Does Paying Off Debt Have To Be Boring?
Posted on May 17th, 2010 in Debt Assistance | No Comments »
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We all have a certain quality of life that we enjoy. We like to go to the gym. Or have dinner out once in a while. Most of us go on vacation at least once a year. And we like our homes to be comfortable and welcoming.
All of this, of course, involves spending money. And equally the more money we spend, the less we have available to pay off our debts.
So one obvious solution when seeking debt assistance is quite simply to spend less (or earn more) so that we have more cash left at the end of the month to pay the bills with.
But there’s a problem here.
Cutting our spending can mean missing out on some of those luxuries we have all learned to love. Going on a money diet is much like going on a normal diet where you give up donuts, chips and beer. You know you’ll be better off long term, but it can be easy to fall off the treadmill when you see all the stuff you love that you’re missing out on. And it’s even worse if your friends aren’t doing the same.
But saving money, like losing weight, is really a seesaw. You have less of one thing and more of the other. The key secret is to not look at what you’re missing out on – like some of your monthly luxuries – but to instead concentrate on what you’re gaining.
You’re essentially buying back your freedom. You’re paying off debts that have been controlling you, limiting what you can do, even causing you sleepless nights. And this is only a temporary solution. Once your debts are under control not only can you sleep easy, but with less (or no) debt repayments to make after you get your problem sorted out, you’ll actually have even more cash to spend on yourself once you come out the other side.
So whilst you might miss your dinners out, you can set yourself targets and goals to keep you motivated on this journey. You could arrange to go out to dinner and enjoy yourself once you’ve paid off a certain amount of your debt, for example. To set yourself something that will keep you moving in the right direction.
And you can set the biggest goal of all for when you have your debt sorted. Maybe plan a fantastic vacation for the month you finally manage to pay off all your debt so you can celebrate your freedom. Just don’t pay for it on your credit card 
These little treats from time to time are important, just as they are with weight loss. This is why many modern diets give you a “free day” each week, or “cheat points” so you can still have a little fun, but manage to lose weight over the long term.
And getting your debt resolved is really just the same. Limit your spending, but plan a few treats along the way to keep you going. And remember, focus on what you’re gaining, not what you’re missing out on.
Paying off debt doesn’t have to be boring or unpleasant. You just need to put a plan in place that is realistic and then stick to it. You’ll be glad you did when you come out the other side.
