Debt free diaries

Well I thought it was time I started a diary having put my two pennorth into several others. Brief bit about me. I am a retired careworker having done other things as well. I have a husband who has mental health issues and 3 old dogs. A 15 year oldJack Russell X who has heart and kidney failure so I am not sure how long we…

Hello, I have lurked on these pages so long, carrying the shame of debt, never quite being able to get on top of things, finding myself spending in times of being down, trying to impress, trying to exist and because really during most of my adult life not having a very good relationship with money. I now find myself…

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…

I've been on here for a good few months now so it's about time I start my own diary. I have been in debt since I was 18 when I got my first credit card and I'm 41 and a half now. The debt has fluctuated over the years with the highest being around the £20k mark, but my head was firmly buried in the sand then. I started to…

Ok. Here goes. This is my journal on my journey to redemption. First post is to outline my current situation. Salary- £75k + Married Two Children Personal Debts Bank Loan 1 CAR - £20433 - £352 4.3% Debt Consolidation Loan £10,344 £153 5.2% MBMA - £4300 - 0% 14 months NatWest £3000 - 0% 12 months I have told my wife…

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…

Hello world 👋 This will be a long first post but I just wanted to get over my anxiety and get the first post out of the way, half of it will be shameful but half of it will be exciting and a bit overwhelming. I have found myself in the unique position as of last night that, with the hopeful help of some partial…

After reading @Onebrokelady thread I feel so inspired and in awe of how someone can be so positive when they’ve faced such adversity that I’ve decided to start a diary. Now, I can’t promise that I’ll keep this up, as I do have a tendency to start things full of enthusiasm and then I stumble and give up, but we shall see.…

Hi all, I've had a couple of threads in the main section before, one of which has become a bit diary-like so, I decided to put a proper one in here. Background on my debts, going back to 2009 can be found in these threads: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1406057…

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…

This year apparently is the year of the Firehorse - a year of bold, fast paced change, drive and ambition. I’ve never really paid much attention to Chinese new year etc, but as the year has gained momentum, I’ve realised that this really is my “Firehorse” year. The day after Chinese New Year I had my first interview in 20…

After lurking for what seems an age, I have finally created an account and started to interact this forum :) For years I feel that we have been flying by the seat of our pants, not planning in advance, using savings and investments to pay for holidays and other luxuries and just not really having control on our finances.…

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!) I've decided to keep my own debt free diary, to hold myself accountable. I'm not even sure if anyone will read my diary, but bonus if someone does…

I have browsed the diaries for a while, and have never really felt the need to participate. Until now. I have come to realise that it's a really good way to hold oneself accountable, and in order to progress with my grand plan, I certainly need to be accountable. The last time I was seriously in debt, it was due to my ex…

Hi! I’ve been reading different diaries for a while and think I need to hold myself accountable! I have a slightly odd set up as I live with the boyf, but have a house that’s now a holiday let/buy-to-let that I need to finish and get let out. I know evil landlord and all, but don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket…

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…

Good morning all, happy Tuesday! Long time lurker, first time poster here. I've had a DMP for about a year and a half and tend to be terrible at saving, but that is going to change! I'm currently paying token payments of about £12 per month with the aim to create an emergency fund, I'm up to about £200 saved now thanks to…

Hello I have decided to start a diary. Have lurked on here since early 2009, subscribed to loads of threads, loved all the camaraderie and found it very useful for getting shot of debt, starting savings and all that kind of good stuff but then have slipped and skidded into more debt, especially as I left a FT job this…

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…

Hi there!😀 Having finally retired from work last Friday as my State Pension kicked in, I have decided to start a new diary as I begin the next stage in my life. I began my first diary on these boards in 2014 when I was 58 and in £31,000's worth of debt!😱 I realised time was fast approaching to retirement and that I needed…