Living beyond your means

[Technonotice]

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

[CosmicMatt]

Sorry to hear about that mate, really though you need to cut down.

What do you get paid? Is there another job lined up?
How are you living beyond your means? Is it on essential items? Or the playboy lifestyle?

If its essentials then life could get more difficult yet, if not cut down and learn to save.

[shadowninja]

A general message to anyone who's in this situation...

Sorry, never been like that. Ever. Don't spend what you haven't got. That's what my parents taught me. Seriously cut your spending immediately. Ditch that £50/month mobile phone contract (PAYG is the way forward, only receive calls, don't make them), the pointless gym membership, stop buying expensive clothes and learn to savour Tesco Value food (what? It doesn't taste nice? Awww diddums, get a better job, then?), stop buying st you don't need (40" LCD TV? Waste of money you don't have to spend), end your Sky sub (freeview is... free; in fact get rid of your TV; learn to meditate or masturbate or sleep; stay in, read books from the library... boring? tough!). I know some of it is tied in, well, tough, you're gonna have to ride that wave but you can still terminate things ASAP.

Stop spending money on st you don't need.

And don't go out. Pubs are expensive. Restaurants are expensive. Remember that last big night out you had a month ago? Fun wasn't it. What have you got to show for it now? Nothing. Great.

HTH

If you want to list everything that you have purchased in the last month, I'll abuse you in detail. I mean everything from the Starbucks coffee you bought to the copy of Autotrader magazine... Seriously, I'll help you cut your expenditure and I won't charge.

PS I do practice what I preach... I'm staying in tonight. Will just practice my martial arts forms, perhaps go for a run or cycle on my exercise bike for an hour or two.

Edited by shadowninja on Saturday 25th October 15:40

[groucho]

Technonotice said:

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

Hungover at 3:00pm?

[Hedders]

groucho said:

Technonotice said:

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

Hungover at 3:00pm?

I am still recovering from my thursday night session..getting old does that to you

[LotusACBC]

Technonotice said:

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

I know how you feel. Hang in there my friend. In the end, all this st doesnt matter. Take one step at a time. Its only green pieces of paper (well, atleast in the US it is)

[shadowninja]

LotusACBC said:

Technonotice said:

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

I know how you feel. Hang in there my friend. In the end, all this st doesnt matter. Take one step at a time. Its only green pieces of paper (well, atleast in the US it is)

Green pieces of paper that he doesn't have!

[shadowninja]

Oh, check this site.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

Might be useful.

[LotusACBC]

shadowninja said:

LotusACBC said:

Technonotice said:

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

I know how you feel. Hang in there my friend. In the end, all this st doesnt matter. Take one step at a time. Its only green pieces of paper (well, atleast in the US it is)

Green pieces of paper that he doesn't have!

I know. I know. I just mean, dont be overwhelmed, it will lend itself no help to the situation. You will be alright. Its not like your gonna die if you go bust. Yeah life will suck for a little bit, but you know, once you reach rock bottom, theres only one way to go from there - UP

[CosmicMatt]

shadowninja said:

LotusACBC said:

Technonotice said:

It has just dawned on me this morning that I'm living a unsustainable lifestyle. Have many of you found yourself in this situation before? I've got bills and debts coming out of my ar$e and no money to feed myself next week.

Its quite depressing to be honest, my wages aren't great and I'm losing my job after Christmas.

/worst I'm hungover and pissed off thread ever!

I know how you feel. Hang in there my friend. In the end, all this st doesnt matter. Take one step at a time. Its only green pieces of paper (well, atleast in the US it is)

Green pieces of paper that he doesn't have!

Probably the biggest problem, some people don't understand the concept of if you don't have it, then don't buy it.

Credit cards, finance etc has caused this issue. I agree, in principle with finance on a car/mortgage but its all the other direct debits and 'spending sprees' on clothes, etc that take place that cause the issue.

I have on finance my car, a mobile phone on contract and that is about all. When they're paid for I'll be doing my hardest to avoid any more!

[Technonotice]

I don't have any credit cards, or a contract phone, or a big and tv etc and don't even run a car any more. I just seem to waste my money on beer. And since i started getting paid weekly my money management has gone to $hit.

Things could get a lot worse though so I'm grateful of what i have got.

