Small Steps Out Of Massive Debt!

Treadingonplaymobil

GeorgianaCavendish wrote: »

1st March was a No Spend Day :j I feel quite energised and motivated to do at least one NSD a week in March, and maybe add a few others.

I had the day off yesterday because I had a hospital appointment in the morning. I spent the afternoon doing a bit more decluttering and eBay listing, I've managed to sell a couple of jackets and pairs of shoes over the past couple of weeks. I'm not making tons of money on each listing but I love how much more organised my wardrobe looks now
I've got a few more drawers to go through with a critical eye and ditch the things I hardly wear, or have been holding on to for "when I lose weight" or "when I next go to a wedding" or "when I start running again". I realised how much of my shopping has been buying things for my ideal life instead of saying "no, I don't need this right now" or "I won't buy this because it doesn't fit perfectly". Getting rid of some of this stuff is quite liberating and I haven't felt tempted to rush out and replace the things I've sold either.

I think so much of consumerism is buying into a life we want, rather than a product we love that will make our actual lives so much better. I felt really silly recently when I was contemplating buying a(nother) pair of yoga leggings online and realised it was because I've been off my practice recently, and I had fooled myself that basically I could transform myself into a dedicated yogi by buying the 'right' leggings rather than actually, you know, doing some more yoga. Same thing with my house - dissatisfied with it looking cluttered and in need of a clean? Buy a £40 scented candle, that will totally make me feel better. Or I could clean the house for FREE.

JoJoC

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

I think so much of consumerism is buying into a life we want, rather than a product we love that will make our actual lives so much better. I felt really silly recently when I was contemplating buying a(nother) pair of yoga leggings online and realised it was because I've been off my practice recently, and I had fooled myself that basically I could transform myself into a dedicated yogi by buying the 'right' leggings rather than actually, you know, doing some more yoga. Same thing with my house - dissatisfied with it looking cluttered and in need of a clean? Buy a £40 scented candle, that will totally make me feel better. Or I could clean the house for FREE.

:rotfl: This really made me laugh! I'm only laughing because it rings so true - it may be obvious but so many people trick themselves into buying things to compensate for lacking areas in their lives.

GeorgianaCavendish

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

I think so much of consumerism is buying into a life we want, rather than a product we love that will make our actual lives so much better. I felt really silly recently when I was contemplating buying a(nother) pair of yoga leggings online and realised it was because I've been off my practice recently, and I had fooled myself that basically I could transform myself into a dedicated yogi by buying the 'right' leggings rather than actually, you know, doing some more yoga. Same thing with my house - dissatisfied with it looking cluttered and in need of a clean? Buy a £40 scented candle, that will totally make me feel better. Or I could clean the house for FREE.

JoJoC wrote: »

:rotfl: This really made me laugh! I'm only laughing because it rings so true - it may be obvious but so many people trick themselves into buying things to compensate for lacking areas in their lives.

This is so true. I think advertising and this consumer culture tricks us into thinking that only an expensive product/service has the power to be 'life changing'. Whereas if the answer is something simple and free it's a bit like "well, if that's all it takes, why don't I have that lifestyle / figure / clean house already?". For me, I think it has definitely been easier to throw money at something and not think about the real issues too closely.

Wow, this is getting a bit heavy!

boxofpaws

Well I can't comment, after spending extra on an ironing board with pink legs..:o

GeorgianaCavendish

Not a huge amount to report at the moment , I'm in the 'waiting period' time of the month between my direct debits being paid and my new credit card statements being generated so that I can update my debt spreadsheet.

I had a NSD on Saturday and a good weekly shop at Aldi (came in at £57.41 but included a bottle of prosecco and bunch of flowers which were a gift for my friend, so £44.43 on our groceries). I'm planning to do my batch cook of Mexican Tomato Soup tonight

Treadingonplaymobil

Ooh, did you post a link to that soup recipe already? I kind of think you did but I can't find it, would you mind linking again?

GeorgianaCavendish

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

Ooh, did you post a link to that soup recipe already? I kind of think you did but I can't find it, would you mind linking again?

Here you go Jamie's Mexican Tomato Soup - I usually make it without the rice and don't bother with the nachos etc (mainly because I'm lazy )

Bobarella

Hope the time passes quickly!

GeorgianaCavendish

Still in the twilight zone, Barclaycard and HSBC statements are out but waiting for MBNA. Catalog and loan totals update later in the month but credit cards are the ones I'm most bothered about given they have the highest interest rates and I feel like I'm only just learning how expensive credit card debt actually is!

Positive Things:

Made my batch of tomato soup last night, really looking forward to having the first serving at lunchtime!

Ebay sales continuing at a slow and steady rate. I've given up with auctions (unless it is something that I need to get rid of asap) I've found them much less profitable than Buy It Now/Best Offer. I've got the listed stuff stored away neatly and the pile is reducing every week, and my flat is looking so much neater and tidier! I've got one more area to sort through (the storage bags of summer / holiday clothes that I put away last year) and then I'll be done!

My husband did a bit of a spring clean while I was out on Saturday :eek: I'm really enjoying having a sparkling bathroom (for now, anyway)

Naomim

GeorgianaCavendish wrote: »

Still in the twilight zone, Barclaycard and HSBC statements are out but waiting for MBNA. Catalog and loan totals update later in the month but credit cards are the ones I'm most bothered about given they have the highest interest rates and I feel like I'm only just learning how expensive credit card debt actually is!

Positive Things:

Made my batch of tomato soup last night, really looking forward to having the first serving at lunchtime!

Ebay sales continuing at a slow and steady rate. I've given up with auctions (unless it is something that I need to get rid of asap) I've found them much less profitable than Buy It Now/Best Offer. I've got the listed stuff stored away neatly and the pile is reducing every week, and my flat is looking so much neater and tidier! I've got one more area to sort through (the storage bags of summer / holiday clothes that I put away last year) and then I'll be done!

My husband did a bit of a spring clean while I was out on Saturday :eek: I'm really enjoying having a sparkling bathroom (for now, anyway)

It is all a bit of a waiting game isn't it? Are the fees much more expensive to list as Buy It Now/Best offer? I was very disappointed a pair of 11yo's Gap jeans only sold for 99p considering they were £20 brand new and hardly worn.

Send your OH my way! I love a sparkly bathroom but not much chance of that with my lot. :eek:

Naomi x