After the relief of having the IVA accepted last week, I got to wondering over the weekend how people's attitude to money has changed on the forum. I have found myself, after having been very free with the credit cards to almost the polar opposite when it comes to dealing in cash. I question every purchase, not just my wife's and daughters', but mine as well. Do I need this? If so, can I get it cheaper? Is there an alternative? I can see myself becoming quite miserly, which I don't like the idea of really. I suppose this is a good thing but I don't want to be seen as miserable old Dad. "Never lets us have anything!!"
I have seen other posts mention seeing others at the checkout just handing over the credit cards. I must agree that I have now found myself noticing that the vast majority of people use the credit card these days, where before I would not take a second glance or give it another thought. That is not to say that they do not manage to pay it off each month, but I suppose it's a bit like being an ex-smoker. They are always the worst when it comes to other smokers. I am an ex-spender!!! We shouldn't be judgmental of spenders, as no-one is of us ex-spenders. We have all been dealt with sympathetically. Should we set up an NHS helpline to help these spenders give up the credit cards?!!! I suppose that that's what this forum is. It certainly was a lifeline to me.
Carl.
If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of credit card payments!!!
Hey Carl, I think you're right, I think that is what this forum is for. I know that I will never, ever use a credit card again and the only loan I would probably take out is car finance and I don't even want another mortgage. I think you know things are bad when you're paying for food on the credit card and NOT paying the balance off. That's what did it for me anyway. That, and paying balances off using other credit. I think I'll be watching the pennies forever and I reckon that's a good thing. X
Its very sad really. I was out and about with my mother over the weekend and she spent £26 on a few bits and pieces and pulled out her plastic. When i gave her a funny look she said its 'only' 2.9% at the moment. Even so did she really need to put it on the plastic!!
This is the kind of attitude that over time creates the misery that all of us on here are suffering or have suffered.
Theway you are dealing with it now Davram is the way i wish i had always dealt with money.
Now that i am 'converted' I know for a fact that i would never ever be able to bring myself to put even £10 on a credit card again,& i never want to be in that position again where im putting the weekly shop on a credit card.Its funny how you can become so against something that you've been doing for years,And yes it is just the same as being a converted smoker.I am proud not to have any credit cards in my purse anymore & feel fantastic when im paying 'cash' at the tills in tesco[:D]x
Never thought I would say this, but give me cash anytime!!!!!!!!! For the first time in about 30 years, I have no credit cards in my purse. I don't intend to have any more.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
not so long ago i had a string of credit cards in my purse and stood at the checkout wondering which one to pay with that would not take me over my limit! i shudder now when i think about it!
now i pay with cash or my debit card and it is bliss!
This Christmas will be the first one ever without plastic! I shall look forward to being frugal!!!!!!!!!
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Even worse is the strange looks you get at the checkout from other customers when you hand over cash. The cashier holds up the notes to scrutinise them and the plastic-flashers look at you as if you must be a bookie or drugs dealer to be paying in cash!!!!
it got so bad jan that it used to take me all saturday morning juggling which mininum payment to pay first, when i think back now it frightens me to think i lived like that!
this christmas i will be the same as you - frugal and paying with cash and boy am i glad!
it is weird how we can change from being so easy with the plastic to being so careful with cash....there must be the makings of a blog on that.!!.!!! hee hee
IVA completed 11th Dec 2009 due to a Full and Final with the fantastic help of Michael Peoples and
Mc Cambridge Duffy
As soon as payday arrived, the money would go in, and straight out again. I would leave minimum payments to the very last minute. A lot of the time I would withdraw cash from the whole in the wall and go inside the bank and pay it over the counter! I used to breathe a sigh of relief that I had managed to make another payment.
So scary!!!!!!!!
MTL, I didn't find it easy, it was hard not having that flexible friend (enemy?) behind me, and sometimes still is if something happens.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I have to stay within my limits but I am still learning when it comes to budgeting, the thing is I just lose it.... well, I dont mean lose it, I kind of stick with the food budget, thats changed a lot but, I sometimes become really weak. If I am fed up I want something extra in the food, like biscuits or chocolate or something and I get it and then have to re budget. I get really annoyed with myself, because I can go on really well for ten days or so and then suddenly bang, something happens or even nothing happens and I just cant live another minute with a choccy ice cream. I read these things and admire you all so much.
I DO NOT ever want plastic again, or anything like it but I am still as rubbish as budgeting as I was before. Although I dont have to worry about debt anymore I still worry about money and I would just LOVE not to have to.
This is me being extremely honest, life still sucks sometimes. I sitll wish like mad I could just turn the clock back and do things differently. I guess thats just life.
I (hopefully) wouldn't be where I am now if I'd the benefit of it.
We're pretty good at budgeting though. Go out with our list and pretty much stick to it. I like to see how low I can get it!
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I'm the same Lily, and I think I always will be. I go shopping and stick to the list, and then all of a sudden a bar of Green and Blacks or a Krispy Kreme doughnut calls my name and it's jumped in the trolley!
I don't mean that I want credit cards or loans again, but I think there'll always be that little bit of me that wants what she can't have. The difference is that I now accept that I can't have what I want, and I get a kick from saving for it.
I don't think I'll ever be very good at budgeting - I start off really well, and then all of a sudden it goes wrong and the money is running out before the end of the month!
I do admire those of you who can go shopping with a list and stick to it!
Of course it all goes pear shaped when you have vets bills to pay and buy a new dog!
We had to cut down this week because of that. Fortunately, we had enough food stocked up to fall back on.
I do treat myself to Asda Smart Price choccie bikkies though (and they are on the list!)
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
