Is anyone ever "happy" they got into debt?

Tete_en_l'Air

In my case, yes I guess I am glad. I got into about £3000 of debt at the age of around 21 - a young age but a relatively small amount. It's taken til this year to get myself on my feet, not only with paying off my debt but sorting my life out generally with a decent job and so on, but now at the age of 26 I am a lot more money savvy than many of my contemporaries and feel better equipped to deal with money issues. I also know I never want those sleepless nights again so the memories of those act as a deterrent to getting myself into any more debt!

flugella

Yes - in a way! It's taught me some valuable lessons!

Staciep88

I wouldnt say Im glad no, I bought the things so I am now paying for them - simple - but I have learnt the true value of money I even chopped up my Capital One credit card yesterday! :T

flugella

I think I was too much of a "live now worry about money later" girl before my LBM. It also helps that when my now hubby and I got together he knew all about my debts and is naturally financially cautious so he has been a really steadying hand. I've found the temptation to treat myself has reduced and now if I do buy a CD I feel better about the fact I've waited until I could legitimately afford it!

kpwll

No, I am not happy that I got myself into debt, I wish I could turn the clock back 12 years and never take out the first card. It is costing me more than the money in broken trust and hurt to my family. The only silver lining is meeting all the lovely, kind and understanding people on here.
PS.
I think this forum should be made compulsory reading in schools.

claireabelle_2

I agree with Southern Scouser, 10k would have been much nicer! I wasn't close to a lightbulb moment until I was waaay higher than that!

I also agree with you kpwll, the concept should be hammered home that it's not your money, and will have to be paid back... with interest! :rolleyes: I reckon the credit crunch has happened because I stopped spending

spud30

No, I'm not glad either.

I wish that the lessons I have learnt since being in debt were taught to everyone beforehand, maybe in school, so that everyone would be better educated than we were.

Horace

I have more debt now than I did before August 07 - I was made redundant and the paltry amount of redundancy pay was spent on clearing a credit card debt, rent, bills etc. I am claiming JSA which went up on 8 April to £60.50 per week from £59.15 per week - I get £372 Housing Benefit which goes towards my monthly rent which is £525 and after paying everything I am surprised that I have money to even eat. I have to rely on handouts from my chap and he makes sure he comes to stay with me when he is on business because he can claim £27.50 per night expenses which he then gives to me:D

My savings are virtually non-existent and I am living on the breadline (or lower than the breadline), I have to make 'free' money and sell my possessions just to survive. Still, I am hoping for a turnaround in my finances because I have an Employment Tribunal hearing in September (although my ex employer may settle out of court), a PPI reclaim going through the Financial Ombudsman plus I am in the process of setting up my own business so that I can come off the dole and earn some real money for a change.

moneymabel

Yes, in a way! I know what you are getting at anyway-i have learned so much from here that i would never have if i wasnt in debt, and i would be wasting money on rubbish still. At least now when i am debtfree i will have a whole new attitude to money and will be able to be sensible with it.

**Amy**

I do to a point. Obviously i wish i wasnt in debt, who doesnt, but like you say I have now finally learnt to manage my money a bit better. To source "deals" rather than just accepting whatever i get offered.

And i have learnt the value of money. I am going to be so much more grateful when i am DF that i will still carry on what I do generally from this site, that just because I have £X amount that is mine at payday, doesnt actually mean i have to spend ALL of it! :rotfl:

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