Feeling like I never learn....

FatPuddingMumma

I haven't drink for 7 years LOL I think my bad habit is just a lack of personal restraint, and letting DH talk me into takeaways.....

I'm gonna work on SOA today

MEM62

The 'light bulb moment' isn't a magical idea to instantly clear debt. It's the point where you realise that you need to deal with the situation - and you have already got that far. Every journey, no matter how long, starts with the first step. Break the situation down into smaller, less intimidating chunks and start taking small steps towards your debt-free goal.

foxgloves

My partner & I used to be very good at talking oursleves into ordering takeaways, eating out, buying extra treats from the supermarket, etc. We cut this behaviour down a lot when we were debt-busting as it was just an unsustainable waste of money, set against other stuff we actually needed to buy and longer term financial goals. After tackling the debt, which required us to exercise exactly the restraint you mention, we decided to tackle our substantial weight once & for all. This is an ongoing process, but I've lost almost 6 stone & partner has lost 4. It turned out that lack of restraint regarding choices was what had got us into both debt and an unhealthy place weight-wise. It was odd at first how success in tackling the debt seemed to build the skills we needed to tackle the weight, but you know, the skills are very basic ones......lots of planning, budgeting, setting achievable goals, keeping records (spending journals & now for us, noting down our calorie intake), having treats which are not expensive or food-related, cooking from scratch (has helped the debt-busting and the dieting) and above all, realising & accepting that with both the big debt & big overweight, there was nobody else responsible for the situation except ourselves. It's that old saying 'The definition of insantiy is doing everything the same, but expecting different results'. We chose to overspend our income & eat too much high calorie food. Now we choose not to. if takeaways are a problem for you, something that helped us was finding some recipes for what some people call 'Fakeaways'. For instance, most weeks, I include a home-made pizza on our meal plans. I also experimented with lots of curry recipes cooked from scratch & am now getting together recipes to try making more Mexican style food. We did have a takeaway pizza this weekend, the first time for over a year & I really enjoyed it, but not so much that I would regularly blow both my money & calorie budget on it like I did in the bad old days! Best of luck with it - Just keep reminding yourself that if you don't like the results of the choices you are currently making, to make different choices x

busybumblebee

Keep checking this forum too, join some challenges and make some good habits. Get motivated that way. I've had a bit of a 'spendy' weekend and to be honest, I'm not sure where some of the money was spent, but it wasn't too much and it's not put me behind, but I feel that I should have kept a better eye on things (because of the advice in these great forums) and I've only been doing this a few weeks, so I'm actually pleased to be feeling like this :-)

You could double amounts of cooking too and freeze it, so that you can just put that in the microwave to defrost and warm up, rather than resorting to the takeaway, quicker than waiting for delivery too!

Good luck with your transformation :-)

FatPuddingMumma

Thankyou all so very much for your kind words, and gentle verbal kicks up the backside - actually what I needed to hear.

The record keeping you mention Foxglove s definitely something I need to sart, think I'm naive in what's 'actually' being spent, and so I just ball park it, but it's probably often £2-3 higher than my top guesstimate.

Spending diary starts today, this evenings job is to do an SOA.
THANKS AGAIN XX

too_much_debt

Hi there

Not sure if you will remember me from the Paper Hat thread! It is nice that you are still around, I was deleting old e-mails last week and was reading some of the old messages and wondering how everyone was getting on.

I am still in debt and struggling but am looking for an evening or weekend job to fit in around OH and the kids, I have three girls youngest is 5, then 7 and 8 (nearly 8 and 9). Years ago before meeting OH I used to work full time and did 3 evenings a week Data Entry for Pet Plan so am looking for something part time like that (typically there doesn't seem to be much like that around now).

I am trying not to go out anywhere to avoid being tempted to spend money.

I have a Budget book where I keep any receipts I get and then get a shock at the end of the month when I add them up, mainly it's food and some diesel although am trying to walk to do the school runs.

Afraid I don't have any more tips on getting debt free but I do like reading other threads to get tips and it keeps me focussed on trying not to spend a lot.

TMD

FatPuddingMumma

TMD!!!!!

Hun, it's been too long, I miss the Paper Hatters!so nice to hear from you x


We've had a little new addition, well I say new, he's 3 in June!

kickuptheasstime

Hi FPM
I've not long had my LBM - I've known for a long time that I've got money issues but somehow I've carried on regardless :mad:
I think one of the best ways to get your head around things is to do the spending diary - since 15th April (LBM) I have noted down everything I've spent, whether bills, food, petrol, chocolate, etc., etc. right down to the pennies, and yes it's a real eye-opener! I'm starting to see where my issues lie & focus on not going into any more debt & managing the pennies that I do have
I just wanted to say the very best of luck to you (not that you need luck with all of the lovely people on these forums) and I'm sure that you will work it all out and become DF

KUTAT x

too_much_debt

I remember you had a son, is this the same one or do you have two now?

I've subscribed to your diary.

FatPuddingMumma

He's the same one lol x

Thanks KUTAT, I've got my diary in my bag with a pen, and Lo and behold no spend day! Lol