Question

What do you guys do when you feel like you are getting nowhere with finances? I'm about ready to throw in the dang towel  

Answer 1

Girl, keep going. I've been at this for almost 2 years. there were times where I had major wins and times where I had setbacks so huge I didn't think I'd be able to recover. One month ago, I again felt like there was no way I'd ever beat this debt and then all of a sudden, I unexpectedly was able to pay off a huge amount of debt, I'm in line to get a job with a huge pay increase, and my bills got reduced by several hundred dollars. This journey is such a freaking roller coaster but KEEP GOING. There are better/easier days ahead. even if its not in sight right now. <3

Comments

@glop62566 I just feel like if I could get a jump start, it would significantly help. Just gotta figure out what source to get it from.  

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Thats the hardest part! I started with a ton of little side jobs like delivery groceries that didnt feel like it did much of anything. But I swear every time I've leaned in hard to those little side jobs, I seem to come in to an unexpected source of more money. Good luck! YOUVE GOT THIS!  

Answer 2

So I’m not sure if your situation but just kee in mind it will take a while for you to get the hang of it in budgeting, trying to figure things out that work for you and or your family and if you are in debt it didn’t happen over night so it will take time to get it under control or paid off. The best of luck to you and don’t give up try different things that work for you.  

Answer 3

Throwing in the towel will not result in anything positive.  

Answer 4

I feel this way bc of hubby. I try so hard to get everything straightened out and a plan and he unravels it somehow some way  about to throw the towel AT him! Lol

Answer 5

I feel this way when I have nothing left after paying bills and I have nothing to go towards cash envelopes, sinking funds or savings. It’s frustrating at times but I find inspirations and motivation through this page and all its posts. Hang in there you can do it.  

Comments

@kurdistan thank you that is so true.  

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I feel the same way and have to tell myself atleast my bills are paid and i have food and a roof over me and the kids head. Some day we will get to where we want to be ❤

Answer 6

We all have to keep going

Answer 7

Don’t give up

Answer 8

Just Keep Swimming

Answer 9

Keep going—it takes a bit, be patient. I started sticking a few extra bucks in a jar so if I was low on cash I could grab some—not emergency money—not challenge cash, just money that I got from laundry findings, bottle returns, or leftover cash from a purchase. I go into this stash if I need something for the kids or me. Budgeting takes physical time too—track and dedicate time each week to plan

Answer 10

Keep on trucking! You will get there! Believe in yourself!  

Answer 11

I just started in January and let me tell you it was hard and frustrating to start. I have already started on February and I am doing one day at a time. Keeping my receipts and trying to figure out the budgeting. Just take it one day at a time and you will see progress. Every situation is different and you will see progress.  

Answer 12

Keep going. one will eventually get paid and your snowball will pick up.  

Answer 13

Remember that consistency pays off!  

Answer 14

Keep going! It's a lot of work to take in and understand. But it's worth it to be patient with yourself and keep going. Sometimes you do have to stop and step away but go back to it. just keep going

Answer 15

I definitely felt that way. I think it had a lot to do with my spending habits! Once those changed to match my budget/envelope amounts, I really saw benefits. Since starting BBP in July I have grown my EF to $1, 500, before I was hardly making it from paycheck to paycheck. It does take time and you can do it!  

Answer 16

I think that is the reason they always tell you to make sure you know your "WHY".  

Answer 17

The only way you will even start to get ahead is to just "keep on going forward" no matter how HARD it is. You just can't give up, , , there is NO OPTION if you want off this merry go round and get your sanity back.  

Answer 18

Honestly I cry in the shower get out dry off and try again and live by this

Answer 19

Been there. gave up. made no progress. now I'm back.  

Answer 20

Just take It one day at a time. Seriously. One minute at a time if necessary. Breathe. You can only go forward and you cannot worry about what you can’t control.  

Answer 21

Sometimes I had to close my workbook and take a deep breath at the beginning. I could go back when I cleared my head. It’s really hard sometimes, but don’t give up.  

Answer 22

You ARE getting somewhere. you're at least tracking things so you know where your money is going, right? Just the reality of having those numbers in front of you is progress. I was astounded at myself one day when I walked out of the grocery store with my groceries and my receipt in hand, and realized I had not even looked at how much I had spent. I just had a friendly conversation with the checker gal, swiped my card, got my receipt and walked out of the store! THAT PUT ME ON ALERT BIG TIME! I realized how careless I was with money and cried all the way home from the store! NEVER AGAIN! It was a real eye opener! Hang in there. if you don't, next year at this time you will be in the same position (or worse) than you are today.  

Answer 23

Or what do you do if your husband doesn't help to reduce your deb. he thinks if I can afford the payment he can do it. I'll never get out of debt.  

Answer 24

Keep pressing on! We felt that too but then one day it's like everything changed and we could breathe again. It was so worth it and things are just going so smoothly now

Answer 25

I just keep going because things have no way of getting better if I quit.  

