Too much effort on reducing and not enough on growing?

CAFCGirl

climbgirl wrote: »

Two points here - absolutely post your food budget (maybe on Old Style is better). You'll be amazed at how people can suggest cheaper options, nobody lives on rice and beans here, not anymore!

:hello:

I think it all depends on your personal circumstances as to what you can do and sometimes more importantly what you're willing to do.

Since my DF journey I've increased my income by 4.5k, but due to changing circumstances my living expenses have also increased by 45% on rent alone!:mad:

You can take what you can, from where you feel able. I for example find the OS board fantastic for ideas and inspiration but be it motivation or poor time management I have not managed to develop those ways..

However I do agree that sometimes there are cut backs or ways to earning more money even that people do not "exploit" through lack of motivation, or because they honestly believe that it wont make a significant difference to their situation.........

E.G Will making my own bread saves me £100's per year, no it wont (unless you have a serious bread habit) but 100 small changes, over time, could save you £10 each per year, so thats £1000 per year.... and that to me is a significant saving, no matter what level your debt is at

southernscouser

You make some interesting points Dawn and I'm in agreement with some.

Becoming debt free isn't just about making cutbacks, it's about changing your lifestyle. I'm not a big fan of insisting people get rid of Sky. Yes it is a luxury but just because we are in debt doesn't mean we can't enjoy life.

But if it's a case of paying the bills or having Sky it's a no brainer.

As for suggesting extra income, I think every thread gets a reply suggesting ways of increasing income either through things like ebay, Quidco, click throughs to part time jobs or benefits.

The thing is though that people still want to live their lifes. They don't always want to be at work.

But Dawn, if you think that this advice isn't being given you are more than welcome to post and suggest it.

lynzpower

Zulu_Dawn wrote: »

How annoying.

I just made a really long post and it seems to have been lost.

Anyway for those who haven't seen it, I attach a link to my original SOA.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=476482




Sadly it moves my DFD from 2019 to 2018!

To paraphrase Jeffrey Archer after he was made bankrupt " you can't pay back £1million by doing an extra paper round.

That was the essence of my OP.

Interesting use of the word sadly! I would think being debt free a year earlier would be super! I think then the essence of this then would be- do you want to be debt free earlier or not? Personally,for me, being debt free is beyond money. Its pure freedom, freedom from owing anyone anything apart from gratitude. Freedom to plan what I want to do with my life, ( a masters? Wedding? Holidays? New home?travelling? Who knows!)

I did feel a bit agrreieved I got debt free before I wanted to ( everyone knows Im a sadist, I make no apology for washing my hair shirt in value washing powder ) but now, with hundreds spare every month it means i can do things I want to do earlier, be it stare rubbing my hands at my bank blance, waste money on lunches or go out buy clothes, music or holidays whenever I please.

I guess it depends what your priorities are

LookingAhead

Wow really interesting thread!

A couple of things occurred to me as well.

Firstly I always found that the more I earned, the more I spent because the payments to the credit cards & loans just got easier.

Also secondly - though I think this depends on your 'take' in life - increasing income and not cutting back just continues to feed the consumer demon within us! Which as we all know can be a debt building monster.....
:eek:

Sea78

Zulu_Dawn wrote: »

Sadly it moves my DFD from 2019 to 2018!

To paraphrase Jeffrey Archer after he was made bankrupt " you can't pay back £1million by doing an extra paper round.

That was the essence of my OP.

Like Lynz, I am surprised that you do not seem pleased at this! I cut back on a couple of things (like, for example, mobile phone useage) and it came to about £75 a month - which, for me, make a few years difference. I also know that if I can save an extra £100 a month, I can clear those debts even faster. It gives so many more options when you are debt free, again as Lynz says.

I've watched those with massive debts:eek: (sorry ) with awe - for example, Hypno - she obviously had a large debt to start and does everything she can to pay it off, with AMAZING results - and yet her children still have their beloved ski-ing lessons and her hubby still has his motorbike etc, so while she has made massive cut backs, people are still enjoying life. By cutting back on those things that aren't essential to a) our wellbeing or b)our true happiness (try for a while without something, whatever that might be - if it's really that horrendous, get it back!). So whether you have a large or small income, large or small debts, the savings and debt payments you can make are all relative.

I think this is the point of the cut backs. But that's my waffley opinion!

Sea xx

SarahNeedle1872

beemuzed wrote: »

Have really enjoyed reading this post - well argued and no nastiness!! However, have just had a thought - bills for food etc. really do depend where you live...we are in a so-called "affluent area" with only Waitrose or Tesco to shop locally. Our Tesco have just stopped selling Value tissues (30p approx a box?) because this is an affluent area (their explanation!!!) and the cheapest available now are over a pound a box!!! Just one example.
I know that when visiting my sisters in South Wales or my Mum in Dorset I can always rely on the supermarket shop being a lot cheaper than here at home. So, yet another thing to factor in...location, location...etc.

