What was your 'money-piphany'? What one moment changed your attitude to money?

horsewithnoname

I added up how much a week I spent on coffee, that I didn't even particularly enjoy. 
Then realised how I could pay off my albeit at 0% credit card debt rather than keep transferring it [back in the days of 0% offers with no fee]

williewonder

Mine was when my debit card decline for a £1.20 Watherspoons coffee. That was embarrassing.

I was never good with money. I used to drink alot of alcohol. Social services budgeted my money as I have mental health difficulties so they slipt my personal allowance and they would give me - £50 a on Monday and £50 on a Thursday. I used to spend all that £50 in one day on alcohol leaving me with nothing until I got my next £50. I started shoplifting beer and food from the COOP. It got pretty bad.

EssexHebridean

For us, it was when a friend mentioned the impact he was making - and the longer term amount of interest he would save - by overpaying their mortgage. he gave us his spreadsheet, and we started playing with figures. Then we found this place, and started looking at all aspects of our finances. Started out with routine overdrafts, the mortgage and a car loan, got the car loan cleared inside a handful of months, started budgeting and cleared the overdrafts, reclaimed PPI for mis-selling on the loan (genuine case - I was told that we could only have the loan if we took Northern Rock's own PPI) then started hammering away at the mortgage which we cleared in 2016.

Since then we have saved and paid for a new bathroom and kitchen (both were gutted back to the bare brick and completely refitted), new windows and doors to replace the previous ancient and failing ones, and are now in the process of refurbing our hallway - again all saved for and paid upfront.  We have savings in the bank, and a long-term plan. 

MovingForwards

Splitting from my ex and leaving all the assets with them. Starting over with a bit of money to pay rent in a shared flat and food for a few months, but heavily in debt. Secured a new job the following day wearing a suit from the charity shop and set up spreadsheets to budget and track savings and haven't looked back.

Three and a half years later I was debt free, with enough money in the bank for a 15% mortgage deposit and looking for a home to buy.

Paydays see me transfer money to savings and bills come out the following day. 

linz

I was about 10 or 11 years old at a bonfire night doo at my dad's golf club. I remember mithering him to death for money to have a go on the tombola even though i'd already spent my pocket money on it. He got that fed up with me he stopped my pocket money there and then and told me if I wanted money to go and get a paper round, so I did, and ever since then i've saved if I wanted something. He taught me if I wanted something I had to work for it. As much as it upset me at the time i'm glad he did what he did.

CapeTown

When my rat of an ex husband and I got divorced, I realised my NHS pension was insufficient to see me through retirement.  I had always worked part time to care for our 3 children. I had never though I would need one as the husband had a good one. He took the pension when he left with his wh^^e . Looking at the sums was life changing.  I got a new job with a promotion and went full time. My pension has trebled.  Still not mu h but better. 

jagu

I used to think it wasn't worth saving because interest rates were so low. I have now realised that the whole point is that you put money away from where you can easily get at it. As you save, it still builds up, even if you earn little interest.

tenuissent

When I was about six, my father encouraged me to open a Post Office account and explained that it would earn "interest"... Free money??? This made a great impression on me, and I have saved carefully ever since.

Justdontwasteit

I used to ‘budget’ my pocket money then money from my Saturday job on clothes, music, make up, going out etc. But when I was 16 my mum went into hospital for what turned out to be several months, and my dad who worked long hours gave me ‘housekeeping’ for me and my younger sister. That taught me the cost of food etc and meant I was well prepared for managing as a student.

tain

Getting diagnosed as having ADHD last year. 

Until that point I'd spent 35+ years of my life thinking I was just a bad person/immature for splurging money on stuff I didn't need. Had no clue my impulsivity was due to my neurological wiring, and trying to control that by traditional means was a complete fools errand. 

Also makes for terrible mental health when you keep blaming yourself for failing.

I can now easily spot impulsivity, understand what it is I'm trying to achieve with the purchase, and judge it subjectively with a level head. It doesn't completely stop me wasting money, but does mean my choices are generally better.