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Let's get this sorted then!
Hey everyone, I went back to uni just before I turned 40, so have quite a lot of debt from that, and from generally trying to live whilst working and studying. I tackled a bit before the end of 2024, but that was mostly getting on top of things, doing some 0% balance transfers, and I paid of two small debts of about £250…
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Balancing the books
After some pondering, I've decided to start a new diary to reflect a new focus chez la maison Blackcats. My previous diary (giving every £ a job) was pivotal to moving from early retirement wannabe to achieving early retirement and it has kept me on the straight and narrow through my first years of leisure time. Being on…
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Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...
Well here goes, my first diary...After being an avid lurker both here and on the MFW boards over the years I have been amazed and inspired by the success of many individuals and the support of other forum members so hoping to do the same. So why am I here? In the 6 years since DH and I bought our home we have undergone…
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Onwards and the debt goes downwards!
Hi All Old diary is here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1000559 I can't do the posh linky things. Things are all changing in the Lucielle household. DS1 arrived back from New Zealand and has moved out to start his new job. Spent most of last week building flat pack furniture from the well known store. DD1…
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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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Everything changes
As my old lecturer at university said to me once when we were discussing the topic of my second year dissertation. Anyway I’m sitting here at the start of a long weekend, I owe about £2000 and I’m going to need to put food on my credit card to get to the end of the month. I think I will still end up forward at the end of…
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The absolute last time
I'm chuckling as I write this as it's nearly 10 years since I last logged in here. My last diary was titled 'One Final Push' but needless to say it wasn't. I have been in debt continuously since I was at University. Since the fateful day I turned up at Barclays and asked them for an overdraft which was never fully repaid…
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Settling in for the long haul
After avidly reading others’ diaries over the past five years, it feels like the right time to shuffle in and create a cosy little corner of my own. Following the example of those much wiser, I have cleared a large amount of debt, including a hefty overdraft, student loan, credit cards, bank loans (that were consolidated…
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An in-between phase
I am largely starting this thread so as to not rudely put a long whinge on the lovely @foxgloves and @EssexHebridean threads! I will talk a little more about my slightly unsettled life situation in due course, but for now, just whinging 😂 Today I have been trying to switch to a more money saving phone contract. It has been…
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The Debtly Hallows.............
Harry Potter fan here - how could you tell 😉 I've been here before under another username but needed a fresh start so here we are! I'm in debt at the moment but it's on a 0% credit card and I've got a good plan to pay that off within the 21 months. I've also got my mortgage for my wee flat which I'm planning to pay off in…
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The Mental Debt Struggle...
I've known that this diary needed to be started... But I've run away from the idea as the accountability made me nervous and I didn't think anyone would want to read it. But then I realised it would be financially and mentally therapeutic for me, and that's the whole point after all. I've read other diaries and gained so…
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Onto the straight and narrow...
Hello world 👋 This will be a long first post but I just wanted to get over my anxiety and get the first post out of the way, half of it will be shameful but half of it will be exciting and a bit overwhelming. I have found myself in the unique position as of last night that, with the hopeful help of some partial…
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Cancer, cash and carrying on
I've been on this board for a while and it was invaluable while I was paying down debt and navigating finances while working and juggling 5 children. We followed the Dave Ramsey plan loosely to get us where we wanted and the last year or so we were trundling along comfortably. Unfortunately, a breast cancer diagnosis has…
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Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend
Happy New Year to readers old & new! Well, it's time for a new chapter. My old diary ("Put away your purse & become debt averse") achieved pretty much what I intended. I shared the story of how I got into debt at the age of 19 & stayed that way until a pretty enormous lightbulb pinged on during my early 40s, I've shared…
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Hopefully debt free before Mortgage renewal in June 2026
Hi, So, My mortgage is due for renewal in June 2026. I bought a house for £190,000 with around a £48,000 deposit on a 5 year fixed rate of 1.63% interest which comes to an end on 30th June 2026. I currently owe £129,363 and pay £517.72 and i have 25 years and 6 months left to pay (i will be 68 when this ends). I know…
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Looking To The Future With Hope
After reading @Onebrokelady thread I feel so inspired and in awe of how someone can be so positive when they’ve faced such adversity that I’ve decided to start a diary. Now, I can’t promise that I’ll keep this up, as I do have a tendency to start things full of enthusiasm and then I stumble and give up, but we shall see.…
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2026 - consolidation and calm
I've decided to start a fresh diary for 2026. 2025 was a bit of a rollercoaster year for us: * My post being put forward for redundancy at the end of 2024, though it was then reinstated thankfully * Restructure at work meaning many great colleagues (and loads of knowledge) going * DH's redundancy at work, then finding a…
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So it Begins - The Accountability
I have browsed the diaries for a while, and have never really felt the need to participate. Until now. I have come to realise that it's a really good way to hold oneself accountable, and in order to progress with my grand plan, I certainly need to be accountable. The last time I was seriously in debt, it was due to my ex…
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Debt and Caring
An unprovoked attack on my ankle by a metal workout bench has me lying down with a foot up this evening. Which makes this the ideal time to start this diary. And possibly to declutter some exercise equipment... Yesterday I was £9993.61 in debt. Today I have made a £1500 payment to one of my credit cards taking me down to…
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Progress not Perfection
Happy New Year! I thought it was about time I started a new diary. I've been on these diaries since 2008. My last diary is here Things
can only get better My first diary is here Champagne Lifestyle Lemonade Budget and the one after that here Looking for the Silver Lining. That's a hell of a lot of waffle over the years 😆…
