Has 'moneysaving' genuinely changed anyone's life here?

Jolanta_Nowak

I've visited the site off and on for a fair few months but only just registered to take part in the forums. This is my first post.

I'd like to ask: has anyone here genuinely managed to turn their life round from bad to good through a systematic 'moneysaving' routine?

It seems to me that debt/poor financial habits are something which can come from the personality of the individual and therefore very hard to change. I would guess that there must, for example, be such a thing as backsliding/returning to bad habits even for those with strong enough willpower to make the initial breakthrough.

Anyone care to comment?

lynzpower

I came here drowning in debt, bouncing paymetns and thoroughly not a moneysaver. My new relationship looked as if it was over before it started.
I was that person whos wages came in and everything bounced straight away, bailiffs letters, red letters, you name it. that was March last year.

Now Im over 30k in the BLACK!!! , save upwards of 350 per month, and have the life of riley.

Its changed me completely.

whitewing

We're (hopefully) buying a house at the end of this month down south, years earlier than we thought we'd be able to. With my last house - much cheaper in the midlands - it had never even occurred to me that anyone could pay of their mortgage early. I threw money away so badly. Now I can see a good future ahead of us. It has transformed my life and my attitude completely (but still a way to go yet!)

chocaholic110

I can't say it has changed my life completely yet as I haven't finished my debt free journey but I am in a so much better position than this time next year.

I sort of compare it to being on a diet and re-educating your self to eating sensibly. My attitudes to money and spending have altered so much in a year and I think when I get debt free, that though I may be more relaxed about spending I will never go back to the situation I was in. I have also learned a lot from this site and I think I make wiser money decisions now as well. There are som many things I have done before (consolidation, high APR loans, paying only minimum payments) that I wouldn't dream of doing now.

Jolanta_Nowak

So have you whittled down the debt some way, lynzpower?

hypno06

Do you mean in the black, lyns - if you are in the red, you are still in debt

Anyway, I think that this is all like dieting - there will always be some who reach their target, or make good progress on the way there, and then slip back into bad habits,

however, there are many who make small changes for the better, and gain new habits, as well as having new ideas about what is really important in life - for those, this site genuinely changes lives!

Mrs_Sparkle

Well I wouldn't say I'm perfect but I have dropped some of my bad financial habits and have picked up some moneysaving skills so yes, I'd say it has changed my life.

Before: £100 a week in Tesco, Now: £40ish
Before: New clothes every week, prob around £300 spent a month, Now: essential buys and making full use of sales and Tesco clothes

There are loads more examples I could give. I really used to fritter away £100s without even realising it. Now I'm aware of where my money goes. I may not be clearing it as quickly as I'd hoped but I'm certainly not adding to it anymore.

hypno06

choco - great minds think alike!!!

chocaholic110

hypno06 wrote: »

choco - great minds think alike!!!

Lol, I just thought that when I read your post

Jolanta_Nowak

Mrs_Sparkle wrote: »

Well I wouldn't say I'm perfect but I have dropped some of my bad financial habits and have picked up some moneysaving skills so yes, I'd say it has changed my life.

Before: £100 a week in Tesco, Now: £40ish
Before: New clothes every week, prob around £300 spent a month, Now: essential buys and making full use of sales and Tesco clothes

There are loads more examples I could give. I really used to fritter away £100s without even realising it. Now I'm aware of where my money goes. I may not be clearing it as quickly as I'd hoped but I'm certainly not adding to it anymore.

Nobody's 'perfect' but it certainly looks like you had a lightbulb moment at some stage. Well done. I've been through the same change and now have a really hard time controlling my temper when I hear people saying, as I once did, that it's 'impossible' for them to save!

Kevicho

I think you have a valid point re personality, however I think a lot of peoples problems stem from a lack of knowledge.

I think one of this sites pluses is not only does it give you access to knowledge, but also to like minded people who can help you keep your focus, and indeed learn together.

Before this site i wouldn't have heard of Cummuta, david bach, robert kiyosaki, and many more sharers of financial information.

I think having good financial sense really will improve anyone's life.

Jolanta_Nowak wrote: »

I've visited the site off and on for a fair few months but only just registered to take part in the forums. This is my first post.

I'd like to ask: has anyone here genuinely managed to turn their life round from bad to good through a systematic 'moneysaving' routine?

It seems to me that debt/poor financial habits are something which can come from the personality of the individual and therefore very hard to change. I would guess that there must, for example, be such a thing as backsliding/returning to bad habits even for those with strong enough willpower to make the initial breakthrough.

Anyone care to comment?