Fed up

babes21

chloebelle wrote: »

you sound so like me, I will be following your progress!

also live at home, people think therefore it must be easy to get debt-free but it isn't. I share many of your problems e.g. clothes buying. I work in a clothes shop which is terrible!!!

I think there is laods of potential for you to cut down, here are some of my thoughts, inspired by my own recent cutting down:

1. Lunches - I hate sandwiches but not buying lunch saves so much money. I am lucky to work in a place with a toaster and microwave so beans on toast for me!! From Monday i'm going to start doing this, may allow myself a day off once every Friday, that way it won't seem so much like a chore.

2. Clothes - this is tough and I appreciate that. Why not set yourself a weekly budget, including say £10 clothes savings. Then if you have managed to put this money aside properly, at the end of the month you can say 'hooray, I've budgeted £40 to go and buy myself some clothes!'. Every time you pick up an item of clothing, mentally picture a huge pile of debt letters with your name of them....:eek:
I have been doing this for the past 3 weeks and haven't bought a thing! Not going to buy anymore unless i really "need" to, will be a challenge although i'm buying things which haven't had much wear and some even still have the tags on

3. Spending £100 a month on clothes must mean you have loads of them. Spend a few hours looking at every item you own and have a strict clearout. I bet you have items still with tags on, only worn once etc....
EBAY THEM ALL! I made £240 last month on ebay - that could be your capital one card cleared!! Have started to do this and have already had a few watching :T

4. smoking - quit or move to roll ups. If this is impossible, buy a reasonable weekly supply monday morning, if you smoke them all by wednesday then TOUGH!! I really, really, really want to quit..... it is hard, but i'm determinded to do it this time.

5. Your spending seems a little vague - write down everything you spend, even silly things, I'm sure you'll find lots of silly little purchases that can be cut out. Yep your 100% right, if i write every little thing in my spending diary then at least i can look back and hopefully make some positive changes.

good luck!!

Thanks for the reply hun, is greatly appreciated. I'm still going to allow myself the occasional treat. Although i definitely want to manage my money better so thought this would be a good place to start .

Anyone who wishes to join, a little motivation for one another etc, then please feel free to.

chloebelle

MOST DEFINATELY you must include some treats!

If you cut out everything you will make yourself unhappy. For example, my treats that make me happy are my monthly magazines, my £10 lovefilm subscription, wine once a week with OH. To lose these would make me fed up so they stay firmly in my monthly outgoings.

Therefore, it is so much better to cut down on lunches, unnecessary clothes and silly purchases that don't really change your life!

Good luck, you seem to be on the right track so you can do this no problem.

postingalwaysposting

chloebelle wrote: »

MOST DEFINATELY you must include some treats!

If you cut out everything you will make yourself unhappy. For example, my treats that make me happy are my monthly magazines, my £10 lovefilm subscription, wine once a week with OH. To lose these would make me fed up so they stay firmly in my monthly outgoings.

i had no treats and saved every penny and ended up back in debt... always have a treat but budget for it and enjoy it

beanielou

You are in a great position at the mo.
Financially your life will never be this easy again.
As has been said you need to try to get sorted before you get a place of your own.Just brush up that budgeting!
You could have your debts paid off by Dec easily~good luck with your challange!

chloebelle

I can enjoy me treats as they are a planned part of my outgoings. A treat bought on credit is not the same!

babes21

Thanks girls

You've done really well pap, i remember some of your previous threads and you're doing great :T

babes21

beanielou wrote: »

You are in a great position at the mo.
Financially your life will never be this easy again.
As has been said you need to try to get sorted before you get a place of your own.Just brush up that budgeting!
You could have your debts paid off by Dec easily~good luck with your challange!

Thanks beanie x

Gemmzie

Hey, just wanted to say will be following your diary

babes21

Gemmzie wrote: »

Hey, just wanted to say will be following your diary

Thanks Gemmzie, with people following it will give me just the shove that i need .

Having a NSD today and shouldn't be spending any tomorrow so that's a start :T

postingalwaysposting

babes21 wrote: »

Thanks Gemmzie, with people following it will give me just the shove that i need .

Having a NSD today and shouldn't be spending any tomorrow so that's a start :T

small steps turn into the bigger ones ~ you will be debt free in no time :T