We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More » This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Debt free diaries

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

Maternity leave debt legacy - £12,000 to £0 in 10 months?!
Hi All I've been somewhat of a lurker on these boards, and reading everyone else's DFDs. You've inspired me to post my own and get some help along the way as I aim to clear down my debt. I started my DF journey in February 2020 with just over £12k personal unsecured debt after two 12 month poorly paid maternity leaves…
Well that’s one way for my dreams to come true
Hello, So like everyone else in the world the last few weeks have been very trying, very trying. In March we secured 15K to sort out a subsidence issue with our property (our first and hopefully last home), which we never knew when we bought the house coming on 5 years ago. The works only really started last month and well…
35 and still not learnt a thing!
So due to covid 19 I am back on benefits and I have just realised I'm screwed for the month, well probably the year. I need to get back on track money wise and mentally and when I was struggling years ago this forum really helped me. So the big issue I have this month is due to receiving the self employment grant universal…
Nearly 30 and my life is a mess...
After burying my head in the sand for far too long now, I finally did the right thing and faced my debts that I've stupidly let spiral out of control 😔 I finally plucked up the courage to total them up on Tuesday and worked out I was £22,898.20 in debt 😩 I'm annoyed at myself for letting things get this bad and a tad…
LBM 4 years into DMP...Time to get real
Hi! I'll confess I am a lurker, I don't post often but I do have a good old nosey around posts across loads of different boards. A bit about me...I have been in a DMP with stepchange since 2014. My (soon to be ex) husband stopped working and we had to rely on my income alone, this meant defaulting on a number of debts…
The Last Leg; 6 years later, debt free in 2021
I haven't written a proper post in the DFW forums for a loooong time. I used to be on this forum all the time and it really helped me! Funnily enough I can see the points where my debt peaked were the points my posting here was at its lowest. I wanted to start a little diary because, hopefully actually for the last time, I…
Plan to clear £34k debt mountain
As is the case for many of us, this COVID situation has prompted me to finally get my finances in order. I’ve made many attempts to do this in the past, but the limited amount I normally have left at the end of each month has meant my progress has been slow and, to be completely honest, has led me to give up many times. I…
Debt going down, happiness going up
Hi all, so this is going to try and be my debt free diary. I really should have started at the start of this year but oh well. So at the start of all this, me and my partners debt stood at approximately 15000 pounds with two loans and one parent loan. It now currently stands at £9800. The hope it to have it all paid off in…
My journey is over after 20+ years
2 years ago, I decided that it was time we made a concerted effort to pay off our debts. CC. and bank loan. So everything was cut to the bone, monthly menu made up from what was in the freezer and cupboard. Every little bit of extra money went in overpayments to the loan and the card. It took me over 12 months, but managed…
Starting to see progress ...
Well, I thought I would post our progress , hopefully to look back in a year or two and be an accomplished debt free family :wink: So after adding everything up around the time of our wedding last year , I was shocked to realise between us we had £28972.22 in debt , not just wedding stuff , the odd credit card and…
Time for new beginnings
So after years of accumulating a lot of debts following a very long and hard divorce years ago, not receiving any financial support from my ex husband over many years and supporting my teenager through liver cancer the time has come when I have realised I have been stupid to get in the financial position that I have. So I…
Young and naive mistakes
I have about £6369.68 in debt with credit cards - luckily no defaults/CCJ's and they're both on 0% at the moment (Barclaycard ends in a few months but I'll do a balance transfer). I've got to make a change in my life. Back Story I started working just before I went to Uni - I was young, in love and didnt really understand…
Trying to get my debts off my chest.
This is probably the 4th attempt at this. At the beginning of this year I had a overdraft of £3000 that I was fully using and a credit card debt of £6000. Over the past 5 years I have been living beyond my means and also, bailing out my OH which I realise is terrible. He currently owes me over £2000. I got completely…
Countdown from £44k.......
Evening All, I have decided to start a debt free diary. I attempted to tackle my debt a few years ago but ended up getting into more debt through house renovations, holidays, and genuinely making irresponsible purchases (thinking i will worry about it later)... Well i have got to the later! Before I show you my SOA, i have…
The start of (hopefully) a debt free life
Hi all, I am new here. I wanted to start a diary after lurking here for a while. I've been in debt a few years now (since uni) and I'm finally ready to tackle it head on, and I need to, badly. I am currently £3,866 in debt. It all began at uni when I took out an overdraft because I'd spent all my student loan within weeks.…
Onwards and Upwards - Next Steps!
Hi all, I’ve been a member since 2018 and these diaries used to be an incredible amount of motivation and support for me. When I first joined around October 2018 and started my diary (if anyone is interested https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5907732/curbing-my-impulse-spending/p1), my debt was at £6967.79…
Happier Nat's debt free diary
Hello I'm Nat and I've been a member of this forum for years, I've even been on the Debt Free Roll of Honour in 2014 when I sold my house and paid off £38,000 of debt. Here I am again though in another £30k of debt and this time starting a DMP with StepChange, all of my paperwork has been sent to them and pending…
Looking after the pennies
Hi All, After long time lurking under a different account (deleted previous email) I have decided to hold myself accountable by creating this DFD. In the last year I have come a long way, but still have plenty of room to go. I got in a horrible mess with payday loans whilst on maternity which is now a thing of the past and…
Keeping on track after Covid
I'm starting this diary as a way to stay focused on clearing our debts after the current situation is over. A quick introduction, I'm 35, my husband is 36 and we have two school age children. We have been trying to get out of debt for years, but it was slow going due to our expenses and relatively low wages. We earn just…
Back again
Hi guys, Well where to start! I have had a diary before but have decided that I need to start a fresh. First a bit about me. I’m married and we have 2 girls. We both work full time and our wages are ok. We bring home approx £2,800 a month. DH sometimes gets a monthly bonus but we don’t rely on that. I get enhancements in…

