Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

I've been thinking about my life and goals today.

All our lives DH and I been held back and missed opportunities due to lack of money. This is partly due to low income, but largely due to money mismanagement and not making the most of the money we've had over the years .

Getting into debt and staying in it for 34 years is a prime example. Everything that DH and I have bought with credit, has ended up costing us far more than we would have paid if we'd saved up for it the old fashioned way. There are so many things we could have done with that extra cash; we could have paid off our mortgage, had a holiday every year, had repairs done on our house, etc, etc .

Instead we've been in a hideous debt spiral paying out continually for interest and charges. The banks have been profiting from our years of hard work instead of us :mad:.

As you know I'm hoping DH and I will be debt free soon, but to stop me falling back into bad habits I intend to start a spending diary. I will record our daily spends on here, but I will also write them down in a notebook that will go everywhere with me.

I will only record discretionary spends, such as any food spending above our £80 per week limit, or any other spending that is 'avoidable'. I'm hoping this will make us realise more fully the value of money so that DH and I can build up some savings for the first time ever .

Thanks mummytogirls I feel it's important to have some alone time with five of us in the house. Sometimes I think it keeps me sane .

Have a lovely evening.

Thanks lucky :rotfl: