Diary of a Debt Busting Depressive

DancerSupreme · 18 November 2013 at 9:41AM

Well here I am again finding myself in a bit of a pickle. This time it is easily managed.

A Bit About Me

For around a decade now I have suffered with depression. It took having a baby almost 5 years ago to finally take action against it. I suffer pre-natal and post natal depression. I was told I wouldn't have children so everything has played a big part in my illness.

I moved away from my family to be with my husband and also found that it took a long time to settle and depression ran rife for a long while.

My husband didn't believe depression existed until around 3 years ago. It has been a long battle.

Our Debt

When my husband and I met he brought with him a lot of debt from a previous marriage. We had to work hard to bring things into order.

Unfortunately I did he typical thing that folks suffering with depression do - spend spend spend. I thought it would make me feel good but it was a vicious circle of spending to try and feel better, feeling guilty for spending when we needed to save and then spending to feel better again.

We had our LBM in August 2009 just after our son was born. I threw myself into saving and paying off the bill. In February 2011 we made our final payment.

We then decided in 2012 to take a chance at emigrating. We had a offer of jobs and a home and it was a case of if we don't try it we will always wonder so we took a chance.

After 3 months we found we were struggling and not as happy as we hoped for (short version!). We came home but in doing so we had to accrue some debt. All manageable. Borrowed from family.

Unfortunately since then we have had bad hit after bad hit. Family needed the money back so naturally we took a loan to get them straight. Only fair. The last few months we have been spending willy nilly. My 27 year old brother in law died suddenly in his sleep on his birthday. Since then it has been a downward spiral.

The Outcome

Realised I am being daft and decided to do something about it again.

The Goal

We have no debt on credit cards just loans and HP. So therefore our goal is to save as much as we can and then pay off lump sums when we can. We would like to get a mortgage soon so we have a target.

Hubby has just accepted a new job with lower pay but better opportunities for progression. We have to make the money stretch as currently on paper we are overdrawn.

How We Will Do It

Hubby is on board for helping. Luckily we have noticed the triggers for spiral spending when I am feeling low. Hubby has agreed to help me manage that. I tend to agree to him and the kids having things as I try to make them happy when I am not. So no shopping trips but hubby will also monitor the spreadsheets so I don't have to say yay or nay. He can see for himself we cannot afford it and not put that decision to me.

We are going to try and limit our fuel and food as these are our costs that alter. All other bills are fixed and skimmed back as best as possible.

Then we are looking for ways to boost our income. This is tonight's job! I also do shop and scan which is great for shopping vouchers for birthdays and Christmas.

Any tips would be great and feel free to hop along for the ride. All moods will be listed from highs to lows.

Grab a seat but buckle in for the rollercoaster ride.

xxx