Aargh!!! How do you stay on the straight and narrow???

Pauper_Princess

Sorry, just wanted a bit of a vent...

Thanks to this site I've finally got to grips with my debt, the only loan I have o/s now is the Northern Rock loan which runs till next May. Was trying to save a bit each month to pay this off early, but poorly pets and cars had other ideas :rolleyes:

Thing is, been doing this now for about 9 months. Feelsl like forever!!! I'm so sick of having to say "No, sorry, I can't afford it"... and missing out on things (don't mean like going out, just "normal" things like going to aerobics at £4 a time!!!)

My (v. old) car is slowly packing up, had to have new tyre and tracking last week (£40!!!) and I know that the brakes and suspension need doing before the MOT in September. I've been looking (fantasising) at new cars recently (well, I mean like about 3 years old). Made the mistake of looking at the weekend and I fell head over heels in love with a bright red 54 plate Micra... my car's an N reg Fiesta!!!!!!

I know I can't look at upgrading my car until the NR loan is paid, but it's driving me round the bend. Even the juniors at work have nicer cars than me :eek:

Sorry... rant over. After such a rubbish day at work it'd be nice to feel like I was working FOR something!!!

Ah well. Least I have this site to keep me sane. But how do you cope?? I know my debts are nothing compared to some peoples... just feeling my resolve waning, and trying desperately to keep on track :A

LookingAhead

Aww bless - you remind me of me!

I do know how you feel - I had a really old car that kept costing money, in the end I just gave it up as I could get the bus to my work.

My boyfriend got a newer car but it's not mine so I don't have the financial responsibilities for it now. It's such a relief.

It is a hard old slog and we're in it for a medium to long haul, it ain't gonna go overnight unless you get six lucky numbers or come into an inheritance or something.

I guess I just cope by keeping things in perspective, looking at all the terrible injustices out there in the world and knowing that although I haven't got a tenner quite often to go and do something normal (I *so* know what you mean! ) at least I have a roof over my head and food in my belly.

Just keep on going honey - you will get there and you will never want to be in this position again!

I don't really know what to say about the car though except if it ends up costing you loads each month it might be more cost effective to get something with warranty etc but if it is at all possible (probably not) to not have a car, just get shot of it.

But all cars cost for wear & tear so...if it is just those sorts of things, best just stick with it for now?

Hang in there.

x

LookingAhead

Oh and by the way - your weight loss is a great achievement! :T

piglet6

Hi PP!

It is tough to keep going, but at least you have an end date in sight, and once you get there, your money will be all yours to do what you like with, so you can save up and spend it on whatever you like! :j

Don't worry about the juniors at work. Just congratulate yourself that you are several years ahead of them - at least some of them will most likely have credit card debts/loans/overdrafts that they just don't talk about, and are yet to reach their lightbulb moment. They still have the pleasure of the DFW journey to experience, by which time you will be in full possession of 100% of your salary each month to do with as you please!

Piglet

P.S. Know how you feel about the car - we now have a T reg car which we bought 2nd hand 4 years ago (out of necessity after our F reg fiesta, which Mr P had had for 13 years, died on the side of the road - we had to push it back home and pay the council £12 to come and tow it away to the scrap yard!!:rotfl:).

P.P.S. Agree about the fab weightloss - it just shows how much determination you have (if you can overcome the weight problem, you can definitely do the debt!!). :T

HairyHandofDartmoor

I keep coming on here. I stopped for a few months and fell right off the wagon. My debts went up (not to where they were before but still!!!). Now I'm back on here frequently they are falling again.

tallyhoh

Just think of the juniors having a nicer car than you and think that every penny you save is a bit closer to that dream car.

The other thing to remember is that they may be in debt for the car.

Pauper_Princess

Aw thanks everyone, I feel much better now

LookingAhead, I'd love to get rid of the car to be honest but I have to visit different clients every week (work in an accountants) so it's really not an option... I'm just dreading getting mine through the winter!! (And its MOT!!!)

And thanks for your comments about the weight loss - was going great till OH turned up last night with crisps and cake "to cheer me up"!!! (Yes, I know I didn't have to eat them :rolleyes: )

piglet6, I'd love to see the day I have 100% of my salary :rotfl: after the mortgage co, insurance co, pension co etc etc have dipped their theiving hands in!!! Ah well.... like LA says, least I have a roof over my head!! But yep, can see my car goingt he same way as yours and just dying on me one day... probably on my way to a clients 30 odd miles away or something :rolleyes:

But yeah, you're right... if I can lose weight (which this time last year I thought I was incapable of!) I CAN keep on top of my debts... it's just hard. Specially when OH insists "Well it's (a new loan) only another £150 a month"!!!! Aargh!!!

HairyHandofDartmoor, I know exactly what you mean. This site is like what Weightwatchers was to me, when I could afford to go

tallyhoh, I couldn't really gloat over the juniors being in debt as I still am, and will be again once this loan's finished and I can finally think about a new car... mine definitely won't last long enough to save for a new one!!!!

Thanks once again for all your replies, I can now go in to face the tax manager this rainy Tuesday morning feeling a bit more encouraged

N9eav

What about this idea? Get another loan now large enough to pay off the existing loan. Sufficient to upgrade the car (if that's what you want), but small enough to maintain the same payments you have now. Realistically, buying the right car with 12 months MOT and Tax, and warrantee could save you in the long run....

FrugalJo

PP
I'm not much help but I was in the same quandry 9 months ago, had a J reg, reliable for the best part of 10 years it cost me so much money in repairs in the last year, final straw was a new clutch £250, a month later I px for £200 - heart breaking.

Cazzdevil

Pauper_Princess wrote: »

Even the juniors at work have nicer cars than me :eek:

NEVER try and keep up with the Jones's cos they're probably up to their eyeballs in debt.

hypno06

You ARE working for something. you are working towards being debt free.

How many of those around you are working towards the same thing. Perhaps they are if you ask them, but in reality they will be taking out more credit as they go along.

Stick with us xx