Motivation Required

edwink

Hi


Just to wish you all the best and hope that you eventually become debt free. It won't be easy but if you put in the hard work you will get there in the end.


Personally I would not do away with take a ways totally but maybe have one a month. That way you won't miss them too much. You will start to look forward to them as well.


Meal planning is normally a good idea because if you have bought the food ready for a meal it would be a shame to waste it by getting a take a way instead.


Just out of interest where do you do your main shopping? Have you tried a cheaper supermarket? Do you go for top brands or are you trying the cheaper ones? The cheaper ones will make a huge difference to your shopping bill at the end of the month.


Just a few ideas for you to mull over!!! Good luck!!!


x

autumn2012_2

Yes its joint

9500 car 44 months remaining
6400 loan 31 months remaining
500 Furniture 6 & 12months remaining
5500 CC 0%
290 (wedding ring) 7 months remaining

Yes we both debt bust (he is stingy with everything always has been) but if I buy something like a handbag he wont have a go at me, which is I think a bad thing!

autumn2012_2

edwink wrote: »

Hi


Just to wish you all the best and hope that you eventually become debt free. It won't be easy but if you put in the hard work you will get there in the end.


Personally I would not do away with take a ways totally but maybe have one a month. That way you won't miss them too much. You will start to look forward to them as well.


Meal planning is normally a good idea because if you have bought the food ready for a meal it would be a shame to waste it by getting a take a way instead.


Just out of interest where do you do your main shopping? Have you tried a cheaper supermarket? Do you go for top brands or are you trying the cheaper ones? The cheaper ones will make a huge difference to your shopping bill at the end of the month.


Just a few ideas for you to mull over!!! Good luck!!!


x

Thank you! I shop at Aldi and Farmfoods. New month starts today and Iv looked in the cupboards - I have atleast 2 weeks worth of food left in the cupboards and freezer so I buy the food and then after work when Im tired I order a takeaway! Im so bad for it - Im mean 260 a month.. I need to be strict

StrugglingYouth

autumn2012 wrote: »

Yes its joint

9500 car 44 months remaining
6400 loan 31 months remaining
500 Furniture 6 & 12months remaining
5500 CC 0%
290 (wedding ring) 7 months remaining

Yes we both debt bust (he is stingy with everything always has been) but if I buy something like a handbag he wont have a go at me, which is I think a bad thing!

It sounds like hes rolling over if you're the one making unnecessary purchases and you consider the debt joint? Is that because its been paid for on joint credit?

It is a lot nicer to be able to afford something outright rather than relying on credit and paying interest on things. Once the debt is gone the first purchase of something you have worked hard for and saved for will be all the sweeter.

Bobarella

autumn2012 wrote: »

I know you're right! Christmas isnt important to be honest but I do try to keep up with the Jones's ! Im terrible for it. I have cut back alot on things IE buying my clothes online and second hand etc instead of going out and buying new, same with the kids. I need to be strict with myself. I leave cards at home etc. I really want to be debt free!! I went for a meal the other night which was £53 and when I was driving home I felt awful about spending it when I could of cooked a meal for four for £5. I wish my husband was more strict with me

Was the £53 in your budget? If so don't feel bad. We are in debt but we still need the odd pleasure.
I have to say, I have personally not enjoyed the last few take away meals I've ordered and we just haven't had one in around 2 months. I do find the cost excessive and its never as nice as I think it will be. But that is just me. We tend to go out for coffee at the weekend as an occasional treat or the dreaded Mc place. Which costs less than a take away but we still feel we've had a small treat. 99% of the time I cook from scratch but you can't always.

autumn2012_2

StrugglingYouth wrote: »

It sounds like hes rolling over if you're the one making unnecessary purchases and you consider the debt joint? Is that because its been paid for on joint credit?

It is a lot nicer to be able to afford something outright rather than relying on credit and paying interest on things. Once the debt is gone the first purchase of something you have worked hard for and saved for will be all the sweeter.

Hi - No the debt is joint. Its his car - I don't drive. However we use it together so its joint. The furniture is for our house so joint (in fact he bought the dining table). The CC debt is from our wedding and also we lost our jobs (same company) and took a 23k hit for about 1 year so some living expenses went on that etc.. and then some was me spending for christmas etc so Id say its about 50 50. He is stingy with things like socializing, designer brands (he will wear asda) takeaways (happy to cook) presents etc... But does like a decent car etc..

StressedSteph

Bobarella wrote: »

Was the £53 in your budget? If so don't feel bad. We are in debt but we still need the odd pleasure.
I have to say, I have personally not enjoyed the last few take away meals I've ordered and we just haven't had one in around 2 months. I do find the cost excessive and its never as nice as I think it will be. But that is just me. We tend to go out for coffee at the weekend as an occasional treat or the dreaded Mc place. Which costs less than a take away but we still feel we've had a small treat. 99% of the time I cook from scratch but you can't always.

I had to reply here and agree with bobarella. I think the more you are frugal with your money the more annoyed you feel at expensive takeaways.


We used to have the odd kebab shop or fish & chip shop takeaway but I was always left annoyed that it cost nearly £30 and didn't taste all that great. The only takeaway we have learnt is worth the treat is our local indian which makes gorgeous curries.


We treat ourselves once every couple of months now and it taste so much nicer when you don't have it very often.


If you are anything like us, we end up with cheap rubbishy takeaways when we are dis-organised. Buy yourself a kitchen chalk board or similar and do a menu plan every week and build your weekly shop around it. That avoids the dreaded 5pm what on earth can we have for dinner dilemma.


Keep going you can do it xxx

StrugglingYouth

autumn2012 wrote: »

Hi - No the debt is joint. Its his car - I don't drive. However we use it together so its joint. The furniture is for our house so joint (in fact he bought the dining table). The CC debt is from our wedding and also we lost our jobs (same company) and took a 23k hit for about 1 year so some living expenses went on that etc.. and then some was me spending for christmas etc so Id say its about 50 50. He is stingy with things like socializing, designer brands (he will wear asda) takeaways (happy to cook) presents etc... But does like a decent car etc..

Makes more sense. I didnt read the entire thread

Instead of buying takeaways which will only make you lethargic, why not put aside a cooking fund and let your boyfriend cook new things as you said he enjoys it?

autumn2012_2

To be honest - I only get takeaways because Im so tired but it makes me feel even worse. I work evenings and he works days so by the time I get home its sometimes gone 11pm - when he gets home with the kids (picks up from grandma) he sorts their tea, does bits and bobs cleaning etc and then its 8pm before he has any food (been up since before 6) so he will wait til I get in before cooking anything. I dont have set finishing times so sometimes it 8.30 and other times its til close 11pm so its totally unorganized. I thinking of cooking tea before I go to work so he can reheat and Ill get mine whenever I return or if too late in the morning? Good idea?

Bobarella

I can't imagine having to start getting a meal at 11pm. No wonder you struggle. Do you work 5 days a week with the same hours?
I think if it were me I'd be looking at batch cooking at the weekend so I knew I had enough made for the whole week. It needn't be arduous if done well. For example you can cook up a load of mince with onions and freeze it. You then have a base for shepards pie,lasagne, spag bol, chilli. 4 different meals from 1 batch cook. You could then ask your OH to do the simple bit of adding the mince to beans,tomato puree etc to make the meal. Then you walk in to dinner.
Alternatively I have never tried it but many people swear by a slow cooker. You load it in the morning and it makes you a stew or whatever for when you return.