Where is my motivation?

Catcherupper14

I hope you don't mind another diary on these pages.


The background - I had some money troubles a few years ago and resolved them with the help of these pages and what is now Stepchange.


I now have no mortgage or debts, no credit cards, I have a very small business and some "savings". Much of this was due to a redundancy payout and a small inheritance.


I would like to rediscover the old-style thrifty ways that I had to learn (far too late) in order to pay off my debts, but since I am not desperate for money I have let them slide.


At the moment I don't need anything. If I want something I can afford to buy it (within reason).


I spend more on general shopping than most families and there is only me to feed. I feel that I want to reduce this for the sake of my health and also to avoid waste.


My problem is that I don't feel motivated to do anything as it feels as I don't need to - I can't think of anything to save for or to work for.


I have always had periods of depression and this may be part of why I feel like this.


Sorry to bore anyone who's reading this, but I wanted to write it down and put it behind me.


As of today I am making a new start.


I am going to cook from scratch and avoid convenience foods.

Catcherupper14

As of today I am making a new start.


Day 1
I am going to cook from scratch and avoid convenience foods.




I hope that if I can make a small change every day I can get back my energy.

CH27

Come & join us on the October grocery challenge thread

maman

Didn't want to read and run.


I'm in much the same financial position as you but I am a very frugal shopper as I just hate being ripped off. It's become a challenge for me to see how well we can eat for a minimum cost. It also has the benefit of ensuring we eat really healthily as no ready meals and loads of veg in our diet. Healthy eating might help your depression too.


Then all the money I save can be used for things I choose to splash out on (holidays, meals with friends etc) rather than in the coffers of Tesco and the like.


I'd suggest a spending diary for every penny you spend (or spend on food if you prefer) so you can see where you're 'wasting' money.


Good Luck and keep us posted.

Butterfly_Brain

Save for a rainy day, when things are not as good as they are now, you have been there and done that and I am betting that you never want to face that ever again, if you have some savings, that will always buffer you from hardship, while you look at getting on your feet again.
Alternitavely, you could put it into a pension fund for when you get older, or just save for a new car, better house or a luxury holiday xx

LameWolf

OK, this might sound strange - but do it for fun! Challenge yourself to go for a given period (you decide what's appropriate) without touching convenience foods; set yourself a weekly (or monthly) budget not because you need to but because you choose to; maybe have a fund for a specific luxury you'd like (I stopped smoking by saving the money I'd have spent on [STRIKE]coffin-nails[/STRIKE] cigarettes and eventually buying a gorgeous pewter and crystal Dragon ornament with it) and only buy that item when you've saved enough from money you'd have frittered on "stuff"; join us on the Daily Thread for friendly chat.
Good luck.:o

Catcherupper14

Thank you for the helpful and encouraging replies.


Just starting a diary helps me get my issues into perspective.


I have achieved what I had planned for today as I have a casserole in the slow cooker. I will be reducing my meat consumption in favour of vegetables and this is the starting point - I have bulked it out with peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and herbs. I think it will give me six good meals.


CH27 - thank you, I will join the challenge in November as I have done a monthly big shop already. I will try to eat out of my freezer/cupboards for the rest of the month and then join the challenge next month.


Maman - I will try to keep a spending diary. I have done this in the past, but often only kept it up for half the month (except when I had debts, then I controlled my spending rigorously). I need to get back into that mindset.

Catcherupper14

Whoops - lost my internet connection halfway through my post.


Thank you too, Butterflybrain and Lamewolf.


I have been thinking about what I could possibly want or need, to encourage me to save (for the sake of not wasting money). I already put money away for holidays etc and have a small pension which is enough for me. I also have a home, a car and most things that I need.


I am losing weight, in fits and starts, and will need a whole new wardrobe once I reach my goal of 4 stones loss. I plan to save to buy a few new clothes at each stone reduction, and I would like to use a personal shopper/stylist to help me find what will suit me.


I hope that saving money for this purpose ill help me save, and also keep me on track with weight loss and exercise.

vansboy

Ok, so your reward will be the weight loss, so maybe being a little more active would assist that? And i dont mean by going to the gym.

Plus the fact that most of your other needs are met already, how about helping others?

Join a Soup Kitchen or community centre, that provides meals for those in need. You'll soon discover where value for money and any extra pairs of hands are truly appreciated.

You'll have fun and be rewarded in more ways than you can imagine.

VB

I dont mean

Catcherupper14

Hi Vansboy


Thank you for your reply - yes, I hope to save money by spending less on food, making healthier choices and will lose weight as a bonus.






I agree I need to be more active and will be adding exercise into my plan.


I am already involved in numerous charity and community activities and spend lots of time with a disabled relative (which is why I moved house and why my business is only part-time).


The business is relatively new so I don't yet have a clear pattern of when my not-yet-my-clients will want my services. It is still building up but will involve my "free" evenings and weekends too.

Catcherupper14

Hi Vansboy


Yes, the idea is to cut spending on food, make healthier choices and lose weight.


I am also planning to add formal exercise into my routine.


As for other activities, I am already involved in numerous charity and community activities and spend lots of time with a disabled relative (which is why I moved house and why my business is only ever going to be part-time).


The business is relatively new and I don't really know when I will be working as I am building up my clientele. Because of this I can't really commit myself to any other regular events.