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

MSE News

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.
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 Payments 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.
Which NatWest and RBS branches are closing from 2025? Here's the full list – and banking alternatives
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which are both part of the NatWest Group, will shut at least 108 of their bank branches in 2025 and beyond, after the Group announced a further 52 NatWest closures.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
Winter Fuel Payments will be reinstated to all pensioners in England and Wales this winter – but will be clawed back automatically from those earning over £35,000 a year, the Government has confirmed. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis.
Car finance mis-selling update: regulator prepares for compensation scheme – and warns against using claims firms
Payouts for mis-sold car finance could be another step closer as the financial regulator has set out the factors it will consider if it were to introduce an industry-wide redress scheme – though we won't know more about how this will work until after a key Supreme Court decision expected in July. In the meantime, the regulator has warned that you DON'T need to sign up with a claims firm to be included.
Winter Fuel Payments to be extended to pensioners earning £35,000 or less – here's what we know so far
Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to all pensioners with incomes of £35,000 or less this winter, the Government has confirmed. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up.
Winter Fuel Payments extension confirmed for this winter – watch Martin Lewis' instant response and his message to the Chancellor
Winter Fuel Payments will be extended to more pensioners this winter – though not to everyone – the Chancellor has today confirmed. However, exact details of who will now qualify still remain scant. Watch MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis give his instant response, as well as his key message for Rachel Reeves.
Nationwide Fairer Share: Free £100 bonus confirmed for 2025 – here's who will get it
If you bank with Nationwide, you could get a free £100 paid into your account in June or July as part of the building society's 'Fairer Share' scheme. The bonus will be paid to millions of its current account customers who also have savings or a mortgage with it.
Forced onto a prepay energy meter? You may be due money back as 10,000s to be compensated
If you had an energy prepayment meter forcibly installed or your smart meter was remotely switched to prepay mode without your permission, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £1,000 and may even be eligible to have your energy debts written off.

View All

Debt free diaries

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free

Debt free diaries

Discussion List

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free