/raises chin

[Don]

I once ended up in a similar situation. I realised that despite having a good job I was going backwards to the tune of three hundred quid a month and there simply weren't the savings there to ride it out.

I changed everything. Ditched the expensive flat, moved in with the girlfriend, broke up with her and moved into a bedsit in short order! Yep. Expensive girlfriend...had to go. Slashed all my other expenses and took up street running for fitness. Examined the debts - paid off the cards and got rid. Sorted the car loan and set it aside to pay off as quickly as possible. Went back on the Company Car scheme and drove an Astra.

I still don't have a credit card years later. Don't ever want one. Things got a LOT better and now the only debt I have is a mortgage. I bought my Porsche with cash. (Well, Switch actually).

Now - things could get bad again - but I've no debts (other than the house) to make things worse...

So. If I could sort it out. So can you. Get to it.

[shadowninja]

Technonotice said:

I don't have any credit cards, or a contract phone, or a big and tv etc and don't even run a car any more. I just seem to waste my money on beer. And since i started getting paid weekly my money management has gone to $hit.

Things could get a lot worse though so I'm grateful of what i have got.

/raises chin

Good man!

Then just limit the amount you spend on beer. Just how much do you spend on beer? What about house rental? Bills?

[Don]

Technonotice said:

I just seem to waste my money on beer.

Got to fix that. Do you go to the pub? If you do - stop it immediately and take up home brewing or buy your beer in bulk and drink at home. I'm certainly not saying give up the beer - but do it more cost effectively!

That and if you are drinking because you are bored you'd better get something to DO!

If things are tight? A second job! Keeps you busy, and earns money.

Or learn a new thing. Evening classes.

There is so much to do that is extraordinarily inexpensive that can be great fun! And when you are doing it you can't be drinking...

[Donut]

Don said:

I once ended up in a similar situation. I realised that despite having a good job I was going backwards to the tune of three hundred quid a month and there simply weren't the savings there to ride it out.

I changed everything. Ditched the expensive flat, moved in with the girlfriend, broke up with her and moved into a bedsit in short order! Yep. Expensive girlfriend...had to go. Slashed all my other expenses and took up street running for fitness. Examined the debts - paid off the cards and got rid. Sorted the car loan and set it aside to pay off as quickly as possible. Went back on the Company Car scheme and drove an Astra.

I still don't have a credit card years later. Don't ever want one. Things got a LOT better and now the only debt I have is a mortgage. I bought my Porsche with cash. (Well, Switch actually).

Now - things could get bad again - but I've no debts (other than the house) to make things worse...

So. If I could sort it out. So can you. Get to it.

Nice post Don

You should've however been degrading and reveled in his miss fortune, can't believe such a long time member like you forgot the basics... jeez

[crackthatoff]

45 cans for 20 quid at asda HTH

[sparkythecat]

Don said:

Technonotice said:

I just seem to waste my money on beer.

Got to fix that. Do you go to the pub? If you do - stop it immediately and take up home brewing or buy your beer in bulk and drink at home. I'm certainly not saying give up the beer - but do it more cost effectively!


If things are tight? A second job! Keeps you busy, and earns money.

As a barman of course!

[Technonotice]

I've stopped drinking in the week to save money. If i buy beer in bulk i just drink it all, so its better to just get a 10 pack on a friday, which will last me the evening.

It just seems i have nothing to show for working my ass off 5 days a week apart from a hangover.


The only thing of value that i have bought recently was some turntables and a mixer a while back, which is more of an investment rather than a silly purchase.

[jeff m]

The salary range and wealth on this forum vary quite a lot
I expect you are young or youngish (nothing wrong with that) don't try to keep up with people who are well paid and have a bit in the bank.
Your turn will come.

I am shocked that a "give up beer" was suggested, God, the poor bu66er has to live.
Restrict to one or two nights a week.
Maintain your car well, it's an asset.
Do follow the advice of removing all those recurring monthly charges that are perhaps not within the new budget plan you are going to do for yourself

Bit of extra cash needed....detail/valet your friends cars or their parents cars.
Other suggestion, this worked for me. Get a job as a barman in the pub you would have gone to anyway.

[catmartin]

Get practising on your DJing and you'll get paid for being in a club! Sooner or later you'll have paid off the cost of the decks and will be making profit.

Good luck!!


(from another aspiring DJ)