sticking to new budget

azlan

Hi everyone - I'm looking for some advice/tips that helped when you were starting out on this journey to get debt free....
I have a new shiny budget in place and planned out my repayments etc and am battling the " oh, I'll just get........" thinking
I've read a lot of stories about how the spending is replaced with an obsession with saving/bargain hunting etc but what helped you with changing your thinking in the early days before that kicked in?????

Tixy

Have you started keeping a spending diary? If not that can be a good idea, and can make you stop and think before you buy things.

Have you looked at the demotivator tool on here? every time you are tempted by something you don't really need remind yourself that could be another month added to your debt free date!

Perhaps consider joining one of the online challenges on the forum to help you stick out the first few months (the no spend day challenge perhaps or weekly spend challenge).

busybumblebee

I'd definitely recommend the challenges, I'm new to this game and the challenges and the forums have kept me really focused. The No Spend Day challenge has helped and made me step away from a potential buy and I've planned my spending around the days when I know I have to spend anyway. Combine this with the weekly spends challenge and they work really well together.

I have become slightly obsessed already with reducing my debt and I keep getting a bit annoyned with myself that all this debt I'm focusing on paying back could be savings instead, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it I'm just going to keep this focus a remember this time when it is for savings, by then I should be much the wiser! Good luck

his_missus

I joined in with a few of the forum challenges to keep me focussed and to try and curb my spending. In particular I joined the debt free by Xmas challenge and monitored how much debt I'd paid off and as a percentage in my signature. Monthly challenges that focus on spending (groceries, clothes, toiletries, books etc.) are fun too.

I was managing to pay quite a chunk of debt off each month and I kept reminding myself what I could do with that money if I didn't have to pay off debt with it. Last month I bought a new vaccuum when my broke just like that, no need to save, use the CC or manage without one until I could afford to.

Read lots of the diaries on here for inspiration and the Debt Free Roll of Honour thread too.

Little treats are fine if occasionally and if you do succumb to the "oh I'll just get.." thinking think whether you really need it or whether the money could be better used.

Good luck x

azlan

Some great advice - thanks. I've started a spending diary but have been a bit hit n miss with it so have promised myself to keep it religiously!! I've been checking out the challenges - joined one before but unexpected vet bills distracted me. Why is it that every time you try to get on top of this something expensive happens??????? I love the idea of keeping track of the percentage I've paid off

YORKSHIRELASS

For me its all about spreadsheets. I already have my June budget in place, everything accounted for down to the penny and I will go onto my spreadsheet every day and update my spending.

I also have an annual spreadsheet recording my income and expenditure month by month as well as a credit card spreadsheet recording my balances.

This is the one thing that really changed me. Seeing it all in black and white makes it real.

I think it takes time to get your head around it though and to change your habits. I had been in debt since I was 18 and only really started to work at paying it back when I was in my late 30s. Good luck.