Nearly there!

Kerfuffle, I started this diary rather late in the day on my debt free journey so I am concerned you will not find very much info about how I did it, so here is a post to try and tell you:

First, I have been a single mum to my dd for about 12 years now, and my career path has been bumpy - even more bumpy than my road to DF (@GReenSaints ) For these reasons, it has taken me so long (nearly 6 years to get debt free) as I didn't have lot of money, and sometimes wasn't paid everymonth, and I didn't want my dd to do without too many things, so being DF took a back seat occasionally (but perhaps it is like a weight loss program - better to be slow and effective than fast and put all the weight/ debt back on?).

I discovered this site just before Easter 2006 but it took me until August 2006 to get my LBM. At the time, I was sinking fast into debt and I acquired a default that is a painful reminder of those days.

I took control of my finances: initially, I created a spread sheet for all my debts with balance, interest and repayment plans.

I then created a spreadsheet with all my outgoings ie all the regular bills, but it also lists my income (and back in the day the CTC and CB). I worked out how much I had to spend after all the bills were paid. At the beginning, I had 2 loans, 3 credit cards and 1 large bill for roof repairs (not my choice: management company)

In the years that I have been on MSE, I have spent a lot of time reading stories of people in debt, people in much worse debt than me, how they got out of it, etc. I got comfort from knowing I wasn't on my own. I learned tips and how to be really in control of my situation.

I started making more use of the online facilities on my current account. I now check my account every day or every other day. I need to know what goes in and out, I can't rest if I see a transaction I don't recognise so for this reason, I also save all my receipts and I have another spreadsheet for all my spendings, separated into categories: foods, toiletries and household stuff, petrol, car repairs, clothes, entertainment and general spending. I never buy anything without thorough research first. I buy second hand if I can ie books, I always buy second hand books.

The mistake I made: I should have started a diary much earlier but the truth is I was ashamed to be in debt. I told no-one in real life, my dd has just found out, and I think I started to come clean on MSE towards the end of last year, when I could see the end was near.

THE END
(not like me to write such long posts lol)

I may start a mortgage-free diary at some point, but there will be some changes in my work in the next few months, and I have been assured I would know my fate by the end of May so until then I will just relax a bit and save some money! And carry on writing on this diary and on GreenSaints' diary too.