Never have money - want to cry

Amie_007

and dont believe the hype, the fact everyone around you is going on holiday and getting a new kitchen and new car etc etc is probably all on credit and they will have to deal with it eventually, be proud of the fact that you can stick to a moral code you believe in and cause no problems to anyone else. wouldnt let the 0% debt keep you awake, 0% is not really debt is saving backwards [/QUOTE]



Its taken me a long time to realise this! I never could work out how friends of mine could afford block paving, new windows the next month, 2 new cars the next month, a new motorbike, a £3000 holiday to Mexico and new clothes all the time. until, they split up, and she told me that the mortgage on the house was now £90,000. They originally bought the house for £50,000 and that was only 4 or 5 years ago! So the answers became clear as to how they had funded their lifestyle for so long - they had remortgaged and remortgaged!

tinalives

Well said Amie - it took me a while to realise it too, but there must be so many people who are living like that and still in denial over the state of their finances!

newfunk

tinalives wrote:

Well said Amie - it took me a while to realise it too, but there must be so many people who are living like that and still in denial over the state of their finances!

And isnt it great to realise, that you are not in that position!

tinalives

I'd rather say 'sorry, I can't afford it' than to get myself into debt - that's why we haven't done christmas for the last few years - humbug!!

Hereford_Wolf

Sorry to sound harsh but to me the tithing is the same as finance companies ripping you off. If one of them was taking 10% of my wages I'd be incensed (especially as you know they don't need the money).

Please - I'm not knocking your faith but this is a con. Stop paying it. One day you will meet your God and he will tell you that for these people to cause you all this worry over money is nonsense. They do not need you cash. Keep it and be happier.

ms_london

What an interesting post!!! It's similiar to the "my life sucks" one on the sticky...

I yearn to be independent. Yes I could meet a nice man & things would be easier financially, but I want to be able to afford these things on my own - but its definately harder for single people.

As other posters have said, you are lucky that you are living within your means, not above them - the extra money you will have coming in come December will make a lot of difference, its just about economising where you can, i.e taking lunches into work, therefore saving the money you couldve spent on the holiday you want for example. Moneysaving is fun, and this board is fab - see it is a game, it doesnt have to miserable, I know it is tough (ive been there, purely because ive been paying back my debt for the last few years, soon to be over!!), but you can get through it, and there are ways that your situation could improve.

Sure taking in a lodger might not be ideal, but it could be fun - especially if you find the right person, plus its extra money, even if it only is for the short term.

Are there ways you could improve your earning potential? At least you have a place of your own & bought it at a good price. I rent a shared flat, no hope of getting a mortgage in London thats for sure, and I would struggle with one at home (Herts) unless the prices drop soon or I save up a hefty deposit - unfortunately that seems the only way.

If the gym membership is your "social life" then that price a month is ok, I pay a gym membership (£46.35 a month), but i know that if i wasnt there 5 times a week I would be out spending money. So long as you are getting your moneys worth thats all that matters.

Dont cry, just see it as a challenge - there are a lot of people in the same situation, others in a lot worse (watch the bank of mum and dad tonight - thats an eye opener!!).

Best of luck.

Ms_London xx

ms_london

tinalives wrote:

I'd rather say 'sorry, I can't afford it' than to get myself into debt - that's why we haven't done christmas for the last few years - humbug!!

November is my final Debt repayment, whoo. So my December pay cheque will be for me. This is totally bah humbug - I wont be blowing that pay cheque on Christmas, thats for sure.

I think its sad when families get into so much debt at Christmas time and spend the next 12 months trying to pay it back, just in time for another Christmas.

I suppose thats another story.....

Ms_London xx

tinalives

ms_london wrote:

November is my final Debt repayment, whoo. So my December pay cheque will be for me. This is totally bah humbug - I wont be blowing that pay cheque on Christmas, thats for sure.

I think its sad when families get into so much debt at Christmas time and spend the next 12 months trying to pay it back, just in time for another Christmas.

I suppose thats another story.....

Ms_London xx

I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!

skintchick

Blimey! Lots to reply to.

Thanks to those who suggested I could tithe my time - that's a very interesting idea, and I'm going to give it some thought.

To those who think I am funding some weird cult - my church does lots of outreach work with young people and families who are REALLY poor, and I am Biblically called to help with that work. I know ten percent is hard to get your head round if you don;t share the faith, but I don;t give ten per cent yet and I don;t feel bad about giving it. I know it seems I could have that extra money, but it took me so long to start tithing that if I stop I may not start again!

Re the gym membership - it is a special deal (should be 60!!) and it costs just four pounds less at the local authority one, but then you pay for classes and the pool on top, so this is better value as I do one class a wekk and will be using the pool when they open it again.

I used to do dance classes but that was another £40 a month so I've stopped those for the time being (miss them lots).

This site has been so helpful - it;s lovely to know I'm not completely uselss with money, and that there's support here for when we feel down. Thanks everyone :T

Pal

If you have savings that could pay off the 0% debts, why are you paying the interest payments out of your income? Why not pay the minimum payments using the savings until the 0% deals expire, then transfer it to another 0% deal?

It seems your financial position is a little precarious to be stoozing, which is effectively what you are doing.