Share- How do you keep Motivated

**BigTony** · 11-22-2009, 11:54 PM

I would love to hear how you keep yourself motivated ? This is the hardest part of my makeover !!!!

Thanks , BT

**Luckybustert** · 11-23-2009, 01:10 AM

I am also interested in this! I do really good for awhile but then I seem to get off track....looking forward to hearing how others either prevent this from happening, or get back on track quickly!

**MTS04** · 11-23-2009, 01:56 AM

For me it was easy. I took the amount of debt I had and divided it by how much I make per hour at work. Then I was looking at the number of hours I would have to work just to pay off my debt. (That doesn't even include the amount to survive) The number at the time was staggering, to say the least, and it kept me on track fairly well.

**Thevail** · 11-23-2009, 03:09 AM

I've ended up taking to acting like I'm in some kind of frugal-ninja training. I still want what I want.. and I intend to get it.. FOR $1, or free.

I am sooo cheap, and it amuses me no end to wear a cashmere sweater, rope of pearls, Michael Kors shoes, and DKNY skirt.. total outfit.. $17.59

I get special joy (ok this is kinda mean) out of watching badly dressed people give me the "look". You know, because they think that I'm spending too much on "frivolus things". That's how I know I'm succeeding.

I'm thriftier.. and way better dressed!

Cruel, isn't it. But boy does it work!

**MaryCarney** · 11-23-2009, 04:11 AM

I think for me it was a very clear picture of what the future would hold if I followed the plan. House paid off, able to pay for kids college, the security of no debt.

Maybe write up your vision of the future when you finish your plan. Real specific. Keep it where you can see it every day.

Really good to hear from you again, BigTony!!! I was wondering where you've been! How's everything going?

**sinopa27** · 11-23-2009, 06:31 AM

I am motivated so far by coming to FV and getting the much needed advice. I am still working on my signature which will include all my debt. It's time to face it AND I have a daughter in college.

**ladykemma2** · 11-23-2009, 07:01 AM

i stay motivated and on track by living the frugal suggestions posted here and another dave ramsey forum.
i worked in rewards (i like jewelry) and respond well to rewards at significant milestones. For example, when i hit 10,000 in the EF i bought myself a coach purse.

I pine for a particular heart shaped diamond listed on ebay and can have it in march-ish april-ish if I stay on track. i have a sticky note on my computer with my goal. or i can hire a handyman to ifx some of the repairs that need doing around here that are dragging me down.

**vickilynn** · 11-23-2009, 07:11 AM

stay motivated....just looking at the accomplishments....camper will be paid off 1 1/2 years early, savings account growing, no withdrawals, Christmas saving all year and paying in cash.....it's slow in the beginning but the rewards are there to see....

**nuisance26** · 11-23-2009, 07:58 AM

~I spend time with my financial binder to stay motivated. Seeing the numbers from the past few months and the budget for the upcoming months seems to help.
If I need an extra boost I search for an area in the budget that I can save money in that week. I won't buy any clothes or maybe I'll eat from the freezer instead of shopping. I might hand wash dishes all week instead of running the dishwasher. I just pick something.
I may only save a couple of dollars that week but the small things I can do right now to save money helps me to be more patient with our longer term goals.~

**MaryCarney** · 11-23-2009, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by sinopa27

I am motivated so far by coming to FV and getting the much needed advice. I am still working on my signature which will include all my debt. It's time to face it AND I have a daughter in college.

Know what?? I think facing it is the most important / hardest step of all! Good for you.
From your other post I take it you're an ER nurse?? Where does your daughter go to college? Just curious - have a great day!

**sunshine** · 11-23-2009, 08:32 AM

I do various things at various times. . . . we have a huge paper chain that represents our debt (chains of debt enslavement). Every thousand is marked by a silver link, and every ten thousand is marked by a gold link.

I also keep a graph of our debt on the fridge. We love to see the debt total go down each time we make a payment.

For other things - we make a game of frugality. . . how long between hair cuts and still look nice? How much food can i grow in the garden with $1 worth of seeds? What gift can I make from the items I have on hand?

We also do a lot of reading on the depression era, etc. Makes what we have seem quite abundant in comparison.

**Greebo** · 11-23-2009, 08:32 AM

We stayed motivated by thinking about how much worse things would be if we didn't stick with the plan.

**Denvergirlie** · 11-23-2009, 10:12 AM

I stayed motivated by looking at my spreadsheets all the time and seeing those balances get lower and lower each month. Especially when I could cross a debt off in total.
Seeing that I was taking control and my money was doing what I was telling it to do, was really all I needed to know and see to remain positive.

**tervsforme** · 11-23-2009, 10:37 AM

Recognize your changes in behavior, no matter how small. Bringing your coffee to work instead of stopping to buy one. Having snacks in your car or desk at work in case you get hungry so you don't have to spend the money. Once I noticed these changes in behavior that I made, it made me want to keep it up and to do more things. I was proud of myself. Every little change you make and dollar not spent helps you along the way to being debt free.

**sabrelvssammy** · 11-23-2009, 11:04 AM

everyone has already given wonderful motivation tips which i seem to relate to all....

for me...it's an 'end goal'....not just wanting to be out of debt, house paid off, money in the bank... i want to retire to an island somewhere and check out of the 'rat race' that we have become as a nation... that is my 'goal'...but i have not set a definate date to it as of yet... as i would love to jump on that plane today i know this is just simply not feasible at this time...(even though the cost of living in a developing nation is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of trying to live in the US)....

so i work, and i am paying down all the debts that i have, i am de-cluttering my 'useless, ridiculous, 'oh-why did i buy THAT' ??? posessions, i am stockpiling...but not in the 'traditional sense'....i am stock-piling my 'escape fund' if you will.... so that when the moment arrives....i am ready with the drop of a hat...

that is my main motivation....that is what is making me live and act like i am down to my last 2 pennies....that is why i refuse to turn up the heat or turn on the air....(that is why i even talked myself out of buying a few bags of m&m's on sale yesterday)....

and i spend many many hours on the internet escaping to my future destinations and trying to imagine my life there...i follow blogs of travelers and those living overseas....i keep magazines devoted to island life and ex-pat living around the house and i stare 'longingly' at these publications....

because for me now it has become every dollar that i spend on something else is pushing me farther back from realizing my dreams....and i have been able to 'ingrain' this into my brain so when the time comes to open my purse and pull out a few dollars i act as if i you are asking me to open my mouth and yank out a few teeth....