I just want to say..

SkippyB

to everyone on this part of the board. Becoming debt free is very possible and I did it....!!

At the age of 18 years, I managed to get myself into a lot of debt and had 3 store cards, 2 credit cards and 2 loans! How I ever managed is beyond me but I did! I lived hand to mouth and cant remember a day when I was in credit with the bank. I honestly thought that it would never get better.

I gave up going out and moved back home with my parents and scrimped and saved, until I had managed to pay everything off. I can honestly say that it was worth it.

I think the worst thing was that I never asked for help or advice and never had anyone to talk to about things. It had to be one of the most depressing times of my life!

I'm now 30 and I have only 1 credit card and savings of over £12000! When I look at what I have achieved, I am really chuffed!

Reading this board has made me realise how much easier it would have been for me, if I had swallowed my pride and spoken to someone. All the people on this board seem to help and support each other which is one of the most important things to have when you are at your lowest.

I have read a lot of the stories on this board and really feel for you all. Dont give up and dont let things get you down, it is possible and it feels great when you get there!

Good Luck to all of you, I hope you all get there!!!

black-saturn

Same here. I was in debt from about the age of 24 to 34. I had my first child at 24 and I was living with a guy who was also in debt by a lot more than me. We lived on the cheapest food ever and wore clothes until they were threadbare. As soon as his salary was through at the end of the month bills would get paid, minimum payments of debts would get paid, I'd spend about £30 on a months food and then we had absolutely nothing left for the rest of the month. My ex was also abusive to me. I was with him for 9 years in total and during that time I had to endure things like having a coffee table thrown at me and he punched me under my chin and I bit my tongue off and had to have it sewn back on.

I left him 4 years ago in the middle of the night with nothing to my name at all. Went to sleep on a friends floor with my children. Then I managed to get a rented house with a landlord who was willing to waiver the deposit due to the fact that he had had no takers for his house for 3 years. When I suddenly started getting £150 a week income support it was like winning the lottery for me as I had absolutely no money to myself before that. My debts were unbelievable though at that time but I managed to keep paying off what I owed plus a bit more. Then I started selling on ebay. My mum 'donated' a rare Beatles album she had which sold for £267 and I was hooked. I managed to clear my debts in just over a year. I'm working on a self emplyed basis from home now. So I have money to save. Since I cleared my debt I have taken the kids on a Lapland holiday, been on holiday to Vietnam for a month, bought a caravan and I am now in the process of buying a house.

So you can turn your life around and you can pay your debts off. I didnt know about this site then though so I can't say this site helped me. If I had any debt advice at all it was from the book 'Your money or your life' by Alvin Hall.

tattooed_lady

Wow black-saturn, you've done amazingly well and you are a great role model to your children xx

ms_london

Well done SkippyB & Black Saturn...

It does go to show that you CAN turn your life around, but it isnt always easy, and does take a bit of effort.

It sounds as though youve had a real rough ride Black Saturn, but should be so proud of yourself, and as Ruyareece says, a great role model to your children.

SkippyB - well done on the savings front. How long did it take you to clear your debts? How old were you when you become debt free & how long has it taken to save £12,000. Questions, questions :0) As you can see from my signature, I have recently become debt free, and now want to start saving.. When I get paid next week, the money will be all mine, mine, mine!! Yippee!!

xx

SkippyB

Ms London

I was 26 when I became debt free, It took me around 8 years but around 3 of that was admitting that I had problems. I started saving as soon as I could and it's taken me about 4 years of saving to get £12000 in the bank, a combination of hard saving and overtime. I set up ISA's and also bonds etc. My bonds started low, saving £25 a month, using direct debits and straight from wages means that it's gone before I can spend it. Also setting budgets and only buying what I need. I never buy clothes that are expensive and use places like George and TKMAXX...Always on the hunt for a bargain!!!

Hope this helps

SkippyB