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Debt free diaries

A place for MoneySavers to share their journeys towards debt-free living.

Towards the light
Hello all, I have been reading the diaries here for many years. I am 35 years old but have been in some kind of debt since I went to Uni at 18 years old. I havent ever been paid and owned all of that money without it needing to be paid out in interests and overdrafts. That day is still a dream. I made the mistake of…
Gambling Addict Debt Diary
Yesterday I have accepted I am a gambling addict. In my dire situation, I still managed to somehow find it in me to gamble another £500 on roulette. In light of the Russian invasion, my crypto portfolio also declined by 20%. Long story short, I had an existing £8000 loan that covered all debt from gambling. I then decided…
On a Mission
So this is me holding myself accountable, publicly, albeit anonymously, for my spending. To be fair I'm not so bad, sort of, ish. DH on the other hand has issues!! Why am I doing a Diary? Well it all came to a head when DH spent his entire wage (£1500) within a week of being paid. Of course a portion of this went to bills…
In the Lowest Hour
In the Lowest Hour..I wonder if I can get any lower. Money ... I'm so reliant I'm so dependant I'm such a fool Sam Smith could have written that for me .. Where do I start?? ..yes that's right by making a coffee ...and having a long hard look at everything .... I know where I am but the denial and longing not to be in my…
Any advice? Got myself into debt and I have stopped increasing my balance as of October 2021
I have stopped using credit, cut up my cards, cancelled one of my overdrafts, I would just like to see if any one has any advice about my situation. [font=courier new][b]Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet[/b][b] Household Information[/b] Number of adults in household........... 2 Number of children in…
Moved: Feeling a bit judged by Step Change but don't know if it is just my imagination!
This discussion has been moved.
100k - is not ok!
I have had it with spending and having no emergency fund and the debts are just hanging in there. I need to get an emergency fund sorted of 5k. I need to get rid of debt. (currently at £94 831 - including mortgages) So lets call this 100k. My 100k challenge - should be fun. Hoping for support and encouragement and dragging…
Dolly's Diary - 2022 and Onwards
2022 and I've decided it's time to start from scratch on MSE. I've been a previous user for a long time but I am back at square one so closed my old account and started again (same username). Looking forward to earning my badges again! My aim for this new diary is the following; * Be debt free by March 2025 * Have an…
Embarrassed, ashamed, terrible husband? But trying to do better...
Hello everyone, This is going to be a long post, I apologise in advance, the more i typed the better it felt to get all this out in the open and to write it down getting it off my chest. Thank you in advance for those that stick it out and read all of this and take their time to reply if they do. I'm new here, I have been…
Debt-busting newbie
..............
Accountant for personal finance
I've always struggled with money. So I left my finance, with my now ex and he got me in so much trouble that I went bankrupt and he cleared all his debt thanks to me. I can now look back with less anger. Still brings me to the point I am not great with money. I now know its part of my disability. I was doing so well at one…
Newbie trying to clear debt
Hi! I’m new on here and thought I’d make this post to make myself accountable. I’m a single mum, 33 and feel like a failure financially. I currently have almost £17k in debt over 3 loans and my credit card balance is currently about £700. I have just switched over from tax credits to UC, and because I work I seem to be…
Keeping Going For My Furbabies
Hi everyone! I had a diary before while I was saving for a new place with my partner, and 15 months ago we completed on the flat, and moved in together. ....just under a month ago my partner walked out, leaving me with two cats, and is now forcing me to sell-up. So, not only do I have the emotional fall out of a long-term…
Keeping up appearances.......
Welcome to my debt-free diary. I am going to use it to monitor my progress as I start my (very) long journey towards debt freedom. I hope it will inspire me to stay motivated when the going gets tough. Because the going WILL get tough from time to time - I have an absolute marathan ahead of me. Today I have totalled up all…
No longer in use
Hello all, I've snuck back over from the MFW board as I still don't really feel 'at home' over there, so I hope no-one minds me creeping back in over here. :o I don't really have any debt other than my mortgage, however, I am a single mum to one, now working part time, so have to budget really hard to pay the bills, save…
Wanna break free from this hand to mouth life !!
Bit about me - 58 year old working full time. Engaged but no wedding plans at moment . My Fiance is younger than me (4 yrs) but is registered disabled,(multitude of medical issues including Chronic Arthritis) and also high functioning aspergers. I have cleared all my debts from previous marriages following tips from…
The Final Furlong...
Hi everyone, I just wanted to share my debt story so far. I moved abroad around 8 years ago for a year and decided to stick around. Unfortunately, I moved with debt which steadily went up as I had and still have a variable income. I used debt to cover the lean months. This peaked in September 2018 at around £11k across…
New life - debt free
So it appears I am separating from my partner of almost 14 years. Things are very amicable and I hope they will continue to be as it's going to be some time before we can go our separate ways. We have a house with a mortgage - the current thinking is he will buy me out as I can't afford to buy him out. Then I will buy…
Taking back control
I'm a married mum of 3, I work full time, husband works part time with health condition and 3 children, 1 due to go to uni in september and 2 others at secondary school. I've been a lurker on MSE for years and became debt free in 2018, however when Covid hit myself and my husband were both hit hard as relatively newly self…
Admitting my mistakes
Hi I went on maternity leave and was lucky enough to have a Sabbatical year after. However I missed money I’ve never been good with money always spent more than I had. This started when I went to university. My husband has no idea I’m in debt, I got a 2,500 loanto pay off our joint credit card and then still have managed…

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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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