what COULDN'T you give up on your DF Journey

Giraffeseeker

I couldn't give up my iphone either. That, and my dog, would be the last things to go. Would also prefer to keep my kids, but if it came to it, dog would win, he is cheaper to keep and argues less ;-)

Gave up buying clothes, cigarettes, wine (except a £2.99 Aldi bottle on occasional weekends), take aways.

maganan

What a lovely thread, we might all be on a debt free journey but we're still all individuals

I'm with Trishiaap on the perfume........isn't that what boots points are for??

Oh and a weekly bottle of wine.........aldi of course

I'm happy to turn the heating down and wear jumpers and long term this has shown big changes £19/month less on gas & electric and an £85 refund (obviously a not too cold winter helped )

I agree the big things are easier to change and go without but the odd treats are very important when the journey is long

Good luck to us all, enjoy your little luxuries:money:

Kate

tealady

Interesting thread this.
When I was in debt I gave up things one at a time to save money and found that the TV (my entertainment) and the occasional drink were the only things I would refuse to cut back on.
I gave up mags and ciggys, took my own packed lunches to work and turned the heating down as much as I could. I did get debt free at the end, and kept my sanity which is what I think it is all about.

Aphidgirl

I still meet my friends in the pub regularly and have a few drinks. I've kept a budget for this every month while cutting back on other things, such as clothes, food and eating out.

If I stopped spending in pubs I'd save a lot and be debt free a lot faster but also be quite miserable I think as socialising and seeing friends makes me happy.

For me its about maintaining a certain quality of life while also paying off debts - it works for me!

Muhren

Gambling!

Aphidgirl wrote: »

I still meet my friends in the pub regularly and have a few drinks. I've kept a budget for this every month while cutting back on other things, such as clothes, food and eating out.

If I stopped spending in pubs I'd save a lot and be debt free a lot faster but also be quite miserable I think as socialising and seeing friends makes me happy.

For me its about maintaining a certain quality of life while also paying off debts - it works for me!

This applies to me, I couldn't give up going out for drinks with my mates as apart from football everything seems to revolve around going to the pub! I don't go out as much and try to set a budget now. Before I got into debt through gambling I was always good with money so I haven't had to make too many changes on frivolous spends as I never really did it.

hettiecarro

Thanks for all your replies guys!
Now at least I won't feel guilty tucking into my take away while watching Sky football :rotfl:
I hope newbies will find this helpful. When I first came on the forum I was overwhelmed by the number of SAINTS on here - but now some of you stalwarts have admitted to the odd indulgence it puts a different slant on it.
I think what I have got out of this so far, is that the DF journey is a marathon, not a sprint - and like a few of you have said we are still all individual and human and still deserve some of our own pleasures.
I agree that it's often the small sustainable changes that make the BIG difference to debts - and I personally think that it's better to retain small indulgences if it stops you falling off the debt free wagon:)
I also hope reading this will help me to be less judgemental when people are reluctant to give up things that I don't consider important.
On this note I'd like to make a 'blanket' apology to all those who have posted - and maybe received a rather self righteous response from me - I am duly chastened !
Thanks again. :A


p.s. Thank goodness Bedsit Bobs indulgence was t'internet!!!


Hettie

ellerose

I've really enjoyed reading all these!! For me it's been eyebrow threading once a month and waxing - okay, okay, total luxuries and probably costs me £20 a month but I feel so so grotty if I don't and it's become my little indulgence!

thecassman86

hettiecarro wrote: »

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:

Haha, yes, we should both have fillet steak when debt free! :T

And i bet your husband enjoys the walks more than he lets on , canal walks are some of the best.

eyeopener2 wrote: »

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.

Really difficult to give up precious possessions. My wife collects antique and collectable teddy bears; i was surprised when she willingly put some for sale when we decided to clear the debt. I felt really bad about it as i've never been particularly materialistic so i didn't have much to sell of my own.

I've always loved this quote:

“You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you're satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you've got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes. Then the perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you're trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

tintingirl wrote: »

...my dog, would be the last things to go. Would also prefer to keep my kids, but if it came to it, dog would win, he is cheaper to keep and argues less ;-)

Ahh yes, we have cats that we wouldn't get rid of... Although they refuse to do the "downshift challenge" when i buy them cheaper food so they may have to go :rotfl:

Trishiapp

ellerose wrote: »

I've really enjoyed reading all these!! For me it's been eyebrow threading once a month and waxing - okay, okay, total luxuries and probably costs me £20 a month but I feel so so grotty if I don't and it's become my little indulgence!

I agree with you completely ellerose!


Apart from my perfume, I cannot possibly give up my monthly DIY root touch-ups. Just because I'm paying off my debts, doesn't mean that I shouldn't look presentable

Trishiapp

hettiecarro wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies guys!
Now at least I won't feel guilty tucking into my take away while watching Sky football :rotfl:
I hope newbies will find this helpful. When I first came on the forum I was overwhelmed by the number of SAINTS on here - but now some of you stalwarts have admitted to the odd indulgence it puts a different slant on it.
I think what I have got out of this so far, is that the DF journey is a marathon, not a sprint - and like a few of you have said we are still all individual and human and still deserve some of our own pleasures.
I agree that it's often the small sustainable changes that make the BIG difference to debts - and I personally think that it's better to retain small indulgences if it stops you falling off the debt free wagon:)
I also hope reading this will help me to be less judgemental when people are reluctant to give up things that I don't consider important.
On this note I'd like to make a 'blanket' apology to all those who have posted - and maybe received a rather self righteous response from me - I am duly chastened !
Thanks again. :A


p.s. Thank goodness Bedsit Bobs indulgence was t'internet!!!


Hettie

What is lovely to see, is the pleasure that people derive from such small luxuries Also, whenever I treat myself to something little, it puts a smile on my face and I appreciate it enormously

This tread proves just how little we need to be happy!