How long have you been in debt????

Sue-UU

Debt_Free_Dreamer wrote: »

My first loan was aged 15! My dad took it out at Currys so I could buy an Atari (and play space invaders!). I used to pay him from my paper round every month. It was supposed to be a lesson in looking after money. I now think it was a lesson in "borrowing and getting it now!"

With my kids I am going to be different. My OH has never had a loan and never had a credit card. He saves and buys everything with cash. I am going to teach my kids that!!

Well done Debt Free Dreamer and may your kids follow the example set by you both! :T

Sue

rluc

Just wanted to say I am amazed by all the replies, it really has helped me at least to not feel like the only one and hopefully some of you as well:)
Hopeful1- i think we are all normal, probably more than we think by the looks of all the replies
Useless with Wonga- At least now you are doing all the right things by the sounds of it, myself I am determined once I finally get out of debt to never give in to it again!!
Mister80s-I would have moved back in with the parents to save some cash but they have retired to spain:doh:
SarahNeedle1872- Very scary how it just goes on and on, didn't really think about it properly until my marriage went pearshaped:o
Jenjade- Well done:T whats it like debt free????
Mrs_Ryan- Its amazing isn't it how we end up with so many different debts for different things that add up to a scary amount. Hopefully one day you will be debt free, good luck!!!
Debt Free Dreamer- If you still had the atari you could probably ebay it! Wish I had been given and taken heed of some good advice when I was younger!!

Got paid again for some more work today so going to be a good boy and pay off some more on my credit cards, motivation is high at the moment to get the debt down as much as I can,looking forward to that elusive DFD!!!

bathgatebuyer

I've been in debt since leaving Uni - my first job was away rom home so had to pay a deposit of £375 and one months rent up front for the flat I moved into way back in 1998. So, over £700 in debt on rent and deposit alone. Add in the need for 2 work suits, 5 blouses, and a decent pair of shoes, and you're at over £950. And add into that living expenses for the first month before payday and I was about £1100 in debt as soon as I left Uni!

scaty

MMMM, I think it was when I got married and had children the debts started. The OH gone (legged it) a loooong time now, so not so much in debt. Still, thank god I can sew, cook, drive ...... every little helps.

i am often 2 steps forward and three backwards but I have the illusion that I'm gaining.:o

rluc

Bathgate buyer- You are doing well on your reclaims< I should really look into suff like that as have just been steadily chipping away at my debt thinking my debt my problem!!
Scaty- So long as you have now got it into your mind that you want to be debt free then I am sure you will be gaining!!
Did your OH leave you with much of the debt as somehow I managed to get the lions share when mine went off!!!

scaty

Yes Rluc -I got well and truly stung by him "disappearing" Got left with his business debts and mortgage, which hadn't been paid for months. BUT much better now, I know that the debts I have are manageable - honest gov. Just picked up another sewing job - paid in kind by the shop, so clothes for winter
:j
Looking back I was a different person then - more NOT trusting now. And - I use this site to find ideas, vouchers, codes ..... list goes on. I like the friendly advice and I too must get on top of the reclaims.

I set up all my DD's in a budget account at the Bank, went on holiday and the bank didn't pay one of them -Car. Furious as I had sat with the account guy for over half an hour setting it up so that there would ALWAYS be enough money. So, trip to the bank tomorrow.

Still, the walk from work will burn up a few calories, always look for the silver lining!!

bathgatebuyer

rluc wrote: »

Bathgate buyer- You are doing well on your reclaims< I should really look into suff like that as have just been steadily chipping away at my debt thinking my debt my problem!!

You definitely should - all in my reclaims have taken nearly £8,000 off my debt. When I first raised these with the firms involved (in late-06) it probably took about 3 months in each case to get the money back. It was quick, painless, and actually very 'healing' process.

The debts largely accrued when I was a carer for a terminally ill family member and had no income while the govt messed me about trying to resolve a carer's allowance - during that time I was pursued and pursued and hounded for money by everyone, in particular, the Halifax :mad: so when they had to pay me back nearly £4000 in bank charges I took great delight in it. It allowed me to put them to bed and forget about what had been a horrid time in my life. There were some others too, but the Halifax were the ones who really got to me. Walking into the branch in Glasgow and saying, "I'd like to take out £4,000 and close the account" was great watching them snivel and grovel trying to keep my business because they thought I was wealthy :rotfl:In reality, I was only getting back my money which they took from me because they refused to allow me to discuss any other options with them while I dealt with more important family matters.

By all means, don't just look at reclaiming, get on and do it. It has made a huge difference to my financial situation. And also look at mortgage exit fees too - I got £250 back from RBoS by sending them the template from this website (even though I didn't even know what an exit fee was or whether I'd paid it!). Apparently they are obliged to tell you if you ask.

rluc

Bathgatebuyer - will definitely look into it then, as you say any money back all helps to clearing the debt and I would love to be under 20K by christmas!!
Scaty- Sounds familiar, although we built up the debt together I had pretty much all of it in my name on different cards trying to get it under control so when I was told our marriage was "not what she wanted anymore!!". I somehow came away from it with 30K debt and a suitcase full of clothes, luckily I have got some very good friends who have helped me tremendously to get back on my feet!!
I know what you are saying though I am definitely less trusting now, will be a fair while before I look for a new relationship I reckon.
Keep looking for the silver lining though, its out there somewhere:D