How do you sustain your lightbulb moment?

Jacks_xxx

:wave: Hiya hon,

Obviously you have to cut back on somethings, but what works for us is having treats built into the budget.

We sat down as a family and worked out what we'd feel desperate about losing that we considered non-negotiable, and what we could substitute for some of the other things so that we didn't feel too deprived.

I have weird hair and I've only just found a hairdresser I trust - and the thought of giving him up and going back to "every day's a bad hair day" made me want to cry. (It really did.) So I've kept my expensive hair appointments BUT I go less often, and I do all my own waxing, facials and manicures and pedicures now.

(I know sound like such a princess but if I had to look like a bag of nails for the three years that we are paying off this debt I wouldn't be able to stick to it. )

I also have £10 a week that's mine. I can save it up for a treat, blow it all in one go, use it to pay for Fish and Chips at the weekend, whatever. Anything but use it to pay down debt.

That tenner keeps me sane! (that and the DFW board of course.

Love Jacks xxx

painted_lady

I come on here to keep inspired, I find when I dont, I start slipping.I am on here everyday at the moment, it keeps me on track to read how I am doing, get tips, share ideas and keep motivated. Reading stories of those struggling reminds me how I used to be and I now feel qualified to give them advice and help them reach where I am now.I cant believe I used to have around £150 a month in bank charges (now claimed back), used to not open post, used to use one credit card to pay other, didnt have any idea of what was coming in and going out, used to buy food that looks good in the fridge, knowing I wouldnt get round to eating it. Shameful, but with this site I have managed to turn my finances round. I tried doing it before without help of this site and was like you, but by checking here regularly, I have been doing well since Nov 06 and am almost free of personal debt, although my business debt is different!

chloebelle

I have actually tried the opposite, carrying only my debit card and no cash.

Are you gasping in horror? Let me explain...

By having my card I am prepared for an emergency. However, only having a card prevents me buying stupid things like crisps, magazines or similar rubbish. Try going into the newsagents and buying a 20p tube of sweets with a card, you feel so silly it just isn't worth it. Plus the time factor is important, can you really be bothered to get your card out, enter the pin etc... just for some sweets? And many small businesses won't take a card for such small amounts.

Everyone is different but I find this good, breaking up a note to buy crisps is easy, using a card just feels ridiculous.

Mozette

Perhaps you have been trying too hard - there are some things that may in the strictest sence be 'non-essential', but that just sort of make life worth living, and are in that sense 'essential'. What I found worked was to start off keeping a spending diary. Then after a couple of months have look at what you spend on, well, nothing much really! For example I was spending the best part of £10, five days a week on coffees and sandwiches. £50 a week, £200 a month. Now if I got a £200 a month pay rise... But in effect I had one, and it was hard at first, because it was a habit, but once I'd broken the habit I realised I didn't really miss it. I'm not saying that I never darken the doorsteps of Starbucks, Costas etc, but now it's maybe two or three times a month, and I enjoy it all the more because it is a treat rather than a habit. I'm sure there will be areas where you can give up a habit or two, that you soon won't miss, but your finances will feel the benefit of.
Bit like a diet, eat sensibly with the occasional treat and you can sustain it; live on bread and water, you're bound to run screaming to the nearest Cadbury product. Look at it as you are taking control of your spending, not that you are going to punish yourself for your past spending. But accept that you may fall off the wagon now and again, but get back on as soon as possible, don't think 'oh well, I've ruined it now - may as well buy 30 pairs of shoes'.
And read this board a lot. When you're on here, you're not spending! (unless you've got dial up!)
All the best with it.

Mupeteer

Leaving the credit cards at home definitely helps. I was like you and always used to carry 3 (!!!!) cards for emergencies. No idea what kind of emergency was going to need 3 cards but there you go!:D

I only stopped carrying them a few weeks ago but it isn't as difficult as it first seems. I always have my mobile phone with me anyway and can't think of any emergency that I couldn't call someone to help me out.

So go for it and ditch the cards. It's one temptation less. If you limit the amount of cash you carry as well you're another step on the way.

Good luck.

Jacks_xxx

I forgot to say I also have two stickers in my purse.

One has [strike]£96700 [/strike] followed by the more or less current debt total.

and the other one says "Do you want it more than you want to be out of debt???

It still stops me in my tracks. (most of the time.)

Love Jacks xxx

PS Chloebelle - that method works for me too. I always have my card because if I'm in the shops it means that I need to pay for something / buy something but I would never get it out to buy a Bounty bar - and if I've just broken my tenner to pay for something it's all too likely that the change will get frittered.

fc123

Every month, our debt repayment equals a luxury Maldives holiday. It has done for 3 yrs now and we have another 12 to 18 mnths to go.
When it's gone..will we actually book the holiday for real?? We haven't had a break for 4 yrs now (self employed) and only get 1 day off per week (+ Xmas day)
OH gets only 1 day off alternate wks.
I think we may choose to overpay mortgage instead!..all that sun is bad for the complexion!

JoeHel

Admittedly I'm new to all this and have only just confronted the mountain of debt I have to climb, so I'm still quite excited at the prospect. I know that will wear off. Which is why I cut up all my cards today. I only have my debit card left!! I get £200 a week (on a Friday) from my OH. I pay £100 into my account and the other £100 is my week's spending money. It's SO much harder to buy things with hard cash than with plastic. I try so hard not to buy things unless I absolutely HAVE to have them. I think I've curbed my spending by about £300 a week in the last 2 weeks!! Not that I've got that cash stashed away - that was all on cards. And I'd buy "extra" things just to make the amount worthwhile to justify a credit card coming out. eg I'd need a foundation and see that Clinique had an offer on, so I'd buy THREE items instead, for one stupid little freebie bag!!!!

I have a huge amount of overtime this month and I'm going to put £500 in my savings account and forget it. That will be for any of those "emergencies" I used to justify keeping my credit cards for.

It is quite an "event" cutting cards up, but hugely liberating... :j

Good luck!

joey23

Working for CCCS did it for me! If everyone spent a week working there they would see what problems debt can cause and would shock them into stopping spending!

It worked for me!