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Debt free diaries

Archives for April 2022

This time I will do well
I had a debt free diary here in 2019... It did not last for long... I started a DMP in late 2019 due to me having accumulated debts up to 38K. My debts are 100% due to my poor mental health. I cannot make any excuses really. It is my fault and only my fault that I got myself in this situation so I am not going to try and…
In for a penny out for a pound
So a lot has happened since I was last a regular in here. I got married, and I am now separated. I work at my local hospital 30 hours a week over 3x10 shifts and I have also started my own business. My debts have fallen, risen, fallen, risen etc etc. My kids have moved out and moved back. So at present, both my sons are…
Will I ever get to the end?!
Hi all, a long winded post ahead! First time for me coming face to face with my debt, enough is enough and I'm just hoping there will be an end to it all whether it takes years and years! I don't even know where to start, I've always enjoyed spending but I was actually a good saver at one point and very careful. I won a…
Semi Retirement and Beyond.
As I said in my previous diary I would start a new one as in six weeks I cut my working hours in half to 18 hours , working two days a week. I have chosen to start this part time working on half my salary before one of my pensions kicks in , in December . Therefore I am going to have to be very frugal for six months , I…
Keeping myself accountable
Hi all, I’ve spent the last few years with my financial head buried in the sand, fortunately it hasn’t led to serious problems as I’ve got an ok job … But I haven’t managed to save anything and that has been stressing me out more and more since getting married last year. My wife doesn’t earn much and thinking about…
Debt Free Diary
Hello All, I’m some years into my debt free journey however I thought I’d start to share the process in aims to help others or highlight the processes to becoming debt free and reducing high levels of debt. I racked up all of my debt at a young age of 18 through gambling addiction and compulsive purchasing. I believe this…
The English Rose goes frugal
Well it's time to de-lurk and start my very own debt free diary. Somehow I've managed to get myself in Aproximately £17k worth of debt plus another £5300 to relatives. It's definitely time to face the music and make a plan to get this paid off and gone. My debts are: £1500 credit card (Maxed out) £2500 catalogue 1 (Maxed…
Currently clueless...aiming for awareness
Hello! This is my introduction post, I guess. I've been a member of MSE since 2014 but very much a lurker. I've always been useless with self-control. I eat too much, I stay awake too much, I spend too much, I worry too much, I'm messy, I'm distractible. It's all becoming a bit overwhelming at the moment, I thought at 37 I…
Munchin’s intentionally living with less diary (Part 2 as part 1 crashed and burned)
Hi Diaryland, I disappeared for a bit because life got in the way and in my previous diary (which I only began at the beginning of the year) I had said that my main aim in 2022 was to stop my wasteful spending/frittering and to have both an emergency fund and about £4,000 in a rewire my house fund. Well I set fire to those…
Go your own way
Hi team, I'm new to the MSE forums, having joined in March to help me clear up my credit report and improve my financial intelligence post-IVA. Thought I would get a diary going to tell my tale so far and share some insight on how I'm now 'going my own way' with my money having ditched the debt. So, here's my story so…
Making a big decision and staying out of debt
So I’ve decided to start a new diary. I did have a diary a few years ago which I used to track my way out of debt. I managed to pay off £12k of debt in 9 months and then my car died. So I bought a car on finance but then managed to pay that loan off two and half years early. Again leaving me with no debt. So for the last…
The Rural Road to a DF Life
It's gonna be a long and winding one. No point trying to deny it, I am a lot of the time very RUBBISH with money. I spend way too much each month, if I don't have the money I use one of my CCs which I have been doing on and off since I was 18. I'll be 40 in March and I just don't want to continue down this road for the…
'Shoot for the moon' - MoonSeer's Debt Free Journey
This year has been a rollercoaster already and I am desperately trying to stay on track. Life has an annoying habit of shooting curveballs that blindside us so I figured I am going to take things at my own pace and keep working toward my goals. Joining the forum and starting my debt free diary is really a first step toward…
Spiralling debt
1st marriage broke due to domestic violence and the debt building started from there. It spiralled now and it's come to £35k. Being on maternity leave doesn't help nor my current husband who hates debt. So can't share my problem with husband. He pays the mortgage but I pay all other bills, grocery, child maintenance,…
Cost of Living Crisis
I’ve subscribed to your weekly newsletter for many years now. I’ve been struggling financially ever since the financial crash in 2008, when I lost all my work and had just taken on a very high mortgage with Northern Rock! Unfortunately, having been poor for so long, I’ve already cut back to the bare essentials for most of…
Large renovation, tiny budget... lets go!
Welcome to my new diary! To set the scene: In the last 2 years we have slowly paid of just over £10,000 of CC debt and last August decided to take the plunge and move to our dream house. I call it our forever home, DH calls it the last but one forever home as he wants to be closer to the sea. We're a 10 minute drive! It's…
Happy Sloth Clawing back
Hi there, So this is step 1 of my journey back from the disaster that's been the last 2 years. Me and my OH are both in our late 40's during our life we've had every income known to man, we are not people who where born into comfortable incomes, we spent most of our early married life earning minimum wage, we've been…
Win Some, Lose Some (Debt Free At Last!)
I started a diary back in 2017 when I was nearly £50,000 in debt, but didn’t keep it up. I have been beavering away at getting the debt down and now I have just £11,955.71 to go. I want this gone by the end of 2022 as I want the freedom of choice to drop down to either part time hours or to go self employed. I have a well…

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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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