Battling Debt and Mental Illness — and (hopefully) Winning!

crazy_cat_lady

Don't beat yourself up ABA. Small steps. There's no need to feel guilty because you're not burning yourself all day every day. Time off to unwind and do nothing is absolutely essential - I speak that from personal experience. I am desperately hoping for a few hours to myself very soon. Celebrate the small stuff - it soon adds up to the big stuff.

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks CCL I do think I'm wasting most of my time though...

I managed to do everything on my list today, but only in the evening. I also drank 2 cans of coke, which seemed to be the only thing that could get me motivated. Maybe I'll try to replace a lot of coke with Tesco value lemonade and limit myself to 8 cans a week max. Bit disappointed that I only made it 2 days without coke.

Everything seems to have gone so slowly over the past week and a half. Even my surveys have dried up! I'm struggling to motivate myself and I don't know why. I know what my goals are — and even have a degree of confidence in my ability to achieve them — yet I falter when it comes to getting on with things. Crazy.

AspiringButAnxious

Got to go to Working Links today. Hoping the counsellor can shed some light on my present lack of motivation.

What I would like to achieve today:
• Post on blog
• Finish writing intro for ebook
• Submit a proposal on Upwork
• Do some freewriting — even for 2 minutes
• Do some research and generate ideas for the brochure project

catriona79

Hello ABA,

How are you feeling today? Sometimes it's hard to find motivation for debt busting, where the more basic Things in your life don't feel right. I'm sorry you're going through a bit of a difficult patch.

What did the counsellor say, was it helpful? I think if you're of a certain personality, and open to it, they can be invaluable!

Have you done your mbti? http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
Have a go and maybe that will enlighten you as to the fulfilment in your life?

Sending hugs xxx

Bobarella

ABA - I think you are doing just great. You have come so far in terms of personal development and debt repayment. Don't put yourself down please

AspiringButAnxious

Thanks guys The counsellor was great and clarified some things for me.
Catriona — I did the test a few months back, at Working Links, and I'm an INFP.

Yesterday was pretty good — I blogged and finally finished the intro for my ebook! Also did a little research for the brochure, but didn't get around to the other things. I was quite tired after driving a 50 mile round trip, walking the dogs and going shopping, so I'm not beating myself up over it.

Spent a fair amount at shopping, but bought some Tesco Value coke and lemonade along with a 24 pack of Diet Coke cans (on offer) so I hope to limit the cans and drink the cheap stuff if I want more. Got my Upwork payment today: £17.35. Not great for writing 16 articles, but I'm not working for them anymore and it's still money

I think today will be a day for thought and planning more than anything else, but I would like to finish yesterday's to-do list. I also have to find out what I owe my mum for September's shopping and pay up Lol! Aim to spend less this month...

AspiringButAnxious

I spent £57 extra last month :eek: Though £10 was petrol, so I had that paid by Working Links. Still a shocking amount: I must make a big effort to be more frugal this month.

On the bright side, I paid all of it off as soon as my mum told me what I owed. £24 came out of my savings pot, which is now empty and I had the rest in the bank.

I drank my last 2 cans of Tesco coke today and am now on the Value lemonade. I want to see how long I can last before I succumb to opening the Diet Coke! Had a bit of a blowout at Tesco yesterday, getting crisps and some chocolate as well as the Diet Coke. Determined to not to spend anything on food this month (by which I mean extra food — my rent covers my meals and I pay for junk).

Feel a bit sick at how much I soent in September. I did buy all the birthday cards for the rest of the year, so that's sorted, and I needed some A4 envelopes... The 2 books I did not need, but they are by favourite authors. No matter: I have got to stop.

All of this means that after I pay off the £80 left on my CC from buying Publisher software, I will not be able to add to my savings accounts. Having said that, I should get paid for my work on the brochure at some point over the next couple of months, depending on how it goes, so that will go straight into my EF. I need to earn more money and fast.

kirtsypoos

Hi ABA,

It's so easy for spending to get away with you, but it happens and you are doing so well that you can't beat yourself up about it too much. Like you said, you bought stuff that was needed (wish I was organised enough to buy cards for the year - I'll have to remember that tip - it would save rushing round and buying the first overpriced monstrosity because I've forgotten!)

I know from personal experience that mental health is a strange one in terms of debt and moods, you have made a massive leap by deciding to become debt free and in the long run I think will massively help your mindset....I'm hoping the same for me so I know we will both get there in the end!

Bobarella

ABA -maybe I'm wrong but I don't think overspending by £57 is a terrible amount, especially if partly on petrol. I find I am guilty at times of all or nothing thinking which isn't great for me..I would try not to see it as a failure but as a learning of why you did go over budget.

crazy_cat_lady

I think that's a fairly reasonable overspend tbh... I wouldn't give yourself such a hard time. Be kind to yourself.