Does anyone actually enjoy it?

captainmonkeyhanger

Well i have just started this year. Passed on the pub last night to sit on my computer and create my spending sreadsheet and worked out my monthly budget. I must admit i did kind of enjoy seeing where my money go's but now at least now i know what i can spend in a month, here's to trying to keep to it.

Jan 08 Loan 1- £928 to go
Loan 2 - £6678 to go
HSBC credit card - £83.38 to go
Mint - £2278 to go
Egg- 0 and destroyed
Virgin- 0
Overdraft- £1507
Savings £1

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sometimes I enjoy it immensely. I am always doing calculations, making lists, checking my banking online every day (obsessively), etc. I get such a high when I go to the supermarket and get a bargain!

But like others I hate being sabotaged, sometimes by school expenses, sometimes by birthdays and christmas (it is so hard to stick to a tight budget when you have a big family). I get particularly fed up when I sabotage myself by buying something that I could have managed without, but convinced myself that I needed.

I had a bad patch of overspending over christmas, but I can feel the money saving fervour coming on again, so here's to making up lost ground!

lazy&indebt

I don't enjoy it in the slightest.

I tried to do the whole DFW thing last year and was FAR too strict with myself. I don't need to be that strict as my debt was never out of control, in fact I owe less than £5k at the minute and pull in a good wage.

Being DFW made me miserable. I got far too obsessed with it and felt really angry at myself if I so much much as treated myself to something small from boots that may have cost a fiver. It's almost like having anorexia but with money not food. I hate the fact that I became tight fisted.

Now, I make overpayments on my credit cards and they are all on 0% etc but I don't go overboard. If I want someting, I will buy it (with cash!) and I am a lot less miserable than I was before.

Don't get me wrong, this site has saved me a lot of money on various things and I will always 'shop around' but never will I go back to being so obsessed with money and where it goes, there are far more important things in life.

Marisan

I don't know if enjoy is the right word,but I do get a great deal of satisfaction out of dealing with my debts.A couple of years ago things were looking very bad for hubby and me,but although we do still have a way to go,things are looking much,much brighter. The best thing was last week when we finally paid off a debt that was the subject of a CCJ and now we can apply to the Court for a certificate of satisfaction to go on the records.That felt very good.

Along the way,I have learned how to budget and not to waste money.If I see something which I have the urge to buy,I wait a while and then ask myself if I really,really need it. (It's a bit like being on a diet.) I look at shops as being there to part me from my hard-earned dosh,and it then becomes a battle of wits between me and the retailers.I have also learned that there is no shame in buying own-brand labels and economy labels (trial and error,some are better than others) and I have switched energy suppliers.Last week I renewed my car insurance and switched,thereby saving £40 (I do need my car to get to work).

Having said all that,life shouldn't be a misery and I am saving hard towards our summer holiday.You do have to have something to look forward to,but this year the holiday won't be on the credit (debt!) card.(cut that up ages ago!)

Talltree_2

I think this is a good thread,

I enjoy saving money ....75% of the time, I feel that I am helping myself and my family, it's a really good feeling to get a good deal and realize that I am saving money while trying not to cutback. That money can then be used on good things or be saved.

However 25% of the time it's a pain ... It seems sometimes a lot of work to achieve those savings, occasionally I have dropped the ball a bit, for example I bought a high spec re-conditioned P/C ... great value, but it didn,t work, after 3 1/2 hours haggling I got some sort of deal but it wasnt good and I hate situations like that.

I do have some savings and it needs constant vigilance to ensure that I get the best deal. For example I am moving to a First direct account (as recommended) with the £100 cashback, it is a great deal, however FD cannot get in touch with my Salary department, and they want a bill to validate me for money laundering purposes.. anything can be done but it's hassle.

Also it can start to take over .. every thing you do you wonder about the cost, a trip out becomes Petrol, Food, other costs when you get there, cost of Icecreams etc.... should life really be about that?.

wydsiwyrg

I love it.

I'm in a lucky position to not be in any debt. But I love living on a shoestring. In fact, to be honest, I feel annoyed with myself if we're not. We do, from time to time, indulge ourselves a little, but I'm living for my children, not for me.

We've been fortunate to be on very good income, and I feel that learning to live on as little as possible will give the best opportunities in life to our children, and also give us the chance, when we're older, to really enjoy ourselves - and hopefully retire around 40!

I admire you guys who are getting yourselves out of debt; but a few things get my goat (and upset my wife). I refuse to get cars on finance (when most people on my wage are driving BMWs and Mercedes); and we have a 13 year old Fiesta. It annoys me that people go outside of their means, and then rub it in our face (their "success").

Ok rant over. In conclusion. I love it - and wouldn't spend money any other way.

maz1964

:rotfl:
Hiya all, your posts have inspired me to ask for your help, how does everyone do their sums, and the spreadsheets pls, any tips appreciated.

i have started my daily spending diary but as my husband gets weekly wages and i monthly im finding it hard to find a system to suit my payments.

what i want to achieve is put certain money in different piggybank accounts, am thinking of internet type accounts i then can transfer out on pay day each week. The rest towards my normal bills and blitz the debts.
Im in the middle of organising all my credit cards and overdrafts onto the snowball calculator, still getting my head around that. Ultimately want to clear my debts as soon as possible.

so if you have any suggestions or tips would appreciate it, as i guess its a bit of trial and error but someone else's idea i might be able to use and then i can start with more confidence.

Many thanks and have a fun evening ciao MAZ

Batfink

I get some amount of pleasure from it I must admit - eeking every last mpg out of my car, and buying the cheapest lunch in the canteen. I also love telling my family that I've only spent £10 or so in a week!

I'm so sad....
x

andan

I definitely enjoy it to an extent. I live well within my means, i'm not tight with my money though and just think about whether i want something or not. I love saving my money because its great when i can buy my car and not worry about where the money is coming from, or pay for my holiday knowing i can already afford it. So i love living on a shoe string as it means i have money to spend in other areas which really matter to me.

redballoon_2

i enjoy it too! i have excel on my phone and i am able to update my spending spreadsheet as soon as i have spent money (not often!!)

hubby gets sick of it at times as he likes to go out for meals etc so i try and save up vouchers from pigsback to go for a meal very now and then (for free!!)