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Debt free diaries

Archives for February 2020

New goals, new diary
Hello! Thought I'd start a new thread, though I do feel attached to the journey my old diary saw me through! Really can't imagine having saved for our house the way I did without the help and accountability of this forum, and that diary. So last time I was keeping a diary here I was saving to get a mortgage for my first…
Arrow Global
Here's a good one for you. Got a letter out of the blue from Resolvecall who have been asked by Arrow Global to collect outstanding monies from a card I have never owned and this the card was supposedly taken out by me in 2008 and the last correspondence with me was in 2010. It has been statue barred for 4 years. I have…
Battling with Myself
After lurking on here for some time, I have decided to take the plunge and start my own diary as I have had my LBM. Things can't go on as they are. I love seeing all the support everyone gives each other and could really do with some right now! My situation: In 2016 I was £10,000 in credit card debt, from purchases,…
Learning to budget and taking control of my life.
So, after faffing around for far too long I've decided I need to make a concerted effort to get rid of the debt I have had, for far too long. My current debt which has been accumulated as a result of me allowing my ex to use my cards which he promised to pay back and never did. As I was on maternity leave at the time I…
Advice Please Regarding a CCJ
I owe a telephone company £700 been paying £1 a month for two years now since they did CCJ on me in jan 2018. Now they contacted me saying I can pay them £200 instead and they won’t chase me anymore. I live at a different address then the one they have even if they can get new address they can’t come and take stuff as it’s…
Empty Bank Account & Head & Heart
Where to begin? I have been reading for almost 3 years but maybe now is the time to start my own diary to give me some sort of focus on my future.
Where is it all going??
Hi All. I have been reading quite a few posts in this sub forum lately and this has prompted me to start a thread of my own as I might get some advice of my own. Basically, I earn a good wage for where we live (in the North East), My girlfriend earns average, we have a BTL property we rent out and we have 2 kids We…
Making this official
Howdy, I've been trying to flirt with working on clearing my debts for a while now and since Sept I've had an all-powerful Spreadsheet setup that I'm suppose to try and follow. Last summer I was, I hope, 'peak unsecured debt' when I was £13.5k in total spread over 5 credit cards, 2 high interest loans (MrLender and…
The times they are a changing.
Having been inspired by reading the stories, and actions on here. I'm turning my debt life around, to one of frugal choices, thoughtful purchases and self control. Having had debt all my adult life, it comes and it goes, but I never really fix the issue, my approach to it. So my goal is to be debt free in 6 months, and I…
The Globe’s reducing the debt 2020
Hi all, I’ve been a long-time lurker and used to post on the boards very seldom years and years ago but always pop in and have a nosey. I’ve had a small moment of courage and I’m making this diary to try and track us as a family getting on a better financial footing after a good couple of years of overspending (some…
Hope_Street's almost there.
OOO this is a little bit scary :# but here goes ... Hello lovely people, like many I have lurked for quite a while and have decided to decloak, as it where, and start my own little diary, A little bit about me first, I work in the NHS so not a very high earner lol. Through bad relationship choices I found myself last June;…
Debt free 2020 - Quick turnaround
Good morning you lovely people. I have recently added a thread titled 'Pay off which first? Help please' in the debt free wannabe section. I think I have a plan together however I'm doubting myself. I have been reading a lot in to Dave Ramsey's debt snowball strategy and want advice if it is the right approach for me.…
McDonald's car park penalty charges
Always go to the same McDonald's for a fast food treat with 2 toddlers, age 3 & 5. In December, 2019, husband got our 2 kids. Drove in and parked. Ordered meals and kids played in the play area. I joined them half way after Christmas shopping. I arrived the McDonald's restaurant on foot. Ordered my own meal. With the slow…
Help me work our where my money went
I have a great job with commission most months so I have just run with my basic wage. My commission usually £1000 at least a month so what I want to do is save that. When I look back over last year I earned £12700 commission plus whatever was usually left from my wage but still only have half the savings. Don’t get me…
Starting on the Debt-Free Journey
Hi All, I want to take accountability for the debts that I've built up over the last 10 years through a lack of budgeting and a "Sod it, I'll just get it" mentality, along with animals which had issues which weren't covered by their insurance. I've done my SOA and the biggest area I need to cut down on is buying lunch at…
On the road back from the brink
Hi everyone. Seeing this forum, and all of the wonderful work that everyone has done to make themselves debt free, has been incredibly inspiring. So much so, it has inspired me to start my own debt-free diary. Thank you everyone for being such an inspiration. How did I get here? I will be honest, I have always been bad…
First Party Fraud??? CIFAS Marker v HELP!
Hello! So I’m new to the forum here! Read the weekly emails from MSE but only just signed up to the forum and after some advice! :) I’ve just found out after about 2 years that I have a CIFAS marker against my name. It was put there by Sky when I moved into a house and took out broadband with them. The first payment was…
Puzz is still trying with claws - my dmp journey keeps going
Hi, I've had to create a new username and account since the switch over.. so my old diary has come to a close and this will be the new diary for 2020 and beyond....
Virgin Media old debt - default date vs delinquent date
HI all, I have 3 old debts showing on my credit file from Virgin media 2 of them have default dates so I assume they will fall off pretty soon as the default date is almost 6 years ago ( due to moving house and they saying I didn't inform them) although I had their services at my new address!! the one that is bothering me…
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans” - the second instalment.......
So it appears that something weird and wonderful happened to my profile with the switch to the new format and for some reason I’ve been unable to retrieve the “Seahorsey” profile but weirdly can access a dormant profile from 10 years + ago when I first discovered MSE. So I’m back as Seahorsey_thesecond! Long story short,…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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Debt free diaries

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