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YNAB robber needs help to execute the plan
Right, I am going to finally start a diary on here. I am being supported financially by my OH to allow me to help my sister care for my 90 year old father. I have an expensive event in Feb that I need to save for. I have been using YNAB since Feb so I have an accurate record of my spending for 6 months. It's not pretty. I…
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Riding the wave
Last year I started a debt-free diary that really helped keep me on track, unfortunately I then realised that my username was one I had used elsewhere and with a bit of Googling, someone might be able to identify me and use my personal details. I have now got rid of that profile and started afresh- and not a moment too…
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2026: The Final Year
Hello debt free wannabeeees! It's been a while since I have been on this board. We paid off our debts a few years ago. I then started a Mortgage-free diary of which I have since paused, as we then decided life was a bit too short and wanted to do some other things first. Well, we now both want to get going towards…
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My DMP diary - 2026 (year 1)
Well… inspired by others I intend to chronicle my own journey through the DMP maze. This is the year I turn 50 and I can't juggle these plates any longer. I earn enough to pay my bills and my debts but there is nothing left for contingency, household or family emergencies, holidays, days out, gifts, car repairs, vet bills…
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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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Sorting my life out (again)
Blimey, it's been about 5 years since I've used this forum and my life has completely changed. 2020 = married, 1 DS, full-time job, debt-free, £9k savings 2025 = divorced, 1 DS, 1 DD, full-time carer for my DD who is disabled, £7k debt, £0 savings Luckily my debts are relatively small and 0% interest... apart from the car…
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taking responsibilty to get me where I want to be
Good morning MSE'ers I have been reading diaries for the last few months and have found peoples stories so inspiring that I am hoping for some company on my own journey , this will be my own log which hopefully will motivate me at times of bleakness so I can look back on any progress I have made My sitituation is quite…
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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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Don't hit me with those negative waves Moriarity
I have lurked for a long time on this forum, then joined and lurked (and lurked some more). Maybe should have gone with an Adams family reference for the title but ho hum I'm here now. I think I'm ready to start a diary even though I've had one running through my head for months as I had my light bulb moment back in…
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Back again
Morning everyone, I closed my DF diary a few months ago for various reasons at the time. However on reflection I think I haven't been myself for months , but I feel myself coming out of the place I've been and wanted to be back here. The last two years have been very testing with RL things going on in the back ground but…
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Take my life back
Hello everyone. After keeping my head burried in the sand i decided that i need to take back control of my finances before mental healt deteriorates even more. Everything was perfect…until divorce. A few things that i would like to clear out, I'm now renting with my partner £1250 but also pay my solo mortgage £1250 for the…
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Attention Deficit Debt Free Wannabe
I've decided to start a diary after reading through other peoples and being inspired and receiving some great advice 😀 I won't rehash what's already been posted. My original SOA and questions: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657842/advice-and-help-with-28k-debts Today is mothers day, so plan today is visit…
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Making 2026 a debt busting year
Hi all So, DH and I have been in debt for years, mostly credit cards, and decided to make a real effort last year to start to clear them. The aim is to have them all paid off by the end of 2027. We have no mortgage but do have a loan for some for some work on the house which will be cleared in April 2028. We started 2025…
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Living Large, on a Small Income, by the Sea.
I am living by the sea in a beautiful house. (I can’t believe that sentence is about me) I have spent two years living in other people’s homes. I ended up on a sofa for several months. The joy of my own home, my own key, my own bed…it is indescribable. I had to go to the top of my budget to buy the house, but it is exactly…
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MeandO's money-shuffling
Long time member here, sneaking back over from the MFW board... Previous diary here for those that want a back story: Money-shuffling towards mortgage freedom — MoneySavingExpert Forum Although my only debt is now my mortgage I've had to shift my focus from OP'ing to building up my savings instead, so don't really feel at…
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Buffy and the Mortgage adventure
Good morning, I don't know if anyone will remember me here as I have been away for a while. I am about to get a mortgage finally and money is going to be very tight. Squeaky tight! I am buying my sisters out of Mum's house, I lost Mum in 2024, it was a very bad time, the worst time. Aside from the grief, the money side has…
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Juggling mum/work life, whilst looking after my future self, both financially & healthily
Hiiiii, So I thought it was time I started a new diary as my old one got a bit complicated. A little about me. I’m a mum in my 40’s, my husband works away a lot, I work full time, and I have 2 children a tween and a teen. Along with 2 noisy cats. The last few months have been hard financially, and my work is teetering on…
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Need fresh eyes on my budget!
Hi all! I'm starting a brand new diary to break down my current situation and take a fresh look at things - what I was doing isn't working 😳 About me... I'm in my forties (late forties but we'll not dwell on that!) and live alone in a rented housing association house. I've had a very unstable period in the last six years…
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Getting Started (Again)
So having cleared over £18k of debt around 15 years ago, I know find myself in the unenviable position of having accrued debt and trashed my credit file once again… Things are very different now to then, but for various reasons I have only recently managed to turn a corner and really faced up to the situation. I made use…
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A space for my thoughts - tackling debt once and for all!
Good afternoon all, I've spent the last three weeks lurking and very much enjoying reading other people's diaries, seeing their journeys - the ups and the downs - really resonates with me. I like the idea of this being a safe place for me to write down my journey. A few things have led me here - our fixed rate mortgage is…
