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Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...
Well here goes, my first diary...After being an avid lurker both here and on the MFW boards over the years I have been amazed and inspired by the success of many individuals and the support of other forum members so hoping to do the same. So why am I here? In the 6 years since DH and I bought our home we have undergone…
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Getting back to frugal ways in 2023 and beyond to reach my future goals
Hi Have been away from MSE for a couple of years and probably spent a lot of that time frittering my money. Am wanting to get back on track so figured a shiny new diary was a good place to start. I’ll tell you a little about myself - I’m 36 and I currently live at home with my Mum and older brother. I work full time in a…
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A diary of clearing the credit card and gratitude
I’m really hoping this diary will help keep me accountable in clearing our credit card. The current balance is £4461.16 The credit limit is £4600 and every month on pay day I pay a few hundred off and by the end of the month I’ve maxed it out again. It has become like an overdraft facility and I really want to get rid of…
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13 - Unlucky For Some
Not a DFW diary but a budget spending challenge diary for 2023/24. For the next 366 days I'm going to try and thrive on £13 per day which gives me an annual budget of £4,758. I hope to achieve this by going back to basics, growing my own vegetables, purchasing items secondhand, spending cash within the local community,…
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Hugglemonster hits the debt hard!
I'm starting a new diary as I got fed up with myself looking back on the other one and doing well, then doing terribly, doing well and then doing terribly etc. Whilst there has been progress it certainly hasn't been enough and slipping into bad habits far too easily. I want to get rid of all the debt by Xmas 2020 it is…
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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…
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Beating My Debt
Hello All - Short and sweet, creating a diary to keep track of debts following some very helpful advise in the Debt Free Wannabe section. Current Debt: PayPal Credit - £5780 Family - £4986 Lendable - £1445 Finio - £1312 118118 - £1285 Tech Finance - £700 Salary Finance - £564 Drafty - £545 Total - £16,617. Lord help me.…
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Race is on...14 months to clear £17658.12 & beyond!
Hi all, Title sounds challenging but this is what I need to clear before my low 5 year fixed rate mortgage comes to an end and my mortgage repayments will sadly increase - unless the Bank of England brings down the the interest rates by then, but I'm not holding my breath. I've managed over the years to stop relying on…
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Complaint auto-rejected due to GPDR rules
Hi all, Has anyone had any experience of not being able to make a complaint about a mis-sold loan due to them not holding your data after 6 years? I made a lengthy complaint to Lending Stream last week regarding 7 payday loans that I strongly believe were mis-sold to me in 2013. I wrote to them explaining that they were…
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Busting debt with a boy plus twins
So it's been one of those months which has been a complete whirlwind with a seven year old and twin two year olds. Everything got so busy and then, all of a sudden, we were broke. I kept enough money in the account for the car payment, but had no choice but to use credit card to cover food. It was the rock bottom and I…
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From broke to better ..a journey
Hi everyone. Well today is, as they say, the first day of the rest of my life. The first real day of my journey to get rid of debt. I am alone in this. No partner and no family for support so I am finding myself tearful and scared. I know noone here can hold my hand, but I've seen so much support on other people's diaries…
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One day at a time
Im starting this dairy to keep track and hold myself accountable. unsecured debts of £54k. Have clearly been living off CC more than i ever realised. All been low apr or 0% BT, now coming to an end this year, interest is killing me, monthly payments circa £1200. My OH knew nothing of any of it, they knew we had a loan and…
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Get to £0 and lifestyle change overall
So this is my second diary, but this time I will look to not only track by debt to the point its gone, but also make lifestyle changes, which I have been doing, but learning to be more consistent. As my first diary said, I have not been debt free since I was 18, I got to a point where I was just complaisant with having…
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Turning the page...
I've been putting off posting here for a while but have finally pulled myself together so here we go. I used to be a regular poster on here many, many years ago and managed to clear over £16k of debt on a relatively small income. I stayed DF for a long time afterwards but due to a few not so great years have found myself…
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Debt free March 2026
2 years and 7 months! I started 4 months ago and have cleared 12% of my debts. Debt free for me doesn't include the mortgage - that will be step 2 😜 credit cards is step 1 which is in progress. I downloaded 'debt payoff planner' (android app) in March and I really like it. It tells me how much to pay to each account every…
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From Fat to Fit by 50 (and debt free!)
***Door creaks open*** It has been a while, I was on here under a different username many years ago. I had trouble logging on when the migration to the new format happened and I constantly got thrown out. But a few years have now passed and any glitches I hope have now been sorted :) A bit about me - married mum of 2, been…
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Ongoing Journey to being a Frugalista..
So..ladies and gents...it may be time for a new diary. The recent changes to the site seem to have booted me out...and as this place is essential (nay, critical) to my ongoing attempt to be a true frugalista I need to keep the diary posting going....plus of course I'd miss everyone on here. You are all fab and the support…
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My journey to health, wealth (well, saving for works to house, so not really!) and hobbies
Starting a new diary as feel like I need a fresh start/new motivation. 43, married, 2 young DC. Work almost FT (28 hours) in a professional job. No current debt (other than a mortgage) but been in serious debt in the past due to stupid choices, mainly to try to keep up with the Jones's. Still have a tendency to feel…
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Debt, Depression and mentions of Divorce? Request for Financial Support & Advice on Debt Management
Introduction: Longtime follower and fan of MSE, particularly the Podcast. Despite years of effort, my wife and I are struggling to clear our debts. Our financial tensions have escalated recently, adding stress to our relationship, culminating in a distressing situation tonight where my wife expressed feelings of…
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Finally Debt Free in 2023
Hi everyone It’s been a while since I’ve been on this forum. I’ve been on here on and off for several years, but this coming year I am really determined to stick around and make a huge difference to my debts. For those that don’t know me, here’s a bit of background. I’m 41, live with my OH (been together nearly 22 years…
