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My journey to health, wealth (well, saving for works to house, so not really!) and hobbies
Starting a new diary as feel like I need a fresh start/new motivation. 43, married, 2 young DC. Work almost FT (28 hours) in a professional job. No current debt (other than a mortgage) but been in serious debt in the past due to stupid choices, mainly to try to keep up with the Jones's. Still have a tendency to feel…
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My debt free diary.. 15 years later
As the title suggests, I've been here before. I managed to find my original diary from 2008 as I could remember my user name but couldn't recover my account 😔 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/799711/my-debt-free-diary/p1 So I've managed to go back around in circles and end up back where I started with…
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2024 - slowing down, simplifying and saving up for a more intentional life!
I’ve decided to draw a line and start a new diary ahead of the new year. For background, I’m in my mid 40’s, Mum to one amazing little boy and feel as though I’ve never got a grip on this whole adulting lark! This is reflected in the very chaotic nature of my life and the way I budget / manage the household finances (or…
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2024... Debt no more🤘
Hi all, here I go to ridding myself of debt for the final time. I don't want to work forever and would like some good savings before I reduce my working hours. I'm not getting any younger and suffer with various ailments so instead of borrowing I need to pay off what I owe and save instead. Previous borrowing was always…
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Budgeting by the beach
I've been on here lurking for some time, and I think it's time I started my own diary and keep it updated. I originally tried to get this diary started in 2021, but just wrote one post which I then deleted. I've decided to resurrect this one on Friday 6 May 2022. Last year I decided I needed a fresh start, so I moved close…
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Keeping afloat till I can get round to the debts!
So here goes with a brand new diary. With the financial situation across the country as it is I'm going paycheck to paycheck and debts seem to be going up not down. It's time to take stock. Focus on the money actually lasting the month and forming a new plan. I've never been one for following the American debt fella but I…
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181k in Debt - Need Help
So, I guess this is the start of my debt free diary..... Oh boy, I just worked out my debts and I cannot believe how much I owe. I bought a house within the last 6 months, I've done the house up and it's now worth £65,000 more than we paid for it. The plan is (and always has been) to do the house up and remortgage in 12…
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Freedom and Independence.
It’s been a long journey but this year I see the light at the end of the tunnel. After a toxic relationship I had gone from being 20k in savings to 20k in debt. I lost more than that though, I lost myself. I’m nearly back! 20 years later. This year I will be debt free. Have an emergency fund. And pots for savings,…
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Mrs. P's Savings, Paying Off CC, being more organised diary
I've now taken early retirement. Sadly I've built up CC debt yet again, but is only on one card and it is the only debt I have now. I really need to get this paid off, whilst also saving and making ends meet so I don't need to use the card again. I have decided not to stress and panic about over-paying (which is what I…
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Road To Financial Recovery
Ah, time to get back into the race so to speak, can’t believe I am doing this again.It is time to start taking finances seriously again. It is a rubbish feeling to be back in a position where I feel my finances are back in a mess. There isn’t any major debt so that is a positive of course but feel like a plan is needed…
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Evasive action! Stop the trench becoming a hole.
I need to take evasive action, and I need to hold myself accountable. I'm not going to call where I am a hole. It's still a rut. A trench. I've got savings, but they are in accounts where they earn good interest rates so I hate touching them. I've just moved house, and I've been doing a money shuffle every month, borrowing…
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Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved…
Hi all, F26 Finally facing up to a situation that’s been getting rapidly worse since I was 18. Fed up of feeling self loathing, judgement for myself and full on misery. Struggles with gambling addiction (in recovery), payday loans, cost of living, mental health struggles, financially supporting an out of work (now ex)…
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taking responsibilty to get me where I want to be
Good morning MSE'ers I have been reading diaries for the last few months and have found peoples stories so inspiring that I am hoping for some company on my own journey , this will be my own log which hopefully will motivate me at times of bleakness so I can look back on any progress I have made My sitituation is quite…
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Getting Over "The Terrible Mistake" and a Debt Free Target of 2026
Hi everyone In January 2022 I had to sit down and tell my wife that not only had I managed to lose over 100K in inheritance but tried to recoup those losses through adding approximately 25k in credit card debt. COVID also caused a huge drop in income. Through a couple of really crazy investments (Avoid AIM investing like…
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From debt to freedom...
For a couple of months I have been lurking and reading diaries which have been helpful and inspiring. I thought that I would start a diary to keep myself focussed on getting rid of the debts. I am a working mum, recently separated from my husband. I have a large family which makes for an interesting and busy life! I have…
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KMNs diary - curbing spending and maximising saving with a new baby
So maybe a bit random to have a diary when I'm not in debt, but I am about to start my maternity leave (at the end of the month) as we prepared to welcome our first child in early March. We are incredibly lucky to be quite comfortable, own our home (mortgaged) and both able to put some money in savings at the end of each…
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Get a grip woman!
Having been reading a number of people's debt-free wannabe diaries for some time now, I have finally decided I will start my own. We are less than three years from wanting to stop work, and less than ten years from state retirement age. I manage our household finances and DH lets me get on with it. His attitude is more…
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Which to pay against first
Unsure where to post - lingerer but not totally au fait with posting. At the point of near breakdown with the extent of debt (15k) only fully brought to light through remortgage / monthly increases. Question is, what to pay first? Lots of 0% CC (£200 - £4K), but one has ended so interest is through roof and declined for…
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Small Business, Big Debts
Hello all Debt free wannabes! :) I posted on these Forums over 10 years ago, and it made such a huge impact on my (successful!) attempt to get debt free, but a LOT has changed in the last 10 years, so I’m back again! The accountability and kindness I received back then was invaluable to me, so I hope to bring some of that…
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Oh pants I messed up BIG!!!
Ok so I have been lurking in a major way for the last 2 weeks after having my lightbulb moment. I have had a pretty rough 2 months and lost both of my bears (labradors) in quick succession (they were both very old for labs) and then I had a minor breakdown over everything and my finances came bubbling out to my OH after…