Keeping myself accountable 22 April 2022 at 4:10PM in Debt free diaries 9 replies 302 views

xanderaw

Hi all,

 

I’ve spent the last few years with my financial head buried in the sand, fortunately it hasn’t led to serious problems as I’ve got an ok job … But I haven’t managed to save anything and that has been stressing me out more and more since getting married last year. My wife doesn’t earn much and thinking about starting a family with no savings to fall back on keeps me up at night

 

I think my main problem is accountability … it’s just too easy to justify in the moment and only realising where it has gotten you later on. After reading inspiring and supportive diaries I thought I would start one to help keep me on track and hopefully help others who’re in a similar place.

 

I’ve joined a bunch of Debt-free Wannabe Challenges which I’m excited about. I’m going to be posting here every day or two about how they’re all going, what has been hard and has been working. I’ll post a full update of the challenges and my progress

 

I’d love to get a group of us all working to become the best version of ourselves. 

xanderaw

WinterWarrior

Good luck.

LittleMissDetermined

Found you! A lovely shiny new diary

Subscribed so I will get your updates, I like the idea of being the best version of myself but from a fitness perspective this is probably not gonna be achievable.

I do try to be a kind, caring, supportive and appreciative person. I just need to nail this debt!

Will you be adding your SOA to get this on areas you can make savings?

Lots of luck
LMDx

bigbeff

Welcome! I have subscribed and look forward to hearing about your journey - I find a diary helps me stay focused. Good luck! 

xanderaw

Thank you everyone for the support Weekend going well so far – not spending any money but having fun and enjoying the sunshine

 

My wife and I have gotten into chess recently - we are both equally terrible, so it works out great! Hoping that this hobby will take over some of the time that we normally go out and about and end up spending more than planned … we shall see

 

My main task is to get on top of the challenges I joined and know how much to save each day … doesn’t sound too hard but organising is not a strength, current plan is to write it out on excel tonight and then spend 2mins each evening updating and transferring everything

WinterWarrior

I agree an soa might be a good idea, to see where everything is going and where savings could be made.
I love a good spreadsheet with formula’s…and countless worksheets 😁

Four_Seasons

good luck, I will be cheering you on.

LittleMissDetermined

xanderaw said: write it out on excel tonight and then spend 2mins each evening updating and transferring everything

This is what I have, my trusty budget spreadsheet! And I spend the first few mins of the day updating it and seeing what I have left for the rest of the month. 

We don’t play chess, but we do enjoy board games so we do the same thing with those 

keep it up! 

LMD x

bigbeff

Just don't get too enthusiastic saving at the beginning of the month and then kicking yourself at the end of the month when you have to spend some of the savings! This is what I did at first - I still need to keep reminding myself to not get too enthusiastic! 

LittleMissDetermined

bigbeff said:

Just don't get too enthusiastic saving at the beginning of the month and then kicking yourself at the end of the month when you have to spend some of the savings! This is what I did at first - I still need to keep reminding myself to not get too enthusiastic! 

I agree! It can be demotivating if you have to do this x