My journey to a debt free life

foxgloves

I've been thinking the same, OBL - about whether you are really fully up to being back to work post-Covid. At least make sure you rest as much as possible when you are at home. 
F x

Onebrokelady

I managed to get a phone appointment this morning and she has arranged for me to have a face to face appointment at the surgery tomorrow morning so someone can listen to my chest and advise me on what to do, she did say that four weeks is not really long in recovery terms when it comes to covid so maybe I'm being a bit optimistic thinking I should be better by now. I have chilled out today reading someones diary that's given me a lot of food for thought. This person has what I would consider a mega income but is still in debt and really struggling. I look at people who seem to have more than me and often feel dissatisfied with my lot but this diary has shown me that a lot of the time it's just smoke and mirrors and their nice lifestyle is based on unaffordable borrowing. I always used to say if I could only earn x amount I would be satisfied and be able to live within my means but I know now that no matter how much I had earned it would never be enough because I would just spend more and more on things I don't actually need, I now earn £6000 a year more than I thought I needed to live a great life and I'm still in debt so that proves my theory that I would never be satisfied with what I had. Thankfully I have come to my senses and realised that I can have a nice life so long as I budget and don't go on crazy spending sprees. I would definitely love more money but that's not going to happen so I need to live within the budget I've got. I'm so happy and relieved that although I'm still paying off my debt I can still have a good life at the same time 😊

Willowtree222

I agree with this. 
I've always increased my spending with any increase without even knowing it. It's do easy to do. Like you, I should be comfortable in my life on my salary, but i'm not.
My ex is another example of this. He's with someone earning 6 figures but he says she never has any money. 
I'm done comparing now as I know so much of it is fake in people's lives. 
Hope you're feeling better soon. X

Sun_Addict

I think I know which diary you mean. It’s certainly interesting. The more you earn the more you spend, you cut your cloth accordingly. 

You had a bad chest before you had Covid so pleased you’re getting it looked at properly x

Onebrokelady

Nicnak said:

I agree with this. 
I've always increased my spending with any increase without even knowing it. It's do easy to do. Like you, I should be comfortable in my life on my salary, but i'm not.
My ex is another example of this. He's with someone earning 6 figures but he says she never has any money. 
I'm done comparing now as I know so much of it is fake in people's lives. 
Hope you're feeling better soon. X

Thank you Nicnak, it's so easy to convince yourself you deserve these things because you work hard but that way lies ruin 😊

Cherryfudge

It's great that you have an appointment - hopefully a face to face one will be helpful.

I don't know if you've come across a book called 'The millionaire next door'? It has an interesting take on perceived wealth. It's based on studies in the USA but I imagine things are similar here. One of the things the author has found is that people with a lot of money don't always look as we think a wealthy person should look, and conversely, those who appear wealthy may well be effectively faking it. Similarly, living the lifestyle actually has hidden costs, so a nice house in a nice area means keeping up with the Joneses, even if it's subconscious. A car 'equal' to theirs, the same school for the children (and the same school uniform trips etc.), the same sort of holiday... Recommended reading .

Onebrokelady

Sun_Addict said:

I think I know which diary you mean. It’s certainly interesting. The more you earn the more you spend, you cut your cloth accordingly. 

You had a bad chest before you had Covid so pleased you’re getting it looked at properly x

It's certainly in interesting diary and I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride just reading it 😀I do admire the honesty though and will follow to see what happens next. I'm glad I read it because it's straightened a few things out in my mind today that I do struggle with. 
I would love more money but not at the expense of my mental health,I don't really get too stressed out about money now even though I'm still in debt,I know everything is under control and it's being paid back slowly but surely and in  the meantime I get to live a with a lot less stress 😊
I told the gp today that I had caught covid on the back of having a chest infection so have actually had a bad chest since August so that's why she wanted to check me out, it's wearing me out now and I just want to get back to normal, at the moment even having a shower or walking up the stairs leaves me out of breath and that's not right 😟

enthusiasticsaver

Sorry you are still feeling poorly OBL.  It does sound as if your immune system was low after your chest infection and maybe this is why you had little left to fight Covid.  Lots of people say though the recovery takes a while.  

I know the diary you are referring to as well and it has certainly attracted a lot of comments.  Having a good income in no way guarantees financial stability.  Living to a budget is essential whether on minimum, average or mega wages. At least your finances are in reasonable shape now. 

Onebrokelady

enthusiasticsaver said:

Sorry you are still feeling poorly OBL.  It does sound as if your immune system was low after your chest infection and maybe this is why you had little left to fight Covid.  Lots of people say though the recovery takes a while.  

I know the diary you are referring to as well and it has certainly attracted a lot of comments.  Having a good income in no way guarantees financial stability.  Living to a budget is essential whether on minimum, average or mega wages. At least your finances are in reasonable shape now. 

Thanks the gp I spoke to today did say that it's only four weeks since I got ill so still early days in terms of recovery. Regarding the dairy I'm glad I found and read it, it's made me think a lot differently about coveting the things other people have.
 My dream would be to own another horse which isn't grand in the scheme of things but it's not within my reach now, I have tried to convince myself it's doable but I know it would put me under a lot of pressure finance wise so I have come to the sad conclusion that it's not going to happen any time soon. I am cheering myself up with the thought that once we are allowed out again and I feel well I can still go riding at my local riding school and this is better than nothing.a few years ago if I had got the urge to go an buy a horse I would have gone and bought one and worked out the details later so things have definitely improved. I still look though 😀

Onebrokelady

Arrrggghhhh just read on prepping thread that there is Avian flu here so the 🐓🐓 have to be kept under cover and not allowed to free range in the garden,2020 sure knows how to keep on giving 😡 what a pain in the neck 

Just been googling and apparently the Avian lockdown has been in place since November the 11th
I dont know how widely this has been publicised but I've only just found out tonight and there's been a case in Devon 🙀 hopefully no wild birds have picked it up closer to home