Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

Our debt free anniversary yesterday has got me thinking. I'm very proud that we've stayed debt free for three years 🙂. The only way we've done it is to not have any credit cards. As our income is so up and down the temptation to borrow temporarily may have been overwhelming otherwise and we know what a slippery slope that is!  Our poor credit reputations mean that we probably wouldn't get a credit card or loan anyway, but having been debt free for three years maybe our credit score is higher now than it was. Either way I'm determined never to have credit again as the stress was so crippling and there seemed no way out. DH's pension saved us from our horrific debts and I would never voluntarily put myself into that situation again.

Well we've been locked down again which was wasn't a huge surprise as there were so many leaks to the media 🙄. It won't change my lifestyle much as I only go out to go  to school and to buy food in the termtime, but I do fear for the economy. The first of November means that people's thoughts are turning to Christmas shopping so it's an unfortunate time for shops to have to close and I feel very sorry for the owners of small independent shops. I do wonder what role shops have in spreading the virus anyway. They seem to have quite good social distancing measures in place (apart from Mr M and that they aren't closing 🙈). When I met my niece for coffee the other day if felt quite safe as we wore masks to walk to our table, the tables were a good three metres apart from each other and we ordered from our table using an ap. I feel as though pubs are the most likely to be spreading the virus as people are moving around more, going up to the bar to get drinks, standing around in small spaces, forgetting to socially distance after a few drinks. Whereas not many people go shopping when they're drunk 🤔. But we've all seen people out and about who won't wear a mask, who get too close to us and who just don't seem to take it seriously and they are probably the super spreaders 😡.

I do wonder when it will all end though. What if infections are still high after the four week lockdown? Or the R number is still high? Schools and universities staying open will make the virus rates drop more slowly, so what if four weeks aren't enough?

The only positives are that it's buying time for the vaccines to be finalised, for mass testing to be stepped up and it may give hospitals a chance to cope with existing patients. Track and trace seems so useless that I don't have high hopes of that 🙄. I'm also glad that people are still allowed support bubbles if they live alone, unlike the first lockdown.

LABMUM

I don't think it is the pubs not in our town anyway. We go to the local Wetherspoons they are very strict with the social distancing and wearing .asks and you are not allowed to stand at the bar.

LABMUM

Congratulations on being debt free for three years same amount of time as me although I was only because I was made redundant. I still think I need to watch my spending lol.

enthusiasticsaver

Congratulations on staying debt free for 3 years.  I think you are wise not to take out credit.  It just leads to stress when you are on a tight income. 

HairyHandofDartmoor

LABMUM said:

I don't think it is the pubs not in our town anyway. We go to the local Wetherspoons they are very strict with the social distancing and wearing .asks and you are not allowed to stand at the bar.

I guess it probably varies from pub to pub.

HairyHandofDartmoor

LABMUM said:

Congratulations on being debt free for three years same amount of time as me although I was only because I was made redundant. I still think I need to watch my spending lol.

enthusiasticsaver said:

Congratulations on staying debt free for 3 years.  I think you are wise not to take out credit.  It just leads to stress when you are on a tight income. 

Thanks . I think fear of going back into debt will always make us watch our spending and want to have an EF.

Sunshine_girl2

Bit late but well done on being debt free for 3 years it must bring you peace of mind.  As for lockdown well  after reading the do's and dont's I think it's pretty much the same as we have been living for months apart from the non essential shops being closed . I refuse to feel down about it and will just carry on being safe. Our mayor wants the schools to shut so we shall see , he likes arguing with the PM . Personally after seeing how well DGS and DGD have come on in 6 weeks I sincerely hope they can stay in school. Stay safe HH , you used to walk in your local park can you go there now and feel ok about it ? 

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sunshine_girl2 said:

Bit late but well done on being debt free for 3 years it must bring you peace of mind.  As for lockdown well  after reading the do's and dont's I think it's pretty much the same as we have been living for months apart from the non essential shops being closed . I refuse to feel down about it and will just carry on being safe. Our mayor wants the schools to shut so we shall see , he likes arguing with the PM . Personally after seeing how well DGS and DGD have come on in 6 weeks I sincerely hope they can stay in school. Stay safe HH , you used to walk in your local park can you go there now and feel ok about it ? 

Thanks Sunshine .

HairyHandofDartmoor

School was good today as I was back in my lovely normal class with lovely well behaved (mostly) children 🙂. I'm back in the awful class tomorrow 😩 but only for the morning thank goodness. The weather was very odd today. It was mainly sunny ☀️ and quite windy 🌬  but then suddenly chucked it down with rain that felt like sleet 🌧 and it happened again in the afternoon. I needed my cardigan today as it was a bit chilly with all the windows and doors open. The teacher gave the children a lovely reassuring talk about the virus and the upcoming lockdown this morning, I think she does pastoral care really well.

I didn't sleep very well last night, but I never do after a holiday. I expect I'll sleep better tonight after my busy day at school. DH is cooking tonight, thank goodness, so I'm able to relax this evening 🙂.

I hope everyone is having a good Monday 🙂.

Sun_Addict

Glad you had a good day. Good luck with the awful class tomorrow morning, hopefully will pass quickly.