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Countdown to Part Time…
I’ve been inspired by your diaries so decided to start my own. Firstly, I am going to say I know I’m in a privileged position of having paid off my mortgage and that although I’m in debt, my financial position is really quite sound. BUT I am bad at living within my means and I allow credit card debt to rack up, then take a…
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The Ups and Downs of my Emergency Fund
After many years of being in debt, from my early twenties to my early fifties I (well we) managed to get out of debt, including paying off our Mortgage. But I still can't manage to get a decent Emergency Fund under our belt. Each times we get a half reasonable sum ie. £500 some expense comes along and we are back down to…
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The end is in sight!
After nearly 10 years of being in some degree of debt (twice before it was almost all paid off) I am determined to see it through to the end. I'm starting this thread somewhat in the middle of my DF journey, in the hopes that it will keep me motivated and on track! Pre-Covid, I had about £1k in CC debt. During 2020- 2021,…
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Here Goes...Starting Up on a Journey
Hi All, I've made some reckless decisions recently, tried to invest money, kept borrowing to invest more and lost it all. Ridiculous I didn't learn after the first one, two, three, ten attempts. But we are here now: Essentially I am up to my eyeballs in debt and have about the same amount of debt and interest payments)…
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0% Virgin Card accidental purchase
We have a 0% transfer Virgin Credit Card but I accidentally used it for a purchase will i now be charged interest on the entire amount on my card or just that over the transfer amount?
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Accountable
September! It always feels like the start of a new year to me, I'm not sure why, perhaps its the new school year that's embedded in me (even though that was a long time ago!), Or perhaps it's because my daughter starts secondary school tomorrow! Eeeeek! I've decided to keep my own debt free diary, to hold myself…
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Small Business, Big Debts
Hello all Debt free wannabes! :) I posted on these Forums over 10 years ago, and it made such a huge impact on my (successful!) attempt to get debt free, but a LOT has changed in the last 10 years, so I’m back again! The accountability and kindness I received back then was invaluable to me, so I hope to bring some of that…
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Have grasped the nettle..........now to deal with the ensuing rash
Part many !! If you have just come to this diary please skip to post 1420 ish! Dont endure over 70 pages of my drivel. I have ridden the debt roller coaster for over 10 years.........had a hiccup but hopefully back to it now :) Part 9 !!!!!!! - when I question do I really need MSE anymore:o If you dont what to plough…
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Recovering Gambling Addict Aim To Be Debt Free
Hi I have struggled with controlling my gambling addiction for the past 13 year and I seem to be in a much better place at the minute. I am happy to say I have been gamble free since 8th June 2019. However this has resulted in various debt problems due to my addiction. I am hoping to be debt free by the end of 2021 when I…
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Managing Mat Leave
I've been meaning to start a diary thread on here for a little while. I'm due to start mat leave in 8 weeks which was not entirely planned, meaning from a financial point of view it's a little tight. Definitely manageable but we need to keep track of a few things as we have some debts we're paying off as well. I'm hoping…
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2024 - slowing down, simplifying and saving up for a more intentional life!
I’ve decided to draw a line and start a new diary ahead of the new year. For background, I’m in my mid 40’s, Mum to one amazing little boy and feel as though I’ve never got a grip on this whole adulting lark! This is reflected in the very chaotic nature of my life and the way I budget / manage the household finances (or…
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Trying to get out of the money mess
So I have got myself in to debt. I'm in a fortunate position in a way, my husband earns a decent wage and pays the mortgage and all that main bills. We have a joint account which I pay £150 into, the family allowance goes in and he pays the rest, everything comes out of there bill wise including mobile phones. Our wages go…
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Clearing my debt after 25 years
I’m quite new to the forums and not to sure I will have done this right but I wanted to start a diary because I need some forums friends to keep me motivated. My story is a long one! We all have reasons why we ended up with debts, mine has just been some bad luck and some stupid choices! I won’t bore you all with those…
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A plan for Debt-free journey
Hi all, After years and years in a vicious cycle relying on credit cards. I’ve decided enough is enough. I’ve come to realise that I should have managed the household finances way better in the past and I do feel disappointed with my self, but on the other hand I know I had to do what I’ve done to keep things moving. My…
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Struggling along as best I can
Hi everyone, I have just been catching up on my banking and budgets and I am really fed up of getting to the same point of having very little for the last 6-10 days before I get my pension. Don't get me wrong my bills are all paid and I have no debt and I only need to buy just a couple of bits of food (coffee!) But I'm…
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Becoming A Budgeter Extraordinaire Again...
Well Diary, It's been a while since I was last here, and even longer since I was successful at being accountable to my diary & posting regularly. I plan on doing a lot better this time around, as I really need to be accountable, pull myself up by the bootstraps, and stop the chain of events that has ended with me living in…
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On the edge of a cliff
But I've managed to drag myself to safety (still windy though)..... Hi everyone, This is my diary to becoming debtfree. I've recently received some inheritance money and will be paying off some of.my debt. Please take a look at my spreadsheet. I'm due to receive a payrise in Jan of around an extra £100 per month which…
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My accountability thread - diary of an in-denial credit card spender
Hi all, long time lurker of this site and I love reading the diaries and being inspired by how well everyone is doing. I thought that adding my tale of woe here might finally give my head a wobble and help me get on top of my debt. In short, I'm a total spendaholic who thinks that credit cards are free money. I put…
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Mrs. P's Savings, Paying Off CC, being more organised diary
I've now taken early retirement. Sadly I've built up CC debt yet again, but is only on one card and it is the only debt I have now. I really need to get this paid off, whilst also saving and making ends meet so I don't need to use the card again. I have decided not to stress and panic about over-paying (which is what I…
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In my 40s will I ever own a property.
So I have been in debt most of my life and have had diaries on here before but never kept up with them. This year I see a light at the end of the tunnel (sort of) and want to be kept accountable. So here goes... I have my finances split into different areas: focus, SB,
affordability complaints. £4412 – main focus £7694 –…