what COULDN'T you give up on your DF Journey

hettiecarro

Hi everyone.
Just been sitting here thinking - as one does, and realised that even though I THINK I'm understanding and sympathetic, I still find myself being unjustly judgemental when DFW's say they can't do without things.
Just wondered what if anything you good folks couldn't sacrifice - even though you knew you should.
For myself and OH it was probably a take away once a month and our sky sports subscription. TOTALLY unnecessary in lots of peoples view - but we couldn't even contemplate going without them
It probably has added a good few extra months to our debt free journey - but who knows if we'd have stuck to the plan if we'd given them up.
Any thoughts?

thecassman86

Hey!

We have always eaten what i'd consider "expensive" food; it's a vice of mine rather than my wife's, if i'm honest...! Essentially, if, for example, i had a steak - i'd get fillet steak - that kind of thing! I always felt before i started working through my debts that i'd struggle to live without these things. They are certainly indulgences but it had just become the norm for us. We do without them though.

On a Sunday we always drive into the country; we never really go for any reason, we don't usually stop for anything other than a walk, but we often drive for a while. This obviously costs us money in fuel (our car isn't particularly economic!), but it's something we couldn't imagine not doing. If it's nice weather then it cheers us both up after our week at work. I couldn't give it up; even if petrol prices doubled!

Puddylove

My horses, although they're the main reason I have debt (vet bills).

I'm keen to get rid of my debts, but I do manage my money fairly well; to date I've never been late paying, or defaulted, and they are only about one quarter of my annual income.

If I was really in trouble, I might reconsider.

FireWyrm

My jewellery. I have some beautiful pieces that are worth lots including my grandmother's wedding ring which alone would pay off at least one credit card. If I sold them, I could probably pay off all my debt tomorrow and still have plenty left over to fill up an ISA. I have one or two pieces which are earmarked as 'absolute emergency' funds, but the rest, I just cant bring myself to hock even if it would make my life easier.

I've given up TV, dishwasher, tumble dryer, car (sold), Ipad (sold for baby clothes), various old phones (sold), smoking and drinking (we brew our own now). I'm even down to making my own cheese because I'm too tight to pay £1 per 100g for my favourite type of cream cheese. Every spare penny is going to the debts one way or another.

FinanciallyUnsavvy

I have serious respect for people who do manage to cut back on literally EVERYTHING in order to chuck out the debt. I think if I'd had my LBM a year or two down the line I'd be in a situation where I'd have had little choice but to live on beans and cancel everything humanely possible.

As it is, I've managed to get by without really affecting my comfort level at all. I couldn't cancel Sky - I don't get out all that much so TV is my friend :rotfl:

I've switched shopping at Asda/Morrisons/one-off trips to Co-op for a pint of milk that turned into £20 baskets etc. etc. to one weekly shop at Aldi. Since I'm doing this I actually think we're eating better, and I spend less than £30 a week.

I started making lunches to take to work instead of buying from the canteen/Greggs/Boots meal deal. This has probably saved me upwards of £60 a month. I've just cut out general "wasteful" buying in general. Unless I REALLY want or need something, it's a big fat no.

I'm still eating out every so often and having takeaways, still meeting friends for a coffee and everything I did before.

I've put time into making extra money online and by selling things on ebay, but really my life hasn't been affected too much, so I can't help but think WHY DID I NOT DO THIS SOONER?! It's a nice feeling every time I update my signature and see the numbers going down, down, down. Honestly get so much more of a buzz from that than any kind of impulse buy!

Trishiapp

Since making the decision to get rid of my debts, I've cut out all unnecessary spending ( each penny I spend lengthens the time to my financial freedom.) Having said that, the one thing I will not cut out is my favourite perfume. Whilst it's expensive, each time I put it on, it fills me up with joy and lifts my mood

hettiecarro

thecassman86 wrote: »

Hey!

We have always eaten what i'd consider "expensive" food; it's a vice of mine rather than my wife's, if i'm honest...! Essentially, if, for example, i had a steak - i'd get fillet steak - that kind of thing! I always felt before i started working through my debts that i'd struggle to live without these things. They are certainly indulgences but it had just become the norm for us. We do without them though.

On a Sunday we always drive into the country; we never really go for any reason, we don't usually stop for anything other than a walk, but we often drive for a while. This obviously costs us money in fuel (our car isn't particularly economic!), but it's something we couldn't imagine not doing. If it's nice weather then it cheers us both up after our week at work. I couldn't give it up; even if petrol prices doubled!

This made me laugh Cassman!
There used to be a programme on the telly years ago and the old cleaning 'drone' used to smack her lips at the sight of food and say 'CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I HAD .....'
That's how I feel about fillet steak. Maybe that will be my Debtfree celebration meal! :T
We are lucky that we live on the edge of the countryside near a canal. I am disabled - and fine weather weekends usually finds dear OH pushing me along the canal bank - I tell him the exercise is good for him :rotfl:


On a slightly more serious note- I HONESTLY believe our quality of life is better than when we were on the 'spend spend spend'
path. I stopped feeling envious of people who seemed to have everything when I paid off the 1st £10k of my debt.


Agree with you though Firewyrm about family jewellery - some things will ALWAYS surpass money.

heartbreak_star

My gym membership. I got a council one so it's pretty cheap and exercise lifts me so much!

HBS x

sexyshark

my ciggies as they keep me calm

eyeopener2

I'm one of those who got rid of everything. I took everything non essential out and just survived really.

I made sure I had enough petrol for work, bought second hand clothes, no newspapers, magazines, no takeaways, no sky, got my phone down to under a tenner (still got it now actually).

I sold some very precious records, football programmes and other stuff. I found that hard but they are only things I suppose. I regret that a bit though.

It wasn't particularly difficult cos you just get used to it, although it's not much fun either.

It's been harder coming out the other side and trusting myself to spend again. That's been really hard.

Stewart_78

Not sure I could give up the wine. Although I have cut down to 3 bottles a day.