Comments

@vasos  

Answer 26

This is literally me so far this school year. If it's not school stuff it's dance stuff. Always something that comes up

Answer 27

It’s hard and can be discouraging but my future and children’s future depend on it. Can’t give up. I celebrate the little successes. Also, I look at what can I do different to improve. It’s 80% behavior.  

Answer 28

Just keep swimming  I was where you are just weeks ago. Do not give up. Take it one day at a time. Use every resource available to you, but don’t give up!  

Answer 29

Keep at it. Deoending on your situation, watching finances can sometimes feel like watching hair grow. I don't have a better comparison right now ‍♀️ but that's how it can feel. Just know that you're doing something everyday towards your goal. Have a reminder of your why with you all the time. And try to find the motivation to get so angry at your debt or situation that'll make you try harder to change it. You got this!  

Comments

If it helps, here's what we do. At our command center (which is really just a bulletin board in our bedroom), we have 5 photos or visuals in the top line: (1) a bag of money representing "financial security" (2) clipart of 2 happy young adults in togas for "kids finishing college" (3) a house (4) another clipart of an old happy couple enjoying diff activities for "comfortable retirement" and (5) clipart representing "giving". Giving is, of course, in any stage of your journey esp when you feel called. But it is also our dream to one day "live and give like no one else (Baby Step 7). " ❤ Anyway, these 5 visuals are strong representations of our life goals. Below each picture are sections like 10 yeara, 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, this year. Think of it like a table or graph. Each year has targets, or what we expect to have achieved in those periods. It's a very strong reminder that husband and i can easily look at everyday and it's private enough that only us and the kids have access to it. The whole family knows what the dream(s) are. Will we achieve them all? @primogeniturebe, maybe not. Life happens. We will definitely try! The targets help us stay focused. Each dream broken down into goals and action plans makes it reachable. like it's not a dream. We're on BS4/5, by the way. We also don't own a home, not yet anyway, so we're starting to save up for a downpayment too. But our story has come a long way. once upon a time, we could barely even put food on the table even if we had good enough jobs. Just a really sad debt story that took us 8 years to get out of. Good luck.  

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The goals/strategies may also change but the Dream doesn't. Sometimes we also think up new dreams or goals but they always somehow fall into one of these categories. :) Everyday that you are doing your budget takes you closer to your dream. So yes, you are definitely doing something even if you think it doesn't make a difference.  

Answer 30

Don’t give up. One step, one day at a time.  

Answer 31

When I started this journey I was completely lost as to handle money (especially money I didn’t have but needed). For the first three months I felt like I was just treading water. going nowhere. nothing seemed to be changing. but it was. I was use to paying an enormous amount to credit cards just to rack it back up and the interest would send me over the limit again (it became a cycle and I was accustomed to it). But. after three months I realized I was just robbing Peter to pay Paul (or rearranging chairs on the titanic. ) and I made some small changes. I seriously cannot tell you what those changes were. it wasn’t an “ah ha! ” moment. :it was a “maybe I should try this” moment (not near as exciting ) My point is. you will get to where you want to be. just stick with it a little longer. you can do this. We are here to support you.  

Answer 32

I feel this is my soul. But I keep trudging.  

Answer 33

I just look back at my budget from a year ago. I’m better off than I once was.  

Answer 34

I hear you! I didn’t even have enough money for all my “cash” envelopes. I had to cut back

Answer 35

Just keep going. It will get better.  

Answer 36

Take your time. Start small. don’t look at the whole picture. Look for small quick wins. Control the controllables. This will start to build your confidence back.  

Answer 37

Keep going! Look back to where you were when you started and compare every single thing. You’re working toward financial freedom! Don’t give up!  

Answer 38

The biggest thing I found helpful is to NOT COMPARE YOURSELF OR SITUATION TO OTHERS. Do it at your own pace. I’m rt there with you. But I take one week at a time. I don’t have sinking funds yet, so I get it. It’s annoying that you can’t save as much as others but keep going, every step you take is a step towards freedom.  

Answer 39

I feel like a total failure, I fall off the wagon since December and I have not been able to recover from that, I am at lost, confused and frustrated, I over spend in December the happiness I felt during Christmas time didn’t last for long knowing I was left with nothing at all, I have been surviving from pay check to pay check since then, as off today I have 0 sinking funds and 0 EF after having it fully funded , I am in a situation where every time i talk about money I get upset about it, I know I put myself in that situation and I know I can work my way out but ughh is so frustrating and embarrassing at my 36 YO I can’t manage money! I work three jobs and have nothing to show for! I feel like I work so hard and achieve nothing.  

Answer 40

So often I want to say "screw the budget" and just splurge - do all the things - take all the trips - buy whatever - eat whatever/wherever. But the truth of the matter is there would be major consequences to that and in the end: it's JUST NOT WORTH IT [to throw it all away and give up]. Hang in there! You got this. It may seem slow and that your not getting anywhere but your probably better off now, with a plan, than what you were before you started your journey. Just keep trying!  

Answer 41

I’m in the same boat ATM ☹️

Answer 42

Figure out your "why. " It's hard to get out of debt, save, etc. and most days our why is the only reason why we stay on track