Is it just me? It's all I can think about!!

loubie_lou

My debt that is....

Is anybody else like me? It's all I think about 24/7. I'm dreaming about it. It's doing my noggin' in to put it quite bluntly!

I've finally got my debt and spending under contriol (with the help of a part time job and Payplan :j ) but I keep setting myself little challenges......can I pay this by that date? Can I pay off Xk by this date. It's really knackering me out!

Can anybody help me calm down and get rid of the feeling that the debt has to be gone in the next 5 mins or I can't buy this, that or the other?

What do you guys and gals do to get rid of the feeling that your debt isn't the "bee all and end all of your lives" !?!

Thanks from a tired Loubie Lou :rolleyes:

tallyhoh

Can't help. I got left homeless 30 years ago without a penny. Never been able to waste money since. Every spare cent has to go into the bank "for a rainy day".

Dont tell me there's no pockets in shrouds, I'm taking it with me.

Kevicho

I think the above posts show the difference in attitude between the generations (i know its not a reflection on all people of both generations, but still quite funny)

SortingIt_2

Hi very tired Loubie-Lou!!

Don't think that you are alone in all of this. I too am constantly thinking about how to clear this debt asap ALL THE TIME. Morning, noon and night it doesn't leave.

I have only just made my first payment to payplan - not sure what is to happen next but I trust from others posts that they will be doing something. Might give them a call.

I would be interested to see any others experience re debt and thinking about it non stop! It is very all consuming and takes over life!

xx

chevalier

I think what you are describing is burn out in a way. Try and relax a bit, you have done the hard part, admitting you have a problem, and dealing with it. Whilst you can't relax completely, you can sigh a big sigh of relief.

As for challenges to keep you motivated, they are no bad thing. But you need to set yourself reasonable ones.

chev

(Land_of)_Maz

no advice, as it kinda figures a lot in my life too, although in a positive way. I'm forever banging onto my mates, OH, mum etc on ways i have made/saved money and suggesting things they can do...

I think i get on their nerves at times but they are glad when they get one of my freebies, or for example i gave my mum £20 of my Pigsback vouchers to get her hair done else she would never have treated herself... then i think they see where i'm coming from.

Plus my list of number of debts is half what it was a year ago, so that is proof we're all doing the right thing.

My OH is proud of me so that helps a lot!

Stay positive and go with the flow, you've set the ball in motion now... no need to chase it just keep your eye on it!

Little_Pickle

Hey Lou... I am the same at the moment.. it's taking over my life... I actually don't know what I'll do when I am debt free... the addiction of saving?

I think about it all the time.
Can I get it cheaper?
Do I need it?
If I don't eat for a week, I'll save XXX amount which works out at ??% of my total debt, which brings my DFD forward by .2354 days resulting in paying XX amount less interest.... aarrggghhhhhhhh!!!!

In_Search_Of_Me

Yup, think about it in one way or aother alot of the time but agree with the burn out issue. You need to factor in some treats and relaxation - neither of which needs to be expensive. ie switching off the computer & reading a book from the library, bath with cheap bubbles, nice walk, chat to friends etc. We're all going to be around for a while so need to pace ourselves a bit to avoid the "oh ***" it mentality! Plus try & decide what proportion of extra money goes to debt and try & kep a bit back for you for treat things every now & again...that way you cut back on some areas while not going do-lally in the process. Some days it really is exhausting & thats the time to log out & do something fun for you! Mind you having said all that I do dream debt!!

loubie_lou

Thanks so far. I think so of you are right on the near "burn out issue".

I'll do some of the things that In Search of Me has suggested.

I figured at this rate my debt will be gone in 5 years. I hope i'm not feeling like this everyday! Hahaha :mad:

Loubie

Shineyhappy

Little_Pickle wrote: »

Hey Lou... I am the same at the moment.. it's taking over my life... I actually don't know what I'll do when I am debt free... the addiction of saving?

I think about it all the time.
Can I get it cheaper?
Do I need it?
If I don't eat for a week, I'll save XXX amount which works out at ??% of my total debt, which brings my DFD forward by .2354 days resulting in paying XX amount less interest.... aarrggghhhhhhhh!!!!

I could have written that!:rotfl: Apart from the top bit as once the unsecured debt has gone then its time to clear 152k worth of mortgage :eek:

I worry all the time about paying off my small debts and as the biggest one is currently 1.5k down from 2.5k I dont know how I am going to cope paying off a seemingly never ending debt.

I am so the same, I dont budget for treats/clothes/shoes and I feel guilty if I buy some icecream or a treat in the supermarket every now and then.

I worry about being able to afford my mortgage as its just my place and I am responsible for that much debt, with no savings and its scares me silly so its natural that its fairly prominent on my mind although probably not very healthy

Dumb_Blonde_3

Hi Loubie-Lou,

You are not alone .............. I think I had a very serious light bulb moment just after christmas 2003 and it was before NYE - we were 20k in debt and I lay there and thought of all the presents I had brought for people and how they didn't 'need' them etc and how were we going to pay them off - I somehow stumbled accross this website and thought we need to do something - we got married in the February of 2003 and I didn't want to bring a baby into a world of debt so for the next 2 years it was on my mind the whole time - seriously - every single penny was watched - I could tell you at any moment of any day how much we owed and what was in the bank account - thankfully back then (in the day) you could really shuffle the cards on 0% with no fee's at all - but the banks got smart to us 'card tarts' as we were called. I think I used every trick that was ever mentioned on here to get out of debt - this site is wonderful ............ I got out of debt just 2 weeks before our son was born in September 05 and I worked right up until that date - I was lucky I had an easyish pregnancy - just don't look at my ankles - they were like they belonged to an elephant - and elephants don't have ankles as such............

I didn't buy a newspaper and I love to read newspapers (except not now its all doom and gloom) - I used to stalk the guy/girl in tesco's that carried around the yelllow sticker gun thing - I'd invite myself over to my mum and dads house for sunday lunch and tell my husband to 'fill up' - oh I think I could write my own book. We didn't even have Sky .............

I've strayed off your subject - I'm sorry but I was where you were once - have you tried writing down things in a book when you get into bed about 'what you are going to do tomorrow' ........... you really need to clear your mind before going to bed - nice bath oh and a good escapisim book - thats what I do - I love reading fiction books - I read sometimes until I'm asleep and then have to re-read several pages !!!!! (the books were from the library of course not brought)

Have you done a SOA that we can have a look at to see if we can help save you money?

Okay a quote from someone in the gym that could apply to many people 'It didn't take you 2 months to put on the weight - so don't expect it to take 2 months to get the weight off' - I.E - it didn't take you a few months to get into debt - don't expect to clear the debt in a few months - just do the best you can and keep with it - visit the board everyday .

All the best