31k debts

camz2017

Ok,

Most of my spending is dining out, buying protein shakes, protein supplements, vitamins, probiotic stuff, weird nuts for protein gains, gym membership, personal training, mcdonalds (I have a bad habit of chicken selects after workouts), chinese takeout, Five Guys (I eat there almost weekly which is more
than I realised).

A fair bit is also dates I have had. Sorry girls, we're splitting the bills in future!!!

I'm basically a huge greedy pig who never stops eating, which I have always known but I literally burn through cash like an idiot buying fancy food, never meal planning, going the store every meal... I need help with how to get my food consumption to be something reasonable, as I go gym 5 times a week I do eat a fair bit.

Highlights from YNAB analysis which disgusts me:
-Spent on average £80 a month on fast food (KFC, Mcdonalds etc)
- Spent on average £50 a month on supplements etc for working out (supplements, pills, etc)
- Spent on average £30 on takeout (e.g. dominos pizza)
- Spent on average £109 dining out (e.g. Five Guys, Nandos etc)
- Spending way too much on games and electronics (like £50 on a game etc) just ridiculous - ps4 sold today
- Spending £200 on groceries either at home or work (e.g. tesco, sainsburys, asda, aldi etc).

When you look at everything I spend a tonne on, it's all diet related in someway.
Fast Food, Takeout, Dining Out, Groceries, Health supplements.

On average I am spending £469 on those things per month, that is mad. I should not be spending more than £200 on food per month, period, likely even less. Any top tips and websites / help on this one? I'm worried as I do not want to become any skinnier, but oh my god what is wrong with me!!!! I am DISGUSTED at my fast food spend that's so anti-gains.

camz2017

Made a debt free diary

nkkingston

If you want to take a YNABish approach to your diet, MyFitnessPal is a useful app. It takes a while at first to get used to weighing everything, but it's great at guiding you towards a diet that meets your actual goals - it looks at your macros and how they contribute to where you want to be, rather than just calories. In terms of actually getting into the habit of cooking for yourself and saving money, the old style boards here have tons of great batch cooking recipes.

camz2017

I already have my fitness pal and actually have all my macros etc logged down, split 40% protein, 30% fat and carbs, but in all honesty because I'm fairly slim I don't stick to it ie will just eat 10 mcdonalds chicken selects, not log it and pretend it didn't happen... Bad finance wise, and goals wise. I will get back into the logging, good point.

I have bad habits generally, sometimes will decide I want cigarettes and buy 20, other times feel like pizza and spend £20 on it.

My impression to the outside world is I have it all together, people actually come to me for help with their finances, help with their gym sets, advice on diet. My reality is my finances are out of control, I do at least strictly do gym which maintains my body (for now), but diet wise I'm also pretty poor which I am sure will catch up with me eventually as the finances have.

I don't leave the house unless I am 100%, in every aspect. It does also mean I feel almost entirely isolated with this as my family do not know, none of my friends know, it's literally just me and this burden.

Candyapple

camz2017 wrote: »

I already have my fitness pal and actually have all my macros etc logged down, split 40% protein, 30% fat and carbs, but in all honesty because I'm fairly slim I don't stick to it ie will just eat 10 mcdonalds chicken selects, not log it and pretend it didn't happen... Bad finance wise, and goals wise. I will get back into the logging, good point.

I have bad habits generally, sometimes will decide I want cigarettes and buy 20, other times feel like pizza and spend £20 on it.

My impression to the outside world is I have it all together, people actually come to me for help with their finances, help with their gym sets, advice on diet. My reality is my finances are out of control, I do at least strictly do gym which maintains my body (for now), but diet wise I'm also pretty poor which I am sure will catch up with me eventually as the finances have.

I don't leave the house unless I am 100%, in every aspect. It does also mean I feel almost entirely isolated with this as my family do not know, none of my friends know, it's literally just me and this burden.

If you smoke, then that is another added expense that you will need to be honest about and include in your statement of affairs.

Also, how do you smoke and still go gym? Do you not find that counterproductive? I guess the same goes for eating junk food after going to the gym. Seems a bit pointless spending £50 on health supplements and then £220 on junk food.

Sounds like you have some unresolved underlying issues, perhaps you may find help in speaking to a counsellor and tackling the root cause of why you are sabotaging yourself and feel the need to have the facade up that you have a "perfect life".

sourcrates

camz2017 wrote: »

Ok,
Most of my spending is dining out, buying protein shakes, protein supplements, vitamins, probiotic stuff, weird nuts for protein gains, gym membership, personal training, .

Take it from someone who was a weight lifter for 10 years (in my youth) and regularly bench pressed 250lb, you dont need all these high protein supplements, you can go overboard on them, unless you want to challenge Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Mr Universe title that is, for the average joe, its not necessary.

And to be honest, the junk food and smoking don't help you at all, and for the life of me i cant see how you justify that, when your going to the gym, very bizarre ???

camz2017

And to be honest, the junk food and smoking don't help you at all, and for the life of me i cant see how you justify that, when your going to the gym, very bizarre ???

I agree, I justify it because I've been lucky to eat whatever and still build muscle mass. I'm also literally always so hungry I can't even explain lol. When I eat bad I will go gym 2+ hours, another confession, oh here we go, sometimes if I've eaten quite bad I will go the gym until I am physically sick in my mouth as I don't feel I can leave until I know it wont make me gain bodyfat. I know that's quite bad, bad relationship to have.... Again all people see is my end result which is a decent body and assume it's under control. I should just control my diet to be healthy and then I wouldn't have that guilt.

Smoking is mainly when I am out, although I said I would stop in August and haven't touched them since.

Overall, this debt busting is brining up my life issues, at least it's forcing me to face some truths.

AFK_Matrix

Hey there fellow YNABer

Great work on getting YNAB and seeing what you are actually spending your money on, it's an eye opener that's for sure!

I too am not great with eating and it is my biggest challenge as generally I have everything else finacially sorted, but take out is a problem for me too. But I am slowly working on it!!

I saw you said that you always feel hungry, have you discussed this with a doctor? I only ask as I can have a large meal and then 2-3 hours later feel hungry again and I know this is partly due to taking steriod based medication for a condition I have. It's worth finding out if there is something that can be done about always feeling hungry.

Good luck and I am sure you will get the take aways etc under control!!

camz2017

You touch on something probably worth following up, but yes I am always boiling hot, women have often referred to me as a radiator lol. I did go a GP a while back and they said I have slightly higher t3 than would be expected, but also tested my liver and things and came back all fine. They basically put it down to my bulking diet as at the time I was consuming high levels of protein. I was meant to go back but just ignored their follow ups (bad I know), should probably do that.

Anyway thanks for the warm welcome, you know I’ve actually had YNAB for months but I’ve been logging receipts and somewhat selectively logging. I know dumb right, I always had an excuse not to log something. Last night i did the direct import from the banks so everything went in.

How do you deal with being in debt and nobody knowing btw? It’s quite nice just to vent here and I’m being honest because you guys don’t know me etc, I’d be so ashamed to say all of this in person.

Supersaver88

Dude! There is no room for laziness so make lunches.
You need to do all you can to get in gear and hit this with all you have if you're serious about getting out of your situation.
I appreciate you have taken steps to turn it around but some of your posts are seriously frustrating as they're so blase!
You earn good money so stop with the takeaways and nights out whilst you battle the debt, sacrifices now ad you'll reap the rewards later on.
I'd be pretty scared if i were in your position, you need a rethink on your position. Harsh? maybe .... but i say what i see.
How would your parents react do you think? At least when you tell them you can explain what you're doing and that you've begun working a plan.
Good luck though and vent away.