spend what you like again without getting into debt plus you'll be able to look back and see how unhappy these few months have been. It's a lesson everyone should learn you should feel proud of yourself.

jo1972

Hi there,

I know what you mean about feeling sad, I also feel sad when I listen to colleaques at work saying they're going clothes shopping that evening, or more recently one of them looking to buy a new house. I've been in so much debt and can no longer get credit so know that buying a house of my own is a dream that is a long long way off.

I only joined this board yesterday and already feel the weight is lifting off my shoulders just by sharing my situation with others that understand. Although I only saved £2.80 yesterday it all adds up and I've been given some great ideas and tips to save here and there. I feel I've been given a challenge and I am looking forward to see how quickly I can pay off all my debts, make my salary last the whole month and actually deposit something into my savings account which hasn't seen any money for about 10 years lol!!

Well done with taking the first step, don't be sad be proud to be dealing with your debts!!

Jo.x

Hobsch

Please dont feel sad. I know its easy to say that and sometimes harder to do. But remember its only September, its not long. I have until the end of 2011 at the moment. I used to feel sad seeing my friends buying whatever they like, but then again they were doing it on credit cards or with their overdraft etc and now as someone has already mentioned they have to pay that off otherwise they may end up in the same situation.
Thanks to your OH and the bedgeting and the liitle book etc you will be debt free which is what we all strive for and once you are debt free you will hopefully be ready to never be in debt again.
Dont be sad, be positive.