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Debt free diaries

Archives for April 2020

Keeping a diary to remain on track!
Spending time in lockdown has allowed me time to reflect on our finances and current priorities. So, I have decided to start a diary! I have started with a SOA on what would be a typical month, providing we weren't in lockdown. Whilst I am not concerned about our level of debt, it has always been a personal desire to have…
Getting out of the vicious circle
I was here a few years back. I can’t for the life of me remember my old password and no access to the email account linked so here I am again as the title suggests with a brand new diary. 5 years ago I cleared all my debt, however I’m finding myself falling into the same bad habits and need to curb it now before I’m back…
Let's start at last!
Probably one of the longest lurkers on this board, just checked and the only post I ever did was back in 2009! Feel like I know some posters personally - sounds dreadfully stalkerish but it's true after reading their diaries for many years. So many things I've read though have got me through some very tough times and to…
Turning Debt Darkness Into Power
Good morning all, happy Tuesday! Long time lurker, first time poster here. I've had a DMP for about a year and a half and tend to be terrible at saving, but that is going to change! I'm currently paying token payments of about £12 per month with the aim to create an emergency fund, I'm up to about £200 saved now thanks to…
Finally i’m debt free!
This feels like a slightly odd post to be putting as my first ever post on this forum, however it also feels the perfect place to share my story. I’m Dave, i’m 27, and for the past 7 years I had been in debt, it all started in 2013 with a credit card which I got solely as “protection” for going to Las Vegas in case of…
This time I'm sticking to it!
My OH and I have just under £15,000 worth of debt on credit cards. Luckily the three of them are at 0%. We have very good jobs and bring in just over £4,000 a month but can't seem to kick our spending habit - and this spending is mainly on holidays. Now we're in lock down we keep saying "So glad we got to experience so…
Diary of a reformed shopaholic (I hope)
Recently had my light bulb moment and still have to get dh onboard as he is living in cloud cuckoo land! So a brief introduction! I say brief but I tend to ramble :) We are a family of 3. His lordship who doesn’t like change, me who likes to shop (make up and toiletries so now on a self imposed ban) and monkey boy who is 8…
Social Isolation Sucks...
I have hardly seen a soul since this all began. I have started smoking the last two days as I have nothing else to do, spending £36 on cigarettes in the last two days. Smoking is no longer in my monthly budget, since I stopped smoking in August 2019. My plans to follow Jacques Cousteau with my scuba dives is on hold as I…
One eye on the future ..one eye on the past
New Diary think I got lost in space.Debts are slowly reducing,I sort of have a three year plan ongoing which should mean we are very comfortable in the middle of the year 2023.I'm resigned to this being my abode ...hate my house ..hate my neighbours For that time I want to be in a good place financially to move at that…
517 Days before I turn 50
Dear Diary, I really really want to 'turn my life around' by the time I hit the bit five-zero in 517 Days. I want to wake up on that milestone feeling good about myself !! That hasn't been the case for quite a while now. Moving forward though, with baby steps, I'd like to tackle debt, rebuild my ebay business, get to a…
ADHD and Frogs: How to Balance the Budget?
Hello! This post is going to be a little long, but I wanted to be honest about how I ended up in this situation. I joined MSE last year in the hope of making a fresh start, and then in the middle of moving house, I had a family bereavement. It’s had a knock-on effect on the rest of my life: the time that I’d allocated…
Becoming obsessed....
Hi, I'm another long term lurker who, thanks to the ongoing lockdown and weird period of enforced self-reflection, has finally decided to do something about my mahoosive debts. I've had credit cards for as long as I can remember (I'm 44), I've never missed a payment and I am affording the payments, (which almost feels…
Not sure where to start...
I've gotten myself in a bit of financial trouble I guess. I had cleared about £10k of debt over 2 years, using tips etc from this forum. My credit rating was higher than it had ever been and I started working as a childminder. I had some extra income, and then my car broke down, I'd paid £1800 which was all of my savings…
Just turned 30 and decided I need to sort my life out
Hiiiiiiiii Please be gentle, this is my first post :) Below is my SOA to give a little background Household Information Number of adults in household3 but i am in house share so 1Number of children in household0Number of cars owned 0 Income, Expense, Debt & Asset Details IncomeAmount(£)Monthly income after tax1600Partners…
In need of encouragement...
Lockdown has spurred me on to finally achieve my goal of being debt free. Ive worked out a repayment plan to pay down £298 per month (+ an extra £60 SO) on a 0% BT sum of £3400, which expires in the autumn. I'm paying off £400 on my wife's CC, £79 p/m until the autumn. After years of battling silly spending and past lapses…
Crunchy pays off the loan early, and other stories
I used to be called crunch_time - but then the forum changed, and I had to face up to my disorganised email address administration. But its me. Same crunchy, slightly different username. Same goal - smash the debt whilst living life to the full. Crunchy x
Sept 2021 - The debt free longstop
Hi all - a few of you might have seen my original post on DFW, that can be found here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6108143/help-with-cc-debt-please-general-advice/p1. I thought this would be a good idea to keep track of things and to stop annoying everyone by bumping up my original post :) Also, I can…
The Fight For Financial Freedom
Soooooo...It's been a long time coming (time in which I have buried my head & staved off in all manner of insensible ways), but thanks to Covid 19 & the crisis that has currently gripped the world, the poo has hit the proverbial fan. This has forced me to properly acknowledge the fact that not only have I racked up a shed…
Passenger in Life Take 2
So my last diary lasted for about 2 months and ended May 2017. It’s so bad that I don’t even remember what I have been doing for the last 3 years 🙈 so this is my second attempt at trying to get my life & money sorted.
Time to start taking this whole adulting thing seriously...
Hello! I thought it was about time I made my own diary, as I spend so long pondering other peoples! Really inspiring so thanks everyone! So how did my debt all start...University! It went from having an interest free overdraft and splurging on eating out, nights out and clothes! Then from this I discovered the glorious 0%…

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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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