Trying to stay out of debt! [35/AuDHD/Cats/Frugal Living]

Catlady2025

I'm not in TOO bad a situation but I get the feeling it could really get out of hand. 

I have two more payments to make to pay off a loan/credit card thing with my Mum.

Work is difficult for me to access. I'm autistic and have a lot of difficulty with other people. 

Trying each day to remind myself that I don't have money for the things I think I NEED, and trying not to spend as much on the things I actually do. 

Catlady2025

I often find it difficult to stay focussed. 

It's like I have to keep reminding myself several times a day that I do not have the kind of money that means I can just buy whatever I want. 

I have to remind myself that I have things at home that are free/cheap. I'll get the idea to go out somewhere new, or go for a drive and then I end up in a cafe or getting food which isn't cheap. Just today I was out shopping for essentials and I ended up buying a new toy for my cats. (Which they love, and I knew they would so it feels like it's justified.) 

The hardest part is knowing how easy it is for me to fall for my whims. 

liselle

Catlady, have you explored Charity shops for cat toys? I’ve found several,often brand new, often on a low shelf or tucked away somewhere.

very best wishes for your Debt free journey.

fatbelly

Catlady2025 said:

I've got £700 to pay off - it's on a 0% but I could only get 3 months so I don't have much time to find the money and make sure my impulsivity doesn't get the best of me. 

Pay off as much as you can and then look for another deal

Catlady2025

liselle said:

Catlady, have you explored Charity shops for cat toys? I’ve found several,often brand new, often on a low shelf or tucked away somewhere.

very best wishes for your Debt free journey.

I will definitely keep this in mind! I can't remember seeing any when I've visited charity shops (and I do frequent them.) 

Catlady2025

fatbelly said:

Catlady2025 said:

I've got £700 to pay off - it's on a 0% but I could only get 3 months so I don't have much time to find the money and make sure my impulsivity doesn't get the best of me. 

Pay off as much as you can and then look for another deal

That's a really good idea. Planning to cancel some of my credit cards that I don't want to use anymore. 

Catlady2025

Thank you for your input! I really appreciate it. 

Usually at the start of a new year I feel a sense of excitement about new goals and aims for the year but I'm just not feeling it this year. It feels so difficult to focus at the moment. 

This month I'm hoping to stay in as much as possible! I have lots of books to read, and I'm planning some more in the home jobs. I have redecorating to do (and all the supplies I need). 

Catlady2025

Today I rediscovered Prolific! Managed to get a survey that paid out £8!

Staying in is going okay too. 

I even got the slow cooker down from on my fridge freezer so I see some batch cooking in my future - maybe a curry. 

Catlady2025

Another NSD. Although we're not out of the woods yet because I've been thinking about takeaways and that feels dangerous. 

I signed up to a few challenges and added the pages to my bookmarks bar for easy access. If I see it every day hopefully I'll check every day. Not sure how much I'll comment on each thread as I always feel like a bit of an imposter. 

I did manage 12 minutes of cycling today, and have eaten pretty well. I did get some chores done. 2 loads of washing, washing up, vacuuming. I should probably feel happier about my day but I don't. Accepting that my brain is different is quite difficult sometimes! I really need to just accept that it is the way it is and be okay with it. 

I've been playing some mobile games to earn a little extra money, I checked for studies on Prolific. 

Catlady2025

Another NSD today, although I was >< this close to ordering a TGTG bag last night. I'm glad I didn't because I really didn't want to leave the house today.

Had a difficult night, and I have a headache. 

I did manage to fry off some chicken which is now in the slow cooker with some potatoes and carrots. 

Now I'm sat with my electric blanket and both cats whilst I watch Grey's Anatomy.  

Thinking ahead - my next grocery shop will probably be at the coop. I have just over £30 on my card to spend. I'm not confident that it will go very far, but it'll help me get to the end of the month with what I (don't) have in my bank account. 

Catlady2025

6/7 NSDs this year so far! 

I bought a £30 Aldi voucher using EverUp and used some cashback I had in that account so it came to £22.50. I did end up getting a few treats... I've been trying to limit myself to smaller portions. I've found that I'm really successful when I divide things up into smaller containers. I have a few small glass containers with lids (from Aldi) and I divide things up into them. Yesterday I bought some malteasers and some candy kitten sweets. 

I also bought myself some chicken to stick in the oven. Steamed some carrots and potatoes to go with it. Will be back to stew tomorrow! I will definitely need to do another shop in a few days because I have no more veggies. I really should go to the coop I suppose!! 

It feels like there are a million things I should be doing but all I want to do is sit with the cats & watch TV.