What has motivated you to.....
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| Sat, 12-04-2004 - 8:12am |
...begin or continue your debt repayment process?
I have noticed over the last 2 years of reading this board a lot of different reasons for folks to get started. The ones that stick out in my mind are pregnancy, the bill collectors calling, an unpleasant surprise leading to the realization things were financially bad, etc..... I've also noticed satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment when a debt is paid off by someone who has been working at it. It inspires them to keep going and to work on the next debt to pay off.
What has motivated you to get your financial "house in order?" Was it one event? Was it realizing you had a specific goal that debt was hindering you from achieving?
-or-
What is it that keeps you working at debt elimination? What have you done to keep it a habit? Have you had some progress that you are benefitting from now that keeps you motivated?
Please share what is making you make changes to better your debt situation!
Littlesbigs

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Jenny
co-cl Never Say Diet
Debt Support Board
Depression Support Board
Jenny
Right now I don't have much motivation and am slipping into more debt. Part of the reason is that DF has been unemployed since Feb and has started his own business a couple of months ago but the money he makes goes back into the company. So I am paying normal bills plus some business bills and his health insurance on my salary and am not doing very well at it. I have several late fees each month and will have to get a cash advance to cover the mortgage this month. I am hopeful that things will improve in the next several months and help my motivation. In addition, we are taking on a roommate. I am mad at DF for agreeing to so such low rent ($300). I don't think that it enough but it will help. The roommate agreed that if our utilities go up he will contribute. I think part of the problem is that I get depressed paying the bills knowing there is not enough money. I know I need to cut more expenses but feel lazy or too exhausted from work at times and this affects cooking, cleaning and overall organization. Right now I am unorganized (huge stack of unopened mail) but lack the motivation to get it together.
I know once I start its not as bad as I think and try to keep my focus on that time in the future when my only bills are living expenses and not the multiple credit cards/loans I pay each month. If it wasn't for these monthly payments I would be in a much better position.
Hi there,
I had a time when I didn't dare to think about money - because it always meant thinking about what I had not. It added to my depressive moods, made me sick, was embarrassing, and lots more. You all know that feeling, I guess :-)
I started repaying my debt and stopped adding to it when with the help of an analyst and a lot of good friends began to understand that spending all my money, adding to my debt and maxing out on my credit card was part of a sick psychological strategy I had invented to hurt myself (other women hurt themselves in other ways, some of them more visible, some not) - instead of asking for help.
That was not one special moment. On the contrary: It took months to finally find and acknowledge the truth about it. Starting the debt repayment, and sticking to it, is part of my path to taking control over my own issues and life, not letting old injuries and depressive moods control my life. And since I know this, I have a good reason to stay with it; every time it gets tough and I feel like I'd rather not send in the payment, I can tell myself that it's better to be in charge than be charged - especially overdue fees *grins*
Greetings, Jordis
ivy_jordis
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The reason why I wanted to get out of debt had a lot to do with us having children.
I have always noticed that everyone has that debt threshold and once it reaches that - you freak!!!
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
Well, I wanted to be able to sleep at night and live in the daytime without so many panic attacks.
I keep working at living within my means (which are not a lot and will be less in two weeks when I leave my job) because I am the only one that can take care of me. What I mean is that I have to learn to be responsible for myself and not expect others to bail me out. I will be staying with my mum and she will be helping me out, but that is to get from my current situation to hopefully a better situation, not simply bailing me out from a pile of bad choices, if that makes sense. If I don't try every day to make wise choices I'll be in a huge hole again that nobody but me will bail me out of. I hope that makes sense.
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