I agree with the wholeheartedly... I'm SO jealous of people who live close to Aldi/Netto/Lidls etc, coz we don't have any round here - even the nearest Asda is 20mins drive away. We've got Wilkinsons, but thats no good for food!

Love the thread ZD....

Sarah x

hypno06

I would be really excited at putting another £75 a month in my snowball calculator, and would be dead chuffed at shaving 12 months off my debt free date!

Of course we all know that we have to earn more than we spend in order to be comfortable, and eventually debt free. But that comes from two directions - earning more, and spending less. Some are easier that others for different people.

So for example we sometimes see SOAs where it is blindingly obvious that there is nothing to cut back. The advice there would be to try and get an extra income, and some fab ideas are given.

We also see a lot of SOAs where there are lots of things that COULD be cut back. No one is telling the poster what to do, but they are giving them the benefit of their experience.

As a result of these boards, I have done both - increased my income by doing extra mystery shopping, ebaying and amazon etc, but also cutting back on my expenses - got rid of the cleaner, cancelled the gym and learning to budget for my shopping (most of the time!), and I am sure that most people on these boards have done the same.

Become debt free is a journey - a bloody long one. We know that we need treats from time to time to keep us sane. We also know that everyone has differing priorities. But we are learning all the time how to get ourselves to the point that we can be financially TRULY comfortable, and how to get the best out of what we have got.

I gave up my job in the City to do something that is seen by some as completely off the wall. By doing this, I am spending more time with the children, and am less stressed - life is balanced. Yet at the same time, although I earn a fraction of what I brought in before, I have managed to pay more off my debt in a much shorter time, because I am learning to budget and to make money in other ways!

Sorry, I have gone on too long......:o

auntie_brenda

I too have found this thread really interesting. For my DF 'journey' there have been 3 elements - maximise, minimise & cut out. So I've maximised income (ebay, mystery shopping, just been accepted for 82 ask :j :j ), minimised my bills (changed suppliers, no stand-by, 1 washing tablet etc) and cut out (mainly luxuries like going to pub at lunchtime, every time I'm in office. I go maybe once a month now & really enjoy it, before it was just what I always did & it was boring).

These 3 elements have to be in balance to be workable. However, I have seen people on here saying they can't give up sky (full package) as it's their only luxury - but the mortgage co are taking them to court for arrears. Well sorry, you don't get much of a reception on your sky dish when you're living in the gutter . It's the mind set people are trying to draw attention to, not the specifics, and in many cases if the mind set and spending don't change then all that's happening is they're staving off the inevitable.

ZD, you're right, cancelling sky might not make a great difference, but it's the willingness to tackle these issues that DOES make a difference.

hypno06

auntie_brenda wrote: »

These 3 elements have to be in balance to be workable. However, I have seen people on here saying they can't give up sky (full package) as it's their only luxury - but the mortgage co are taking them to court for arrears. Well sorry, you don't get much of a reception on your sky dish when you're living in the gutter . It's the mind set people are trying to draw attention to, not the specifics, and in many cases if the mind set and spending don't change then all that's happening is they're staving off the inevitable.

ZD, you're right, cancelling sky might not make a great difference, but it's the willingness to tackle these issues that DOES make a difference.

That's what I was trying to say, but I waffled for too long and got lost :rotfl:

oops_a_daisy

auntie_brenda wrote: »

I too have found this thread really interesting. For my DF 'journey' there have been 3 elements - maximise, minimise & cut out. So I've maximised income (ebay, mystery shopping, just been accepted for 82 ask :j :j ), minimised my bills (changed suppliers, no stand-by, 1 washing tablet etc) and cut out (mainly luxuries like going to pub at lunchtime, every time I'm in office. I go maybe once a month now & really enjoy it, before it was just what I always did & it was boring).

These 3 elements have to be in balance to be workable. However, I have seen people on here saying they can't give up sky (full package) as it's their only luxury - but the mortgage co are taking them to court for arrears. Well sorry, you don't get much of a reception on your sky dish when you're living in the gutter . It's the mind set people are trying to draw attention to, not the specifics, and in many cases if the mind set and spending don't change then all that's happening is they're staving off the inevitable.

ZD, you're right, cancelling sky might not make a great difference, but it's the willingness to tackle these issues that DOES make a difference.

Maximise, Minimise & Cut out - brilliant Aunty B