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My journey to a better debt free life
So, Christmas is by with, Time to focus on me and the debt. I don't get paid for another 2 weeks and am kind of low on funds. I have £1600 of debt that I want at LEAST half-cleared by December this year. It would be too ambitious of me to say all of it cleared as I don't earn enough to pay out more than £100 per month. The…
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Decrease debt or make savings
Hello, everyone! I'm not very good at managing money. I have around £4000 in credit card debt and £1000 in savings My tax return is expected to be around £2500. Should I use all of it to pay off my debt or shall I pay the debt from half of it, and save the other half?…
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Life is not a rehearsal- time to take back control........
The title of my diary pretty much sums things up for me at the moment. I recently turned 40 and with it came the realisation that this is it! There’s no dress rehearsal - I need to stop putting life on hold until debts are paid off, until my son is older, until I have more time etc. I need to start trying to live my best…
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2022: maybe this’ll be my year
Hello everyone I have been a member here before a long time ago. I am in a place where I really want to tackle my debt and I’m going to start with some intro about my past and how I got here. I’m in my late thirties and I’ve been in debt since I was 18 and went to university (all credit cards). I paid over £15k of credit…
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Missy’s family of 4, paying off debts, saving for a house and just trying to survive!
Hey everyone! I thought I’d start a new diary as my focus has changed slightly, link to old diary is here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6078055/family-of-4-paying-back-50k-in-4-years-whilst-trying-to-live-eco-friendly#latest So a quick background. I’m 38 mum of 2 (May who is just 7, and Roo who is 8) and…
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Munchin’s intentionally living with less diary
Hi diaryland, I’m back again and hoping this diary will keep me on the right track to cut down on my frittering which is still an issue. So I’m a bit early for 2022 but I’m easing myself into it gently because I want to by the end of 2022 have my wasteful spending/frittering under control and to have both an emergency fund…
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Two years to debt free! Let’s do it
I’m very new to the site and want to start a diary to get my targets down and keep the focus going: A single mum with two grown up children you would think I’d have it sorted but noooooooo. I’ve borrowed to support education and quite frankly I spend to cheer myself up so it’s time to get this thing under control. Debts…
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Lifestarts has a 5 Year Plan!
Hello Everyone! I'm a long time lurker on these boards - I've probably been hanging around here for about 15 years & had a couple of different usernames over the years. OH and I have a fair amount of debt between us however it is debt that has been taken on knowingly (if that makes any sense) with a plan to pay it off. We…
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Help with old debts
Hi guys, Basically about 5/6 years ago when I was in my early twenties and in a bad relationship/situation I racked up a bunch of debts circa £10k (credit cards, a loan and overdrafts) started a stepchange payment plan. It got too much for me to be able to afford to pay and after i moved house i just stopped paying them…
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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…
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The way forward....
Hi, So I have been reading through these diaries for the past couple of years whilst managing my own debts along the way. Then middle of last year with more time to think due to lockdown I finally had my light bulb moment. So how do things stand. Well I am married with a young daughter at school, both of us are in full…
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Starting fresh with good intentions
Hey there, long time reader, first time signing up and posting though. This year is bringing a lot of change in many respects, I can't be as specific as I like out of paranoia someone/anyone I know is also on this forum lol. But I ended things with my OH recently after quite a few years together, I instigated it this time…
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Journey to £0 by 2020, with a few bumps along the way
Hi everyone! Just been reading some diaries on here and thought I need to add my own. Hopefully I will get some encouragement or just stop myself going insane :rotfl: A bit about me; I'm 34 and live in Berkshire with my partner and our 3 year old son. We are getting married next year so am saving towards that, plus we have…
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Surprise Debt!
Hi all My husband and I have been going through some extremely difficult times. I haven’t been coping well, but trying my best using yoga & meditation, walks in nature etc. I wondered how my husband was coping so well. It turns out he wasn’t. His coping strategy was secret gambling, spending and drinking. He admitted all…
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Dolly's DFW and Beyond Diary
New year - new diary. Say this every year but I really am aiming to keep this one up to date with all the highs and lows, unexpected and expected expenses, needs and wants, splurges and saves and everything in between. My aim for this new diary is the following; * Be debt free by March 2025 * Have an Emergency Fund (EF) *…
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Debt free before August 2023
As the title says really, my debt free date is August 2023, however my aim is to beat that! I've ummed and aah'd over starting this diary, I need something to give me a boost and some accountability, but I don't really think I have anything interesting to say. My debt is large (smaller than it was) and is taking a long…
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A Pretty Good Day!
Hello - I've never done a dairy before so this might be an interesting experiment ;) I'm 52, married with two DS, one still at home, the other moved in with his girlfriend about 15 months ago but we see them regularly. My husband and I both work full time, my business of 18 years failed during the pandemic leaving me with…
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My light bulb moment and the start
Hello! I'm posting on here as I've had a read through some diaries and it's so nice to see the support on these forums and the reassurance that I am not alone. To be brutally honest, this isn't really my lightbulb moment, I've known for some time that something has to be done about my debt. But I've not been in the best…
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Slipping Through My Fingers
No, I'm not talking about the ABBA song that makes me cry every time I hear it, this is about my money:( I'm the most technologically challenged person, so I'm going to post this and check it's working before I launch into a long winded waffle. :)
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£18.3k end in sight
Finally years after first reading on here in 2012,i took charge of my debts of £18.3k, I have £799.88 left,DMP finishes on the 28th May!!! I cant stop smiling,just kept plugging away on my DMP and end is in sight. Just to put it out there,that it can be done. I have been that used to paying it and living within my means,i…
