-
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…
-
We will get this debt down & the savings up
Several years ago I joined MSE with a different user name, but then it all went a bit wrong with losing job and other things, so I sort of fell by the wayside. Now I have created a new profile and am starting again with more determination. I have read so many people's diaries and can see that it helps you focus and it is…
-
A Ditherer's Diary (again)
I'm baaaack. When I started my original diary "A Ditherer's Diary" My kids were littlie's aged 5 and 15 months. Nothing except their age and the amount of debt has changed, it's all got higher! They are now 11 & 7. Having had a quick read through, a lot of it was me coming and going with a few months/years in between. I…
-
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…
-
The 6 year plan!
I've had diaries before that have for various reasons lost their purpose. Last few years have had big changes in my life, I now have 2 children, I've completed my academic studies and now have a more driven passion for career progression. With this it feels like we have come to the top of our debts and now want to bring…
-
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…
-
Starting the journey...the road is currently bumpy.
My debt has always been there, nothing major - the odd holiday on 0% which is dutifully paid off then rinse and repeat. Then things changed, 5 years ago I lost my mum to Cancer - she loved life and was taken too young. From this my attitude changed, holidays booked, things bought, paying for friends - I wanted to live in…
-
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…
-
Debt Free In Two Years - It's Now or Never
Hi everyone I’ve been around these forums for a long time, but have been very sporadic for a while lately. The debt is still there and hasn’t been dealt with - but I honestly feel that 2025 is the year I get debt free. My OH and I have just finished paying a large loan that we’ve been paying for AGES. Before this we had no…
-
Switching stories
Hi all, new to forums so not sure if this is the right place but I'd really appreciate some guidance on how to fix situation. Last month I decided to take control of finances and applied for and received a new credit card with 0% to pay off old HSBC credit card debt. All went well EXCEPT that after the balance had been…
-
Daisy's Debt Free Diary [30F/Autistic]
Hi everyone! After spending some time lurking and reading other DFD's I've decided to start my own to track my journey to becoming debt-free. Right now, my total debt sits at £3,124.06, spread across two CCs: * Card 1: £826.70 (0% interest until 8th September 2025) * Card 2: £2,297.36 (0% interest until 17th January 2026)…
-
£2,576.79 to clear by March
£956.15 on one credit card, interest free period ends 16th March £1620.64 on the other, interest free until the 1st March It's entirely possible that I can't quite manage and end up doing a balance transfer, but this diary is to give me the accountability to try my best. We've had a tricky year financially after my husband…
-
Fresh Diary for 2025!
Hello those who follow along! Last year goals; - Get debt gone (didn't complete) - Buy my house - COMPLETE - Meal plan/prep - Sort of - Cut out Coffee (I gave this up on 22nd November 2023) - Didn't complete - Have savings of at least 2k! - didn't complete Am I annoyed I didn't complete some goals? no. I can try again!…
-
Taking Action ...
Not sure if this is the best place to post but will go for it. Im struggling at the moment after circumstances left me starting from scratch pretty much a couple of years ago.. I had to re buy everything for a new house having left with almost nothing ( most of it free/ donated/ marketplace) but kitting out the house plus…
-
I will have two credit card balances with debt left come February, what should I do?
Hello, I am on a debt free journey and I'm feeling very positive with one of my credit cards set to be paid off by the start of 2026. I will then have one card with approximately £900 (a balance transfer with the 0% period ending in March 2026) and another card with £1242 (with a 0% period that ends in June 2027). I was…
-
Another debt free wannabe
Afternoon folks, I'm starting a diary on here primarily to track my thoughts, repayment and spending habits. Maybe to find a sense of accountability too. Long story short: been in debt pretty much my entire adult life whether that be due to stupid lifestyle spending, necessary house repairs or due to a recent period of…
-
Three years to get debt free
Morning, I have had a diary on here before but had to close it down. I am a single mum with an 8 year old DD. I have found myself in debt since the age of 18 when I went to university and have been in it ever since. I decided to change this in 2017 and then found myself a single parent in 2018 and having to attain more…
-
Mentally exhausting
Hi all, this is my first post but a long term reader of this forum. I have been in debt my whole adult life and now in my early 40s. It all started when I started work at 18 in a high street bank and had access to easily accessible credit which I kept consolidating and taking out more. I was on top of my debts but my OH…
-
From debt to freedom...
For a couple of months I have been lurking and reading diaries which have been helpful and inspiring. I thought that I would start a diary to keep myself focussed on getting rid of the debts. I am a working mum, recently separated from my husband. I have a large family which makes for an interesting and busy life! I have…
-
My long overdue journey to becoming debt free!!
Hello, I've been lurking on here for a good few years now, and I have decided its time to finally, and for once and for all, to sort my sorry financial mess out! I wont bore you with all the gory details of how I got here, it would just be a list of excuses and justifications, when the hard reality is I spend more than I…
