I’m taking control of my life, now.

boxofpaws

Good things :j

• Worked at other office today -£20 expenses profit
• Havent bought food at work in yonks. 75p on coffees was the biggest work spend in ages
• Fairly certain both of us are getting a bit of a bonus each in March's pay
• Realised today that since we have been budgeting, we have been eating really well. Probably down to meal planning.

Bad things:exclamati

• Heard that the husbands hours are probably going to be cut. Don't know anymore details. What makes it worse is I heard this in a confidential meeting so I can't even talk to him about it. This obviously slows down all our plans for getting rid of the hideous debt.
• big car and motorbike are due mots and repairs and I have a bad feeling about both
• Have avoided posting about this before, but I have been dwelling on this, so need to get it off my chest. On Saturday night, after our little treat activity, we went for dinner. I didn't want to but the husband guilted me. We spent £67. I'm less bothered about the money, more that I have been weak and it really makes me question if I have got what it takes to clear this debt. I feel like we haven't really made much effort to reduce our spends at all

Sorry for the gloom again

Bobarella

Awww Paws I am sorry to hear that about your husband's job. And doubly hard you can't talk about it yet. It's one of those things where you'll probably worry about it until you know either way, but then at least you can come up with a plan together.

You know, it's a long road to debt freedom. Think of all the times you have said no already to dinners/drinks. Just because you said yes that time doesn't negate all the good times.

Big hugs.

117pauline

Hi Paws

I really like reading your diary.

Now, the meal out.... I can see why you are upset about it but it is a part of becoming debt free - we all make mistakes and have setbacks but don't over-react to it. It is one mis-step not the road to ruin.

If you can talk to your OH then perhaps you can come up with some strategies to avoid it happening again.

Don't forget it will take a long time to get used to the new you. Keep practising the good choices and bad ones won't happen so often.

Good luck on getting back on track
Pauline

[Deleted User]

"Bad things
Heard that the husbands hours are probably going to be cut. Don't know anymore details. What makes it worse is I heard this in a confidential meeting so I can't even talk to him about it. This obviously slows down all our plans for getting rid of the hideous debt.
big car and motorbike are due mots and repairs and I have a bad feeling about both
Have avoided posting about this before, but I have been dwelling on this, so need to get it off my chest. On Saturday night, after our little treat activity, we went for dinner. I didn't want to but the husband guilted me. We spent £67. I'm less bothered about the money, more that I have been weak and it really makes me question if I have got what it takes to clear this debt. I feel like we haven't really made much effort to reduce our spends at all"

Oh Paws, sorry about DH, I'm sure things will work out.

As for the dinner out, of course you have got what it takes to clear the debt...look at how far you've come so far, everyone has a blip (you've read my diary!?! :rotfl:) please don't beat yourself up about it.

Big hugs to you xxx

angelpye

Horrible situation to be in about husbands hours. From what I can see on your signature you have cleared £4K? In a couple of months? I think this journey is a long haul for many and the odd treat (as long as it is the odd one) is ok. From your first post it sounded like you were really strict and that didn't work. Its done now so chin up and move on.

armchairexpert

boxofpaws wrote: »

We spent £67. I'm less bothered about the money, more that I have been weak and it really makes me question if I have got what it takes to clear this debt. I feel like we haven't really made much effort to reduce our spends at all
[/LIST]

Sorry for the gloom again

This in the same post as you saying that you haven't spent money at work for weeks, have been eating healthier, meal planning, and you've paid a big chunk of money off in just under 2 months! You're doing great, Box. :T

Treadingonplaymobil

Sorry to hear about your husband#s hours, I hope you hear for definite soon so you can discuss it with him.

And you need to view the meal out like the proverbial bar of chocolate when you're on a diet. Just because you ate one bar of chocolate doesn't mean you give up on the entire diet. You brush yourself off, accept the minor effect and keep on going.

EssexHebridean

Ahh Paws that's a tough one about your OH's hours - rather unprofessional of the company to have put you in that position really - not least as it puts you in an impossible position of torn loyalties over telling him or not. Hope it works out OK and isn't as bad as you fear.

On the meal out thing - the others have already said it all. Get back on the horse and brush off the disheartened feelings. Maybe if he tries the same guilting trick another time say no, not right now, but tell you what, let's each set aside £10 a week for a month and then we can go out using what we've saved? Or set a point in the debt clearing where you conclusively allocate money to go for a nice meal - as a reward for reaching a certain point?

You're definitely right about meal planning meaning you eat better, too, I think. It's easier to fall into the "grabbing something quick" trap without a plan in place, and let's face it, those options are rarely the healthy ones are they!

Macey1510

Sorry to hear about your OHs hours. I hope everything works out well.

JoJoC

Just want to echo what everyone else has said really, I hope the issues at work don’t impact your OH and your finances too much.

Don’t beat yourself up about the meal out – you are allowed to treat yourself now and again and although it might not have been budgeted for, you can just put it down to an unexpected treat and move on. I also like the idea of setting a little bit of money aside every week to make sure you can treat yourselves to a meal out now and again. That might make the guilt seem less?

I think you’re doing a great job and you’re most definitely cut out to get rid of the debt! Just look at all you’ve achieved so far and you’ll see that you’re doing great.