Its a new Me! Wannabe Debt free ... and get a Mortgage! 27 May 2019 at 1:14PM in Debt free diaries 35 replies 3K views

astrocytic_kitten

Finding this really interesting @SandyShores, as I’m hopefully close to starting the mountain climb too - I quite naively thought getting debt free was the end of the journey and I’ve been realising over the past couple of months it’s only the start and there’s a long way to go. I think you’re a bit further on than me in thinking about this and it’s great to see you so positive!

SandyShores

Thanks Kitten, I was just looking at your signature - you've done some amazing work there in less than two years!  I sort of floundered for a bit, worried about spending too much again without the restrictions of all the repayments.  I've even got £650 on a credit card - shock horror - and the earth hasn't swallowed me up (its 0% over 15 months but I know I can pay it back tomorrow if I wanted to).  We are enjoying spending a bit more on the luxuries of life - a bit more on food shopping and treating ourselves to some new baking trays and its so nice to pay for it from our free cash.  The new car will definitely have to wait but its not an impossibility because we are finally saving

Sarah, you are so right.  It doesn't matter where you are on the mountain as long as you are on your way its all that matters.  I think I was always so stressed out about paying back the debts (and keeping MrShores spending under control) that I couldn't enjoy it before because I didn't think we would ever be here.  Its all becoming a reality now - yes we're not millionaires, but the feeling of not owing money (except the mortgage) is so freeing.  

Sarahwithlove

As long as you can still keep him in check as you don't want to go backwards. Do you have personal spending allowances each? 

SandyShores

Sarahwithlove said:

As long as you can still keep him in check as you don't want to go backwards. Do you have personal spending allowances each? 

Oh yes, its the only way to do it in my household.  When I was holder of the purse strings for Mr Shores spending, I was forever juggling his overspending.  Now we get an allowance each and then its up to him what he does with it - I don't think he will ever have a full lightbulb moment but he's definitely not so much of a spendaholic.  And I still hold the purse strings very very tight on our household spends.  Although I have relaxed a little bit recently, it definitely isn't getting out of control.  

Kittenkirst

How is it going Sandyshores?
In our relationship i am definitely the more spendy one so I have to keep myself in check tightly so as not to keep on splurging or allow lifestyle to creep up too much, because “we can afford it”- I have to remind myself that yes we can, but there are bigger goals on the horizon rather than two new tops