Paying off debt can be a dreary slog. It is important to reward yourself along the way or you will never make it.
These rewards should be..
a) Cheap. An expensive reward would put you right back in debt. Not good.
b) Productive. Do not reward yourself with destructive treats such as getting drunk. You need your wits about you in order to become free. If possible use the act of clearing your debt as a means of installing good habits. This may involve replacing KFC with home cooked food for instance. You will emerge from the programme, not only debt free but thinner as well.
c) Sustainable. Be gentle with yourself. Perhaps you have bought an expensive Hi Fi and wish you had not. Enjoy it anyway. Do not punish yourself by denying yourself the use of it, even if the debt is oppressing you.
Here is my own real life example. It relies upon small treats that cost almost nothing. Small luxuries can become very significant once we know they are a hard earned reward.
This is my reward for maintaining my debt repayment programme.
1. Bubble bath. Bought at Aldi, I would guess this costs me approximately 5p per day.
2. Fabric conditioner. I love the smell of fresh laundry, particularly with fabric conditioner. It makes my shirts slightly easier to iron too. 5p a day?
These are such tiny luxuries that it seems strange to mention them- but they are appreciated and give me a small measure of encouragement every day.
