Positivity Overload - Tips for staying motivated!!

HOK3Y

Hello DFBy30!! Hope you found a little positivity and motivation here. It's a long tough slog at times but when you consider the alternative - a life of slavery to debt - it doesn't seem so horrid. Sometimes I like to consider myself something of a crusader, taking on the banking machine, finding ways to reduce their profit (even if that's just by reducing my interest every month), telling all my friends and family about MSE every chance I get, spreading the word and reducing the nations reliance on plastic one person at a time, standing on mountains and screami.......okay, you get the point!! We are here and we are fighting and we are winning the battle, no matter how hard the lenders are trying to keep us down. Now is the time to feel sorry for all those people in debt who have no idea they are even in battle. They still have a ways to slide yet. Not us. We are already on top of it and hacking through so keep up the good fight and stop by whenever you want to tell us how you've stuck it to big banking today!

Gosh, didn't know I could be so gung-ho on a Monday morning! Credit?! You're going down!! Lol!!!

HOK3Y

Gooooooooood morning!!! Hope everyone's positivity levels are soaring even with the cooler temps and darker nights drawing in. I have discovered a new way (to me) to make money. I knew nothing about asda's price guarantee until someone mentioned it on here so I took my receipt from last night and entered the barcode on their website.......they happily churned out a voucher for £2.51!!! My happiness level just hit the stratosphere!! Now, how many more receipts from Asda can I find lying around the house.......:D

wegle

Haha! I do the same but with Tesco. They give you a receipt straight away with a voucher if your shop would be cheaper elsewhere. Had one the other day for 4p. Old me would have just thrown that away, new me kept hold of it and redeemed it at next shop. Every little helps!!

HOK3Y

Oooooo, didn't know that about Tescos! I tell ya, this site has been amazing for finding pennies - and pounds. Can't believe I've managed without it!

Aaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddd, it's Friday!!!!!!! Not much need for this thread today because everyone should be happy right off the bat!!

HOK3Y

Another point to remember: You cannot be positive all the time so do not beat yourself up if you are having a low day. Nurture yourself, retrreat if you need to, and give yourself what you need to clear your mind and refocus.

Without the negative, you cannot know the positive. :A

And boy have I done my field work to back up that comment recently!

LittleMissDetermined

This is a really great thread, I lost my positivity when I had a run of 'life getting in the way' vets bills, MOT and boiler packed in. I felt as if I was back at square one as my emergency fund was obliterated.

I have just about bounced back (shame my fund hasn't yet) but reading through this I think all the tips are fantastic. Exercise is a good one, I can't run but I swim every day and I find the solitude enables me to re-focus on what I need to do.

One of the biggest things about this site is that you realise you're not alone in your situation, there are many others, often worse off and those who have completed the journey from worse situations to debt-freedom.

Stay positive

LMD x

HOK3Y

Hello LMD! :wave:

You are absolutely right - this forum provides crucial support and comraderie on a very long, boring, but frightening (at times) journey. I think my momentum would have taken a serious hit already if I hadn't been so active here. Knowing there are others fighting the same battle is a huge comfort. I don't think I posted then quote on here but a few weeks ago I posted the most beautiful quote from Caden Beggan's father about grief and I feel it applies to debt in many ways. Part of the quote states that is is idiocy to assume you can weather it alone (I've just done his actual words no justice and should probably be shot), and I think that is so true in this fight. We need support, we need others, and this forum delivers that.

Keep strong, keep positive, LMD - everything always changes and your emergency fund will renew itself and you will feel more in control than you do now. Keep that DF goal in mind and come out swinging!

LittleMissDetermined

Thanks, things are starting to look a lot brighter and although I may not hit my target date due to set backs I hope hope hope I'm not too far after it!

Keep on being positively frugal!

LMDx

HOK3Y

Don't worry LMD, lots of things can change in the meantime so hold onto your DFD as you never know what might come around the corner and help you smash it anyway! . Hugs to you. X

its_maths_not_magic

So much good advice here already (but that won't stop me from putting my own 2 cents in lol).

I've turned money saving into a hobby. Instead of worrying about what I don't have, Im enjoying what I do. I think of it this way, having a lot of stuff that I couldn't really afford didn't make me happy, thats why I ended up at this website, if I was happy I would still be doing what I used to do. Instead I've decided to enjoy life as it is.

It sounds a bit wooly, but Im discovering the best things in life really are free. I walk with my dog through the forrest and find mushrooms, or my dog finds frog holes and goes mental over them which is funny, but I try to discourage him since I don't really want to stress the poor things (he LOVES frogs for some unknown reason). It costs nothing to immerse yourself in nature and gives so much back.

I get happy finding something I need at a lower cost. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I work out my groceries to the penny. I also love the feeling of putting another penny in my savings account and enjoy the security it gives me. I love learning from TED talks and they are free, plus the amazing internet which keeps me busy learning all about the world around me. And cuddling up to the husband with a hot chocolate at night is wonderful. These things give my life meaning and pleasure. More importantly I don't have to worry about losing it all tomorrow. I don't know, life just feels more 'real' now.